Legend & Lace

17. Of Course, You Can Tell Me Not To...But I Still Am

Chapter 17

Of Course, You Can Tell Me Not To...But I Still Am

"Well, we certainly didn't think we'd be seeing you guys so soon," I grinned as I got in the middle row of seats as Drake and Cruz loaded up our stuff in the back. I leaned forward, giving Beau a kiss on the cheek.

"We figured we might as well meet you guys here so we could talk on the drive to your hotel," Flannery smiled at me, but then raised both brows. "Especially when Cruz told us what you were planning."

With Cruz crawling into the back seat beside Kenna, I all but shoved him there, his cheek smacking into the leather. "What the hell, Cruz?"

"You mean, what the hell, Hattie?" he grumbled, turning around as Kenna laughed beside him. "They already knew you were more than likely going to pull some kind of stunt like the one you've dreamed up."

"And you know how stubborn she is," Drake said, closing the door as he settled in beside me. "At least you can help us convince her to let me go with her. She's now decided I'm not."

"And you know she's famous for that stubbornness," Beau snorted as he pulled away from the airport. "What makes you think she'll listen to us?"

I grinned over at Drake, showing him just how stubborn I could be.

"But we have try, huh?"

My grin turned into a frown as I eyed Beau, who was driving comfortably in the bustle of Shanghai streets. "Traitor."

Flannery turned her worry to me. "If we can't convince you not to break into Vince's place, we're at least going to try to get Drake to come with you. Maybe even Cruz. Hattie, he's basically staying in a fortress on the top of a high-rise building."

"And we're already in their security systems. Kenna did that a few days ago within an hour. And okay, Drake can come along as an extra pair of eyes."

"An extra pair of eyes to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid," Drake scoffed.

I turned to glare at him.

He just grinned. "Even though what you want to do to Vince, I'm sure we all want done to him. But really, Hattie, killing him now isn't really the smartest move at the moment. No Vince, no key."

That glare didn't lessen.

And neither did his grin. "I love you, Miss Hattie."

"You're lucky I love you, too, or else your ass would be on the pavement right now."

Beau whistled low, glancing back to look at Drake.

"And the only reason I figured it'd be best if only I went in was so there wasn't two chances of being caught. But I also realize that two pairs of eyes are better than one, so yes, you're coming with me. Kenna will monitor the security system and Cruz will keep an eye on the outside. Just like Antecedent. We have a good thing going, so we shouldn't waste it, huh?"

"Now she gets it," Drake snorted, which earned him a not so gentle poke in the ribs.

Flannery chuckled as she leaned forward, grabbing something she had in the bag between her feet. She handed the folded piece of paper to me, which I immediately opened.

"It's Vince's itinerary for the next three weeks he's here."

"He has an itinerary?" I mused, raising an eyebrow at her.

"He's got his schedules and likes to stick to them. Look it over and decide what night's the best to break in since we're obviously not going to be able to convince you otherwise. Personally, I'd shoot for next Tuesday night. Most of the Order who are there will be out – a meeting we called for no particular reason but to give you a good chance to get in. Vince knows about it. It's to discuss the Brotherhood and Knights' movements, which we will also be discussing with him in private earlier that day."

Beau added in another bit of information, glancing back again. "There's only goin' to be three or four others there with him. Two of them are ours should you get caught – Calvin and Naomi. They'll let you through."

"How many people in the Order do you trust, exactly?" Drake asked curiously. "How many do you actually have on your side?"

Beau and Flannery shared a look before Flannery turned her smile to him. "Let's just say it's enough to bring Vince to his knees if Hattie doesn't do it first."

***Well, hey, guys!  Two chapters uploaded at once, even though they're short?  I'll take it!  I was planning for them to be anyway. 

And now we're officially halfway through with Legend & Lace.  

I would have had this up sooner, but I've been binge reading the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas.  And now I'm all like...Rhysand!  Anyone else read it?  Now I'm going to start back up on her Throne of Glass series since I've only read the first book and loved it.  Reading them totally makes me want to try fantasy writing...so who knows where my next writing adventure will lead me?    

As for the next chapter, who's ready for Vince to realize Hattie's a lot harder to kill than he originally thought?  

Happy reading!

- Ansley***