The Original Crowd (A Whole New Crowd 0.50)

“Yeah. Like a mile away.”

“I bet that’s the opening. They load whatever it is on boats and bring it in from the river. It’s a tunnel that goes from the school to the river, but they’re storing it underneath the school because it’s a perfect cover. Who’d think a school would be a storage unit for drugs and whatever else they’re smuggling.”

“You’re almost scary at how good you are,” I noted faintly.

Tray grinned, raking a hand through his hair. “I think like them. Dad trained me that way.”

“That’s…a little scary.”

“And your ex and your two friends have known what’s been going on. That’s why they lied to you, to really protect you.”

“Yeah.” I sighed.

Tray pulled me against him, anchoring his arms around my waist. Kissing my forehead, he murmured, “We’ve got most of it figured out, but we need more. We need to know what’s in that second warehouse. We need to know exactly what’s in the school and we need to know who Galverson’s contracting with because none of this would be happening unless it was really big. He wouldn’t chance it, not with what I’ve got on them. And we’ll need proof, stone-cold proof that can’t disappear or be killed.”

I burrowed closer against his shoulder.

“You still want to do this?” he asked. I felt him holding his breath.

Pulling back, I saw him searching my face. “Brian died, they’ve got Grayley, and they fucked with my life. I goddamn still want this.”

“Okay.” He kissed me hard and then let me go. Moving around, he walked back out to the room. “We’ll need blueprints. We’ll need twenty-four-seven surveillance. I want to know the guard shifts, I want to know the layout, I want to know what’s surrounding that warehouse before Taryn goes in. Or she’s not going in.”

“Who the fuck put you in charge?!” Trent growled.

“I did,” I spoke up, coming behind Tray. “I’m not doing anything without Tray’s okay.”

“Just like—” Trent began, pissed.

But Gentley cut him off. “If we get all that, will you go in?” He was looking at me, gauging my reaction.

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” he said simply, nodding, “we’ll get the stuff for you. I’ll have the guys set up tonight to watch ‘em.”

“The fuck we will,” Trent clipped out. “We need to go in now or Grayley may be dead.”

“Grayley’s my friend too, Trent. But I agree with Evans. I’m not going to send anyone in, even if she’s a bitch I could care less about, without knowing exactly what and who she may be running into.”

I frowned. Insult or compliment? Whatever. I moved past Tray. “I want in just as much as you, Trent. And I want Grayley alive, but I’m not going in blind. That would be suicide and you know it. Jace wouldn’t kill Grayley unless he absolutely had to. Because he knows that I’d go after him and I don’t think Jace would want that.”

“What’s go goddamn special about you?” Gentley asked, frowning. “I don’t get it. What can you do that others can’t?”

Trent laughed. “Fuck, Crisp, I’ve seen Taryn get into places that a fucking ghost couldn’t. If Jace doesn’t want her somewhere, Taryn can get in there. That’s why we need her.” But not Tray. No one said it, but everyone knew what he was thinking.

Tray stepped forward. “Get out and get that information. It’s the fastest way to get what you want. I’d suggest you get started right now.”

Gentley looked like he wanted to argue, but he clamped his mouth shut as he yanked Trent behind him, on the way out.

Tray followed, to make sure they actually left, leaving me alone in the basement.

I dropped onto one of the couches, briefly remembering when the room had been occupied with Tray’s friends. Tray’s and Mandy’s. The room seemed different now. Not so light and…easy. Everything was just tense now.

“Hey,” Tray said when he came back, “your friend is upstairs if you want to go and check on him.”

Holy hell—I’d forgotten about Props.

Standing unsteadily, I asked, “Where is he?”