Page 75 of Veiled Vengeance

“He’s in the parking garage with the car.” Griffin tilts his head towards the door.

“Let’s get a move on then.” Zane slings his duffle and mine over his shoulder, motioning for Griffin to lead the way.

I hang back with Rio on our walk to the parking garage. “How does Zane know this guy?”

“Griffin, his brother, and Zane were in the foster system together for a bit.” Rio grabs my hand and interlaces our fingers.

“In Texas?”

“Yeah, Zane bounced from home to home after his foster sister died. He was down here in Texas for a bit because his social worker thought that getting some distance from New Jersey would be good for him.”

We approach a blacked-out Ford Bronco with a man who looks identical to Griffin sitting on the hood. His hair is slicked back and longer than Griffin’s. He hops down and walks right up to Zane.

Rio reads my confused face and says, “They’re twins.”

“No shit,” I whisper back with all the sass I can muster.

“About time,” Knox teases with a small curve of his lips. He’s a little more reserved and broodier than Griffin.

“Beauty takes time, Knox,” Zane teases back. He shakes Knox’s hand, and they both lean in for a typical bro hug. “Knox, this is Spencer. Spencer, this is Knox—Griffin’s twin.”

I reach my hand out, and Knox returns the gesture. “Nice to meet you,” I greet him.

“Hey! Why does he get to shake her hand, and I don’t?” Griffin crosses his arms.

“You know why,” Zane deadpans.

Griffin drops his offended act and gestures to the car. “She’s all yours. The supplies you requested are in the trunk, and the tank is full.”

Knox tosses the keys to Zane, who catches them with one hand. “Thanks, guys.”

“No problem! See y’all later.” Griffin waves as he and Knox get into a red F-150 and drive away.

“Well, that was fun. Let’s get to it.” Rio opens the back door and motions for me to get inside. Once I’m settled, he slides in after me while Zane and Asher take their seats in the front.

The drive is easy to the Post Oak Hotel. There’s an argument over what music to play, but that’s to be expected.

Once we arrive, we park in the Post Oak Hotel parking lot, and Zane turns off the engine.

Looking up at the building, I express my doubt. “Are you sure she’s here?”

“Positive,” Zane confirms.

“You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready, Princess.” Asher’s concern is endearing, but I’m ready for this. I’ve been ready for this.

My response is to get out of the car and open the back hatch. My men follow me, and I dig around in the canvas bag. I feel the cool steel under my fingertips. I take it out of the bag and check the slide and the magazine, then I screw the silencer on the end.

Rio groans. “Fuck. That was hot.”

I shoot Rio a wink. “Let’s go.”

We follow Asher to the back entrance, where Zane uses a fake keycard to open the door. The stairwell is easy to find, but the ten flights of stairs we have to climb almost kill me.

Before we enter the hall, Zane disables the security cameras. He gives Asher a single nod, letting him know we’re good to continue.

Zane opens the door to room number 1016 the same way he opened the back door of the hotel. Asher enters first, as usual, and Rio, Zane, and I follow him. Shopping bags from high end stores are scattered all over the couch and coffee table. Aside from that, the entire suite is empty except for the person sleeping in the bed.

I approach the bed on light feet while Asher, Rio, and Zane stand behind me.

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