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Redemption

We’re in the backseat of anUberXL,set to drop us off at a location predetermined by our host. From there, a car service will pick us up and take us to The Mansion. I don’t fucking like it, but it’s within the fine print of the invite.

It’s a way to control the guests’ arrival and departure; the host isn’t willing to house vehicles and further proof of attendance.

I had Jason add a tracking device to each of us. It’s a state-of-the-art chip the size of a fingernail and it sticks to any part of our skin like a bandaid. It’s undetectable and reliable. We use them on all our missions. This one is no exception.

We arrive at our first location and quickly put our masks on before stepping out. Three men in black suits escort us into a tent. I’m incapable of acquiring the behavior necessary to pass off as Niki’s submissive, and I show this by wrapping my arm protectively around her.

Olivia’s brows knit in my direction, then looks pointedly at the men that led us in.

“Put any and all electronics in this lockbox.”

Their security is a band of ten idiots. We’ve definitely got brains over brawn, and I scan the interior to find it empty of anything that can be used as a weapon.

Four rectangular folding tables occupy the space, along with heavy duty rolling bins. Each is marked with a number that corresponds to the batch of lockboxes placed inside. Ours is number eight.

“We don’t have anything,” Olivia says.

The man looks her up and down, scanning her with his eyes, and I suppress the urge to punch him.

“The instructions specifically stated the rules,” Niki offers, and I squeeze her waist.

She doesn’t show an ounce of fear or nerves, and I’m so fucking proud of her.

“Well, we can easily figure out if they have any hidden electronics on them,” a bulky one says.

Three men approach us, and I bristle at the action. My shoulders tense, and suddenly Jason’s voice tames the animalistic-like rage building in me. “Deep breaths, everyone. They’re not going to find anything. Just let them use their scanners.”

I do as he says and watch as one of them waves a wand over Olivia.

Jason keeps talking to us. “Good job, Libby. You’re next, Justice.”

I bristle at the mere realization that this fucker is waving a metal detector less than an inch from my woman’s skin, his eyes drinking her in. A snarl rips through me and a laugh resembling a snort leaves him.

“You’re next, tough guy.”

Jason’s voice directs his attention to me. “Deep breath, D. Kick his ass later.”

Kick his ass… Another chance and I’m going to fucking pummel his face in. He moves to Jasmin, who seems lost in her thoughts. She barely acknowledges the scanner.

The soon to be dead man turns and faces his comrades. “They’re clean.”

Olivia smiles a haughty grin, and Niki’s shoulders drop in relief. She isn’t used to this, and I get the sudden urge to throw her over my shoulder and get her the fuck out of here. But she would never forgive me. Sheneedsto do this. And for someone who’s crept within the shadows, gathering intel on a device to then share it on a media platform, she’s doing phenomenal.

I step away and lower to whisper in her ear. “I never did confirm whether the Tec9 was a myth or not.”

Niki faces me and smooths her thumb over my lower lip, as if cleaning her lipstick off me. “Guess you’ll never really know, rookie.”

Oh, I’ll find out. I wonder if Jason can read my mind after he clears his throat in my ear. That fucker seems to know what I’m thinking even before it crossesmymind. I realize now it may be due to his undeniable obsession and undying commitment to my cousin. He lost her once and is on a fucking mission to never let it happen again. I want to say he’s pathetic, but one look at Niki and I know I’d do worse. I don’t want to exist without her.

I hear the engine of a car and one of the men raises the tarp, guiding us outside where an SUV waits.

“Here the fuck we go,” Niki whispers.

The Mansion is enormous inside and out. The premises are guarded by a forest for a fence. It sits in the middle of a ten-thousand acre stretch of nothing but trees. The connectivity sizzles in my ear and I pretend to scratch at my lobe.

I clear my throat. “The music is nice.”

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