Sweet Retribution (Rydeville High Elite #3)(65)

The mission was simple.

Get into the system, copy the hard drive, and check out the screens to see what kind of security is protecting the vault. Then get the fuck out before we’re caught.

“How do you access the vault anyway?” I ask as the thought occurs to me.

“Through here.” Drew pulls open a door to the right of the cabinet, revealing a hidden elevator.

“He thinks of everything. I doubt the freaking CIA or FBI are as well protected.”

The computer pings, confirming the download has completed, and I yank it out, tucking both USB keys back into the sides of my dress.

Drew grins. “I think Father may have been right earlier. You’re every bit as smart as he is.” I’m opening my mouth to protest when he places a finger to my lips. “But he lacks the one thing you have in spades. Compassion. You use your smarts for the right reasons, which is why you could never be like him.”

A pounding on the door brings a halt to our conversation.

“Mr. Manning. I must insist you come out here right now.”

I power off the computer, and the screens die out behind us. Drew pulls the cabinet doors closed, while I put my shoes back on, grabbing a book off one of the shelves as an afterthought. Then we open the door and face a rattled-looking Freddie.

“I thought you said you just had to get something for the boss. What took you so long?” His dubious gaze dances between us.

I wave the book in his face. “He asked us to get this, but have you seen how many books are on those shelves?” I roll my eyes, trying to make light of it.

“Heads-up,” Kai says in my ear. “Christian Montgomery has just returned, and it looks like he’s looking for one or both of you.”

Drew’s eyes flit to mine, as Freddie peers at the book. “Mr. Hearst asked you to get The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People in the middle of a party?”

I laugh. “We told you he went upstairs for a meeting, silly.” I pat his broad chest. “Maybe he’s loaning it to someone.” I shrug, and I know it’s lame, but I’m trying to avoid using what I know against him. Because if we play the blackmail card, he’ll know we were up to no good.

“I’m calling Mr. Hearst,” Freddie says, and it’s clear I underestimated him. He’s not as dumb as a bag of hammers after all.

“He’s fucking going toward the door,” Kai hisses. “I’ll try and head him off, but get the hell out of there now.”

“I don’t think so, Freddie,” Drew says. “And I really wish you’d kept your mouth shut.”

“No, Drew!” I shout, watching in horror as he whips out a gun with a silencer, pointing it at Freddie. He pumps two rounds into his skull before I can even blink. The lights go out in Freddie’s eyes instantly, and he falls to the ground with a resounding thud.

“What the fuck is going on?” Rick shouts in my ear.

“Nothing you need to be concerned about,” Drew calmly says, pushing Freddie’s leg off his foot.

“You need to get out here,” Rick adds. “Kai just punched Christian, and all hell is breaking loose.”

“We’ll be right there,” I hear myself say as I stare at the dead bodyguard on the ground.

“Why’d you do that?” I ask, staring at my brother in shock.

“He was going to tell Father. It was the quickest way of handling the situation.”

“And how were you planning to explain the dead body to Christian?”

“That one’s easy. I’ll tell them I received anonymous intel that Freddie was selling insider secrets to the new elite.” He bends down, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, covering his hand before removing Freddie’s gun and curling his dead fingers around it. “I’ll say I confronted him, he pulled a gun on me, and I shot him in self-defense.” He stands, wiping his hands down the front of his pants. “Father won’t care. Guys like Freddie are dispensable. He’ll have him replaced by morning.”

His casual dismissal of murder has alarm bells ringing in my ears. “And what about me? How were you planning to explain me?” I ask.

He takes my hand, lifting me over Freddie’s prone form. “I wasn’t. You’ll need to exit the back way. You’ll come out at the side of the main entrance. Just walk around the building, and if anyone asks, you were taking some fresh air. Say you were concerned about Charlie.”

He pulls me along with him, and I have to walk-run to keep up with him. No easy feat in these heels. “Drew, stop.”

“No, Abby. There’s no time.” He punches a code in a keypad, and the door in front of us opens. “Go now. I’ll tell one of the guys to meet you at the front door. Take out your gun and watch your back.”

He pushes me out of the door. “Hurry and be careful.”

The door slams in my face, and I stare at it, wondering if I just imagined my brother shooting a man in cold blood and not even batting an eyelash.

“Kai,” I whisper as I remove my gun, holding onto the rail with one hand while I ascend the steps.

“He’s a little busy right now, Abby,” Rick says. “I heard, and I’m on my way to the front entrance to meet you.”

“Is he okay?” I ask, reaching the top and looking left and right.