Wider eyes and he nodded.
He got me.
“Advice,” I continued. “Find another job as a barista and spread your joy that way. You keep growing, you being you, you’ll be dead in five years. I’m seriously pissed at you, but I don’t want you dead. Stop being a moron and make that happen.”
He nodded again though this was less sure.
God.
Rosie.
“Now go,” I ordered.
He went.
My man got close to my back and his mouth came to my ear where he said quietly, “Hurry this shit up, baby, ‘cause what you got last night after I watched you slide down a pole upside down while straddling it is gonna be nothin’ to what I give you tonight watchin’ you be badass.”
I turned and glared up at him. “Don’t turn me on while I’m working, Zano.”
His lips quirked.
“Jesus,” Mace muttered.
“Enough out of you,” I demanded, pointing at Mace. I swung my eyes through the crew and finished, “Now let’s go.”
And with that, we went.
* * * * *
We pulled up to the last house on our list, Mace driving one of Lee’s black company Explorers, me in the passenger seat, Ren behind me.
I stared at the house, sheets covering the windows, weak light coming from nearly every window in the house. There were people moving behind the sheets, and not a few.
Den o’ Tweakers having a late night party.
Shit.
“This is it,” I whispered.
“Fuck yeah, it is,” Mace agreed.
I turned to him, leaning forward and pulling out my phone. “I’m calling Hector. We don’t go in until they’re here. You’re lead. You go to the front, Ren the back. I’m on you. You got an extra gun for Ren?”
“Glove compartment,” Mace grunted.
I hit go on Hector, put my phone to my ear and opened the glove compartment to get the gun for Ren. I undid my seatbelt and leaned around the seat to hand it to him. I heard gun noises as Ren got familiar with it, and it didn’t surprise me he was familiar with guns.
I didn’t let my mind go there, and couldn’t as I engaged with Hector. I told him where we were and to get to us. I also told him their positions. He confirmed and I disconnected, shoving the phone back in my jeans pocket.
“Hector and Tex will take the sides.” I looked around the seat to Ren. “Shit goes down, baby, you disappear,” I ordered gently.
I saw his mouth get tight and the muscle jump in his jaw. This was silent badass for Want you to disappear instead of me, and I belatedly rethought Ren’s ride along.
It should be noted, though, that I loved him like crazy, but I loved him more when he kept his mouth shut and just jerked up his chin.
“The feel of that house, this operation just became mine,” Mace declared, and I looked at him. “You steer clear unless you get my signal, yeah?”
“Gotcha,” I replied immediately, and he did a slow blink.
He thought I’d argue.
He’d learn.
And what he’d learn was that I was a badass. But not a stupid one.
“Stun gun at the ready, Ally,” Mace kept ordering.
I nodded.
We saw the headlights of a Yukon coming our way, the lights going out before it parked.
Hector’s ride.
“Move out,” Mace muttered and we moved.
Ren disappeared quickly. I saw Hector waste no time crossing the yard and vanishing around the side of the house. Tex was lumbering, but his position was closer. He also wasted no time and took it.
I turned on my stun gun as Mace walked right up to the front door.
