Framed Shadows: Shadows Landing #6, Kathleen Brooks [great novels of all time TXT] 📗

“Don’t worry,” Marshall said to them. “We’ll clean up the mess we make.”

Roshaun tapped Cy on the arm. “Who’s the scary motherfu”—he glanced at Kendis and corrected himself— “guy with the dog strapped to his chest like a baby?”

“I am Ahmed. This is Nemi. We take care of problems like the Myriad for fun.”

Roshaun stepped closer to Cy, and Paxton couldn’t help but smile. They were a strange bunch that had banded together but there wasn’t anyone else he’d want having his back, even if it meant the Davies crew would kill him for putting Tinsley in danger.

“You all can go. Don’t tell a soul what’s going on,” Whitlock told his informants.

“I’ll make my cookies,” Kendis told them. “That’ll clear the street of any children. Just give me thirty minutes.”

“You got it,” Paxton said as they waited for the three to leave before turning back to the group. “Cy, Cade, and Dare will blow things up in forty minutes. Hopefully, that will empty some of the Tin Can. I need a group to round them up.”

“I can help with that,” Annie said. “Bridget should take the dogs into the building, but I can help round people up. I would think Whitlock, you, and your crew could help with that, too.”

Whitlock nodded. “Yeah, we can do that.”

“I’ll come in via the water,” Wade said.

“Cy, Marshall, and I will, too,” Miles said, turning to Wade. “Have any equipment with you?”

“I got you covered,” Wade told them.

Peter nodded. “We need an agent with every group. I guess I’m water.”

“Faulkners, I want you nearby—especially Gavin. I can’t have you in the line of fire,” Paxton said to the rest of the family. Everyone nodded, even Harper, but not Ryker.

“I’m going with you,” Ryker told him.

Paxton looked over Ryker and tightened his jaw. Ryker stood tall and strong with a look of pure determination on his face. Ahmed looked him over, too.

“We’re the door-kicker team,” Ahmed said, pointing to Paxton and Bridget.

“Us too,” Granger said as he and Kord stepped forward.

Ryker didn’t look discouraged. Instead, he shook his head. “I have a better idea. One they won’t see coming.” Ryker pointed to the top of the office building where a helicopter Paxton hadn’t even heard was landing.

“Is that—?” Paxton began to ask, but Ryker was already nodding.

“A stealth helicopter,” Ahmed said with a big grin. “How did you get one? I’ve been trying to get one for years.”

“We all have our secrets, don’t we?” Ryker shrugged and Paxton knew there was no way Ryker would tell Ahmed where it came from. “But I’ll put in a good word for you.”

“Honey, if I get one, can we put a big bow on it like they do for new cars?” Ahmed asked Bridget who just rolled her eyes. “I can’t wait to see how she works. We can drop onto the rooftop patio at Curtis’s and he’ll never hear us coming.”

Bridget looked down at Susi and smiled. “Want to go for a ride?” The dog barked happily.

“Ryker, that’s perfect. With the distraction going off, they’ll be on edge. They’ll look out but won’t see us coming. We’ll come from the water and the air,” Paxton said as he looked at a picture of the rooftop patio that had clearly been set up for outdoor bar seating.

“Let Kord and me take the front door. You have all the other doors covered,” Granger said, and Paxton nodded his agreement.

“And we’ll clean up anyone who tries to escape,” Whitlock said as his team nodded behind him.

“Let’s get into position. Cy, do you need any explosives?” Paxton asked.

“Nope, I always travel with them. You never know when you might need some C-4.” Cy turned and gathered his team as they headed to the SUV.

Doors were opened, equipment handed out, and then they were moving into position. Paxton took a deep breath as he pulled on the gloves for fast roping. He closed his eyes and sent up a silent prayer of protection for Tinsley. I’m coming, sweetheart.

28

“Please don’t hit me!” Tinsley screeched as Mark and Curtis walked toward her again. They’d left her alone for a good while as they talked. “Oh God,” Tinsley said, embarrassed as tears started flowing again. She looked up at Curtis with embarrassment all over her face. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?” Curtis asked.

“I was so scared of him I had, um, a little accident. Can you take me to the bathroom, please?” Tinsley let her head drop in complete defeat.

“Take off her cuffs,” Curtis ordered Mark.

“What? No. Let her sit in her piss for all I care,” Mark spat. “Until she tells us where those paintings are, she’s not going anywhere.”

“Remember who is in charge here,” Curtis said, dropping his voice for only Mark to hear. “Do it.”

Mark angrily yanked her arms and Tinsley cried out in pain, but he took off the cuffs. Her purse fell to the floor and Mark grabbed it. “Maybe she has something in here.”

He dumped the contents on the table next to her as she rubbed her wrists. Curtis called to one of his guys and turned back to look at the items from her purse. “Why do you have a candlestick?”

Curtis reached for it and Tinsley held her breath. It wasn’t easy to see, but the bottom came off and a dagger would slide out. “I bought it at the street fair and took it home. I didn’t like it on my kitchen table so I put it in my purse and was going to take it to the office after lunch,” Tinsley said.

“Is this real gold?” Curtis asked, and Tinsley snorted.

“Sorry, it’s just that I bought it for ten dollars so I’m guessing it’s not gold.” Tinsley held her breath and almost fainted from relief when Curtis set it back down on the table. Why? Because it was made from real gold with a dagger in its center.

A man joined them who made Mark look like a sweetheart. He glared