Tyler moves to step in front of the window, and with the flick of his wrist the lasers disappear from Antoine’s face and chest.
Sean bends so he’s almost nose to nose with Antoine, clear violence in his posture. “Hope you ate well tonight, motherfucker, because that was your last supper.”
Antoine turns from Sean and addresses Tobias. “I have several associates that won’t at all be pleased with you if I disappear.”
“I wouldn’t be so confident,” Sean says, drawing his attention back, “they sold you out, and you came fucking cheap.”
Antoine visibly pales as Sean reveals the ace up his sleeve. “Money talks, dickhead, and we used yours to pay them. Wrestle with that shit a minute and we’ll be right back with you.” Sean smacks Antoine’s temple with his Glock for emphasis.
Antoine shifts black eyes to Tobias, who stares back at him, hellfire brimming in his eyes, but he remains mute. Sean nods to the kitchen as Tyler gets briefed by one of the men in charge, and Sean addresses the two of us.
“We’ve already eliminated his plan B, and if there’s a C, we’ll figure it out and handle it, but Palo hasn’t left his side in weeks, and I doubt there is one.” Sean looks to Tobias. “We’re giving Palo a set of keys, but he’s agreed to get wings and wing his men, so it’s ours to share.”
Tobias only nods, seeming introspective as Sean speaks up again. “We’ll have a lot to work out down the line, and we will, but since we’re now covered by the government, why don’t you both take a little trip while I clean this mess up?”
Tobias turns to me with zero objection, and I can still see he’s trying to work it all out. “Any ideas?” He narrows his eyes when I upturn my lips. “I’ve got just the place in mind.”
Tossing the last of our suitcases in the idling Audi, I eye Cecelia, who’s talking to Ryan on a burner phone while taking Beau for a walk before we head out on the road.
Fucking Ryan. Her source on all things Greg. She caught onto him before I even landed in Virginia.
I’m still so fucking blown away by what just transpired—shocked mostly along with a thousand other emotions I’m having to constantly battle to keep my shit together. What she’s done, what she managed to do while under my careful watch is incomprehensible to me. And even though I’m filled with pride, I’m still fucking battling the urge to spank her or fuck her, or both. Definitely at the same time. Problem is, she likes the punishment too much.
But mostly, I’m just in awe of her, of her strength, her ability, and the woman she’s become—fierce, brave, brilliant, powerful, and fearless.
I can’t help the dopey smile on my face as I watch her scold her dog briefly like it’s an everyday walk as she chats on the phone like she didn’t just save both our fucking lives, ensure our future while lifting a thousand-pound burden from my shoulders and preventing a war.
I’ve just been schooled by my queen.
Un-fucking-believable.
And she played me on expert level.
Sean joins me where I stand at the trunk, my eyes fixed on the woman who retrieved my heart, healed my soul, and saved my life a thousand times over.
I can feel Sean’s watchful gaze on me before he speaks up. “All set.”
I nod. “Let me get her in the car.”
An uncomfortable silence passes between us as I try to work my brain around the fact that Sean’s here and the why of it. That he, himself, went through great lengths to prove a similar point to me.
“It’s going to take you weeks to piece it together,” he says, reading my thoughts.
I cross my arms. “I think she’ll gloat way too much to give me a chance to work it all out for myself.”