“Let’s go. I have all of that covered,” Dario says.
“We can help,” Elijah says as he and Denise step up.
“I’m coming with you,” Lizzy says and stands.
“No, you’re not.”
“Dante, don’t,” Gio says firmly. “Let her come. We may need her skills.”
Chapter 49
Flash Mob Lunatic
Lizzy
We’re on the top deck of the mall Peter has Bella in. All of our teams are getting ready. Aaron has proven himself to be useful.
“Aaron and I will be everyone’s eyes and ears. We want to get in and out without a hair on that baby’s head being harmed. I have a sniper on the rooftop across from the building already,” Denise says.
“Does she have eyes on them yet?” Gio asks tightly.
“Target in view, but I don’t have a shot.” Comes through my earpiece.
Denise nods. “Yes, we have sight.”
I snap my thigh holsters on and ready my guns to slide them in place. Dante comes over and spins one of the wheels on my blades slung over my shoulder. I look up into his eyes.
“None of that badass shit. Get our daughter and get out. I’ve got him. I’ll meet you at the car. Be safe in there. I don’t like this, something feels off.”
“We’re the best at what we do. I’ll get her out.”
He leans in and pecks my lips. “I love you. My life means nothing without you two.”
“You’ll be making us ice cream and painting our nails within a few hours. I got this, babe.”
I wink at him, and he walks off to lock heads with Gio and Dario. Peter is going to shit a brick when he sees those three coming. They’ll be going in first with the case that supposedly has the money.
A few friends and I will roll in as a distraction and get Bella out. Once we have Bella, Dante has his own plan. I sit on the bed of Dad’s pickup and put on my skates. As I finish locking the straps on my blades, my team rolls up and I hop up to roll over and huddle with them.
“Thanks, guys, this means a lot,” I say as I look around at my roller derby team. We have a unique bond that goes beyond our paintball tournaments. “We’re going to skate down to the lower level. We can enter the mall from there. Once the brothers come into view with the case, that’s our cue to roll in and shake shit up.
“I’ll get my baby out. You all make sure nothing stands in my way.”
“We’ve got you,” Ming says.
I nod and look around at the women I trust with my life.
“Let’s move,” Gio calls.
I clap my hands. “Showtime.”
My team starts to glide toward the ramp that will take us down. We move into formation and take the first turn together, I lean into the turn and drop a hand out as I glide smoothly. We bend the next turn together as well.
The entrance comes into view, and I get low and pull it open. One by one, we roll in. We’re still a few levels above Peter. Dante, Dario, and Gio come into view, and we speed up.
We need to be closer. I start to skate faster and take the ramp that dumps us onto the level Peter is on. I pull the pin on the smoke bomb I have in my hand. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the others pull their pins as well. I toss mine and glide right into the smoke.
I have my arms wrapped around Bella and I push off to get us out. Peter chokes and starts to yell. Simultaneously, music starts to play and a shot rings out.
I wrinkle my brows as the sound of the EDM music plays. I’m almost to the parking exit on this level when all hell breaks loose. Bella clings to me tightly with her face buried in my neck. People are rushing into the mall and begin to surround us and they’re coming in the way we’re trying to exit.
“You’re not going to believe this—” Aaron says through the earpiece. “I’m sorry, guys. I was so focused on the mission I missed a text for a flash mob at this location. They promised a sighting of Izzy and a rave. Fuck, there are people swarming in the place at every entrance.”
“I have Bella, that’s all that counts.”
“Guys, this text is coming from that company. Either Peter has help, or someone else is watching all this and interfering,” Aaron says.
Dante
The goggles Denise gave us allow me to see the moment Liz has our baby in her arms. Peter moves to go after them, but I lift my gun and pull the trigger, hitting him in the shoulder. At the same time, music starts to play throughout the mall.
Peter falls to the ground in a heap and that’s when all the confusion starts. The doors fly open, and people start to flood the building. I’m frustrated as fuck as I look around.