27

The ringer buzzes six times before Helena answers. She's worried and speaks to me in our first language.

"Mija, todo bien?"

"Everything is okay. I need a favor."

"Okay," she answers slowly, and I hear the chickens in the background.

"Our guests, are they around?"

"Si, both. Which one do you need?"

I look up and find all eyes on me. "The eldest."

I free my wrist from the leash and gently toss it to Dylan. Then I take my earrings and matching bangle off, then place them on the table. I can't have this conversation with everyone listening.

I turn and leave the room. The hall that connects this space to the kitchen also leads to the rear of the house, and I weave past everyone, make my way, and finally push past the glass door. Max looks up from his spot where he lounges in the sun and happily trots toward me. I close the door behind me and take in a deep breath to calm myself. It feels like I'm breaking a promise, and a stab-like pain in my gut makes each breath a struggle.

"Block the door, Max."

I don't know why I gave the order, but he obeys and sits directly in front of the glass door. I walk further into the expanse of the yard until I'm near the edge lined with tall and bushy privacy pines.

"Hey, what's up?"

I release the breath I was holding. "Do you trust me?"

"What's going on, Justice?"

"Just answer the question."

Piper sighs, agitated. "So far, you've proven to be one of the most loyal people I know." She pauses. "Yes, I trust you."

"The party is tonight and…" How do I tell her that it won't just be Jas and I? "It's a delicate situation. They're going to have signal jammers and a bunch of really bad people in attendance."

"Yeah, that's the way it normally goes. It's an auction… people are the prize."

I swallow, and I'm sure she can hear my heart beating in my throat. "I have help tonight—"

"What do you mean, help?"

I hear a low growl and turn to see Max facing the glass door. No one is on the other side but the massive dog bristles, nonetheless. He lets out a warning bark and then relaxes after a few beats.

"I can't explain it all right now, but you have to trust me. I would never divulge your story, or any specifics, around our situation. But I need to be able to have them patch through your call when I'm inside."

"Them?"

I take in a deep breath. How can I explain that Dylan is not really a cop? That Sara works for a government organization, but that she, too, isn't a cop. And both Jason and Olivia… I don't even know what they do or how they all fit in.

I also never really requested their involvement. I extended the invite to Dylan, but was thrown into accepting his crew. Truthfully, I like the outcome. Aside from trusting Dylan, the others come off as a legitimate team that knows what the fuck they're doing. But we haven't had time to talk about what we will all do when and if I get my hands on the file Piper hid.

The seconds trickle by and the only solid explanation I can come up with, one that is definitely set in stone, spills from my lips.

"I trust them and I will not give them the file. It goes directly from my hands to yours. No one will open it."

"You need their help?"

I take in a lungful of air. "I do," I admit.

Piper sighs. "Okay, Justice. But promise me that as soon as you come into possession of the USB, you'll bring it directly to me."

"I promise."

"So, how is this going to go?"

"When I'm in position, a man named Jason, the tech guy, will phone the house. He'll patch your call to me."

I imagine her nodding. "Be careful, kid."

Kid. I wonder if her little nickname for me will ever go away. I smile my annoyance away.

"I'll see you soon, Pi."