Page 86 of Keep Me Safe
“You’re my favorite sister,” she said. “You remember when I told you that, at your graduation? It’s still true.”
I could see the thoughts tumbling in Kara’s brain, processing the strange statement, because L hadn’t said that. She’d claimed for months she couldn’t make it to Kara’s college graduation ceremony, only to appear minutes before, revealing it had been a planned surprise.
This was the way we would tell Kara we were coming for her. Her message from the butcher’s shop had made it to us. Would she understand what L was trying to say?
“I remember.” Kara’s voice was strong. She got it. There was a new light in her eyes that she quickly hid. “How is... he?”
I exhaled loudly, my body softening. Once again, her life was in danger, but she was worrying about me. I wanted to tell her I was here. That I was coming for her.Just hang on.
“He’s worried,” L said. “We’re all worried about what Juric’s doing to you. What he might be making you do.” Her lips mouthed the word“Trap?”
Kara shook her head and her gaze moved up to Juric, filled with fire. “He doesn’t have any control over me.”
“I don’t?” His voice rang through the speaker. “Say goodbye, liar.”
“Wait,” L said, frantic.
Kara’s face was anxious, but determined and strong. “Goodbye.”
The screen went black and a dialog box appeared, announcing the call had ended.
Jason closed the last Velcro strap of my bulletproof vest and tugged at the neck, making sure it was centered on my body. He gave me and the vest an evaluating look while muttering something about what a shitty idea this was.
“Show me you can move.” His attitude was cold and no-bullshit.
I turned my shoulders side to side. The vest was snug. “It fits,” I snapped. “Let’s go.”
“Do you remember how to load the mag?”
I clicked the release on the SIG Sauer and pulled the magazine out, then slapped it back in the pistol. He’d shown methe basics of personal firearms when he’d taken over as head of security and gave me the briefest refresher after the call ended.
Probably to keep us both distracted from thinking murderous thoughts.
“I did my mandatory six months in the military,” I reminded, a requirement for all male citizens when I’d been eighteen.
The rest of the men were already in their gear. Tony looked at me like I was a liability. There had been tense discussion about letting me drive one of the vehicles to the house, with Fletcher and Tony opposed.
I shut it down when I reminded everyone about the stack of euros I’d supplied.
Impatience had me jittery as I waited in the hall. Every second we remained here, a piece of me died, and time was one of the enemies we were battling.
“Let’s move,” I ordered.
L’s body was frozen in place as we went by, carrying bags filled with guns and other tools of death and suffering. Was she hoping Juric was going to die today, and that her husband would be the one to do it?
Jason wouldn’t get a chance to kill Juric.
Not if I got to him first.
Ethan, Tony, and Fletcher loaded into the Range Rover. I threw open the door to my Audi and was behind the wheel a half-second later, glaring at Jason.Hurry the fuck up.
My brother climbed into the passenger seat and had just closed the door when I put it in gear.
“You know where you’re going?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He buckled his seatbelt. “When we get there?—”
