Chapter 37

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Maverick

S on of a bitch. Noble and I are going to have a serious conversation about how to be a good team player. We enter into a weird area with a decent-sized table to the left and the massive kitchen to the right.

Everything in me wants to plant a hand on Noble's shoulder and follow him around, watching his ass. But I also know my role well enough that I ignore the gunshots to my left and slide up to the small wall to my right.

I don't hesitate when I see the holsters.

This is a straight-up, execution-style cleaning house.

My left hand comes around the wall, and I take my shots one after the other.

"Two down," I growl, coming around the corner into the kitchen.

A third man comes out of what I assume is a bathroom. I'm not sure, but it's down the long hallway that leads to the garage.

I take my shot as he tries to duck, but it lands in his throat instead of his skull.

It's gruesome watching as his legs twitch, but not as bad as catching sight of his jawbone.

A muffled scream comes from behind me.

I spin, aiming at the noise, but hesitate.

Goddamn it.

I do not enjoy killing women.

In general, they have to be actively trying to kill me for me not to hesitate.

But a terrified one, cowering under the breakfast nook?

That just seems like something I'm not sure I could come back from.

She raises her hands, and the lines of black mascara streaming down her face make it even more difficult to view her as a threat.

"I found the bride," I growl, praying the other chaos doesn't block my team from hearing me.

"Please," she sobs. "No matter who you're here to kill…" Her head shakes. "I don't care. I'm not going to say a word. Please, just give me a head start."

"Was a decision ever made on what to do with Bianca?" I ask over comms, weighing my options.

I'm a little afraid my judgment is compromised because if she was in on the plot to lure Brooklyn and Libby to the dress shop, then all bets are off.

"Bless insinuated she was a pawn," Ranger says. A lot of grunting and commotion come next, but I have no idea what's happening on his end of the line. "If she's a hindrance to you getting your ass in here to assist, then?—"

"Did anyone find Bless to get her a comm?" Locke asks. "Because that might be helpful. Anyone on Cordial Cousin's team, you're needed wherever Maverick is to take over a possible combatant."

Two feminine voices chorus that they're on their way. Whoever came up with her team name must have been feeling trite.

"I haven't made it past the kitchen," I reply, focusing back on the bride. "Why did you set up Brooklyn?"

"What?" Her face twists in confusion. "Please, I don't know what you're talking about."

A scratching sound, like an opening and closing door, comes from behind me, and I turn toward the garage.

I'm expecting to see a mask and smaller frame that would indicate it's one of Bless's team.

My gun hand wavers as a man approaches in a suit with a fucking DEA badge held up.

"Tell me you're with Bless," he says as I notice the handgun in his other hand.

"You better talk fast," I snarl, leveling my weapon at his forehead.

"Malik Thorne." He slides the badge into the interior pocket of his coat. "I've been undercover for two years. Fifteen minutes before the ceremony, Bless told me this was coming."

"Is anyone getting this?" I growl.

"I'm on it," Merrick assures me, typing away in the background. "Ask him why he's there if they terminated his assignment three weeks ago."

I growl the question, and Thorne frowns.

"I was too close to making my case. I couldn't let Barrett get away with everything he's done," he says, and his eyes widen. "On your six."

I spin and drop to a crouch, leveling to take the shot, but the man's chest explodes with three shots—each lung and the heart. Turning back to Thorne, he raises his hand and moves the gun he just used to save my life to dangle from his finger instead of extending it toward me.

"Bless gave me the go ahead to get Bianca out," he says, nodding at the woman.

God, this is such a shit show.

"Where the fuck is Bless?" I growl as my heart pounds.

"Uh, she's occupied at the moment," Noble says, sounding amused or, possibly, impressed. "She says don't fuck with Thorne . Apparently, he's the guy Brooklyn's little sister is hung up on."

I back toward the dining room, watching Thorne carefully.

If he's an agent…

Well, he could fuck our day right up if he feels like it.

"You're on bride duty," I tell him.

"Two from Cordial Cousin entering the dining room," a female voice says.

Thank fuck.

Thorne and the bride are officially no longer my problem.

"Where the fuck is the rest of K-9?" I growl.

"The sitting room," Noble answers.

Time to regroup with my team.