Page 77 of No Lies No Promises

Her hazel eyes, almost brown in this light, meet mine as if we were the only two people on the jet. “I will find the air-gapped laptop. I’m telling you, the PC will hold the answers to everything we need.”

Sounds like a unicorn. A thought I keep to myself.

Dante frowns, skepticism written all over his face. “If this computer is so critical, wouldn’t he keep it on his person?”

“You’d think so, but no. It’s one of the reasons he’s avoided jail for so many years…,” she bites her lower lip, “that and having witnesses murdered.”

“Do we know where he’s at?” Not wanting her anywhere near the crime boss, I half-hope the answer is no.

“San Antonio.” Daed tilts his head at me. “Sorry.”

“The warehouse! Now I’m sure I can find it.” As Lillian smacks a fist into her palm, Dante studies my face.

“You okay with this?”

“Sure.” Hell no. But if I want my relationship to work, I need to let her take charge of this operation.

“Check your screens.” His mouse doing the pointing, Daed shares his blueprints. “The office is on the second floor. We enter on the south side, cross the manufacturing area, then head up the stairs. You’ll want to grab the laptop and get out. If it isn’t there, we leave.”

“What about security?” My fists clench under the table.

As a soft hand reaches into my lap, the monitor switches to an infrared satellite view of the building. “Most of the guards stay near the trucks or the loading dock.”

I count at least a dozen. Jesus, are we really going to do this?

Chapter 41

Lillian

For the rest of the flight, the guys toss out ideas, agreeing to some, discarding the clunkers. Every so often, they ask me about my father and his habits. They ask about Sean’s leg, which he insists is fine. The time goes by so fast, the thump of the landing gear surprises me.

Sean grabs my hand, keeping me from following the others down the stairs.

“I’m so, so sorry, babe.” He sounds contrite, but I’m not letting him off easy. We found a comfortable working relationship. Perhaps we should leave it there.

Not cool, not warm, I’m as neutral as Switzerland. “For what?”

Closing his eyes, Sean rubs a hand across his stubbled chin. “For thinking kidnapping you was for your benefit. For allowing Jeff Pearson to convince me I was just like my father. For believing I could ever, ever live without you.”

If I’ve learned anything, it’s that despite our occupations, we couldn’t be more different. Being brought up by a criminal leaves scars, some so deep, I’m just beginning to find them. “You were right, but we can still work together… as friends.”

“Not happening.” He kisses me until my mouth opens in surrender.

As my hands slide behind his neck and through his hair, Dante shouts, “Yo, lovebirds.”

He gestures toward a black van with muddied plates idling nearby. “Glad you made up, but it’s time to go.”

My lips still stinging from the heated kiss, I shadow Sean into the back. Dante’s up front, sitting next to a driver he knows, but the rest don’t seem to recognize him. Mace and Daed take the middle row.

En route, the team passes comms around like Skittles. Earpiece in place, I clip the mic to my collar and add my voice to the test queue.

“How much farther?” Sean twists, eyeing the road behind us.

“Five clicks,” the driver answers.

“Three miles.” Leaning forward, Mace punches his arm. “We’re civies now.”

While the guys trade barbs, I swallow hard. We’re about to attempt something we all agree is a Hail Mary, at best. How can they act so casual?