Charlotte Bennardo - Blonde Ops A Novel

Dante clapped him on the shoulder. “ Buono! ”

“Quick, get him inside!” I urged, looking around to see if anyone had witnessed our assault or was coming to check on the blaring horn. I didn’t think so. Up to now, my plan was working, my guesses were good.

Sophie slammed the hood shut, and I texted the van to stop the horn.

Throwing open the van’s back door, Kevin and Dante shoved Luca in, and Sophie and I tied him up with rope that was probably intended for the First Lady. There were also some zip ties, chloroform—no doubt in case she got feisty or noisy—and a blindfold, which I used to gag him. A deep breath and I was feeling better about the situation. We had taken a chance, and now all the kidnapping supplies that no normal person carried were proof that we had in fact nabbed Luca and not mistakenly attacked some poor working guy on his lunch break.

“Dante, you have to drive, you know Rome better than any of us.” I peeled the knit cap off Luca’s head. “Put this on quick, and hide your hair.” I threw the cap to him and he pulled it on, tucking up his pale mane. Dante was bigger than Luca, but hopefully Taj and Ortiz wouldn’t notice that until it was too late.

I slid the door closed while Kevin settled next to Sophie. Luca lay immobile between us. Kevin looked thoughtful.

“You were able to control that car with your phone,” he said. “And get out of zip ties. You’re … a hacker.”

And the train finally pulls into the station, Kev.

He gave me a frosty glare. “My credit card and bank account. Was that you?”

Okay, maybe he wasn’t that slow. But I did have something on my side this time—the truth.

I shook my head. “Not me—but maybe you can ask Taj about it when he shows up.”

He smiled evilly and cracked his knuckles. “Nice to know.”

TRICKS AND TIPS FOR THE EDGE-Y GIRL

“Semper ubi sububi.” That’s Latin for “always wear underwear.” Wise words! And make sure yours is clean and pretty!

30

On Dante’s phone, mine bugged. On Via di Panico, 1 way. Keep u posted. B

I hit send with shaking hands. The adrenaline was really pumping, and waiting for Taj was making me and the others, jumpy. This could work—or it could fail on an epic level.

A second later, a reply came back.

Why r u there? Know where TJ is?

I replied Maybe and hit send.

There was no time for a long explanation. I put Dante’s phone in my pocket just as it buzzed again—possibly a reply from Candace. Quickly I pulled the battery from my phone—just in case Taj could track my movements. If I had any luck, he hadn’t noticed that I’d already moved from the stone room. Besides, Candace couldn’t send a rescue team before we got Mrs. Jennings.

We all heard the unmistakable grind of metal on asphalt. Someone was moving the manhole cover. Luca, now somewhat revived, writhed in his bonds, trying to rock the van to warn Taj, but Sophie plopped on his chest, knocking the wind—and the fight—out of him.

“Get ready,” I whispered to Dante from the back. “Keep your head down a little, okay?”

He nodded and gripped the steering wheel. My heart pounded in my chest as I heard grunts and then footsteps and muffled voices.

The back door of the van opened, hinges creaking. At first, all I saw was Mrs. Jennings in a red wig—and she saw us. Her eyes went wide with surprise. Kevin leaned forward quickly and yanked her inside, leaving an astonished Taj alone at the bumper.

Taj tried to lunge into the back of the van. That’s when I delivered the most bone-bruising side kick—the only thing I ever learned in tae kwon do—to his midsection. He oomphed as the air rushed out of his lungs and the force of the kick ejected him from the van. He stumbled back, slamming into Ortiz, who’d just climbed up into the street.

“Aahhhh!” she cried, and, pitching backward, fell into the manhole like a well-struck golf ball. Score!

Taj scrambled to his feet.

“You should’ve had a plan B,” I yelled as I slammed the door shut. “Go!” I screamed at Dante.

I thought I heard Taj screaming and rose onto my knees to peek out the window when I was forced back down.

“What if he has a gun? Do you want to get shot?” cried Kevin as he yanked me away from the window.

Tires squealed as the van fishtailed, trying to get a grip on the uneven cobbles. With a lurch and a jerk, Dante pulled into the street and zoomed away.

Suddenly I remembered—

“Plan B! GPS!” I turned to Mrs. Jennings. “Taj put a GPS on you before. He might have done it again. I’m sorry, ma’am, but you’re going to have to … um … take your clothes off. I mean, if they bugged you—”

“I’m so glad to see all of you unharmed, but this is dangerous. Call the Secret Service!” Mrs. Jennings urged, relief etched on her face, smudged with dirt.

“I’ve already let Candace know where we were, and I’ll call her again,” I promised as I worked off her zip ties, “but if there’s a GPS on your clothes we have to get rid of it. Even if Taj can’t chase us, we don’t know if he has others who can. Hurry, please, Mrs. Jennings.” I tugged off her wig.

Kevin’s face went as red as a tomato as she started to unbutton her skirt. I guess it was one thing for professional models to strut around almost naked and another thing to see the First lady in her lingerie.

“Close your eyes, Kevin,” Sophie advised.

He nodded awkwardly but first helped us roll the tied-up creep against the side wall of the van. Kevin held him there with his back to the First Lady so she could undress with a little dignity—as much as she could get in the back of a cramped and speeding vehicle.

After hesitating for a fraction of a second, she kicked off her shoes, took off her jacket, and shimmied out of her dress, sitting there like a Victoria’s Secret model in her matching sea green bra and underwear. Sophie passed the clothing to me and I handed them and the wig to Dante, who threw them out the window as he careened around corners. Bye bye one-of-a-kind suit, now probably worth millions because of the action it’d seen.

I had no idea where Dante was going, but he’d proven himself to be a good spy-in-training, dodging cars, people, and Vespas as he drove. I risked a peek in the rearview mirror. No one seemed to be following us.

Yet.

Reaching over, I poked Kevin in the shoulder. “Don’t turn around. Just give me your shirt and pants, please.”

“What?!” He tried to twist toward me, but Sophie clutched his head tightly and forced him to remain facing forward.

“You’re not going to make Mrs. Jennings walk around naked, are you?” Sophie demanded.

A huge defeated sigh escaped from him. “Fine.” He started unbuttoning.“I hope people realize what a patriot I am when this is over!”

“Think of the fame and job offers,” I said.

After an awkward face-plant on the side of the van from a quick right swerve, he handed over the shirt and pants—both filthy from our sewer run. I tried not to look at his toned body—for Sophie’s sake—and helped Mrs. Jennings put on the too-big clothes.

Once the First Lady was buttoned up, I pulled out Dante’s phone.

Report! NOW!

I texted Candace back.

We have her! Will turn on GPS so you can follow.

I changed the settings on Dante’s phone. Seconds passed and I got a reply.

Tracking u. Police will follow soon. Go to hotel if u can.

“Hotel Beatrici!” I yelled to Dante.

He took a really sharp left turn, throwing all of us in the back across the van and slamming us painfully into the side. I think my knee ended up in Luca’s ribcage. Pity.

“Hey, Mario Andretti! Take it easy!” Kevin shouted.