Molly could feel her eyes widening at John’s bossy tone. What if the guy on the other end of the call was Sonny’s boss? She didn’t want him to get angry and hang up before they got any details.

“Watch your mouth.” He sounded more resigned than furious, and Molly relaxed slightly. “It’s nothing we haven’t gone over before. The exchange is at eleven, the usual place. They’ll have your new ID papers. Don’t bring that squirrelly kid along this time. I’m serious, Sonny. Nothing can go wrong tonight.”

“Fine,” John growled. Although most of her attention was riveted on the conversation, a part of her was impressed with John’s acting skills. He generally seemed so up front and open that it was always strange seeing him play a part. “What d’you need me to do?”

There was a pause, and Molly’s heart rate took off like a greyhound after a bunny. “What do you think I need you to do, Sonny? You need to be there on time with the merchandise. That’s it. Think you can manage without screwing that up?”

“Yeah, I’ll have it there.” John looked at Molly, and she mouthed where? at him. “You don’t think the usual place is too risky?”

“Why would it be?” the man asked with a snap in his voice. “Have you been running your mouth?”

“I haven’t, but that doesn’t mean word hasn’t gotten out,” John said, inserting a slight, nasally whine that suited Sonny to a T… At least, she imagined it did. She knew a lot more about Sonny’s reputation and the destruction he left in his wake than she did about the guy himself.

“Word better not have gotten out,” the other man snarled. “If something happens to wreck this deal, I swear to God, Sonny—”

A loud knock on the front door interrupted whatever threat the guy was going to throw out. Molly jumped a foot before rushing as quietly as possible over to open the door.

“What was that?” the man on the call demanded.

The good-looking Latino man outside had to be Desmond, John’s security system friend. He opened his mouth to speak but went still when Molly dramatically thumped a finger against her lips in the international sign for be quiet. Before he could do more than frown at her in confusion, she grabbed the front of his button-down shirt and hauled him inside.

“Just my landlady,” John lied easily, giving Desmond a wave. “Ignore her.”

A loud, exasperated sigh rattled through the cheap phone speaker. “Fine. Just…be there on time. Don’t screw this up.”

“I’ll be there.” John’s gaze met Molly’s, his words a vow, and she felt a spark of excitement race through her. The two of them would be there, and they’d finally bring this chase to an end. Sonny Zarver was in their sights. Together, she and John would finish this, even if they had to drag Sonny by his hair all the way back to the county jail.