Steel must be thinking the same thing because he calls me a second later.
“You seeing this?” he asks the second I answer.
“Yeah, I’m fucking seeing it.” I frown.
“And here I thought tonight might be simple.”
“It never is when Zane is involved.”
“I’m calling the other guys and telling them to be ready. If this is what I think it is, we’re going to have to move in. We should have brought more backup.”
My gaze moves to the worthless prospects on my left. “We’ll get it done regardless.”
So long as these assholes don’t get in my way, I’ll make it work. I always do.
Meeting Venom’s gaze, he nods, confirming he’s ready like he always is. He’ll have my back, unafraid to do what’s necessary. This isn’t the kind of situation you can walk into with fear hanging on your shoulders. It will do nothing but get you killed.
“All right. Be ready to go on my signal,” Steel says, hanging up.
I shove my phone back into my pocket, waving Hardy and Bullet over. “New plan. Looks like you might get your suicide mission after all.”
Hardy’s face pales, which makes Venom chuckle.
I don’t actually trust these guys enough to send them in with us, but at least fucking with them provides a moment of entertainment before I walk into the line of fire.
“I’m fucking with you.” I shake my head, making a mental note to talk to Steel about kicking these guys to the curb when we get back. “I need you two to split up. Take either end of this lot and send updates to Ghost once we go in. If you spot any new cars on the road or anyone trying to run, Ghost needs to know about it. Got it?”
“Got it,” they say in unison.
Thankfully, at this time of night, the warehouse district is empty, so there’s no one to hear what’s about to go down. We just need to make sure no one gets out before we’re ready to deal with them.
The prospects split off as instructed, and Venom pulls out his gun.
“I’ll take left,” he says, and I nod as we start forward.
My gun is firm in my grip. Blistering heat and stagnant air have sweat dripping down the back of my neck. With the warehouses blocking all wind, it’s hotter than it should be tonight.
Venom and I weave around the cars, pausing at the final row until my phone vibrates with Steel’s signal to move.
I’m used to living my life one moment at a time. One place at a time. One person at a time. I’m good at focusing on what’s directly in front of me and not letting myself get distracted by what might happen. But when my phone buzzes in my pocket, for the first time in my life, something hangs at the periphery of my thoughts.
If I don’t come out of this, Emery and Charlie will be alone.
That can either be my weakness or my purpose. Clinging to them, I clear my head and swallow any doubt. I’m not failing them tonight.
Venom nods, indicating it’s clear around him, and I do the same. We slowly work our way back to each other, prepared to make our move.
“Ready to play hero?” I ask when he stops beside me.
“Always.” He smirks.
We move in unison, having done this so many times that it’s practically a dance at this point. This is why I don’t care that the prospects are worthless. Venom has my back, and I have his. When he sweeps left, I go right. Every angle is covered. I know his every move before he makes it.
This used to be me and Chaos before he left for a few months with Willa. While he was gone, Venom and I found a routine with each other, so Steel has been pairing us up on missions ever since.
The caravan has already pulled into the warehouse by the time we reach the empty space that surrounds the building. Venom and I easily slip through a side door without being noticed. Thankfully, there are crates andequipment that reach the ceiling, keeping us hidden as we move toward the center where the vans are parked.
Men are already climbing out of the front, but none of them is Eli. It was too much to think he’d be handling his own dirty work.
