Page 85 of Covert Operation
Lydia shakes her head. “This sounds like it’ll be pretty straightforward. We can always call for backup if we need it.”
“Do you usually need it?” I’m not worried—I know Maddox can handle just about anything that comes our way—it’s more curiosity and interest in the process than anything else.
Lydia snorts. “Most guys aren’t too happy when they find out the woman they’ve been abusing is leaving them.” She gives me a little smile. “So there’s plenty of times we get to give them back a little of what they deserve.”
And I don’t hate the sound of that.
“So what I hear you saying is, I might get to kick some ass today?” Maddox sounds way too happy about the possibility.
I can’t blame him. He’s been stuck babysitting me while everyone else gets to go hunt down the jerks who blew up the building and chased Zeke and me through the woods.
“No.” Lydia easily crushes his dreams. “You’re going to hold him down while I stomp on his balls.”
I blink at the slim blonde as we step out onto the porch. “You don’t look like the kind of woman who stomps on balls.”
She flashes me a smile. “Any woman can be the kind who stomps on balls if they grind their foot hard enough.” Her grin widens. “I learned that from my best friend, Piper.”
“I’ve heard about her.” Maddox leads us down the sidewalk, sticking close in case we hit a slick spot, but surreptitiously lowers his hands over his crotch. “Zeke said she tased a guy in the nuts.”
“She also concussed a guy with a can of spray starch.” Lydia wiggles her brows at me. “Piper also taught me anything can be a weapon if you use it the right way.”
I’m still thinking about Lydia’s words as we pull away from the curb. Not the specific things she said, but how they made me feel. The change I’ve felt in myself in the few days I’ve been here. In my attitude. In my goals. In my plans for the future.
And I decide, I don’t care what it takes, I’m going to make sure Pierce finds a spot close enough to Memphis I can visit these people whenever I want. Help them whenever they need extra hands to dole out vigilante justice.
Because I’m sure Lydia does a great job kicking balls, but Shadow can do so much more.
By the time we reach our destination, I’ve got just as many plans going as Zeke does, and I’m confident he’ll be fine with every one of them.
I also have a plan that doesn’t really involve him, but I’ll have to talk to my sister about that one. I know we’ve had our differences lately, but I think we had a breakthrough this morning. Hopefully that means we’re on our way to a new normal.
A new normal that might be even better than our old one.
“This place isn’t what I was expecting.” Lydia frowns out the window as she looks over the isolated, run-down two-story at the address the woman provided. “No wonder she wants the hell out of here.”
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Maddox stops the SUV and picks up his phone, scanning the map displayed on the screen as Lydia double-checks her own.
“This is definitely the address she gave me.” Her brows pinch together as she makes a call, leaning to peer at the house as she presses the cell to her ear. When the woman on the other end answers, she says, “We just pulled up outside, can you see us?”
I watch as the front door to the dilapidated structure opens. I tap Maddox’s shoulder and point.
He nods as Lydia says, “Okay. We’ll be in to help carry your bags.”
“I guess it’s go time then.” Maddox opens his door before stepping back to open mine. He offers a hand as I get out, making sure I’m steady on my feet before letting go.
The snow here is relatively deep, but not nearly as high as it is in Alaska, so even though nothing has been shoveled, none of it drops down into my boots. It’s still treacherous though. I look over the driveway with dismay. “I hope her suitcases are light, because there’s no way we’ll be able to roll them through this.”
I pick my way across the front of the house, doing my best to step in Maddox’s footprints as he follows a slightly depressed area that might be a sidewalk. I’m so busy watching my feet that I don’t immediately notice when the front door opens wider. It’s not until an odd sound comes from inside the house that I look up.
Just in time to see Maddox stumble back, his body jolting as the strange sound continues. My brain still doesn’t make sense of what’s happening until he hits the snow, leaving streaks of red blood marring the pristine white surface as he fights to get up.
A man strides through the door, turning to me as he carelessly aims another silenced bullet at Maddox. The hatred in the gunman’s eyes as he stalks my way is unmistakable. “I finally got my hands on you, didn’t I, you little lying bitch.”
My feet scramble backward all on their own, but I’m not fast enough. I can’t even scream before a heavy hand clamps onto my hair. Then he’s dragging me inside as another man rushes out to grab Lydia as she attempts to flee.
What in the hell is happening?
I shove at the man, trying to break free so I can go check on Maddox. Go see if he’s okay even though I know he’s probably not.