Page 23 of Thaddeus

“A car,” she responded sarcastically.

“Where’d you get the car, Emerson?” he questioned in the same mocking tone.

“I stole it.”

“Come again?” My eyes widened in shock.

“I took a set of keys from the valet and stole a car. And before you ask, I had a tracking device on Jefferson. So it was easy for me to follow him to the marina, harder to stay out of sight once I saw the road they’d turned down. I parked the car and humped it the rest of the way. Best guess is the shack is under a mile into the jungle.”

“And Garcia was still doing his look-over of the girls when you got back there?” Max hadn’t let up.

It took the average person twenty minutes to walk a mile. Through the thick jungle it would take longer. That would also mean Jefferson would’ve made it back to the hotel before she did, meaning he would’ve known she’d left.

“He liked to sample some of the girls before he bought them.” Her nose scrunched in disgust and she pinched her lips together. “I looked in as many of the windows as I could and left. I needed to get back to the hotel, and as it was, he’d already get back before me. Which meant he’d be pissed and I’d have to lie and tell him I went for a walk after he’d told me not to leave the room. Considering he thought I normally obeyed his orders, he was quick to forgive my indiscretions.”

Max looked pleased with her answer but I still wasn’t buying it. She’d repeatedly admitted she was a good liar so how was anyone supposed to believe the bullshit she was spewing now?

“We’ll break up into two groups when we get there. Thad, Brooks, and Max, you’ll break off and sweep the perimeter. Kyle and Emerson, you're both with me. Once we’ve confirmed there’s no security outside, we’ll all breech together. There may’ve only been two guards in the house when Emerson was there, but after tonight, they may have more. I don’t want to take any chances.”

“Copy that,” Brooks acknowledged, grabbed his wife by the hand, and drug her into the other room.

Tatiana would stay behind for this mission. Brooks was happy to have his woman work behind the scenes and help plan an op. But if Brooks had his way, Tatiana’s days of running and gunning were over. Which was a shame because she’d proven to be a damn good addition to the team and could absolutely handle herself.

She had saved Brooks’ life. Even though it had almost killed her. The days after that horrible day had been difficult. Brooks had been near-impossible to console and the rest of us were just as worried.

So I couldn’t blame Brooks for wanting to keep Tatiana hidden away and not out in the thick of shit. Though I didn’t know for how much longer she was going to humor him and stay behind.

“Let’s roll,” Declan ordered.

I grabbed my black mask out of my pocket, placed it back on top of my head, and wore it beanie-style. I did this wishing someone had an extra balaclava for Emerson.

I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stand to see her gleaming blonde hair and gorgeous face.

I turned to head for the door when I caught Max eyeing me, with a lift of his chin and sympathetic stare I knew he felt my pain. I didn’t want Emerson to go, and Max knew it.

He also knew me well enough to know that under all my bullshit bluster I didn’t want Emerson there because it was dangerous. And if we failed, she’d be as good as dead.

I may’ve hated the woman, but I’d never wish that type of slow, agonizing death on her.

Bottom line—I was fucked.

Emerson

During the ride to the marina it was almost the same seating arrangement, only Thaddeus had opted to sit in the cargo area of the SUV, leaving Max and Kyle sitting on either side of me.

During the drive, the guys asked me a bunch of questions and I readily and completely answered all of them. This was the one and only time I’d trust them. I’d believe they’d get the girls to safety and in exchange I’d give them all the information they needed.

This was actually a much better plan. I hadn’t figured out how exactly I was going to get the girls to freedom since everything had gone to shit.

I just needed five minutes to question the girls, then I’d slip away and find a way to get into the villa to get my stuff. I’d have to give my best performance of being kidnapped by one of Jefferson’s competitors. There were enough in the area I could pin it on someone, and his guards would be out for revenge. It might actually be easier than I thought to play the part as the grieving girlfriend and start a gang war.

That’s what I needed—everyone in chaos so I could grab my shit and exit stage left before I became someone’s unwilling prisoner. I’d never be able to come back to this part of Venezuela, but that was okay.

“Emerson?” Max knocked his shoulder against mine.

“Huh?”

“Woman, you need to pay attention. We’re here.”