Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) by Kaylie Hunter (dar e dil novel online reading txt) 📕

she’s prone to injuries. If she hurts herself, no way will we make it four blocks before they catch us.”

Tweedle tipped her head and looked up at the windows. “I’m not so good with climbing. Or running.”

“Shit. Fine. Let’s see.” I scanned the room again. “How are you at hiding?” I asked Tweedle.

“I’m spectacular at hiding.”

Chapter Sixteen

“Juan—” one of the men yelled from across the factory. “Move the van inside!”

The guard in front of the window walked away. The other guard glanced briefly at us over his shoulder before turning his back to us again.

“Tweedle, move behind the desk and hide under it.”

She scurried on all fours past me. I grabbed her wrist and uncuffed the handcuffs, before nodding for her to continue.

“Bridget, shift to your left and sit where Tweedle had been sitting.”

Bridget scooched over several feet.

“When the guard comes in, I’ll take him down, but Bridget, I’ll need you to jump up and open the window, then get back into place. We want them to think Tweedle escaped.”

Tweedle giggled from behind the desk.

“Tweedle, your job is to stay absolutely silent and out of sight. Understood.”

“Got it.”

“Silent. I mean it.”

“Yup.”

I rolled my eyes, and Katie snorted.

“What’s my job?” Katie asked.

“Trip the bastard if you can. Make him land toward me.”

“No problem.”

The guard glanced over his shoulder briefly, then turned back to the main room.

“Get ready,” I whispered.

The guard stiffened, then turned his entire body toward the window, practically pressing his nose to the glass as he stared into the room, counting the number of bodies. When he realized there were only three of us, he grabbed the door handle and rushed inside.

Katie tripped him, successfully landing him face and hands first into my lap. I already had my hands on the jump rope, double layering the rope around his throat and rolling and twisting to the side as I tightened the noose. He thrashed for near two minutes before he passed out. Bridget tossed me a set of cuffs and I secured his hands.

Katie helped me drag him into the corner beneath the window where he’d be out of sight if anyone peered into the room. I searched the shelves and found a roll of packaging tape. It wasn’t ideal, but it would work to keep him from being able to yell if he woke. I tossed the roll to Katie who caught it deftly, tore a section off, and pressed it firmly over his mouth. We all moved back to our positions, with our hands behind our backs.

“That went well,” Katie said. “Now what?”

“That Juan guy will be back any minute,” I answered as I looked up at the open window. A fresh breeze was blowing down on me. “He’s armed. If we can take him down quietly, we’ll have the advantage.”

“There are two other armed men out there,” Bridget said.

“Not to mention the other three men who aren’t,” Katie said.

“Please,” I said, grinning. “As if badass bitches like us couldn’t handle five to three odds. Hell, get a gun in my hand, and I’ll take them down myself.”

Bridget and Katie laughed.

Tweedle sneezed. “Sorry,” she whispered.

“You’re supposed to be spectacular at hiding, remember?” Bridget said, giggling.

“The wind is blowing the dust around back here.”

“Quiet. I hear someone coming,” I said.

Juan came barreling through the door and looked around. He spotted the open window and jumped on top of the desk. Before he had a chance to look outside Tweedle sneezed again. Katie dove across the floor to close the door as I stood, clasped my hands together, and swung my arms like a hunk of lumber against the back of his knees. The force threw his feet forward and his head and body weight backward. On his way down, he slammed his head on a filing cabinet before landing on top of Bridget.

“Nice,” Bridget said, rolling his body off her.

“Hurry,” I whispered, snagging his phone and gun before they dragged him to the corner and piled him on top of the other guy.

I called Tyler.

“Hello?”

“Greetings,” I said, smiling. “I don’t have much time. Were you planning a rescue mission any time soon?”

“Smartass. We just got a call from the mission. Some bum reported to Father Eric that Lady Kelsey was in trouble. Father Eric called your cellphone, and Anne answered it. We’re five minutes from the factory.”

“Bonus. I’m armed. It’s currently two down and five to go.”

“Save some for us if you can. Ryan’s ready to rip someone’s head off.”

“Tell him Tweedle’s fine. She’s hiding behind a desk while we work.”

“I don’t think that will help much, but I’ll relay the message.”

Katie signaled someone was coming. “Gotta go. Chat later.”

I hung up the phone and slid it behind my back.

“Where the fuck are Juan and Alejandro?” a man yelled as he approached the room. “I swear if they went out for a smoke, I’m going to kick their asses!”

We heard several men laughing as the door opened. The man looked around, and just like his predecessor, noticed the open window. He charged toward the desk.

Katie jumped up too early to close the door which caused the man to pull his gun and turn toward her. I stood, holding my newly acquired gun against his head.

Bridget stood up, slapping at the dust on her jeans before holding out her hand to him.

He sighed, handing his gun over to her. “Santiago won’t stop coming after all of you until he has Sebrina back.”

“Why does he want Sebrina?” I asked as I tossed a pair of cuffs to Bridget.

The man laughed. “He thinks they’re soulmates.”

“Seriously?”

He shrugged. “Personally, I think he’s tested his own product a few too many times. Fried too many brain