Page 76 of Pride
“Only because this plan makes sense,” he said, pointing at her. “And only because I sense a ridiculous amount of pride coming from these guards—it could mean they won’t see you coming.” He paused and canted his head, listening. “There’s something else. They’re talking…”
Alice hushed and waited patiently, feeling slightly awed at the godlike man next to her. He could hear a mile away if he wanted. What she wouldn’t give to have an ability like that. All the missions she could have used it on. Parker’s eyes skated back to her.
“What is it?” she asked.
“They’re talking about their boss, José… he told them the American boss—”
“Julius?”
“Maybe. He said the American has no clue what’s happening down here and they’ll get away with whatever they want. Soon their plans will be executed, with or without approval from the American.”
Alice frowned. “I thought Julius was a control freak.”
“So did I.”
“Do you think what’s happened with Despair had somehow affected his leadership status? Do you think there’s dissent within the Syndicate ranks?”
“I don’t know.” Parker rubbed his chin through the mask. “We assumed Julius was the leader because he used to be back when we were created. Hell, he was the sperm donor, for Christ’s sake. But maybe he’s just a means to an end for these other Syndicate leaders.”
They were silent for a moment, processing the new information. Parker looked thoughtful, his clever eyes focused inward as he was, no doubt, planning something dastardly. Alice had never thought the Syndicate—or Julius, rather—would spend resources hunting down the Sisterhood. They’d also let a few replicates get caught, and caused mass chaos at Lazarus Tech. The police were chasing Alice and Parker for a statement, but they’d managed to put them off. Not for long.
And if what these guards said was true, then Julius wasn’t in charge. He was just another cog in the broken machine.
“All right,” Parker said. “You go in first. I want you to see that I trust you.”
Something warm and pleasant unfurled in Alice’s chest. He couldn’t see her lips stretch into a smile, but he noticed her eyes crinkle.
“If you don’t hear from me five minutes after entry,” she started.
“I’m coming in after you, and I won’t be held responsible for what happens to anyone in my way.”
She nodded, and then moved. But he yanked her back to him, tugged both their masks down and kissed her like the world was on fire. Hot, salty man invaded her in every sense. That delicious, spiced musk of his curled around them as he plundered her mouth with his tongue. When he broke away, he left her breathless and shaky. The smile he gave was pure masculine ego.
“What was that for?” she whispered.
“So you know I’m serious. Five minutes and then I’m coming for you.”
* * *
Close to the barn,four guards in filthy clothes sat around a table laughing and carousing. Although Alice’s Spanish was passable, she concentrated more on their body language—they assumed they were safe. Certainly safe enough to get drunk and play games at this isolated farm.
Grubby shot glasses filled withguarosat next to an empty bottle, tipped over. Glassy eyes tracked movement as they played with a deck of cards. This wasn’t going to be a problem.
Parker spoke through her earpiece.“What’s taking so long?”
“Shut up.” She tugged her mask down to reveal her face and then unclipped her weapon’s holster, dropping it to the ground.
“What are you doing?”
“Shhh.”
Alice checked the poison-laced pins in her hair and then fluffed her locks and sauntered toward the guards, doing her best to hide her limp with a sashay. The skydive drop had irritated it, despite what she’d told Parker, but she didn’t want him to think she wasn’t capable.
She unzipped her jacket to show the lingerie beneath, breasts pushed up enticingly. She had to admit, when she’d picked this particular bra from Parker’s closet, she hadn’t thought these men would be the first to see it on her. As suspected, each alcohol ridden set of eyes landed on the vicinity of her chest and leered.
Alice fanned herself and told them in Spanish that she was lost and thirsty before pouting like a femme fatale.Can anyone help?
One of the guards, a man with a thin mustache, raised incredulous brows. Alice never really expected them to believe an innocent woman would stumble into this remote facility, but the worst case scenario was that she’d put them off guard. Best case was she’d distract them all enough to take them down.
