Jason
Tobias and four HellCats, including myself, spent the day studying the blueprints of Rhett’s estate, mapping out the different ways to reach the vault in the basement and snatch the necklace.
The van stops about two hundred yards from the lakefront house, and Cash, the driver, looks out the windshield with night vision binoculars.
“There’s a guard posted at the front entrance,” he states flatly. “One at the side entrance, two on the balcony, and another patrolling the grounds.” He pans to his right and adjusts the binoculars. “The dock seems clear.”
“Looks like we’re swimming,” Dexter, the muscle of the operation, jokes.
“There’s a drop from the grounds to the beach,” Max adds (his expertise is picking locks). “If we hug the drop, we’ll be out of sight from the guards.”
Tobias turns to us and says, “Max is right. We can use the rain to our advantage. Visibility is poor, and the guards posted at the house won’t see us if we hug the cliff. I know the dock leads to a boathouse with access to the basement. It’s the most direct route to the vault.”
“What if guards are posted in the boathouse?” I work up the nerve to ask.
“They’ll be cornered, and we have silencers,” Tobias replies.
“The water is rough,” Cash chimes in, “and the beach is just a bunch of rocks and boulders. Rhett’s probably assuming whoever would try to break in that way would just get sucked into the lake.”
“Well, will we get sucked in by the lake?” Max asks.
Cash looks at him in the rearview mirror and shrugs. “Maybe.”
“It’s the best option at this point,” Tobias states brusquely. “We’re going in through the dock. Cash, radio me if you spot someone patrolling nearby and we’ll abort.”
“Will do, boss.”
Tobias turns to the three of us in the back. “Are we ready?”
Not by a long shot.
I nod, and the other two grunt in agreement.
Tobias grins. “Let’s do this,” he says.
We pull on our balaclavas and exit the van.
Dexter leads us to the edge of the forest bordering the beach, using night-vision binoculars to make sure the coast is clear.
When he gives us the signal, we race from the trees to the beach, crouching at the base of the six-foot drop to catch our bearings.
The forest dirt ends, and the rest of the path to the boathouse is a narrow beach with boulders that give way to the dock.
The lake is wild, waves pummeling us in rapid succession, but the four of us use our gloved hands to grip the rocks. Lightning cracks, and my body shudders in fear, making me lose my balance and nearly fall into the lake, but Max grabs my arms and pulls me up.
It takes forever to trek across the slippery rocks. Each time a wave crashes, we all stop and hold on to a boulder.
We finally reach the dock leading to a covered boathouse attached to the home. The four of us scale the wooden columns, and Dexter and I take the lead, our firearms drawn, as we enter the boathouse to find it empty.
Lightning flashes, illuminating the boathouse and revealing a door leading to the lower level of the estate, where the vault sits.
Max approaches the door first, sliding a mirror under the base to spot guards on the other side.
His thumbs-up is our signal that the area is clear, and he pulls out his lockpick to open the door.
Max opens it, but the fucker creaks, and he stops. He reaches into his satchel, pulls out WD-40, and gives the bolts a quick spray.
Max slowly opens the door, using the mirror to see around corners before leading us inside. Once the four of us are in the house, Dexter takes us through dark hallways lined with pictures of Rhett and his family.
Dexter raises his clenched fist, signaling he’s found the vault door, and Max presses forward to examine it.
I take my stance, acting as a lookout while they work.
Dexter stands next to me, the two of us scanning the area while Max uses bolt cutters to break into the steel door.
The rain is loud, masking the sound of steel being cut, and soon, the door opens.
Tobias releases a satisfied sigh.
A moment later, I see him exiting the vault with a giant blue necklace. He holds it in his hands, examining it before placing it in a zippered pocket of his pants.
“Let’s get out of here,” he says. “Back out the way we came in.”
Dexter takes the lead, the four of us rushing to the boathouse, when a door flies open right next to me, and someone screams.
My reflexes ignite, and I pop the guy in the face, knocking him out cold.
“Fuck,” I hiss right as a piercing alarm goes off and red lights flash throughout the space.
Doors slam a flight above us, and the thunderous sound of boots racing down the stairs sends my heart into my throat.
“Let’s move,” Tobias yells.
Rhett’s men spill out into the basement just as we round the corner and race along the corridor leading to the boathouse.
Gunshots ring out, sending bullets through the wall.
Plaster explodes.
The four of us fall flat on the floor, and we scramble into position.
As Rhett’s men round the corner, we unleash an all-out assault, firing nonstop.
Two fall, while another jumps back, concealing himself behind the corner.
“Run,” Tobias yells. We scramble to our feet and race to the boathouse, but pause before entering.
“Guards might be on the dock—” Dexter says right as a bullet pierces the wall, hitting him in the shoulder.
He falls, writhing on the floor, and I fucking let loose, shooting at the wall to hit whoever is on the other side.
Tobias and Max do the same, all three of us crouched low as bullets fly above us, hitting vases and mirrors. Glass and crystal shatter all around us.
Tobias raises his fist, and we stop firing. There’s a five-second pause, then he kicks open the boathouse door, quickly scans the area, then signals us to follow.
Max and I help Dexter up and follow Tobias into the boathouse, revealing two guards, dead on the dock.
Tobias hops into a boat and radios for Cash to meet us on the other side of the lake. Max and I help Dexter board when suddenly Tobias shoots. I look over my shoulder to see a third guard fall to the floor, dead.
We sail through the crashing waves while Tobias radios Cash to say we’re on the move and gives him a precise location.
We beach the boat and rush to the van. Once we’re in, I gasp for air.
“Jesus Christ,” I mutter under my breath.
Tobias, in the front passenger seat, looks over his shoulder. “Good work, everyone.” Then he looks at Dexter. “How are you?”
“I’ll live,” he huffs.
As Cash races along slick roads, I glance out the back windshield, terrified I’ll see a caravan of cars with guys ready to slaughter us, but the road is clear.
When we reach the Kitty Cat Club, I call Gabe.