Page 100 of Secrets of the Six

Ines groans against my chest and whispers incoherently.

“We need to get her to Alba before it’s too late.”

Olli’s eyes widen. “Alba?”

“She’s the only one who can help Ines, now,” I say. “Please, Olli.”

A million questions zoom across Olli’s face, but he swallows all of them. Acceptance shrouds his features as he reluctantly nods. “I’m only doing this for Ines. I still think it’s a terrible idea to kidnap Severo’s son.”

“Your protests have been duly noted.”

Despite Olli’s lean build, he’s surprisingly strong and easily hoists the unconscious Rogelio up and throws him over his shoulder like a rolled-up rug. Suddenly, his eyes widen. “How do we get past the dogs?”

Shit. I forgot all about those damn mongrels.

As my brain spins, scheming our escape, the office door flies open. Cas’ enormous frame fills the threshold.

“What is taking so damn long?” he hisses. Quickly, his eyes dart around the room assessing the damage.

“You’re supposed to be in the carriage,” I scowl, truly hating when Cas goes rogue on missions.

“Carmen is waiting in the buggy. Figured when Olli came back inside you would need my help.”

“But the dogs?” Olli whispers, as if one false move might manifest the beasts.

“They’re gnawing at some bones in the kitchen,” Cas shrugs.

Olli and I exchange a pointed look that ruffles Cas’ feathers.

“What? I can’t be prepared with a backup plan just in case Remus’ go to shit?” he grumbles. “Remus isn’t the only one capable of scheming, you know?”

Ines moans again and draws Cas’ attention.

“How bad is she?” he asks and a lump forms in my throat.

“We need to get her to Alba.”

Cas frowns but he doesn’t argue with me. He must sense my desperation.

“And the Murrieta?” Cas points at Olli.

“A problem for tomorrow,” I say, earning an exhausted sigh from my cousin.

“Let’s go,” Cas motions us to follow him down the staircase.

Instead of us leaving out the front door or through the library window we initially broke in through, Cas leads us to the back of the mansion where the door leads to the garden.

“The carriage is parked on the other side of that wall. We will have to time this right, or the guards will notice us,” Cas whispers, crouching behind the hedge.

For a few agonizing moments, Cas watches the guards at the front of the estate. Once he’s certain they’re preoccupied with their card game, he waves for us to run to the wall and use the shadows to mask our presence.

Pressing our backs to the stucco wall, we take a moment to catch our breath. Cas grips the top of the wall and hoists himself to the top effortlessly. Brute strength has never been a stranger to my cousin, even when we were children. He scans the grounds before reaching for me to pass him Ines.

I kiss her clammy forehead and despite her pained groans, Cas pulls her up and over the wall.

Now it’s my turn.

I follow Cas’ lead and once I’ve got one leg on either side of the wall, Olli lifts Rogelio just high enough for me to pull him over by his arms. Losing my balance, both Rogelio and I tumble over the fence and crash to the ground,