Page 79 of Lure

Clear. Factual. Straightforward.

Grace studied all of us for a beat then nodded. “That does sound reasonable. Are we still running okay on time?”

“Yes,” Bones answered. “We all need rest and Alphabet has some work to do. Tomorrow, we’ll do some recon. We’ll refine our plan then.”

A message came through on my phone and I stared at it.

“It’s Doc,” I told them and pulled on my headset before I called him back.

Conversation continued with the others, but I tuned it out as I focused on Doc’s request. He needed information on a place and more on a person.

Gracie let out a laugh then spritzed Lunchbox with water from her bottle. Goblin was up and while he didn’t bark, he was keeping an eye on them. It took me a minute or two longer than necessary, but I got Doc what he needed.

“C’mon, Firecracker,” Voodoo said, holding out a hand to her. “Show me which room you picked.”

Lunchbox snorted softly and Bones just shook his head, but I got it. She had bad dreams. She trusted Voodoo with them.

“Doc good?” Bones asked after they went upstairs and I lifted my chin.

“For now.” The information I gave him had satisfied him for now. “If he needs more…”

I didn’t have to finish that because Lunchbox just bumped his fist to my shoulder. If he needed anything, including us, we’d go.

Now, I focused on Maurizio Gallo and his place here. I had some work to do and the guys needed sleep. Goblin settled at my feet and propped his head against my left foot. The low snores vibrated up my leg, but I just let my mind settle into the work.

Chapter

Twenty-Nine

GRACE

Dawn came swiftly, too swiftly. Normally, I objected to being awake so early unless I had a shoot. Even then, I wasn’t a fan but I did my job. Every noise in the night had roused me. Instead of bad dreams waking me, I’d spent most of my night blinking awake as though I had not slept at all.

I would have objected today as well, but it was Voodoo sliding to the edge of the bed that woke me this time. He turned his head, glancing at me over his shoulder. “You should go back to sleep if you can.”

Pushing up on my elbows, I shook my head. “I don’t know that I can.”

“You didn’t sleep much last night.” Twisting, he frowned at me.

“If you know that, then you didn’t either.” I meant it as a joke, but my yawn punched that out of it. “Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about…” He slid a hand toward me but a light knock on the door stilled him and he sighed. “It’s open,” he said even as he stood.

It was Lunchbox who stuck his head inside. “Food is up.” He glanced at me. “Morning, Gracie.”

“Morning,” I said, smothering another yawn. “Is there coffee?”

“There is, but if you want to go back to sleep…”

“She’s not,” Voodoo told him as he snagged a t-shirt and pulled it over his head. The muscles on his back rippled with each motion. “Mission anxiety.”

“Familiar.” Lunchbox shot me a look of sympathy. “Come on down then, I’ll fix you something too.”

The idea of food was utterly unpalatable, but I pushed the blankets back and slid out of the bed. I was already in a t-shirt, and I just needed to pull on shorts. The sun was up outside, and if it was as warm today as it had been the day before, I wouldn’t need much else.

Voodoo held the door for me, but closed it as I got there and stole my breath with a quick kiss. “Hmm,” he murmured against my lips. “Better than coffee.”

Heat scalded my cheeks. “I haven’t brushed my teeth.”

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