“Tristan,” my sister retorted. “Don’t think for a second you have the right to tell me what I can and cannot do.”
Georgie started to say something when Deck sent her a warning look that had her snapping her mouth shut and frowning.
“You’re not going near this shit. It’s fuckin’ Colombia,” Tristan growled.
“This is so not happening.” Chess crossed her arms, stance wide, defensive and ready to take on the CEO. He, of course, looked unconcerned that she was pissed off or that she’d be pissed for a very long time.
“My plane is scheduled to leave in two hours.” And he was smart to leave it to the last second to tell her. “We’re leaving for the airport in ten.”
“WHAT?” she yelled. “Tristan. No.” She looked around the room as if for help, then settled on London.
London shifted uncomfortably beside me and then her eyes were on me. “Kai?”
“Moreno will come after us with everything he has when we go after the farm. He won’t take a hit lightly.” I glanced at Deck and he gave me a subtle nod. “Chess, London and Georgie go to Greece. Josh will go with. Along with Connor who will be sedated for the trip.” I addressed London, “I need you to continue weaning him off the drug.”
Chess marched from the room. Tristan wasn’t far behind.
“Deck—,” Georgie started, but was cut off as he interrupted.
“Not having you near this any longer.” Deck looked unconcerned that Georgie was fuming, her eyes glaring, her cheeks heated and red.
“I can help, damn it. Kai, tell him.”
I shrugged. “No choice. I said I’d support him on this, Georgie.”
Her mouth dropped open and I knew why. I never called her Georgie. She’d always been Chaos, but shit had changed. She was Deck’s girl now and I didn’t work for Vault. This was about respect and I had it for Deck.
“What? You trained me. You made me into Chaos and I know what I’m doing. I can help.”
“Maybe,” I said. “But I don’t call the shots. Not when it comes to you. Not anymore.”
Her eyes darted back to Deck. “You’re really doing this?”
He nodded and his scowl deepened, but his gesture contradicted that when he tucked her hair behind her ear and said in a quiet, calm voice. “Need you safe, baby. And I need you to do this for me. I can’t do my job if I’m worried about you.” She opened her mouth, but he wasn’t done yet. “You could be the best assassin in the world and I’d still send you to Greece. This isn’t about what you’re capable of, babe. This is about letting me protect you.”
London moved in closer to me, and when I glanced down at her face I caught the tear slipping down her cheek to drip off her chin.
I saw the moment Georgie gave in to him when her shoulders slumped and she sighed. Then she said, “Looks like you only have ten minutes to rock my world, sweetpea.”
Deck snorted while scowling, but his lip twitched as he snagged her hand and pulled her from the room.
London had yet to say anything about going to Greece and I knew why. She understood why this had to happen this way because she’d been immersed in bad shit. No matter how brave and strong she was or pretended to be, she needed to be far from this.
“You good?” I asked her.
She stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed my lips. “I don’t want to go to Colombia, and I don’t want you to either. But I know you have to do this.” Her hand slid down the front of my chest, over the scars that she’d kissed and licked last night. “You’ll come back to me?”
“Told you right from the beginning I’d never lie to you, so I’m not starting now. Can’t promise that. But I’m good at what I do, so yeah, I expect I will.”
Took her a bit, but then she smiled and I put my hand on the small of her back to guide her toward the door. “Ernie, give me ten.”
“Later, London,” Ernie said.
She suddenly bolted from my arms and ran to Ernie, throwing herself into his. I heard his oomph as he staggered back a step. I grinned. Ernie laughed.
“Be careful. Love you.”
She kissed him on the cheek and came back to me. I linked our hands and started heading for the stairs when I heard the rush of water draining through the pipes.
She didn’t notice, nor did Tyler and Josh who were arguing over whether it was cool to fuck a chick on the first date. Tyler thought it was. Josh didn’t.
“What is it?” London asked, her hand on my arm.
It could’ve been someone showering, but it wasn’t a gentle flow of water. This sounded too powerful like—“Fuck. Connor.”
Jesus Christ, he broke the fuckin’ pipe he was cuffed to.
“Tyler,” I shouted. “Take her. Josh, get Deck. Ernie, side door. Connor’s free.” I made certain Tyler had London before I took off for the basement. I heard Josh running up the stairs yelling for Deck, and a door slam. Ernie headed for the side door. The shattering of glass breaking solidified that we were too late.