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"No?" That devilish glint returned to his eyes. "Don't be so sure. I'm a master magician--"
My phone vibrated. I answered without speaking, as instructed.
&n
bsp; "Five minutes to show time," Bianca said. "Is Jaz up there?"
I relayed the message to Jaz. He looked as if he was trying to decide whether we had time to pick up where we'd left off. I settled the question by laying on my stomach and peering through the peephole at the party.
Jaz stretched over me, his body grazing mine. "They have no idea what's coming. Supernaturals could take over the damned world if they wanted, and humans couldn't do a thing to stop it."
"Nah. Too much work."
"True. Let them keep the bureaucracy; we'll just reap the rewards."
Still crouched over my back, he moved his lips to my ear and used the excuse to brush along me, groin rubbing against my rear.
"See anything you like?" he whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Necklace, bracelet...new watch?"
I gave a soft laugh and shook my head.
"Oh, come on." He pointed to a fur-trimmed stole on a chair. "Dead animals?" His finger moved to a marble bust on the buffet table. "Butt-ugly statue?"
"No, thank you."
"No? How about the keys to that sweet new ride? Might be your only chance to trash a Jag. Say the word and it's yours."
I rolled over, still under him, looked up and knew he was only half joking. If I asked for something--for anything--he'd get it for me. Steal it for me. I fought a shiver of excitement.
His mouth moved down to mine--
My cell phone vibrated, bouncing along the floor.
"Time to move," he said with a sigh. A moment's hesitation, then he got up. "But I am going to get you something. A surprise."
WE SNUCK DOWN the rear stairs and met Guy in the back room with Sonny and Max. We five would be on the front line, while Bianca, Rodriguez and Tony worked from the wings.
"Outfits there," Guy said, pointing at a pile of staff uniforms as we walked in. "Masks over there. You have five minutes and counting. Pull 'em off and get 'em on. Faith, there's a closet for privacy--"
"Here's fine."
Sonny tossed me the smallest server uniform. I faced the corner, peeled off my T-shirt and pulled on the uniform top. It smelled of knockoff perfume with a faint touch of body odor. As for the former wearer, presumably she was tied up somewhere. Bianca, Max and Tony had been luring servers out for the past twenty minutes, getting their uniforms. It wouldn't be long before someone noticed a marked decrease in waitstaff.
"Sonny, here." Guy handed him one of the masquerade half-masks. "You and Max go. Your trays are right around the corner. Jaz, stop fussing with the damned tie, get out there and start charming. Faith--"
"Stay with you. I know."
He handed me my mask, and I put it on. It covered the top half of my face. I blinked, getting accustomed to it.
When the others were gone, Guy snapped on a mask, tugged at his tie, then rolled his shoulders. From the waves rolling off him, it wasn't anxiety he was fighting, but anticipation. There was probably no one in the gang who didn't get off on this, to some degree. That's why they were here--to exercise their powers for profit and, yes, for fun.
The swirl of chaos...about to turn into a maelstrom. I looked away so Guy wouldn't see my reaction.
"You ready, Faith?"
