Page 30 of We Do

We see their taillights turn off.

“Wait,” I cry out as she goes past. “That was the turn.”

“I know, but the sign said private property. There was a gate that opened for them. They probably have cameras watching.”She drives a little farther and does a U-ie and pulls off the road out of sight of the driveway. “Hand me the phone.”

She puts it on speaker and dials. “Yeah,” Diego answers, already in mid-conversation. “We’re pretty sure that property belongs to a shell company owned by DeStefano. We’re working on search warrants but are talking to a judge and have stated exigent circumstances. She’s given us the go ahead. We’re about fifteen minutes behind you.”

“Do you have a map? If I go up the road to the property next door, can we cut through the woods on foot?”

“Not sure.”

“Fifteen minutes?” I ask. “We just need to distract them until you get here, right.”

“Stay put. We’ll be there in less,” Diego says.

“Okay. Hurry.” I jump from the car and run up the drive dodging under the fence.

I hear a car door slam. It takes no time for Roja to catch up. “This is really stupid.”

“Let me go to the door. I’m who they want. That way maybe you can sneak in another way and buy us time until Diego gets here.” I pull the dog tags from my pocket. “I found this on the roof. It’s Phil’s dog tags but there’s a flash drive, too.”

“Give me your weapon.”

“Why?”

“Because they’ll disarm you immediately if you walk in with one. If you have one, they’ll assume you know how to use it. Not having one, they may get sloppy around you.

“Take off the balaclava.” She pulls her own off as she speaks and removes the stick holding her top knot in place. “This is a very thin but deadly dagger. The blade is hidden in the stem, which is actually a sheath.”

She puts the covered hair stick in my hand and places the tip against her belly. “Strike under the ribcage and go for the heart.Push up and slightly angled from here.” She lays it against her torso in example. “Hard and fast, do not hesitate.”

She shows me how to slide it out of the sheath. “You saw what he did to Phil. Don’t pull it if you can’t use it. You’ll only get one chance. Any hesitation and you’re dead. Or someone else is. If you can’t do it, get it to one of the guys.

“If they have sensors they’ll already know they’ve had a breach from the gate. We run as one, I’ll be behind and match your steps. Maybe they’ll think it’s just you. Stall, stall, stall. Diego should be here soon.

“Any shots, hit the floor and roll for cover. Kade and Rico will take care of themselves.”

Together we race up the edge of the dirt road. She stays in the shadows behind me. As we get close, she peels off into the forest behind a large tree then I lose her all together. I keep running until the house comes into view and charge up the broad porch stairs.

“Well look who’s here.” The porch lamp comes on. Phil’s killer stands behind me. “How’d you know where to find us?”

“My mom told me about this place.”

The door opens and DeStefano stands in the light. “I never brought your mother here.”

“Well, you know Mom. She was nosey as hell and always checking people and places out. She probably followed you one time.”

Phil’s killer pushes me through the door and into the room.

My men are tied to two wooden chairs in the middle of the floor with a plastic tarp under them. Rico looks the worst for wear. One eye swollen shut, a split lip and slightly hunched over to one side, as if favoring his ribs.

The mental anguish in Kades eyes says it all. His shirt is ripped open and a wound from shoulder to just under his heart is trickling blood. Bruises have already formed on his abdomen.

“Your mom was a greedy bitch. Never knew when to stop asking for more.” DeStefano looks me over. “You’re a damn sight prettier than her. You suck cock too, for pretty trinkets?”

Stall. The voice comes over my earbud.

I lift my chin. “No. That’s short-term employment. Information is my thing. It’s ever fluid. Hear it today, pass it on tomorrow. Being in the right place to learn things, that’s job security.

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