“Everyone, study this before we go. Lee Seol, you think you’ll be able to keep in contact with us from here?”
“Should be fine, since I have their network when you go underground. And I got fifteen hours of battery—you better be done by then.”
“Call Seth if I don’t answer. I’ll probably have to go invisible at some point.” Though the thought of having to be naked after I’ve seen what I really look like? I shudder.
“Yup. I’m watching Graham, too,” Lee Seol says. “So do your job and leave the worrying to me.”
Miles gives me a pat on the back. “Get going.”
The second we hit the edges of Madison, it’s clear this won’t be easy. The streets are crawling with Juan’s guys, and this time they aren’t pretending to mind their own business. They’re armed, and their eyes scan everything in search of intruders. Luckily, we have just the thing to throw them off.
Bea cups her hands around her mouth, looking positively excited that she gets to use her skills to their fullest tonight. Taking a deep breath, she sends some kind of sound out there. About six seconds later, a loud crash startles the patrollers, and they head into the darker depths of the nearby park.
“Better book it!” Bea takes off at a run, and we follow because she’s the only one who knows the sound’s direction.
We do this about five times—with a variety of sounds and three close calls—before we make it to Seth’s house. I should be worried about Mr. Mitchell, but all I can see is the damage to the Navarros’ place. The windows are smashed, and the door is torn off its hinges. There are horrible Spanish words spray-painted all over the stucco walls, and all I can think is thank goodness Miles got Rosa and Alejandro out before they joined Mom.
Seth’s house looks remarkably untouched in comparison, which now makes sickening sense. He glares at the lit window as he says, “You guys watch the perimeter—me and Fiona will go in.”
“Sounds good,” Hector replies. “Bea will yell if I hear anything out here.”
“Okay.” Seth takes my hand, and we walk up the path to his front door. Remembering the last time we faced his dad, my heart pounds as he pulls out his keys.
The house is quiet, save the humming of the refrigerator. We take cautious steps as we head for the kitchen. That’s when I hear the clink of glass on the counter. As we round the corner, Seth’s dad comes into view. He’s slumped over a bottle of hard liquor and a shot glass. Barely glancing at us, he says, “Don’t think I can’t take you out just because I’m drunk.”
Seth’s glare is cold. “Nice to see you, too.”
His dad points at Seth, his finger not swaying the littlest bit. Though judging by how little is left in the bottle, he must be hammered. “Don’t get smart with me, son. Because I’ve just about had it with all the trouble you and your little girlfriend have caused me—do you know how hard it is to cover your ass?”
Seth rolls his eyes. “Whatever. If you actually wanted to help, you would have told us what was up from the beginning.”
“And be executed?” Seth’s dad pours himself another shot and downs it. “Life’s shit, but it’s better than being dead.”
Seth balls his fists. If I don’t intervene, we’ll get nothing from this except broken bones. So I grab Seth’s arm and pull him back. “No offense, Mr. Mitchell, but I’m not here to talk life choices—you have to know The Phantom has my mother, and I need her back. Alejandro said you might have the codes to break into his base.”
“Oh?” Seth’s dad smirks. “So you’re here to convince me to hand them over?”
“Yes.”
He laughs as he pours yet another drink. “Did you not hear what I said? I prefer not dying. Who do you think he’ll assume gave you the codes?”
“There wouldn’t be any proof.”
“Proof.” Swig of liquor. “You’re a syndicate baby, dear Fiona, you know very well that proof is for courtrooms—and when was the last time any of these people saw one of those? I’d be dead just for being a suspect.”
I purse my lips, knowing he has me there.
“If you only care about yourself,” Seth’s voice is quiet, but still strong, “then why haven’t you told them all the stuff you really know? Should we tell The Phantom you forgot to mention the cave?”
Mr. Mitchell pauses. “You’d never give away that information.”
“But why didn’t you, Dad?” The pain on Seth’s face kills me. I can tell he wants his dad to say it’s because he cares. Maybe that’s all he’s ever wanted to hear from his father.
His dad’s eyes show no emotion when he replies, “Some information is worth more money than I get paid.”
“Liar,” I say before I can think better of it. “Tell yourself whatever you want—it’s obvious you’re protecting us. If you really wanted power and security in the syndicate, you’d rat us out because Juan would trust you forever if you sold out your own family.”
Mr. Mitchell raises an eyebrow. “Who says I haven’t?”
“What?” Seth says just as a piercing sound comes from outside. If it weren’t for the walls I’m sure my ears would be shot.
“Bea!” This could mean only one thing, and as I stare at Seth’s dad I can’t believe the smile he wears. “You knew we’d come here!”
“Of course you would. Crisis said your little Spud hadn’t gotten into the passwords yet. Alejandro got out.” He runs his finger around the lip of the shot glass. “It was only a matter of time. I waited up for you and everything.”
Seth swears. “Let’s get outta here. We’ll have to find another way.”
I nod, though I’m pretty sure his father has sentenced my mom to death. We head for the front door, but Mr. Mitchell lands in front of us, silent as a jaguar.
“Move!” Seth yells at him.
“Make me.”
Though I’m sure Seth knows he can’t beat his dad, he still throws a punch. Mr. Mitchell grabs his arm, pulls him closer, and then puts a hand around his neck. I jump in, trying to pry his fingers off, but he pushes me to the floor. As I watch Seth fight to get free, I feel helpless. Even if I strip down and try to surprise him, he could hurt Seth before I attack.
“I can crush his windpipe,” Mr. Mitchell says like it’s not his son he could murder. “So how about you tell your friends out there to surrender before that happens?”
He has me. And he knows it.
Pulling myself off the floor, I blink back tears. I look at my boyfriend’s pleading eyes, but I can’t do what he wants. I love him too much. “I’m sorry, Seth, I can’t let you get hurt.”
“That’s a good girl.” Seth’s dad nods toward the front door. “Now call off the attack.”
I head to the door, and they follow right behind me. Outside I’m met with a surprising amount of chaos. A half dozen of Juan’s men are down, clutching their heads from whatever Bea did to them. There is shrapnel everywhere, which doesn’t make sense until I realize Brady probably tried to destroy the guns instead of the people. That boy, good hearted even now. How did he come from such a twisted father?
The remaining thugs give Bea and Brady a wide berth while holding their hands to their ears. If it weren’t for Mr. Mitchell, we probably would have won this fight.
“Fiona! We’re kicking—” Carlos calls when he sees us on the porch, but then he realizes Seth’s dad has him by the throat and horror takes over.
Mr. Mitchell pulls a gun from his pocket and points it at me. This all feels way too familiar. “Tell them to come peacefully.”
I gulp, wishing I could say anything else. “It’s over, guys.”
Chapter 42