Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
The drive past the warehouse is uneventful.
Unlike ours, it has a fence around it, and I saw guards and dogs patrolling the perimeter, which is going to make it tricky to break into tonight but not impossible.
I make some calls and arrange to have everything I need delivered to the house in Banebridge, since that’s where we will be leaving from.
Sedatives for the guards and dogs are the easiest way to get past them both, and some det cord for any locked doors we come across, although I don’t really want to make it noticeable that the place has been breached.
I couldn’t tell what kind of locks the door had, so that’s just in case, but I’ll take my lock picks.
I’m not computer savvy enough to hack an electronic lock, hence the det cord.
A window is an option, but the only ones I could see were up high.
Scaling the building will take more time than I want it to, and the fire escape wasn’t close to any of them, unless there is an entrance on the roof.
I plan on checking that out by using the fire escape first. Lots of people get lazy and forget to guard the roof entrance because it’s harder to get up there.
That’s going to be my first option. I’ll rework the plan if it turns out to be a dead end.
On my drive back to pick up Sage, I get a message from Vienna.
Vienna: Can you come pick us up? Gio and Casey left for their appointment, and we don’t have any way of getting home.
I look at the time on my phone and realize it’s already a lot later than I thought it was.
I guess I won’t be able to change before we pick them up, but the black hides everything if they don’t look too closely.
We’ve both completely missed lunch, and I bet Sage is starting to get hangry.
We’re going to have a late night, so it wouldn’t hurt to go home early and maybe nap after we have some food.
Tori: Sure. Give us half an hour, and we will be there.
My phone pings again, and when I look down, the screen is covered in hearts.
I feel warmth flow over me and wriggle uncomfortably. This POS of Anthony’s certainly has uncomfortable seats.
Sage is waiting for me when I return. The other car has been removed from the parking lot, and he holds out his hands for the keys then puts them in a flowerpot next to the door.
“The cleanup crew will be back to dump this car later. They are going to stage it like we suggested, and they are going to put the other guy’s body in the trunk to make it look like Anthony betrayed them and died when he was on his way to dump the body,” he tells me as we make our way back to our limo.
Our driver remained parked out of the way, but he starts the vehicle when he sees us coming.
“Hopefully they don’t notice he hasn’t returned for a few days,” I murmur, but I have a feeling he was important if he was being sent to lean on Anthony. They wouldn’t trust a low-level man for an important job like that.
Sage’s stomach rumbles loudly, and I chuckle before giving the driver instructions to head to the college to pick up the others.
“But I’m hungry,” Sage whines dramatically.
I pull open one of the little storage areas, and along with a couple of spare guns and ammo, I have a few candy bars for this exact reason. I hand one over to my boyfriend, who snatches it before tearing it open and stuffing it into his mouth. His eyes roll in his head as he moans his enjoyment.
“So fucking good,” he says around a mouthful of chocolate.
“Hmm, sexy,” I deadpan.
He happily munches for a while before asking, “So why are we going to the college?” He raises an eyebrow knowingly.
“Because Vienna messaged me, and Gio left them in the lurch. I guess he only arranged for a car for him and Casey and forgot about the others.”
Sage tuts. “Typical. So gallant Tori is riding to the rescue of the damsels in distress? You could have just sent a car for them as well.”
I shrug. “I figured we could use an early knock off if we’re going to be partaking in nighttime activities, and since we’re heading home, we might as well give them a ride,” I tell him, and he waggles his eyebrows.
“Tell me more about these nighttime activities.”
I roll my eyes. “A little B and E, you perv.”
He huffs good-naturedly. “I know that, but a nap sounds good.”
“I’ll message Suzy and ask her to organize an early dinner,” I say, but before I can pull out my phone, his eyes light up, and he sits up straight.
“I’ll do it,” he shouts. I stare at him with surprise, and he looks sheepish. “Sorry, I have a craving, and I’m hoping I can sweet talk her into making my favorite.”
“Okay, I’ll leave it in your hands. Maybe message Gio and see if he and Casey will be back by then. I doubt he remembered to let her know.”
Sage is quiet while he sends his messages, and I watch the city glide by through the window.
I guessed Lorenzo was working with someone, but I thought it was just the Mexican cartel trying to undermine us.
Knowing he’s actively working with a rival cuts deeper.
We expected it, but to have it confirmed is like a slap in the face.
I want to kill him, not have him arrested by the FBI, but unfortunately, I’m between a rock and a hard place, and if I don’t give Agent Garcia someone, he will come after the rest of my organization.
This will at least get them off our backs for a few years, or that was the agreement.
Sometimes you have to make a deal with a demon to take out the devil.
When the limo glides to a stop at the agreed spot at Suncity U, the others are waiting under a big maple tree. Vienna is leaning against Xavier, and his arms are around her while they talk quietly. Colton and Tristan are throwing a football back and forth between them.
They gather their bags and throw them in the trunk, and then one by one, they climb into the limo.
Vienna gives Sage a kiss on the lips on her way past before doing the same to me.
A warm, fluttery feeling happens in the pit of my stomach, and I blink away my surprise, but when Colton does the same thing, giving Sage a kiss and then me, neither of us can hide our shock.
I’m pretty sure our faces match with our mouths dropped open and our eyes wide with surprise. Vienna giggles and points between us.
“You should see yourselves. You both look like stunned catfish.”
“Hell, I want in on some of this action,” Tristan says, and he grabs Sage by the hand and hauls him from the seat across from him and into his lap.
“Hello, handsome,” he drawls before kissing Sage soundly.
When they break apart, he pushes Sage gently back into the seat he was in before turning his attention to me.
Xavier sits down on my other side, and it’s him that Tristan speaks to.
“Give Tori a kiss for the both of us, will you?” he instructs, and Xavier doesn’t hesitate.
He slides his hand behind my head and drags me toward him, pressing his lush lips to mine then firmly stroking my tongue with his.
I moan and sink into him, enjoying it immensely as the limo starts the journey back to our house in Banebridge.
When he pulls away, his eyes sparkle, and there is a small smile on his lips. “Hi.”
I’m flustered but manage to get myself together and reply, “Hi, that was nice”
He frowns. “Nice? Well, I guess I need to do better next time.”
I expect the atmosphere in the limo to be awkward after all that affection, but it’s not.
The four of them tell us about their day.
Xavier talks about his self-defense class, which is just as popular as ever, and Vienna gushes about the party they’ve been invited to on Saturday night.
Apparently, anyone who is anyone is going to be there.
I feel my eyes glaze over, unable to contribute to the conversation.
“We’d love to go, wouldn’t we, Tori?” Sage startles me with his question, and I tune back in, unsure what he just agreed to.
“Huh?” I ask, feeling my cheeks heat with embarrassment.
“Vienna was just inviting us to go to the party on Saturday night,” he tells me before turning to the others. “Tori’s never been to a party with kids her own age before.”
“Actually, that’s not true,” I argue. “Before Dad’s death, Gio used to throw parties at home all the time.
” I wrinkle my nose. “Not that they were much fun. I would blow them off and smoke weed in my room with…” I trail off, not wanting to mention who I would do that with, but I can tell they all have an idea.
There’s a slightly uncomfortable silence before Vienna claps her hands, breaking it. “Perfect. I can’t wait. There will be drinking and dancing, and we will all be able to blow off some steam. You will have a great time,” she tells me, and I wince internally.
I’m not sure I will, but I want to make an effort to be more like a normal young adult. I want what Gio has, and I guess some of my anger toward him stems from that, so what will it hurt to take a night off from being a mafia queen?
“And I booked our spa day tomorrow, so you will be all fresh and relaxed for the party on the weekend.”
Ha, I’m pretty sure I will be in a situation that will cause me to be tense well before then, but I don’t tell her that. “That’s sounds great, I can’t wait.” I’m not lying, really.
I look out the window at the trees flashing by.
We’re well and truly out of Suncity now and passing through the forest that sits between it and Banebridge.
The large tree canopy blocks out a lot of light, so the inside of the limo is a little less bright.
The faint hum of the engine is soothing, and the subtle sway of the vehicle gently rocks me, making me fall into a slight daze.
It’s already been a long ass day. I’m looking forward to my nap later.
A hand caresses my leg, and I look down in surprise, not expecting it. Tristan’s hand is pale against my black pants.