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“Thanks. I owe you one.”
Cannon let out a low whistle. “This better be one hell of a story, that’s all I gotta say.”
“It’s something,” was my reply. “And hey, try to keep it on the down low what you’re doing, will you? I don’t want it obvious to them that you’re helping me.”
“Ten-four,” he answered. “Damn, but this super-secret spy stuff is kind of fun.”
I rolled my eyes. “You’re such a dork.” Then I grinned because that was my favorite feature about him.
“Yeah, yeah. I hate you too. I’ll check back in a minute.”
When he hung up, I closed my eyes and pressed the edge of my phone to my forehead, hoping this worked. I had a feeling it would. I could always count on Cannon. He just might not be so happy if he realized who else he’d be helping in the process.
The football team was very clearly split into two groups: the offensive players versus the defensive players. Neither side got along with the other, so I had a feeling my defensive boys would jump at the chance to heckle some o-line guys. I just wasn’t quite sure what they’d think about assisting a girl they believed belonged to the enemy. Which was why I had neglected to mention that little detail. I couldn’t take the chance they’d refuse me.
Cannon might feel betrayed by this. But I was willing to risk it and ask for forgiveness instead of permission.
Surely, he’d forgive me.
Someday.
“Wick?” my sister said quietly, reminding me I needed to focus on the here and now.
“Pack a change of clothes and whatever else you’ll need for classes tomorrow,” I told her. “You’re spending the night at my place.”
Her eyes widened with worry. “What? Why?”
“I have a feeling Nicholl will be back, looking for her, and I don’t want to leave you here alone to deal with him, especially while he’s in the mood he’s in. I mean, look what he just did to her and he supposedly loves her, right?”
We both looked down at Haven, who remained placid in my arms, completely unaware of anything and everything happening around her, or if she was aware, she gave no sign of it.
Izzy slowly started to nod, her eyes wide with worry. “Okay, yeah.” Then she fumbled as she hurried to gather everything she thought she’d need.
When she started to stuff shit into a third bag, I rolled my eyes. “Only take whatever we can carry in one trip, because we’re not coming back for more.”
“Well I need my laptop,” she muttered moodily, slinging the strap over her shoulder before scooping up her overnight bag and then her book bag and sending me a defiant glance to show me she could manage what she had packed just fine in one trip all by herself.
With an amu
sed sniff, I shook my head. “Always gotta prove me wrong, don’t you?”
She shrugged even as a proud smirk lit her face. “Just stop being so wrong and I won’t have to.”
I opened my mouth, trying to think up a worthy comeback when my phone rang. “Thank God,” I breathed, spotting Cannon’s name. “What’s the plan?” I asked as I answered.
“We’re pulling in now.”
“Wow.” I lifted my brows, beyond impressed. Cannon really got into this shit. “That was fast.”
“Yeah, well…” He sounded irritable. “We would’ve been here sooner, except Bear had to put on his makeup and pantyhose or some such bullshit before we left the apartment.”
In the background, I could hear Bear telling Cannon to go suck it.
Then Cannon’s voice was in my ear again. “Give us a few minutes to set up a perimeter, then someone will give the shave-and-a-haircut knock on your door when we’re ready for retrieval.”
“The what knock?” I asked with no idea what he was talking about.
“You know,” Cannon prompted as if that would somehow jostle my memory, which it did not. Then he sang, “Dah-di-di-dah-di,” before pausing and adding, “Di-dit.”
