“I should, so he’s in the loop, but he’s a bit of a loose cannon right now. He’s completely obsessed with taking Sinner down, in a way that’s not healthy, and I’m becoming more and more concerned. He’ll go crazy if I tell him, and I don’t trust he won’t do something reckless.” Bry reaches into his inside pocket, handing me an envelope. “I almost forgot. That’s the McKenzie recording. Howie said there are no other copies and he’s wiped all trace of it from his computer.”
I hand the envelope to Theo, and he immediately tosses it in the fire.
Saint flops down on the couch beside me, snatching a wrap and biting into it, swallowing half of it in one go.
Bry coughs, reclaiming my attention. He’s holding a silver-plated tin box in his hand, looking a little apprehensive. “I have something else I thought might come in handy.” He hands it to me, and I place it on my lap before opening it.
“What is this?” Galen inquires, peering at the two guns inside. They are sealed in a plastic bag on top of a dried blood-soaked rag.
Bry’s features soften, and he lowers his voice. “The guns are the ones used to kill Sariah Roark’s family.”
I can barely breathe over the messy ball of emotion clogging my throat. A hush descends over the room, and the only sound is the crackling of the fire.
“What?” I splutter, tears instantly stabbing my eyes. “How do you have this?”
“I stole it from Archer Quinn’s safe last night,” he confirms, and all the blood drains from my face.
“Fuck.” Saint stares at him with newfound respect. “Was that smart?”
He shrugs casually. “I broke in, in the middle of the night, wearing a full disguise. I disabled the camera feeds before destroying the one I’d installed. There is no trace it was me. The Arrows will know come Friday night, but by then it’ll be too late.”
“The Arrows murdered Sariah’s family? She always thought it was The Sainthood.” I rub the ache tightening my chest. Her entire family was gunned down in a drug deal gone wrong. Sariah only survived the massacre because she played dead.
“I overheard a conversation Archer had with a couple of his board members last night. They’re onto Diego. They know he’s an FBI informant. I watched Archer place that tin in the safe. After the board left, his number two asked him why he kept such incriminating evidence. He said it ensured loyalty because most of the board had been involved and their fingerprints were on the weapons. I figure he plans to use that against Diego.”
“So, if they go down, he does too,” Caz says, filling in the rest.
“They’re gonna put a bullet in his skull,” Saint says. “That’s usually the way these things go down. That evidence is insurance in case the FBI decide to prosecute on the grounds of Diego’s testimony, even if he’s dead. They’ll use that to discredit him.”
“We should let Diesel know about Diego so the FBI can protect him,” I suggest. “He was due to reach out to them anyway. Might as well give him something to extend an olive branch with.”
“I’m on it,” Theo says, his fingers already flying over the keypad of his tablet.
Galen wraps his arm around me, pulling me into his side, while Saint grips my hand on the other side, squeezing my fingers. “What do you want to do with it, Lo?” Saint asks.
“I want justice for Sariah’s family. I want her grandma Lorna to finally see the men responsible put behind bars.”
“We can’t interfere with Friday, or Sinner will murder us all in cold blood,” Galen says, eyeing Saint over my shoulder.
“Why don’t we let Friday go down as planned and ask Diesel to give this to the FBI on Saturday morning,” Theo suggests, and it’s a good idea. I nod, giving him a sad smile.
“The Arrows will be dead in the water by the time this weekend rolls around,” Caz says.
“Two enemies down, one left to go,” Saint adds, squeezing my hand. “Payback can’t come soon enough.”
_______________
We’re busy the rest of the week, making last-minute plans with Diesel for the fake assassination and scheduling a time to hand over the package from Bry to the FBI. I’m not sure what’s happened with Diego, but I don’t really care. We passed on the intel. Whether the FBI acts to protect their informant is on them.
On Friday night, Saint, Galen, and Caz go with the rest of The Sainthood to ambush The Arrows warehouse. Theo and I sit it out, primarily because the guys don’t want me anywhere near the showdown. Plus, we want to prepare for tomorrow. I need to take a few practice shots, and Theo wants to test hacking into the apartment’s security systems in a dummy run before tomorrow. That excuse should appease Sinner, but one can never be sure where that psycho is concerned.
The guys return in the early hours of Saturday morning, exhausted but uninjured, and my taut muscles finally relax. Their clothes are covered with blood splatters, so they strip in the living room, throwing the tainted clothing in the fire while telling us about the successful ambush.
The Sainthood had the element of surprise, and they cleaned out The Arrows warehouse, before sending them an anonymous tip that sent the rival gang racing to protect their supplies store, only to find they were too late. It was a bloodbath, according to Saint, ending with most of The Arrows either injured or killed.
The news is all over the TV screens a few hours later, and we watch reports of the carnage as we quietly eat breakfast. Chaos has erupted on the streets of Prestwick as protesters take to the streets, calling on the governor and the commissioner to take a firm hand in tackling the increasing gang violence.
Diesel calls a couple hours later to confirm the FBI has the evidence and he expects arrests to be made in the coming days, as soon as they have verified the evidence is legit.
Galen comes with me to Lorna’s house, because I want to deliver the news to Sar’s grandma in person. Lorna collapses in my arms, sobbing with relief, and I only wish my bestie were here to witness justice being served.
When we return to the barn, Bry is there, helping Caz to prepare a late lunch. Although Saint didn’t answer Bry the other day, there’s an unspoken ceasefire between them, and they are mostly making the effort to get along. To be honest, it’s shocked the hell out of me, but it only further highlights how far Saint has come. I’ve been telling him all along that Bryant isn’t a bad guy, and I’m glad he seems to have accepted him now.
After we’ve eaten and loaded up Saint’s Land Rover, we make our way to the northern end of Lowell, parking in the staff parking lot of the apartment building owned by Sinner’s friend. Bry follows in his Chevy, pulling into the empty space alongside Saint.
Having an extra pair of hands helps, and we are set up on the roof in next to no time with plenty of time to spare before it all kicks off.
Although there is a small, enclosed greenhouse up here, this isn’t a functional rooftop, and the apartment residents don’t have access to it. We’ve been told it’s occasionally used by staff, but we don’t have to worry about unexpected guests at the wrong moment today.
Theo distributes earpieces he got from Diesel. “Check to ensure they’re working,” he says as he hands them out, and we test it back and forth for a couple minutes. “I’ll be in an office on the first floor,” he confirms. “The Wi-Fi signal is stronger there. I’ve disabled the cameras inside the building, but I can’t deactivate the cameras out on the street until the last possible moment in case we tip the cops off.”
The commissioner will have a team with him today, as is usual, but none of them are privy to the plan, because this needs to look real.
“Break a leg, babe.” Theo pecks me on the lips before exiting the roof.
“I’m gonna take a piss before shit goes down,” Caz says.
“I’ll come with.” Galen strides across the roof toward the door, spinning around at the last second. “You need anything from inside?”
“Grab a few bottles of water,” I say, kneeling on the cushion and bringing my eye to the lens of the AR-15 rifle, checking
the angle again.
“He’s coming from the Lott Lane direction, right?” I ask Saint, double-checking because you can never go over the plans enough.
“Correct,” Saint assures me, dropping to the ground a few feet away. He leans his back against the small wall that rims the perimeter of the roof, bending his knees. At this height, we shouldn’t be spotted or heard, but we’re not taking chances.
“I’d like to learn how to use one of those,” Bry says from his position at my side, nodding at the mounted rifle.
“I’m sure Diesel could show you when all of this is over.”
“You really trust that guy, huh?”
I lift my head, arching a brow in his direction. Saint toys with the gravel, tossing a few stones across the roof, feigning nonchalance, but he’s paying attention to every word. “I do. Is there any reason I shouldn’t?”
“Howie doesn’t trust him.”
Saint snorts. “Of course, he doesn’t.”
Bry shifts uncomfortably, but he doesn’t snap at Saint like he previously would have. They are treading on eggshells around one another, and it’s kinda funny to see.
“There are rumors of corruption within VERO,” Bry continues. “He suggests that you should be cautious.”
Now it’s my turn to scoff. “Every fucking organization is corrupt, especially the ones at the top. That doesn’t surprise me, and Howie doesn’t know Diesel like I do. He wouldn’t betray me.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Saint throws a few stones in the air. “I can’t stand the prick, but—”
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Bry chuckles, turning his head around and grinning at Saint.
Saint flips him the bird. “I was going to say, before I was so rudely interrupted, that he’s come through for us. He—”
The door to the roof crashes open with force, the metal creaking as it slams against the wall. “No one fucking move or you’re all dead,” a familiar voice says, and I internally groan.
CHAPTER 39
YOU HAVE GOT to be kidding me. Darrow Knight has the worst fucking timing. Or the best if you’re him, I suppose.
“Turn around slowly, bitch,” a familiar female voice says from behind, and I cast a quick glance at Saint.
Oh, hell to the no. This is not going down now.
Determination zips through me as I pull out the dagger strapped to each side of my thighs, and I spin around, aiming both at Taylor Tamlin as I let them fly. My fast reaction doesn’t give her enough time to retaliate, and she’s also distracted by the commotion at her side as Caz and Galen burst onto the roof, a split second later, wrestling Darrow to the ground.
Taylor screams as a dagger embeds in each of her shoulders, automatically dropping her gun as her hands fly to the entry points, and her fingers touch the blades stuck in her flesh and bone.
Saint darts forward, snagging Taylor’s gun while Caz and Galen easily subdue Darrow. He’s sprawled across the ground on his stomach, and it’s embarrassing how quickly they gained the upper hand.
Galen presses down on Dar’s wrist as he stretches his arm, fingers straining for his gun. Bones crunch, mingling with Dar’s agonizing roar. Bry stalks across the roof, snatching the gun and pointing it at his ex-buddy’s head. “Shut the fuck up, Knight.”
Theo is screaming in my ear, blind without any cameras, and I take a second to reassure him we are okay, and we have the situation under control.
“Fuck you, traitor!” Dar hisses, and Bry hits him across the back of his head with the gun. The blow lacks intent, because Bry knows not to knock him out yet.
Saint has Taylor’s arms pinned behind her back, and with his free hand, he presses the muzzle of her gun against her head. Blood oozes from the wounds in her shoulders, and it’s a glorious sight. Taylor emits a frustrated screech, glowering in my direction. I stalk toward her. “Shut up, bitch.” She spits in my face, and I backhand her a few times. Ripping the end of her shirt, I use the material to wipe her gross DNA from my face before shoving it into her mouth, ensuring her screams don’t carry in the air, alerting anyone on the ground below. “Time?” I ask aloud, knowing Theo will respond.
“ETA in fourteen minutes. Wrap it up quick,” he says in my ear.
Smiling maliciously, I grab the handles on both daggers, rotating them in Taylor’s shoulders, digging the wounds deeper. Tears leak involuntarily from her eyes as her screams of pain are muffled by the obstacle in her mouth. “You know, I thought you were smarter than this.” I punch her in the stomach. “We gave you a lifeline, and you chose to throw it back in our faces.” I punch her in the face, and blood spurts from her nose. “You don’t get another chance.”
Dismissing her, I crouch down in front of Dar, lifting his chin and arching his head back at an awkward angle. “Now you, on the other hand, are not smart. But this is still disappointing. Did you seriously think you could sneak up on us and get the upper hand?” I stand, hovering over his pitiful form. “Turn him over.” I shake my head. “I’m embarrassed for you, Dar. How the fuck did you end up junior chapter leader when Bry is worth a million of you?”
“Fuck you, whore,” he hisses as Galen and Caz dutifully flip him over.
Galen kicks him in the head. “Watch what you say to my wife, dipshit.”
Caz presses down on his foot, and Dar screams like a pussy. The sound of more bones breaking is music to my ears. How dare that asshole think he could show up here and thwart our carefully laid plans. And with that murdering bitch too?
Idiots. The pair of them.
Placing my booted foot on his crotch, I lean over him. “How did you know we would be here?”
He grins, because He. Is. A. Fucking. Brain-dead. Idiot. “Screw you. I’ll never tell.”
I kick him swiftly in the nut sack, and he cries out, trying to curl into a ball, unable to move his body properly with Galen standing on his wrist, Caz standing on his foot, and my boot pressed to his groin.
“Eleven minutes,” Theo says in my ear.
As much as I’d love to take my time, we’re all out of it. Whipping my knife out, I yank Dar’s head back, placing the sharp blade to his neck. “You have three seconds to tell me the truth before I slit your throat.”
Spittle flies into my face, for the second time in minutes, and I’m so done. I ram my knife into his thigh, in a similar place to the last time, reminding him of who he’s dealing with. Tears flow from his eyes, and his face contorts in pain, but I’m not finished with him yet. Sticking the knife in the side of his neck, I clamp my other hand over his mouth to smother his screams. His eyes widen in panic, as reality finally dawns, and he realizes he could die here. The smell of urine filters into the air, and my nostrils revolt, scrunching up to ward off the stink.
“Dude, did you just piss yourself?” Caz asks, gagging.
How the hell did I put up with this pathetic prick for so long? Ugh. My previous choice of boyfriend was piss-poor—pun intended.
Bry smirks. “You’re a mess, Knight.” He grabs his face, losing all hint of humor. “Tell us now, or we’ll let the lovely Lo gut you like the rodent you are.”
I remove my hand from his disgusting mouth. “Don’t kill me!” Dar pleads. “I’ll tell you, and I’ve other shit I can tell you too.”
“Now. Dar,” I bark, losing my patience.
“I’ve had my suspicions about you for a while,” he tells Bry, in between pained pants. “I followed you this week. Knew you were spying for the Saints, so I put a tracker on you.”
“How long have you been working with Taylor?” I ask. When he doesn’t answer straightaway, I kick him in the balls again. Galen covers his mouth this time, trapping his howls of agony. “How long?” I hiss.
“She came to me a week ago, suggesting we team up to take you all out.”
“Does anyone else know you’re here?” Galen inquires, exerting additional pressure on his broken wrist.
“No,” he whimpers. “Archer is out for my blood.” He stares up at B
ry. “He thinks I was working with you because I didn’t show up at the warehouse last night.” Course, he didn’t. Dar doesn’t like to get his hands dirty, and he always gets someone else to pick up his slack. This little nugget of information is interesting though. Perhaps, it can come in handy.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Taylor wriggling in Saint’s grip. He looks to me, and I nod. We can’t deal with them right now, and we need to get them off this roof ASAP because we can’t have any loose ends hanging around when this goes down.
Taylor crumples like a sack of potatoes when Saint slams the butt of the gun into her head. Caz punches Dar a couple times in the face, and he’s out cold in a flash.
“Tie them up in the trunk and stay with them,” I instruct Caz. “We’ll deal with them back at the house after we get this over and done with.”
“Galen, help Caz get them downstairs, and then I want you out on the street,” Saint commands. “Stay in the alleyway beside the main entrance to this building. We don’t want any more surprises.”
Galen salutes Saint before heaving Taylor over his shoulder. Caz does the same with Dar, and they leave while I reposition myself on the cushion, taking deep breaths to get my head back in the game.
“Here.” Bry picks up a bottle of water off the ground, handing it to me.
Saint crouches on my other side. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. Just give me a minute to get my bearings.”
By the time the cavalcade arrives with the commissioner, I’m primed and ready to go. Diesel just called, confirming everything is all set from their side, and that helps to settle any last-minute nerves.
Thankfully, it’s only the head librarian and a couple of her staff waiting outside to greet their honored guest. Most of the crowd is cloistered in the new wing. A couple of reporters linger outside the building, but the event wasn’t large enough to draw attention from any of the TV stations. It also helps the library isn’t in the main thoroughfare, and there’s only a couple of bystanders walking the sidewalk.
The Sainthood : A Dark High School Romance (The Complete Series) Page 84