And the damn man knew it.

Of course, she hadn’t missed his deliberate shifting to ease what had to be rather tight jeans. Take that, witch.

She clomped up three wooden steps, inhaling their cedar scent and walking across the long porch. The smell of cedar continued to fill her nose when she stood inside the quaint cabin. Adam crouched near a fireplace, setting paper on fire with his own energy.

Witches had it cool.

A small kitchenette took up one wall, fronted by a long oak table. A gathering area with bluish green sofas and chairs snuggled cozily around the stone fireplace.

Two doorways led to the north, probably to a bedroom and bathroom.

Papers were scattered across the table, and she inched forward, noticing the red circles around Russian mining interests. She pointed to a mountain near Nijoy. “There’s another mine here. Coal, planekite, and supposedly some silver.”

Daire glanced at her, grabbed a red pen from the center of the maps, and made a circle. “Owned by Bychkov?”

“No.” She rubbed warmth back into her hands, not realizing how chilly it had been on the ride. Her attention had apparently been on the hard body driving the bike. “I’ve traced the owners through several dummy corporations, but I haven’t connected the dots yet.”

Daire nodded. “We’ll have allies check it out tomorrow.”

She shrugged. “Good luck. There’s one road in, and it’s secured. My plan was to take care of that mine last, and I figured on parachuting in.”

Adam stood, dusting off his hands. “Have you ever parachuted?”

“No.”

He grinned. “Cool.”

Daire rolled his eyes. “Not cool.”

Felicity pointed to three more areas across the Russian tundra. “There are mines here, all closely held corporations, but I think they’re diamonds and not anything else. My people haven’t had the chance to check them out personally.”

Daire drew more circles with question marks. “We have more allies than you do in Russia and will take care of it.”

“Actually, you don’t.” She’d spent years gathering allies and favors. When her brother, Suri, had died, she’d quickly confiscated all his Intel. She’d also continued with his allies, having blackmail information on many of them. Once this mission was over, she planned to burn it all. “But go ahead.” She moved across the map and tapped on Fryser Island. “We need to get into Sjenerøse mine somehow.”

He nodded. “I know. My people will take care of that mission as well as checking out Bychkov’s other mine on Fryser.”

“Good. That’ll free up my people for other work.”

“Speaking of which, what’s your grand plan?” Daire dropped into a chair and stretched out his legs, his fingers tapping on a closed silver laptop. “You mentioned bombing mines, stealing companies, and robbing banks. What’s next?”

She slid out a chair and sat. “Banks.”

He eyed her, his green gaze revealing nothing. “Is this all for revenge?”

“Yes.” She met his gaze evenly. “Ivan took the father of my boys away from them, and I had to return to hell in order to protect them, which I did a very poor job of doing. This is all about vengeance.” Before her sons discovered the truth and put themselves in more danger than ever before. Would the enforcer understand?

“Does Zane have any clue who Ivan is?” Adam asked, leaning against the wall.

“No.” She reached for the laptop.

“Zane has impressive forces as well as ironclad allies,” Adam said gently, his gaze no less intense than Daire’s. “Why not let him wage war?”

“There’s been enough war,” she spat, her body vibrating. “We finally have peace, and Zane has a one-year-old daughter to protect. All of this is because of me, and I need to take care of the threat.” She’d failed her sons enough.

Adam shook his head.

Her gaze focused on Daire, and she lifted an eyebrow.

No expression crossed his chiseled face. “You need this?”

On so many damn levels, she needed this, and she had to protect her kids for once. Daire seemed so close to his cousin, Simone, and that woman was tough and independent. Maybe he could see that side of Felicity, too. Instead of going into details, instead of trying to convince him, all she did was nod. “Yes.”

He studied her, a knowing intelligence in his eyes. “All right, but not by yourself.” Flipping the laptop around, he pushed it toward her. “Show me your plan to rob banks.”

Relief flushed through her, even as her phone buzzed. She winced and pulled it out to answer. “Hi, Logan. I’m fine, and I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk tonight.”

“Mom? Where the hell are you?” Logan all but yelled. “I’m at Daire’s, and the place is trashed.”

“I’m on a plane—long gone. Please keep doing your job in Seattle, and I promise I’ll be back soon to talk. Also, tell your brothers not to worry, that everything is taken care of.” She winced as she lied about her location. “Love you.” On those words, she disconnected.

Daire shook his head. “His next move is to call Zane, who will call Vivienne. She doesn’t know your plan, so you’re all right for now. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we meet up with demon forces soon enough.”

Felicity nodded. “I know. But even Zane doesn’t understand the forces that Ivan has amassed through the years.”

“But you do,” Daire drawled, his posture relaxed but waves of tension cascading off him.

“I do. For years, even while dealing with Suri, I’ve watched Ivan and kept track of his every move. I’ve waited until my boys were safe and the war ended to make my move, and now is the time.” She leaned forward. “Ivan is in bed with the witch trying to take down your people, and they both deserve to die.”

“Aye.” Daire reached over and flipped up the laptop lid. “Show me the plan for the cash.”

She booted up the laptop and connected with her online server, bringing up the schematics for the three banks in the Caymans. “Only one of these is owned by shifters; the others are owned by humans. It’s funny that immortal species have to use mostly human depositories to keep track of cash and gold, right?”

Daire lifted a shoulder.

Adam loped over and reached the table. “You’re not going along with this scheme to rob banks, are you?”

Daire studied her, his gaze serious and then softening. “Hell ya. I’ve wanted to rob a bank forever.”

Felicity smiled. “You’re an outlaw.”

Adam rolled his eyes. “This isn’t the logical thing to do right now, gang.”

Daire shrugged. “I don’t know. If Ivan and the witch trying to kill us have money stashed away, why not take it? Cripple them internally.” He leaned forward. “But as the enforcer now tasked with your protection, Ms. Kyllwood, I can’t allow you to be put in that kind of danger. We’ll find a safe place for you to issue orders from as we infiltrate the vaults.”

Now he followed the Coven Nine orders? Felicity smiled as sweetly as she could. Panic bubbled through her veins. He had to see her. The real her. “I appreciate the concern, but if you want to participate in my plan, you’ll knock it off.”

Adam coughed. “You want to rob a bank.”

She nodded. Frankly, it sounded like fun.

Daire sighed. “Fine, but I’m in charge, and if I tell you to get free and safe, you do it.”

Adam shook his head. “You’re a freakin’ perfect match, you two.”

Heat climbed into her face. There was a danger, not quite reckless but close enough, in Daire Dunne that called to her. Were they a good match? He was so complex, sweet and deadly, she wasn’t sure. It would take years, probably centuries, to even come close to understanding him.

God, she loved a challenge.

But no more hiding and planning. Now was the time for action. Finally.

A car sputtered outside.

Daire jumped up, already at the door before Felicity could move. He threw it open.

A petite woman with long blond hair half carried a redheaded human. Blood poured out of the man’s nose, and flames danced across his neck.