35. A Criminal Strategy
35
A Criminal Strategy
Jessica
Matt is going to be pissed when he realizes I came back.
They all tried to dissuade me; for a moment, they even tried to forbid it, but when I used the argument that I have just as much right to be here as they do, they were kind of left without anything left to say.
It’s slightly confusing to have most people looking like someone else, but then to have a new person looking like Antoinette is a mindfuck. It is amazingly creepy how similar she managed to make herself. And then how easily she’s picked up her mannerisms and speech pattern is just outright insane.
I also kind of want her to do me next, but that’s a whole different story.
It’s surprisingly easy to gain access to the facility. Given what’s happened the last few days, I would think they would’ve doubled up on security. Since there’s a small chance this oversight was intentional and we’re walking into a trap, we have Camilla go in first, using Antoinette’s face as a decoy to draw attention from our actual mission.
Kaian had returned to the facility the day before, and we managed to locate him per the instructions he had left with us.
This time, Antoinette, Carolina, and Lilith have all been given new faces. We decided to have me remain as myself since I can be a distraction if somebody comes upon us before we want them to.
Camilla goes in under the guise of Antoinette sheerly for the purpose of potentially fucking with people, which she truly enjoys.
And again, Matt is going to be pissed.
Lilith recruited Agatha, Anton, and their crew of miscreants to handle the explosives with strict instructions to eliminate anyone and everyone they come across in the process.
We have somewhat of a wide window between our entry into the building and when it’s going to go up, but we know we have no time to waste.
Kaian leads us through the maze of hallways until we’re standing outside a large door. He points at it with his thumb and says, “This is where they’re being held. They’re each being kept separately in a locked metal cage. One of the assholes in there will have the key on him, but I’m not sure who.”
Antoinette presses her ear against the door, then turns back to Kaian and says, “It sounds like there’s a lot of people in there?”
“Yes,” he replies. “I had no way to figure out the exact timing, and our timing right now is not good.”
A loud curse sounds through the door, and Antoinette frowns. Her hand comes out, and she rests her palm against it as she says, “That sounds like Tony.”
“They’re probably playing with them,” Lilith replies blandly.
Kaian nods and says, “Yeah, I think Matt’s next.”
Carolina huffs, “I am not at all used to this flying-by-the-seat-of-our-pants shit. Zero out of ten. Do not recommend.”
Lilith shrugs and replies, “By the time you reach my age, you realize that you spend half your time making plans that are not going to work out and then the other half of the time figuring out how you’re going to make flying by the seat of your pants work for you.”
Antoinette smiles as she replies, “That’s why we brought all these guns.”
Footsteps sound on both ends of the hallway, and we freeze. A group of men comes around the corner, and Kaian steps into me, wrapping a hand around my throat and pushing me up against the wall, saying, “Where the fuck have you been?”
My first instinct is to attempt to knee him in the balls, but I do my best to control myself, knowing this was part of the plan if we were caught. A blond man who was leading the other group of men takes another step forward as he says, “That Killeen’s daughter?”
Kaian turns his eyes to him and nods. “Sure the fuck is. Can’t imagine what she thinks she’s doing.”
I show him my teeth, going up on my toes as he squeezes a little harder, and I snarl, “You can go fuck yourself.”
There’s a moment of silence, and then the group of men starts to laugh. The corners of Kaian’s mouth turn up, so I shove my knee toward his balls. He easily deflects my attack with his leg as he says, “Watch yourself. Wouldn’t want to accidentally kill you too soon.”
My eyes widen, and I snap my mouth shut. I see Lilith out of the corner of my eye, reaching her hand into her jacket, and I shake my head, hoping to get her attention. Her hand relaxes back to her side, and I say, “Well, if you’re gonna do it, get on with it. Wouldn’t want you to bore me to fucking death.”
The blond man steps forward, stopping a few inches from me as he leans in and says, “The fuckin’ Irish got a mouth on her.”
One of the men behind him retorts, “Well, that explains why Mathias would go rogue to get her.”
The blond man points behind Kaian and asks, “Who are the bitches?”
The three ladies visibly bristle, but Kaian says, “They’re with me. My father sent them over. I’m supposed to give them some education and then send them back unharmed.”
The man eyes them suspiciously and then looks back at Kaian and shrugs as he asks, “What the fuck should we do with her?”
I know what’s coming but knowing what’s coming doesn’t make me feel any less trepidation.
Kaian looks over at him and asks, “You want her?”
The man’s eyes widen comically, and the group of men standing on the other side fidget nervously, and he laughs a little hollowly and replies, “Tempting. But one way or another, I don’t see that ending well for me.”
Kaian snorts and makes a face as he says, “What could possibly happen? Her husband’s in a fucking cage. He ain’t gettin’ out of there.”
“Maybe not,” the man replies. “But we know he’s not the only one that will be a problem.”
Kaian scoffs, “You worried about her old man?”
The man nods. “Yes. Be a bloody fucking fool not to be worried about Seamus.” I frown, wishing I felt as certain that the old man would defend me as this man is. And then the man adds, “And I don’t care if Mathias is in a cage or not. It’s safest to consider that guy a problem until you witness him dead and buried.”
The guy who spoke previously speaks up again, “And both his buddies are in there. It’s like a bad fucking omen.”
“Is that why you’re not in there watching the show?” Kaian asks.
They all nod and say, “I’m on enough hit lists without being added to theirs. And frankly, I get tired of beating up restrained people. It’s fucking stupid.”
Kaian nods, his grip on my throat easing so I’m no longer standing on my toes, and I relax a bit. After a moment, he releases me, and my hands come up, rubbing at my throat briefly as I scowl at him. I’m definitely going to kick him in the balls later.
Kaian turns back to the group of men and says, “Well, I guess I’ll tend to this one, then. You guys can go about your bus—”
An angry voice shouts through from the other side of the hallway, and suddenly, I find myself bodily pushed back against the wall, vicious fingers pushing into my throat.
My hands come up, grabbing at the hand and clawing, but the grip doesn’t ease, and then a face leans in so close that it’s blurry, snarling into my ear, “You’re fucking dead, you little bitch.”
My eyes widen as my feet come up off the floor. I kick them out, connecting with nothing. Then, Kaian is there, his hands gripping the wrist connected to the hand around my throat. I attempt to pull my head away, but the back of my skull connects with the wall, so I turn my head away.
The girls are tense, obviously ready to make a move, and I open my eyes wide, shaking my head, knowing it’s too soon.
Kaian shouts, but I can’t make out his words through the ringing in my ears, and the edges of my vision start to dull. Just as suddenly as it appeared, the hand is gone from my throat, and I crumple to the ground, gasping for breath, coughing and choking.
A set of feet move toward me and then stops. When I glance up, Lilith has her hand on Antoinette’s arm, keeping her back. Their typical poker faces are a mix of rage and worry.
They all quickly school their features, easing back slightly so as not to draw attention to themselves, and then Kaian is there. He kneels down, his hands on my upper arms, helping me to my feet. He then leans in and whispers, “Matteo’s brother, Enzo.
I stand with Kaian’s assistance, and after a moment, he releases me, and I lean heavily against the wall. Matteo’s brother steps toward me and I do my best not to flinch back visibly, though internally, I want to wretch.
He leans in close to me and says, “When my brother was so ruthlessly murdered, you should have been mine.”
I do recoil now, showing my teeth as I snarl, “Over my dead fucking body.”
Kaian freezes. I see him roll his eyes a bit, but I know it’s too late to play nice.
The man glares at me and replies, “You couldn’t be so lucky. And once we make you a widow, you can just get married again.”
Now I roll my eyes, the maniacal laughter building up inside of me as I say, “What the fuck is with you douchebags wanting to get in line for Mathias’ sloppy seconds?”
Antoinette chokes, and Kaian groans loudly. Enzo snarls but says nothing, reaching out and grabbing me by the arm, his fingers digging in painfully. A bunch of other men rushes into the hallway from the same direction he came in, and he looks at the one in the lead and says, “Secure all these fucking assholes. I’m going to take care of her.”
Kaian opens his mouth to protest, but Lilith reaches into her jacket again, and he immediately turns back to her, putting his arms out and forcing the three women backward as he says, “I got these ones under control. I’ll get them secured and then report back to see what else needs to be done.”
Enzo gives him a suspicious look, but then nods before turning his attention back to me. He leans his face close to mine, rubbing his nose on my cheek, and I shudder in disgust, turning my head so quickly that he doesn’t have time to step back before I gnash at his nose with my teeth.
He jerks back cursing, and I laugh. “Don’t fucking touch me.”
And there’s the maniacal laughter again.
I don’t bother pushing it down this time. I let it erupt, spewing all over them until they’re all standing there staring at me like the fucking lunatic I am.
Kaian doesn’t wait. He uses the distraction to shoo the other women back down the hallway, and I continue my maniacal antics until they’re out of sight, and then I stop.
I stop abruptly, standing at my full height, sticking my chin out obstinately as I say, “Are you just going to fucking stand there all day, or are you going to do something?”
Enzo raises his brows at me, but this time, his step toward me is a little hesitant and not nearly as aggressive. He grabs onto my arm and yanks me over, pulling me toward the door he pushes open roughly as he says, “Just for that, you get to watch.”
I struggle, attempting to pull myself from his grip, but it’s no use. So, I ask, “Watch what?”
He pauses halfway in the doorway, looking back at me as he replies, “You get to watch your husband die.”