Mind ticking over the last words I spoke, I stammered to find an acceptable excuse. “I’m worried if my boyfriend sees me dressed up, my everyday appearance will scare him.” When the girl continued to blink in my direction, I felt the need to over explain. “You know, as can sometimes be the case…”
“My advice? Just stop talking,” Sebastian chuckled in my ear. “You’re not making this any better. Like at all.”
Lips pressed in a thin line; the flustered beauty sauntered past me without a word. After splashing water on the back of her neck, she adjusted her hair back into a flawless cascade of waves. Taking a second to smooth her hands over her form fitting gown, she offered me a tight smile on her way back out into the fray. “If he can’t handle you at your worst, he doesn’t deserve your smoking hot best.” Tossing me a wink, she sashayed out and let the bathroom door swing shut behind her.
“That… was truly embarrassing for you,” Sebastian deadpanned.
Stare drifting back to the mirror, I watched my eyebrows raise in question. “In what realm is that considered helping?”
“Oh, I wasn’t trying to. That was purely for entertainment purposes. Speaking of helping, though, has Lannister run into anyone who would connect him to the Blood Moon hit?”
I shook my head, the weight of my earrings jangling against my earlobes. “Not anyone I recognized. Seems supernatural mob families don’t rub elbows with the elite upper crust. Who knew?”
“It’s a conundrum.” I recognized the clicking sound from Sebastian’s end of the line as him calibrating his tracking systems. “Has he had any interactions at all? Anything could be helpful.”
“He exchanged looks with another vamp when we came in. Very heavy and full of intensity. No one knows how to brood like pure blood vampires, let me tell you. Oh, and I watched him bristle when he walked past a chick who smelled like death. That’s not an insult. She didn’t have B.O.; she legit had the aroma of the great beyond emanating off of her.”
I didn’t have to see him to know his face was folded into a mask of concentration that sliced divots between his brows. “Could be a reaper. If that’s the case, we could manipulate that as our telltale heart to push him over the edge, if need be.”
“That’s assuming he’s capable of feeling an ounce of remorse,” I countered, my tone far from convinced. “For the bag drop, I took a lap of the space, and there are privacy cubes on the second floor. Let me just say that the changing neon colors are not the only things that will be going unnoticed in that room tonight. Anyone there has lots more on their minds… and laps… then a dropped bag.”
“And you’re sure this is what you want? A revenge plot that could, potentially, get one—if not both of you—killed tonight?” Clearing his throat, Sebastian fought to keep his tone calm and collected. “I mean, you have to realize how dangerous this is. If you go through with this, you could start an inter-species war, and that’s not even the worst case scenario.”
Throat suddenly arid, I swallowed hard. “I know that.”
“Do you?” Sebastian challenged, his voice louder like he was leaning into his mic. “The bag is nothing, T. It’s an empty tote no one will give two shits about. But from there, you’re planning to plant items that are strictly prohibited. If you get caught with them, none of this will blow back on Lannister. It’ll all come down on you, fast and hard. And there isn’t a damned thing I’ll be able to do to help you. “
Squaring my shoulders, I flicked my hair from my eyes. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“I’m saying that I don’t want anything to happen to you, Teigen. And if you decide to do this, there’s no guarantee you’re going to make it through the night alive…”
Chapter Three
Not surprising, due to his love of expensive liquors and beautiful women, I found Lannister by the bar. His jet black hair gleamed shades of blue, pink, and green from the strobing lights of the champagne tower that the bartender was erecting for the gathered crowd. Elbows on the trendy concrete counter embedded with veins of coloring that pulsed in tempo with the band, his lustful gaze locked on a platinum-haired vampiress with a stunning raven tattoo on her neck. Flashing fang, she gave him a definitive snarl to express her extreme disinterest. It seemed even here, his reputation preceded him.
“Look at him, making friends wherever he goes,” Sebastian muttered in my ear as if plucking that very thought from my brain. “There’s still time to run, T. Spin on the heel of that ridiculously overpriced shoe and bolt for the door.”
Keeping a fake smile locked on my face, I forced the words through my teeth, “I’m doing this with or without you, Bash. Get on board, or stand back and watch me crash and burn without you. Your call.” Accepting a spinach puff from a passing caterer, I popped it into my mouth and thanked him with a polite nod.
“Nice guilt trip.”
“Did it work?”
“I’m still talking, aren’t I?”
Brushing the crumbs from my fingers , I squared my shoulders and sashayed straight for Lannister. Catching sight of me, he turned my way with one elbow still leaned on the bar. There was no denying his sex appeal. Chiseled jawline. Smoldering intensity. Keen fashion sense. Unfortunately, no amount of hot could change the fact he was a murderous scum-bag. Even so, I had a job to do, and I was trained to do it with flair. When I pushed out my chest, my cleavage strained against the bodice of my gown as I treated him to a seductive hitch of one eyebrow.
“Fine,” Sebastian relented. “If we’re going to make this convincing, use the line on him that you said to me in Budapest. Remember? When we had to pose as a newlywed couple to track down those uncut diamonds?”
My smile widened at the memory of that moment in our mission when his face flushed and he completely broke character for a beat. Welcoming the tip, I slid up beside Lannister, close enough for my hip to brush his.
“Don’t say a word,” I breathed the words against his cheek, my stare purposely locked on the bow of his lips. “I want to find a private corner right now, and take you in any way I want you.”
Lannister’s red eyes dilated with desire. His tongue teasing over one lengthening fang.
“You’ve got it,” He rumbled, thereby breaking the ‘don’t say a word’ part of the command.
As he took my hand and led me from the room, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his horndog antics. He didn’t have any real interest in me, but—of course—he was willing to take a quick trip to Bone Town.
Through my earpiece, I heard Sebastian clear his throat. “It makes me hate myself a little bit to share even a similar reaction with this asshat.”
My plastered on smile sank ever so slightly. Bash was nothing like Lannister. We’d worked side by side for years, and I considered him the one person on the planet I could trust above all others. He was my partner. My best friend. My ride-or-die. Not that we exchanged such flowery sentiments. Our brand of caring was revealed more in making sure neither of us got shot or had our cover blown.
Snapping out of my reverie, I realized Lannister was leading me to a fluffy couch out in the open, on the side of the dance floor, and pulled back. For what I had planned, this location wouldn’t work at all.
Brows knit in an annoyed scowl, Lannister spun on me. “Need I remind you this was your idea, Teigen.”
“Pretty sure you mentioned a remote area, and not a public sex show. But I guess the hardening of his cock impaired his hearing.” Bash grumbled, more to himself than me.
Pressing my lips into a thin white line to stifle a laugh, I blinked Lannister’s way with a look that I prayed came across as coquettish innocence. “Up on the second floor, there are privacy cubes. The night’s still young. Maybe we can find one that’s empty?”
Hooking one arm around my waist, Lannister pulled me to him, the swell of his excitement mashing against my thigh. “Only one way to know.”
He moved us in a blur of super speed, up the rainbow neon-illuminated stairs to the second floor. Comi
ng to a halt by the railing that looked down at the dance floor below, Lannister’s gaze momentarily fixed on a pink-haired bartender before he forced his attention back to me. “You wait here, I’ll go see about those cubes.”
Once again, he disappeared in a blur.
Elbows on the bannister, I raised one hand to my hair, shielding my mouth behind my forearm. “Are you seeing this? He brought me up here to bone, and I’m pretty sure he just vanished to go hit on another girl. This guy deserves every bit of the karma coming to kick his ass tonight.”
“Do you have eyes on him? Where the hell did he go?” Something clicked on Bash’s end, sounding like a sight being locked on a gun.
A beat later, Lannister appeared in full swagger to proposition the lovely lass behind the bar. She tolerated his advances with bored indifference.
“Oh, I can see him.” I mumbled as discreetly as I could. “I don’t know what kind of species this girl is, but I pray it’s one that devours the heads of males.”
“Actually, Captain Douche-canoe just provided us with the perfect opportunity.” Sebastian’s voice became louder and more crisp like he moved closer to his mic. “The stairs should be directly behind you. Push your hair behind your ear, and turn the droplet of your earring so I can see.”
Without hesitation, I obliged.
“He went up and down the stairs twice now. People have, without a doubt, seen him. Unbuckle the bag from the folds in your skirt and drop it to the floor. Then, on my cue, kick it straight back hard and fast. Ready?”
Bending one knee, I crouched like my heel was caught in the hem of my gown. Reaching into the layered fabric of my skirt, I grabbed the edge of the bag nestled there and gave a quick tug that broke the threads holding it in place. I corrected my posture at the same moment the empty satchel flopped to the floor at my feet.
“Champagne, miss?” A freckle-faced caterer asked, offering me his tray.
“Thank you.” Taking a glass, I kept my eye on him until he sauntered off to his next guest. “Ready when you are.”
A beat of silence preempted his firm directive. “Now.”
Gathering the fabric of my gown in both fists, I lifted it about six inches and kicked the bag back with the toe of my shoe. It slid across the floor straight toward the stairs, tumbling down from the glowing green step to the yellow one beneath it.
“Perfect positioning.” Turning the camera in my earring around, I heard Sebastian’s tone become pure business. “Looks like your boy got rejected pretty quickly. He’s heading back up. We should go over phase two while we have time. I planted one of the wolfsbane laced bullets he used on the Lupine on a female caterer… but there’s a catch.”
Offering a polite smile to an enchanting couple darting past on their way to one of the privacy cubes, I sighed. “Of course there is. What are we up against?”
“I located the catering company that they used last year, but there is no way of knowing which caterers they booked for this event. Everyone is sworn to absolute secrecy. They utter a word about it, and they never get hired for it again. As you can see, their uniform is a simple black dress with a sash. To be safe, I hot-glued a bullet inside the sash of every single female member of their staff. All you have to do is find a way to casually pluck it out.”
With my eyes locked on Lannister strolling across the dance floor, I waited for the other shoe to drop. “It sounds like a simple snatch-and-grab. What’s the catch?”
“Um… I can’t even guarantee I had the right catering company. That’s how under wraps they keep everything. I went with the company they went with last year, hoping for the best. One of the female caterers may have a bullet planted on them. Or, there’s a chance none of them do.”
Filling my lungs to capacity, I exhaled through pursed cheeks. “That does complicate things. Either way, he’s coming back, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take the brief moment I have to tease you for using hot glue. I mean, seriously? We have state of the art technology at our fingertips, and you went with something you can find at, literally, any craft store?”
“Hey! You don’t mess with what works.”
“Shhh! He just spotted the bag!”
“Why the hell do I have to shush? He can’t hear me.”
I didn’t get a chance to respond as Lannister appeared at the top of the stairs and paused. Reaching down, he snatched the bag off of the floor in one white-knuckled fist. Gaze flicking in one direction then the other—he searched the room for some clue as to how it got there.
As he closed the distance between us, I struggled to keep my expression neutral. “Everything okay?” I asked, tone sugary sweet and slathered with concern.
Tongue flicking over the tip of one fang, Lannister’s eyes narrowed. “Did you see who dropped this?”
“No,” I lied, blinking up at him.
Chest puffed at the threat, Lannister caught hold of my wrist. “We need to go. Now.”
He didn’t bother to explain but dragged me down the stairs like the devil was chasing him. Which, by the end of the night, I sincerely hoped at least one would be.
Lifting the hem of my skirt so I didn’t tumble down the rainbow-lit stairs, I searched for a reason to keep him from leaving and opted for the obvious. “Lannister, clearly you’re upset about something. Why don't we have a drink at the bar, and you can tell me what’s wrong?”
“A drink,” he muttered as if that same idea had just struck him. “Yes, I need a drink.”
Shoving his way between the people on the dance floor, he marched us straight to the bar and snapped his fingers at the pink-haired bartender without taking the time to eye-fuck her.
Wow, the guy really was rattled.
“Scotch, neat,” he demanded, not extending the courtesy to see if I wanted anything.
The bartender, however, raised her eyebrows my direction in silent question.
“Do you have a specialty cocktail?” I asked, shouting to be heard over the thumping music.
Flicking her long, side-bangs from her eyes, she nodded. “It’s called a Witchy Woman, and it tastes like grape Kool-Aid.”
“Anything a little less fruity?”
“I know just the thing.” Flipping a glass over in her hand, Cocktail style, she got to work mixing ingredients. “Gin, lemon, Simple, red wine, and a sick-ass skull ice cube. It’s called The Proprietor. You’ll love it.”
Lannister and I stood in silence as she mixed our drinks, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air for any trace of wolf. Without a doubt, any thoughts of his publicity stunt were knocked from his head by the talons of his sins clawing their way out of the shadows.
Accepting my Proprietor with an appreciative nod, I hid my lips behind the rim of the glass to whisper to Bash. “Do any of the caterers in here look familiar?” Only then did I treat myself to a delicious sip.
“I broke in after hours to plant the bullets. I hate to say it, but you have no choice but to get close to them one by one and hope for the best.”
“Why do I feel like this is going to end with a restraining order?” I masked the question behind another drink.
“If it makes it any better, I’m really looking forward to watching this unfold.”
“Asshole.” That part I said completely out loud, much to the annoyance of a gargoyle strolling past, whose head snapped in my direction. “Not you, sir.”
Slamming his Scotch in one gulp, Lannister banged the glass down on the counter and shouted for another. With him being temporarily distracted, I took advantage of my chance to scour the room for an unsuspecting, bullet-toting caterer.
Seeing a gal with bright blue curls stroll across the dance floor with a tray full of champagne glasses, I avoided eye contact as I walked straight for her. The second we smacked into each other, she scrambled to steady the tray with both hands, leaving me free to “catch myself” with my hands on her torso… right at her waist where her sash was tied.
Nothing.
“Excuse me, I’m so sorry.”
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“No problem,” she grumbled, the expression on her face screaming a far different sentiment.
“Off that young server goes,” Bash chuckled. “Hating the entitled elite. By my count, that’s one down and, like, forty-five more to go.”
“Fantastic,” Turning on my heel, I came face-to-face with a blonde collecting discarded glasses from attendees. Seeing as she was only an arm’s length away, with my vast pick-pocketing expertise, it should have been easy for me to slide a finger under her sash in a quick, passing motion that would have gone virtually undetected in the bustling crowd.
That… is not what happened.
Edging in close, I went for it. No sooner did my fingers hook the edge of the silky fabric than she turned in the opposite direction and dragged me along with her. Unable to pull back fast enough, my arm wrapped around her middle, sending me stumbling to keep my footing. Knowing I only had seconds to remedy this awkward shit show before we both hit the ground, I caught myself by latching onto her in a backward bear hug.
Nose crinkled with confusion, she peered back at me with her chin to her shoulder. “Can I help you?”
Nothing. Completely empty sash.
Shit.
“Sorry. I thought you were my friend. She’s a caterer, too.” Yes, I was a trained spy. Still, a red hot blush filled my cheeks. “Maybe you know her? Her name is Michelle.”
“No. Haven’t met her. Quick question, though. Are you planning on letting go of me any time soon, or should I get someone else to cover my shift so we can snuggle?” The snark was strong with this one. Another life, or a meeting that didn’t involve an impromptu groping, and we might have been friends.
“Sorry,” I managed and released my reluctant cuddle buddy.
Through my earpiece came peals of laughter. “That… was the best thing ever,” Sebastian gasped in between guffaws. “That was Christmas, my birthday, and the fourth of July all rolled into one. It was beautiful, and wonderous, and—”
The Monster Ball Year 2 Page 54
