CHAPTER 52 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
I’M SURE I’VE JUDGED this correctly. If I haven’t, then we’re fucked, but it’s unlikely I’d have got this far in life if weighing up a situation wasn’t one of my strong points.
Hearing the rustle in the undergrowth on the other side of the wall I’ve just given Arianna a leg-up over, I’m satisfied she’s clear.
Jumping up, my hands grip the top of the ten-foot wall. Using my upper body strength, I hoist myself up and, lying flat on the top, quickly scan the grounds.
The size of the estate is too big to see everything, but what I can see of the meticulously landscaped gardens beyond, I’m happy we’ve entered the boundary at the correct point: close enough to the house, but not so close to be immediately spotted.
But being spotted is a risk, and having no lookouts puts us at a distinct disadvantage.
Dropping down over the other side of the wall, I land harder than is comfortable, but at least my ankles are in one piece. “Are you all right?” I whisper, pulling Arianna lower in the undergrowth and behind the cover of hydrangea bushes lining this side of the wall.
“I’m fine.”
Arianna grips my hand, and we inch our way along the perimeter of the massive garden. Thorny branches scratch my face as I shunt through the dense foliage, creating a clear path for her to follow. As we move, my eyes remain fixed on the house, alert for movement or signs we’ve been spotted.
“There’s CCTV over there, but I think we’re out of range,” I mutter.
But we’ll need to enter range to reach the house - there’s no choice about that.
“See that pond?” I hiss, nodding towards a large ornamental pond with a fountain, no doubt containing thousands of pounds worth of koi carp. “We’re heading there next, okay?”
“Okay.”
Arianna is out of breath, but not because she’s unfit - she’s terrified. I start to worry I’ve made a bad call putting her in this position. It could all go so very wrong. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I’m sure. I need to find Maria.”
I press on. Yes, Maria. It’s true that tomorrow’s strike, planned with a team of experienced men, would be too late for Maria, but that doesn’t erase my concern for Arianna. “You make a run for it first and I’ll cover you.” Her wide eyes bleed fright, but she nods. I kiss her on the lips. “Go!”
Heart thumping, I watch her dash across the lawn and disappear behind the fountain. There’s still no movement from anywhere within the house. Good.
Breaking my cover, I follow Arianna’s route along the dewy grass and drop to my haunches next to her behind the fountain. My muscles are screaming, but there’s a lot more to do yet.
Sliding around the edge of the weatherbeaten stone, I watch the house.
“Okay, we’re going to do this now. Just remember what I’ve said.
I believe there won’t be more than two guards, so I’ll deal with them first, then we’ll find your fucking brother and Luca and deal with them.
We kill them before we look for Maria. No exceptions. ”
Arianna nods, her eyes haunted but resolute. “Red?” She grabs my arm. “If... if anything happens, I just... I love you, okay?”
I pull her close. “Nothing is going to happen. Not to you. Not to either of us.” I have to think that way otherwise I’ll walk Arianna straight out of here to somewhere she’ll be safe. Because she isn’t safe here. Neither of us are.
“Right, let’s do it.” Grabbing her left hand, leaving her right free for her gun, we run from behind the fountain straight to the house.
Panting, I flatten myself against the back door and waste no time in utilizing my trusty tool that hasn’t yet let me down with picking locks. I just have to pray this door isn’t dead-bolted or...
The lock gives and the old wooden door creaks open. Thank fuck.
“We’re in,” I hiss, keeping Arianna close behind me. I glance around the gloom of the back hallway, spotting a dim glow from a room at the other end of the corridor.
My heartbeat threatens to deafen me. These kinds of jobs rarely worry me, but I’m not usually accompanied by the love of my life on her first real mission.
“Just relax and trust your instincts, princess.” My voice is little more than a whisper.
“When we get down there, I want you to wait while I offload the guards.”
The strength Arianna grips my arm with surprises me. “I’m not waiting anywhere, Red. We either do this together or not at all!”
Turning, I look into those determined violet eyes, knowing whether I like it or not, this is one of those instances Arianna won’t back down on. “As you wish.”