“Yes, I’m in the bedroom.”
I tried to keep my voice even. “You got the lights on?”
“Um, yes.”
“Turn ’em off and go to the window.” I stepped into my boots and laced them up.
“Okay.”
I put on my tactical vest and slipped one of my 9mms into the chest holster. “Slow and easy, without openin’ any blinds or curtains, look out and tell me what you see.”
“Hold on… There’s about a dozen or so bikes parked and a group of men standing by them. Four, no five men. The rest are probably in the living room.”
“Do you know what Candle’s bike looks like?”
“The big one with the flames?”
“Yeah, do you see it there?”
“No.”
Shit, I didn’t know if that was a good sign or really bad one. “Look beyond the parking lot. See anyone else?” I strapped on a thigh holster and put my other 9mm in it.
“No. Wait…maybe. I can’t tell, it’s really dark, but there’s a couple of SUVs on the street and usually the residents park in the lot.”
Shit. “Good girl.” I walked out of my bedroom and André looked up from the kitchen table where he was typing on his laptop. I made a circle with my index finger indicating we needed to roll out. He nodded and got up. “How’s your leg, Siren? You think you can climb out that window for me?”
She sucked in a breath. “They’ll see me.”
“You’re not gonna do it now, you’re gonna wait till I get there and tap on the window.” I looked at my watch. “In fifteen minutes, darlin’. Can you do that for me?”
“How are you going to get past them?”
“You let me worry ’bout that.” I grabbed the key to my Aprilia and nodded at André, who was now quietly talking on the phone. “Get your bag and be ready.”
“There’s something—”
Shouting erupted in the background followed by a barrage of angry male voices.
“What’s happenin’,” I demanded.
Her voice dropped to a hush and I could barely hear her over the commotion. “It’s okay. Just…hurry.”
Goddamn it. I hated the fear in her voice. “Gimme a sec. I’m switchin’ to a wireless headset and we’ll stay on the phone till I get there.”
“No, it’s okay. I’m okay.”
“Siren,” I warned.
“I’ll be fine for fifteen minutes.”
Jesus, she was tough. I picked up my helmet. “I’m on my way.”
“Thank you.”
“Quit thankin’ me. See you in a few.” I hung up.
André palmed his keys. “What happened?”
“We gotta go. Stone’s making a move.”
He cursed. “What kinda move?”
“No clue yet. But we’re gettin’ Siren out.”
“Roger that.” André checked his phone then holstered his gun. “Neil’s on his way back and my men are out front.” He took a few extra clips out of his bag.
“We don’t have time to wait for Neil. Siren said there’s at least a dozen LCs at the apartment and all of ’em are nervous as fuck.”
Tucking the clips into his pockets, André stilled and looked at me. “That’s one hell of a hot extraction.”
“She’s in a bedroom facin’ the back parkin’ lot on the ground floor. You losin’ your edge, Patrol? It’s a cakewalk.”
“Famous last words.” He shook his head. “Why the fuck am I friends with you?”
“Good question,” I muttered, jogging down the stairs and heading to my garage.
“Hold up, let’s take the SUV.”
“Negative. I’m takin’ the bike.” Faster getaway.
“You got nothing covering your six on that, not to mention the extra cargo you’ll have.”
I opened the garage then turned to him. “You’ll have my six.”
“Fuck.” His hands went to his hips. “What’s the setup? I’m not going in blind.”
Before I could respond, my cell vibrated. I held a finger up to André and was about to answer when I saw the display.
Unknown caller.
Shit prickled on the back of my neck. I swept a finger across the screen and prayed my instincts were wrong. “Where’s your phone, darlin’?”
“In my hand, motherfucker,” Candle’s voiced boomed.
“How’d you get this number?”
“How the fuck do you think?”
I gripped my cell so tight I thought it’d break it. “Where is she?”
“Relax.”
“Right fuckin’ now, Candle. I hear her voice or I hang up.”