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He glances behind us, then back at me. “Promise me, Raven. Three minutes.”
“I promise.” As the words leave my mouth, my chest constricts to the point of causing me physical pain, but I don’t get the chance to dwell for long.
Luca’s lips press to mine, his tongue tasting me for the briefest of seconds, then he’s pulling away and turning to walk in the opposite direction.
I watch his retreating form, trying to get my anxiety under control, something that doesn't happen until he looks back one last time and nods at me. His final confirmation that he trusts me and has faith I can complete the task I’ve been given.
That isn’t a cure-all for my nerves, but it’s the boost I need as I crouch lower to the ground and wait for the bomb to go off.
20
LUCA
Walking away from Olivia, leaving her to do what only she can accomplish quietly, without resulting in injury for Tori, is the last thing I wanted to do, but when we came up with this plan yesterday, I knew we couldn’t do it without her.
Two things need to happen right now: Bryson needs to be injured enough to go to the hospital again, and Tori needs to escape. While I can handle Bryson, none of us were going to be able to get Tori out without hurting her in the process. None of us except Olivia.
Jaxon is setting the bomb, and I’ll be right behind him. Bryson made this personal when he wrote that note and I need to be certain that this plan goes as it should. Markus is watching the front of the house with two others. His most important job will be making sure Olivia doesn’t run into any issues.
While the job I’ve given her has to be done on her own, she won’t be alone.
Damon and his crew are on the backside of the house, watching for Titan to escape. If he does, we’ll grab him, but no one is going in the house further than the hole we put in the wall outside of what I presume is Bryson’s room, thanks to the recon my men have been doing over the last five days.
So far, outside of killing that man for Olivia, everything has gone to plan. Though, I can’t help wondering if I hadn’t gone back for her, what would she have done?
Stabbing his heart was nothing for me, and I expected a bit more of a reaction from her, but even when she told me he was one of the men who hurt her, there was very little emotion in her voice or on her face.
It’s something I think the two of us need to talk about. Not that I could possibly shame her for wanting him dead, but if she’s going to have a thirst for the blood of her enemies, then I need to know. Mostly so I can help and she doesn’t end up putting herself into a situation that she can’t get out of.
My phone vibrates with a text.
Jaxon: Bag in place. Be where you’re supposed to be and nobody will lose a limb.
Considering it seems as if Titan has welcomed an attack on this house, I don’t hide behind anything. I stand on the opposite side of the yard from where I know Olivia is hunched down and stay within the shadows. If someone walked out the front door, they’d see me, but for the moment, I’m safe here.
It has frustrated me to no end that I haven’t figured out Titan’s endgame and why he’s all of a sudden not running from me. After today, hopefully all of that will change.
Bryson is the key. He has to be. Otherwise, I don’t understand the point of the note he left for me with that nurse.
I watch the clock and then the house where I can see the bag peeking out from behind a grouping of flowers that I don’t know the name of. Though, I’m certain my Raven does.
There’s a beep, and the ground beneath my feet shakes with the force of the explosion. Brick siding from the house scatters across the yard with glass mixed in. Smoke billows up from the hole in the wall, and shouts start within the house.
As much as I want to watch for Olivia and make sure she gets where she’s supposed to be, I need to trust Markus to do his job while I do mine.
After just a few seconds, I run toward the newly made hole, noticing Jaxon coming from around the side of the house to watch my back. We have to be quick. I have no doubts Titan and his men will be here within moments. I’m only going to make sure the bomb did its job and provide a distraction for Olivia to get Tori.
I walk over the rubble, glancing left and right. I don’t see anyone in the room, so I move in further. The lights are off, but it's midday and I can see well enough. When I look around the bed, the floor there is empty.
“Fuck,” I hiss. I’m going to have to go further into the house and do the job myself, which complicates things and puts me at risk of not getting back to Olivia in time, but we have a backup plan for that, too.
I push forward and hear Jaxon behind me. “Plan B?”
“Yep.”
“I got your back,” he assures me, but it’s not necessary. I already know he would die for me. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be here.
As soon as I step into the hallway, a force collides with me. Both of us teeter from the impact, but I grab onto the shirt of the man in front of me, drawing my gun. I’m a half-second from putting a bullet through his skull when my eyes meet his.
