Page 71 of Hush (Fighting Fate)

Noah

It was Tuesday morning when we got word that The Shadow had been busted by the police. TJ had come back to The Den after hearing the rumors, flicking on the TV, and we’d watched it all unfold over the news. They’d found the house he’d been shacked up in, as well as the warehouse he’d set up his new laboratory in. In all, eight people had been arrested.

Aaron wasn’t one of them.

The bust had been great fucking news for the operation though, because by that afternoon, the exchange with Mr. X had been set for two days’ time. Apparently Mr. X figured there couldn’t be a more perfect time to do it, seeing as the cops were already busy processing The Shadow’s mess.

The hard part now was how to get a message to my team, because the minute the deal had been set, TJ practically had everyone on lockdown. We were still allowed to go out, but if we did, we had to go in pairs like fucking first graders. The only way I thought I might manage to get the details out there was a last ditch attempt that had been agreed upon at my last briefing.

In the privacy of my room, I quickly scrawled the basics on the inside of my cigarette packet, before shoving the last three cigarettes back in there and making my way downstairs.

I’d already decided I’d be taking Davo with me. He was the least watchful of them all.

Reaching the bottom step, I checked my wallet. “I’m going to get some pizza. I’m fucking starving. Who’s coming with?” I let my gaze land on Davo last and inclined my head a little.

He nodded and pushed to his feet. “Yeah, I’ll go. I want to grab some more brews.”

“Fuck yeah,” Mac said, stubbing out his joint. “Get me a pepperoni with extra sauce.”

I purposely pulled out a smoke and lit up. Nodding, I blew out a puff. “Anyone else?”

TJ grunted. “You may as well get us all the usual. We’ve got some business to take care of later so I want everyone here.”

With a swift nod, I grabbed the keys off the table and strode out the door, Davo close behind me.

After we ordered, I went outside and positioned myself near the trash can and lit up. That was the signal. I hoped someone was fucking watching, otherwise I was screwed.

I just had one more to smoke then I could deliver the message. Thankfully, the pizza shop was busy tonight so we still had a while to wait.

Stubbing out the cigarette, I made sure I talked with Davo a bit before lighting the last one, making sure I was right where I’d been standing before. Scrunching up the now empty smoke packet, I tossed it in the trash, mentally crossing my fingers.

If the others were doing their job properly, they now had access to all the information they needed to set up the sting. The only thing that worried me was not knowing how it was all going to go down. I just hoped the S.W.A.T guys knew what the fuck I looked like.

Our order was called out and Davo went in to grab them while I finished off my smoke. A tinkling laugh caught my attention and I looked over the tables and chairs scattering the sidewalk to see Kate sitting on Zac’s lap, laughing at something he was saying. Relief washed over me, knowing the drop was being met.

Davo was just walking out the doors when I felt my cellphone vibrate in my pocket. The second I saw TJ’s name flashing across the screen, I went on full alert. Throwing my butt on the ground, I swiped the screen.

“Yeah.”

“We might have a problem.”

I tensed at his words. Fuck. Did he know something? “What’s up?”

“It seems your woman’s been missing since yesterday.”

Everything inside me went still. I was suddenly filled with a fear I’d never experienced before.

When it finally caught up with me, I exploded. “What the fuck do you mean she’s missing?!” I shouted, not giving a fuck there were people now staring at me.

“I just got a message from Ken, asking i

f you had her. You don’t have her do you, Mitch?”

The motherfucker actually sounded amused. I’d never been so grateful for making out I was a possessive dick before, because there was no way I was going to be able to hide how fucking pissed off I was that someone had the audacity to touch her.

“You know I don’t fucking well have her! Exactly when did she go missing?”

“Ken said she didn’t come home from school yesterday.”

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