“We have to go,” Ashlyn said, reluctantly breaking off the kiss.
“I know,” Shayne said, not sounding any happier about this than she was as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.
Closing her eyes, Ashlyn slowly exhaled as she got into work mode. With that, she opened her eyes and asked, “Ready?”
Pressing his lips against her forehead one last time, Shayne took her hand in his and gave it a gentle pull that had her following him as they made their way out of their hotel room, only pausing in the living room long enough so that they could grab their masks along the way. Once they reached the hallway, Shayne was entwining their fingers together and-
“This is probably a good time ta go over the rules, lass,” Shayne said as he absently ran his thumb over the back of her hand.
“There are rules?” Ashlyn asked, watching his lips twitch.
“There are always rules, lass,” Shayne said as they made their way towards the elevators, where several other couples dressed for the ball were waiting.
“And they are...”
“There’s really only one rule,” Shayne drawled, looking down at her as they joined the group. “Don’t leave my side.”
“And if I do?” Ashlyn asked as the elevator doors slid open.
“I’ll spank yer ass, lass,” Shayne said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as they followed the small group onto the elevator.
“Duly noted,” Ashlyn said, knowing that if the need arose that she would break that rule in an instant.
They were here for a reason, to find the sick bastard that was preying on women. This was her job, a job that she was good at and had been doing since she was barely twenty years old. She knew what she was doing, always listened to her gut, and knew better than to take risks if she wasn’t prepared to deal with the consequences.
“We’ll keep an eye on the lass,” Quinn said as the elevator doors were sliding shut behind them. A moment later, they reached the lobby and the elevator doors slid open to find Aidan waiting for them.
“The other lasses are already inside,” Aidan said as they made their way off the elevator.
Nodding, Shayne pulled the envelope with their tickets out of his jacket pocket as they followed the couples to the grand ballroom while she scanned the crowd. She noted the couples making their way to the ballroom, watching for anything that stood out, anyone who didn’t belong, noting every lingeringglance in her direction before she shifted her attention to the walls where benches and small alcoves could be found along the way.
“Ready?” Shayne asked as he handed their tickets to the doorman before they were guided inside, where they were met with the sounds of a string quartet playing and the soft murmur of conversations buzzing in the large, tastefully decorated ballroom.
“They’re dancing,” Aidan said as he appeared by her side, gesturing to the two couples that they’d been keeping an eye on for the past week.
“There are over two hundred and fifty people here tonight,” Finn said as he joined them. “Fifty of them are young couples, but we’re keeping our eyes on the couples that stayed here since they seem to be his usual target.”
“I’m going to need you to join them and look adoringly into each other’s eyes,” came the softly murmured demand that drew her attention to find Tristan, looking incredibly handsome in a black tux, standing next to them.
“Where’s Marty?” Ashlyn asked as she searched the crowd for the beautiful woman that adored the large man, who currently had at least two holstered guns on him, as he ran his eyes over the crowd.
“Home,” Tristan said as she felt Shayne give her hand a gentle tug that had her following him onto the dance floor.
“Don’t forget to look at me adoringly,” Ashlyn said, slowly exhaling as they carefully weaved their way through the dancing couples.
“I don’t think that will be a problem, lass,” Shayne said as he pulled her into his arms.
“When did Tristan get here?” Ashlyn asked, placing her hand on his shoulder as they began to move, blending in with the rest of the couples on the dance floor.
“A few hours ago. He’s here leading the team for the local police department,” Shayne said, turning her so that Ashlyn could take in everything around them, watching as Tristan smoothly made his way around the room.
“So, we’re effectively just bait,” Ashlyn said as she looked from Tristan to the other men in suits who moved along the edge of the ballroom, their focused gazes making them easy to pick out before her gaze shifted to the employees in matching black and gold livery.
“I’m fine with that, lass, if that means that I can spend the night with ye in my arms,” Shayne said as he leaned down and kissed her forehead.
For several minutes, they moved along with the rest of the dancers, leaving Ashlyn to lose herself in his eyes. By the time the next song began to play, Shayne was pulling her closer as he leaned down and began whispering in her ear. She had no idea what he was saying, but found herself closing her eyes as she lost herself in the cadence of his words, the soft brogue thickening with every syllable and-
“They left,” Aidan suddenly said as he appeared by their side. “Both wives suddenly left the ballroom and we have no fucking idea why, but Tristan and some of the men are following them ta see where they’re going.”
