The red ticks were where her people were setting up, including where we were standing right now. The roads—driveways—leaving the property were all direct. At least according to the map.
“If they have a boat—that could be a problem.”
“I have people watching the river. Dimitri has a good group here,” Margareta assured me. “We will find your sister, Lainey.”
Like the guys before, she sounded so confident, I wanted to believe her.
Bodhi appeared next to me. “We’re going,” he told me. “You and I are going over land. They’re giving us a fifteen minute head start.”
“Coat,” Margareta said briskly as she stripped off the jacket she was wearing. “Are you armed?”
I had my baton, my taser, and my knife. “I have enough and I have Bodhi.”
She glanced from me to him. “I won’t ask if you’re armed.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I appreciate the confidence. Let’s go, Buttercup.”
The use of that nickname in front of everyone made me splutter even as I tugged the coat on. “Right behind you, Trouble.”
“Next to me,” he said, cupping my elbow. He set the pace, but he didn’t lengthen his stride. I wasn’t having to take two steps for each one he did. The dark around us seemed to close in as we left the puddle of light around the cars.
I didn’t glance back. I knew they were there. That was enough for me. The cold air was almost abrasive to my lungs, but I found myself craving it.
Between the walking and the cold, the shaking in my system eased. “What’s our job?”
I’d heard portions of it, and I should have paid closer attention. It had grown more difficult because we were so close. Impatience had never been such a battle for me before.
“Our job is to find Andrea. I have a rough idea of the layout for the school. Multiple training and class rooms on the first and second floor. Third floor and then in the back are the dorms. Or at least, what looks like dorms.”
I licked my lips.
“We have no idea how many are in there, what the security situation is going to be. I will handle any on the ground security guards. You will watch my back.”
“What about electronic surveillance?”
“One thing at a time, Buttercup. One thing at a time.”
The darkness enveloped us as Bodhi led us off the driveway and onto the lawn. If not for the half-moon above, I wouldn’t be able to see anything.
It wasn’t long before the building loomed ahead. “Trouble?”
“We’re going to find her,” he said. “Keep that a fixed point in your head. We’re going to find her.”
Chapter
Thirty-Two
LAINEY
As we approached, the building loomed larger and larger. Outdoor lighting was definitely at a premium because it was sketchy at best. I kind of wished I’d gotten to see what the building looked like in daylight or even a photograph of it.
The Gothic-appearing architecture just added to the creep factor. I half-expected there to be some eerie soundtrack playing.
“Breathe,” Bodhi said, half-exhaling the word next to my ear. We’d paused and he’d gone to a crouch, bringing me with him. I tried to scan the darkness, looking for any potential threats. “Lainey B.”
The command in his voice was impossible to ignore so I turned my attention to him.
“Tell me the truth, can you do this?”
“It’s a little late if I can’t,” I admitted.
“I can get you back to the others,” he said. “I need you to be okay with going in. I need you to be aware of your surroundings and not panicking.”
The adrenaline dump had my nerves singing again. “Bodhi, I need to be there for her. I can do this.” I took a deeper breath, the vise around my chest easing. “I know I can do this.”
He ghosted his fingers down the side of my face. “Then stay with me, watch my back, and let me clear the obstacles on our way.”
“I’m going to kill anyone who tries to hurt you.” It came out far more matter-of-fact than the match striking against my temper would suggest. But I needed the fire of that to combat the icy chill in my soul.
He paused, as though considering it, then nodded slowly. “Very well, I will allow that.”
I could practically taste his smile. Trusting his instincts, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. It was a fierce kiss, a promise and an oath. It wasn’t about passion or desire, though they were both present. This was claiming and faith.
“Hmm… I give you shoes, I get a declaration. I give you permission and I get a kiss.”
“You give me gems and I get orgasms.”
