Page 54 of Knight Watch

Chapter Twenty-Four

“It’s the only way, Knight!”

Kingsley faced off against his fellow Brit. “I don’t fucking care, Mason, find another one. She is not going into that bank. It’s probably a trap, and you know it.”

“I know, but we’re prepared this time, they won’t get to Sydney, I promise. And we don’t have time, she’s the owner of the box, she has to be there.”

Kingsley paced back and forth across the room, one hand on his hip, the other running through his hair in frustration. “We both know you can’t guarantee her safety!”

Cain glanced at the two men, his face calm. “Any better ideas?”

Kingsley racked his brain for a way out of this situation and found none. The only way to make the bank give up the deeds to the life insurance policy was for Sydney to go in and go through the security checks in place for it.

“Fuck,” he shouted in frustration.

“If we go in early, just after the bank opens the place should be quiet. We’ll have some of the team inside and some in the surrounding area. We won’t lose her.”

Kingsley nodded at Mason. “Fine,” he growled, “but I want inside as close to her as I can get.”

“Bad idea. Let me take point with her. You’re already worked up.”

“Are you saying I can’t protect my woman?” Kingsley asked ready to put Mason’s teeth down his throat.

“No. I’m saying you’ll be better placed working this from outside the bank. My skill set is close protection, it’s what I do best. Let me do it. I won’t screw this up.”

Mason was right but Kingsley had to fight the burning feeling in his gut that made him want to pick Sydney up and run. “Fine, we do this your way, but if I get one whiff it’s going sideways, I won’t think twice about taking over.”

Mason nodded his agreement. “I would happily step aside.”

Caitlin, who had been sitting quietly watching them argue, threw up her hands in frustration. “Now that’s settled can we get the rest of the team in here and plan the logistics? We have less than two hours before the bank opens.”

Kingsley felt like his jaw would snap it was so tense. “Yeah, let’s get this done. I’ll go fetch Syd.”

Caitlin gave him a wink and a grin. “How about I do that? You two always manage to get distracted.”

Kingsley laughed at that and agreed.

He sat down opposite his teammates a few minutes later as the plan was explained to them all, including Sydney who was seated on his right side. “Is that okay with you, Syd? If it isn’t, just say so and we’ll find another way.” He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

He watched as she looked around the room before focusing her gaze back on him. “If there were another way you would have found it, so I’ll do it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She cupped his cheek. “I trust you guys implicitly.”

“I’ll be the one inside the bank vault with you, Sydney. We feel Kingsley will be better placed outside.”

“Okay, whatever you think best,” Sydney replied looking at Mason as he spoke.

Ideas were tossed about and dismissed until the team had a plan they thought would work best for them. It involved the entire team being either inside or outside the bank. It was a risk, especially as they thought there was possibly a leak inside the bank that would inform Rutherford if she moved the papers. Kingsley knew though that there was no other way and he could only pray their plan worked.

* * *

At 9.02 am that morning,Sydney walked into the main branch of the Bank of America in Miami and moved to the reception desk. Mason was beside her, and she knew he was in constant communication with the team. He was highly efficient, capable, and was probably amazing at his job, but at that moment, Sydney would have given anything to feel Kingsley’s calming hand at her back, smell his scent close to her, calming her frayed nerves.

“Hi, my name is April. How can I help you today?”

Forcing a measure of calm she didn’t feel, and digging her nails into her palm, she took a deep breath and greeted the woman with a smile. “Hi, my name is Sydney Ann Rutherford. I’d like to access my safety deposit box, please.”