Page 67 of Targeted By Vengeance

She probably took a rest somewhere. If we make it to twenty-four with no word, then we’ll start searching.

“What if it’s too late by then?”

What if we’re too early and fuck up whatever plan she’s carrying out? She nudged me. You’ve gotta have more faith in her. Simone’s a strong, intelligent woman. She’ll find her way back - safe and sound.

Her words must’ve fallen directly on the ears of the universe. Not even a moment after she spoke, the locks of the doors clicked.

All the weight on my chest lifted as Simone walked through the door, looking like a fallen angel with the huge white shirt swallowing her torso and her tousled short curls. I’d never seen anything so beautiful - and so infuriating - in my life.

As much as I wanted to hold her and kiss her, I also wanted to wrap my hands around her neck and ask her what the fuck she was thinking. She couldn’t disappear, scare me half to death, and then strut back in as if nothing happened.

Her full lips fell into a deeper frown as our eyes locked, likely noticing the war of emotions on my face. “I can explain,” she started.

A body moved in behind her, stealing my attention away. Looking past her, I met the eyes of the man she was supposed to kill.

Instinctually, my hands went to the gun still hooked on my hip and whipped it out.

Beside me, Maria did the same, stepping closer to guard me.

“Oh shit,” Gabriel said, his hands flying upward.

Simone poised herself in front of him, holding up her own hands. “Hey, hey, relax. He’s not armed, and he’s on our side,” she said.

“Bullshit,” I snapped. I jutted my chin at Maria. “Check him and tie him.”

“That’s not necessary,” Simone insisted.

Maria ignored her and stepped forward. “Move,” she demanded when Simone wouldn’t move out of the way.

“Maria, I swear he’s not-”

She pushed back the security latch, the click a warning in itself.

Sighing, Simone reluctantly stepped to the side. “Don’t hurt him,” she said as Maria yanked Gabriel through the doorway and slammed his face against the closing door.

Maria shot Simone an icy look over her shoulder before she started patting Gabriel down.

“I’m clean,” he said. “I swear. I’m here to- Ow!”

Maria had grabbed one of his wrists and twisted it at an unnatural angle.

“Stop talking,” I spoke for her. “You,” I nodded at Simone. “Bedroom. Now.”

Simone crossed her arms against her chest as she followed me into our room.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I asked after slamming the door behind us. “First you disappear and then you bring his ass here! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“You’re the wrong one to be asking that question,” she said, looking me up and down. “I went to Gabriel because I realized he could be of use to us. Turns out my instincts were right, and he is willing to help us.”

“Help us? You told him about our plan?”

She nodded. “And he’s down with it. He’s going to be our mole on the inside and make sure we’re able to take out Logan without any surprises.”

“And you believed that shit?” I scoffed. “Simone, don’t tell me you’re really that naïve.”

“You don’t know him, Mateo. He would never put me in a dangerous situation nor would he ever betray me.”

“Didn’t we just have this conversation about you thinking the same thing about your no good godfather? Do we really need to have it again?”