Just the kind of guy Ramirez should spare a conversation with long enough to put our plan into action... if he didn’t look suspect.
At six foot something, Seth usually has a commanding presence, but tonight his normally sharp eyes look glassy, his posture stiff.
“You got eyes on Holloway?” I ask Ruby.
“Yes.”
I keep watching him. “Does he look okay to you?”
“Sure.”
Ruby’s tone suggests that might not be entirely true. “What do you know that I don’t?”
She sighs. “He’s not feeling great. Kids had the flu, remember?”
I do, and my stomach twists. Ramirez already suspects Edmond of betraying him, and we can’t afford for anything to tip that suspicion to our mission. “Why didn’t he say something to Katherine?”
“Would you?” Ruby countered. Okay, that’s fair.Katherine Scott’s reputation within the agency is built on success, and if an agent has the chance to work for her, it boosts their career. No one wants to be the one who let her down or messed up her stellar track record.
I make my way to Seth, careful to monitor anyone watching us. “Hey, man, you good?”
Seth’s jaw tightens like he’s holding back a cough. “Yeah.”
“You look like you’re about to keel over. I can’t have my rich investor passing out in front of Ramirez.”
“If you really want to take someone down, make them drink after a sick toddler,” Seth deadpans, and I can’t tell if it’s the low lights or if he actually looks green. “I’ll be fine.”
I want to believe him, but I’m unsure. Do I pull him off the mission? Can I do this without him?
A burst of laughter pulls my attention to a man chatting like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Julian Mercer is all wiry muscle and quick reflexes and is here on behalf of the FBI, thanks to years of practice lifting everything from pocket squares to state secrets.
He’s our ringer—the reformed criminal who cut a deal with the government for a get-out-of-jail card. Tonight our co-opted asset gets to prove his worth by swiping the YubiKey off Ramirez—preferably without getting us all killed.
And right now, he might be my only hope of pulling off this mission if Seth is too sick to continue. I check the time.
“Shouldn’t be too long.” I give Seth another once-over. “I’ll be back to introduce you to Ramirez.”
“Feel better?” Ruby asks.
“Not even a little.”
“Well, don’t shoot the messenger, but Edmond and Langford have arrived.”
At the entrance, Cybil walks in, looking like a force of nature in a sleek black velvet dress that hugs her figure like it was made for her—classy, striking, and gathering far too much attention from the men in the room. Her arm is tucked into the crook of Sebastian’s elbow, her posture the perfect balance of elegance and control... and confidence. It’s like she knows she belongs here among this crowd, and I’m unsure how to assess what that means.
Something tightens in my chest.Protect her.That’s what my racing heart is telling me, but my brain is warning me to be vigilant. As much as I don’t want to follow Rook’s directive to “find out what she knows,” Ineedto know. Is Cybil working on behalf of her boss to double-cross Ramirez?
As if on cue, Ruby is there to make sure I don’t forget. “How are you going to handle this?”
I slip into the crowd but keep my eye trained on Cybil. Her dark hair falls effortlessly in waves down her back, and the desire to run my hands through it has me feeling restless. Like I’m chasing something I can’t have. I should be thinking about the mission, about Ramirez, about not getting killed—but all I can think about is how much I want to touch her again.
Is there any chance we come out of this and find a future together?
Behind them, Edmond enters, looking every bit the self-assured businessman. Would he really risk Cybil’s life to, what—make more money? Destroy Ramirez’s deal? There’s nothing worth more than Cybil’s life, but I’m not Earl Edmond, and maybe to him she’s expendable.
My eyes flick back to Cybil as she moves through the crowd withease. Anger pulses hot under my collar. I’ll find out what Cybil knows, if for no other reason than to figure out how to keep her from being Edmond’s pawn.Protect her.
“I’m going to do my job,” I answer.
