“Not surprising,” Wheeler said, raking his fingers through his disheveled hair. “Men get paranoid about Vampires turning on them. Most of the big shots I worked for didn’t keep any on the premises. Fear of eavesdropping and all that.”

Reno reached into the floor of the passenger seat and pulled out a gun, turning the grip toward us. “The guard in back took a smoke break and fell asleep in a chair before I left. I saw one downstairs, two out front, and they don’t keep the back door locked. If it is, then you’ll have to search one of the guards for the key. You take the back and I’ll handle the two jokers out front. The gun is for inside use only. This is a last resort if all else fails. Naya takes the gun for protection. Think you can handle it?”

I adjusted my hair. “If one of the men in the house spots me, I have a better distraction. With you, they’ll know something is afoot,” I said, touching the gun. “Maybe you should let me go in first as a decoy. They might think the boss sent them their early Christmas bonus.”

“I don’t like that idea,” Wheeler grumbled.

Reno’s eyes swung over to his. “Why not? Sounds like a plan to me.”

I pushed Reno’s hand away. “I don’t need a gun.”

“The fuck you don’t,” Wheeler spat.

These men were too much. “Darling, I’ve got two secret weapons that will bring any man to his knees. Care to disagree?”

In the backseat of that dark Camaro, Wheeler’s cheeks flushed. He seemed aware of it and pinched the bridge of his nose, hiding his face behind his hand. “And if they make a call?”

Reno glanced over his shoulder through the windshield. “By then, we’re in. We haul ass and go through every room. When we find her, I need one of you to pull the car up front so we can get the hell out of here. Is your car fast enough?”

Wheeler patted the seat. “She’s never let me down yet.”

Reno pushed open his door. “Let’s go.”

By the time I climbed out of the car, Reno had taken off.

Wheeler grabbed my hand and we sprinted through a dense thicket of trees toward the back of the house. Delgado had money, and most wealthy men didn’t fence in their backyards. Sometimes they had low walls in the distance around the property, but usually there were acres of private land. That’s what he had, and the trees provided enough cover until we neared the side of the house. There was a large fountain making enough noise to conceal our heavy breaths.

The guard moved within sight, armed with at least two weapons I could see.

“Now what?”

“I kick some ass,” Wheeler said.

I gripped his arm tightly when he took a step forward. “He’ll see you coming. He’ll radio for help.”

“Well, kitty cat, what’s your plan?”

I peeled off my shirt, bent down, and tucked a leaf in my hair. “Men just love to play hero.”