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But quieter.

Simon cleared his throat. “We won’t do this unless everyone’s on board.”

“I’m on board.” I whispered.

“Me, too.” Zoe’s tone was solemn.

Zarek nodded.

“Okay, I’m calling the team.” He started with Jase Drakos, and soon there were six others besides Jase on speaker. They’d pulled in Kai, Beau and Renzo. I relaxed a little. Just a little.

They laid it out—layers of protection, rotating surveillance, hard lines that couldn’t be crossed.

Zoe would never be alone.

Not for a second.

Finally, the plan clicked into place.

I hated it.

But I understood it.

We put it into place immediately. Simon said Trenda would bring Zoe everything she’d need in a backpack, including her two favorite guns. I put on a hoodie and the largest pair of sunglasses I owned and left with Simon. We agreed that in an hour, Zarek and Zoe would say goodbye at the door with a hug. By that time the team would already be in place.

And it starts.

Simon drove me to Jasper Creek.

He dropped me off at the house and waited until I was inside.

The silence hit me like a wall.

I paced. Turned on the TV, went through damn near every channel we had, then turned it off. I paced some more, then stomped to the kitchen.

I cooked. Because it gave my brain something to focus on. Lemon chicken and roasted potatoes.

Zoe called.

“He just left,” she said. “Big goodbye at the door. Neighbors saw. I sold it. Tongue and everything.”

I snorted. That was my sister, she could always make me laugh.

I sighed. “You’re better at this.”

“I know,” she said, gently.

“I want calls twenty times a day. It’s not like I’m going to be doing anything.” That stopped me. “Shit, I should have brought some Bristol boards.”

“Yeah, that wouldn’t have looked suspicious at all,” Zoe laughed.

Her laughter eased something inside of me.

“I only promise five calls a day.”

“Sold.”

When Zarek came home, the house smelled like food.