East Bound by Nana Malone (big ebook reader txt) 📕

my gaze. Something hot and instant flared in my gut, and she gave a minute shiver before answering. "Right. Something like that. He claims to have received a tip that one of his art pieces is going to be stolen. So, joy of joys, he's also inviting Interpol to that very same party to watch his assets and flush out Theroux."

"So, what you're saying," Livy continued, "is that Jameson knows something is up and that we're coming for him. And he plans to stop us with Interpol. Am I missing something?"

I ran my hands through my hair. "Ben, you got anything to add?" I asked my mate.

He was giving his wife-to-be a sheepish grin. "No, love, you have it all, really."

Livy glanced around the room. "And you're telling me that this seems normal to all of you? That this constant running and fighting is perfectly acceptable."

I winced. "Well, it does keep life entertaining."

Nyla looked at me and shook her head. "Now is not the time."

I laughed. "Okay, fine. It's not ideal."

And then Livy started to laugh. "Not ideal. Great. Of course. We're going to die."

Ben shook his head. "We're not going to die. Everything is going to be okay."

She gave him an exasperated look. "It is not going to be okay. At all. I don't think you know the definition of okay."

Amelia smiled. "Look, I get it. Interpol has probably been up your arse for a while now, and not in a fun kind of way."

Lucas coughed.

Bridge grinned widely. "I'm starting to like her."

Amelia ignored him. "But we have an advantage. I'll be helping to run Interpol’s play from the sidelines. I’ll know what's going to happen and when it's going to happen. My job is only slightly more difficult because I have to make it look like I'm cooperating. Which, in some ways, I will be, while also trying to keep you guys from getting discovered. Or shot. Rest assured that you'll know ahead of time where Interpol agents will be to the letter. But the key is, you have to get out when I say it's time to go. No lollygagging, no vengeance schemes." She slid her gaze to me.

I put my hands up. "Oh come on, I'm not the vengeful one." Ben and Bridge both lifted their brows at me. "Oh, thanks a lot, mates."

Drew laughed. "Well, you know she has a point."

I glared at him. "You keep your mouth shut."

Livy laughed again. Sort of a hysterical laughter, actually. "Oh my God, we really are all going to die."

I shook my head. "No, we're not going to die. It's just a little complicated right now."

Nyla stepped to the plate then. "Okay, so you’ll all attend the party as guests. Lucas and Bryna, that means you too, but the key is, you two play your parts as royals. We don't need the kind of headache we’d have if someone discovered you were in on this plan."

Lucas laughed. "Yeah, yeah, I hear you."

Nyla's gaze flickered to me. "He's not going to listen, is he?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Chances are he's going to rob everyone in there blind without telling us how he's doing it, and then he'll walk away with a cool mint."

Lucas grinned. "I only steal from the rich, you know. Well, actually, only from rich assholes."

Nyla shook her head. "Oh my God, okay. So you're going to attend the party, and somehow we have to create a distraction. Lucas, if you're the one with the deft hands, you need to either fire an alarm, cause a blackout, something."

He nodded. "I can cause a blackout."

Bryna chirped up then. "Well, that might not be so easy. Looking at East’s schematics, it appears the estate has generators. The power will probably come back on quickly because he wants to keep the information he has private."

Nyla nodded. "Right. Then I think our best bet is for Amelia and I to go in early as if Interpol has sent us and get access to the vault that he is most concerned about. East, if you can provide directions that will get us to that server, we will get you the technical information you need. I think that's ideal. And then we'll hand it off to you, and you can use it at the party to get in."

I grinned at her. "Have I told you lately that you’re incredible?"

She laughed. "Tell me that when we're not all in jail, yeah?"

Bridge started to gag. "God, are you two done yet?"

Nyla ignored him. "All right, so during the party, East knows what he's supposed to do. Bridge and Ben, you’ll act as interference. We have to keep Garreth and his father distracted. But, East, you’ll need backup. Amelia and I won't be at the party. Interpol’s involvement will be strictly outside the house during the party unless a credible threat is detected, and if I turn up as your date, I'm suspect."

Emma piped up. "This is my chance to shine."

Bridge frowned at that. "And what would you be doing?"

"I'll be the bait."

Bridge's brows furrowed. "What do you mean, bait?"

"What I mean is, I'll be there to keep Garreth occupied."

Bridge's brows only dropped further. "Explain."

I jumped in to her rescue. "Bridge, we know you have a tendency to feel protective toward Emma, but this is for the best."

He only continued to frown. "For whose best?"

Emma cut me off. "Look, you can play caveman all you want, but let's try and remember that I'm not yours to control. I can do whatever I like. And even though you don't like it, I'm part of the team, so that's the deal."

Bridge glared at me. "Are you fucking kidding me? You know what he's capable of."

I nodded slowly. "Yes, I do know what he's capable of. I also know Emma's pretty capable herself. She's a black belt in jiu-jitsu. She can handle a handsy arsehole on any day."

"You recognize he's capable of killing her, right?"

Ben sat forward. "This is what's happening Bridge. We don't have time to argue with you