Page 61 of Maximum Bet

Leo tilts his head, thinking over the question. “If you can, without being suspicious, go for it. But I think Dominic and Marco’s best course of action is to stay behind the buildings.”

“Are we sure the structures aren’t fireproof?” Marco asks, studying a blow torch.

Leo shrugs. “I mean, probably. But we’re just trying to cause a distraction. Even if it’s only the outside of the building that burns, it will draw their attention.”

I lock eyes with my brother, neither of us satisfied with Leo’s answer.

“Everyone on the same page?” Leo scans our little group, waiting for any dissent.

As we nod in the affirmative, his phone begins buzzing with alerts from Lucas. “They’ve got the threat at Vincent and Cecilia’s under control.”

“Thank God,” Marco says, rubbing a hand over his face.

“Uh, there’s still an issue.” Leo’s expression turns grim as he drops the phone to his lap. “We lost two men, and Adam was shot. It’s not looking good.”

“What about the women?” I ask, a sense of dread forming a pit in my stomach.

“They were supposed to go to the safe room.” Leo picks up the phone and types another message.

We wait in silence for Lucas’s response.

“They’re checking now.”

“Guys, I hate to be an asshole,” Nico says. “But we can’t wait.”

The rest of us eye him as though he’s suggested we jump off a ten-story building. But after a moment, I sigh. He’s right. It’sgoing to take Lucas a few minutes to sort everything out. We need to start moving before Kozlova and Perez have time to send in another set of soldiers.

“I’m sure they’re fine.” I acquiesce. “Did Lucas say if anyone got in the house?”

“They didn’t,” Leo confirms. “All the bloodshed was outside.”

“The girls are smart,” I say. “Cassandra has gone through enough to know protocol, and she wouldn’t put the other women in jeopardy.”

“Why haven’t they texted?” Marco asks.

Leo taps his index finger on the side of his phone. “They probably left their phones upstairs. Plus, I don’t know that they’d get service from the safe room.”

“They probably wouldn’t,” I agree.

“Then are we ready?” Nico asks, reaching for the passenger door.

“Let’s go.” I prompt us into action and jump out.

It takes Marco and me a few minutes to get situated in the back of the SUV. As cramped as I am, he looks even more miserable.

“I swear to God,” I grumble. “If you move, I’m going to setyouon fire.”

“Shut up,” he mutters as Leo carefully places flat boxes over us. The arson supplies set a divider between Marco and me.

“Do your best not to move,” Leo instructs. “I’ll be at the fence outside the airport where we ran surveillance last time. I’ll keep in contact with all of you by text, so pay attention.”

“We’ve got this,” I say, my voice muffled by the cardboard above me.

Leo closes the trunk door and walks around to climb into the passenger seat. Nico starts the car, and we’re off.

We spend a few minutes on smooth pavement before Nico turns, and we’re suddenly bouncing along a dirt road that leads to the end of the runway.

“Jesus Christ,” Marco snaps. “Take it easy.”