I tell myself that he needed more privacy. The first house was fine for killing, but he feared keeping Violet Navarro so close to her home. Out at the new house, if she escaped, she’d need to walk a mile to find help. In the Boulders, she could run right next door.
I want so much to believe Violet’s alive. Saving her will alleviate the guilt I feel for not saving those other women that people have forgotten so easily.
“You can’t come with us,” River says after his brother leaves to keep an eye on O’Meara’s house.
As soon as we got a photo of Barry and his car, I was able to ID him from the information in my office. The Fearsome Foursome, Maverick, and Goliath immediately started working out our plan. After stalking his house for two days, we plan to hit him in the morning. Now, River is ruining my end game.
“This is my thing. I made this happen,” I say and shove River.
“This asshole could be armed to the teeth. We can’t chance you being there.”
“You’re all going.”
Taylor hugs me from behind while Goliath tries his best not to freak out. He doesn’t want me going either. None of them do. Baby Kirby makes me a liability.
“But we’re a team,” I whine quietly, in shock that they would leave me behind.
Taylor whispers in my ear. “You can wait in the car.”
“No,” Goliath growls.
“Yes,” Taylor growls back. “She can’t sit in this house, worrying and waiting. It’ll agitate her. It’s not good for the baby, and stress can set off a migraine.”
River glances at Shane, who shakes his head. I realize they’re going to outvote Taylor and me.
“Please. I’ll stay in the car and wrap myself in Kevlar.”
Goliath makes the mistake of holding my gaze. I beg him to let me come. Shane can’t put me at risk. River will bend to Shane’s fear. Goliath has to be the tiebreaker.
If I had Goliath alone, I could convince him. Instead, we’re surrounded by people who prevent me from using my Shelby charms on him. Based on his expression, I know he won’t take my side.
Then he goes and shows I haven’t gotten him pegged yet by saying, “You never leave the car.”
“No,” Shane growls.
Goliath frowns at my brother. “At least in the car, I’ll know where she is.”
“You’ll know where she is if she’s in the house,” Shane says, scowling up at the bigger man. “She can’t go.”
“You took her to kill Swamp Thing and those other guys.”
“Yeah, but she wasn’t five months pregnant then.”
Seeing my chance, I point out, “But I won’t be doing anything besides sitting in the car.”
“You can sit here.”
Frowning at my little brother, I cry, “I can’t see what’s happening from here!”
“Once we’re inside, you won’t be able to see anything there either.”
“Shane, you got outvoted. Just accept it,” I say, frowning at my baby bruv. “I’m coming.”
“We’ll ask Maverick, and he can make it a tie, which means you don’t go.”
Hugging my brother, I sigh. “That’s not how anything works, Shane. It’s okay. I promise I won’t leave the car.”
“We’re sticking you right there in front of his house,” he says, sounding so young that I nearly give into him. “The fucking car is meant to draw his attention away from us attacking at the back. How is putting you there safe?”
“He doesn’t know we’re coming. It’ll be early, and he’ll hear a car out front. His mind won’t be focused enough to know what’s coming. Once you breach the back door, he’ll have bigger issues.”
Shane’s expression reminds me so much of when he was a kid. Right this second, he isn’t the Reapers’ VP or a husband and father. He’s my kid brother, afraid I’ll end up hurt again. Even after all these years, he can’t let go of the night when I called him, bloodied and scared.
“Do you swear on Mom’s heart and sanity that you won’t leave the SUV no matter what happens?” he asks.
I smile at him and then turn my gaze to Goliath. “I swear I’ll stay put no matter what.”
The men exhale in unison, both wanting to rethink their most recent decisions. Goliath especially worries that he made the wrong choice. Caring so much about someone is all new to him, and he’d keep me locked away if he could. But he also doesn’t want me to change because he loves this me. His head must be a confusing place right now.
THE GOLIATH
I’m in new territory. Normally when