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“Let’s make sure our party guest is pleased,” Anton told Ace.
“Of course,” Ace said.
The crowd parted for the two of them as they met Nixon Westworth in the middle of the room.
“I apologize for being late,” Nixon said. “My team was concerned by safety issues.”
“Safety is of the utmost importance,” Anton told the man.
“Yes. Still, I don’t think I want to stay longer than need be,” Nixon said with such arrogance, Ace found himself grinding his teeth together as he, Nixon, Anton, and the man’s goons walked out of the room into a quieter place where they could speak.
The sound of the partygoers was drowned out the moment they closed the door behind them. Then they immediately got down to business. Ace stood by as second in command as Nixon and Anton came up with reasonable terms, then they all shook hands. It was almost civilized—that was, if a person didn’t know what they were trading.
But the bottom line was that the operation had been a success. They had done it. Ace felt like smiling, knowing they had placed the final nail in the coffin of the Pavlov family. They also would get Nixon, which was an added bonus.
“We got them,” the voice in his ear sai
d, unease still in the man’s voice. Just because they had them didn’t mean the coming battle was going to be easy. The lives of good men could very easily be lost in the fray.
“I’ll be taking my leave now,” Nixon said. “I look forward to future business arrangements.”
“Me as well,” Anton told him. Ace simply nodded at the man, who smirked. Anton might trust him, but Nixon was an even more cynical man, if that could be believed.
“He’s not leaving the house” was the warning in Ace’s ear, making him tense. It was about to get a bit more hairy in only a few seconds. Nixon wasn’t getting away—none of them were.
They all walked out into the ballroom, and as Nixon began heading for the front door, it was kicked in, SWAT team members piling into the house. Anton and Nixon both stopped a few steps in front of Ace.
“If everyone cooperates, there’s no need for people to get hurt,” one of the SWAT guys yelled.
Of course, they were dealing with drug lords who would much rather go down shooting than surrender. Ace watched Anton pull out a weapon and take aim at a SWAT member. Ace couldn’t blow his cover, and he hoped like hell he wasn’t about to get shot down, but he wasn’t letting these criminals escape. No way.
“Drop it,” SWAT commanded.
Anton’s eyes narrowed as cold fury flooded his expression. He didn’t like being in this position.
“You damn well better have my back,” Anton told Ace.
“Always,” Ace said, knowing he sounded convincing.
A bullet whizzed past them, and both Ace and Anton jumped for cover in opposite directions. When Ace lifted his head, Anton was nowhere in sight. Damn it!
“Where is he?” Ace shouted.
“He’s not on camera,” the man in his earpiece replied.
“The bastard isn’t getting away,” Ace said.
He jumped to his feet and fought his way through the chaos of the mansion, trying to avoid being shot as he hunted for Anton. There was no way after all of this that he was going to give that man freedom. And Ace knew if Anton got away, he would hide, making it virtually impossible for them to find him again.
“Got him, Ace. He’s in the back of the house. Agents are closing in. Don’t blow your cover.”
“Thanks.”
Ace might not want to blow his cover, but he wanted to see the takedown, that was for sure. He took off in the right direction, being able to travel through the place with blinders on if he needed to. He’d familiarized himself with his surroundings, knowing this fight was going down.
Another bullet flew past him as he turned a corner, this one ripping the fabric of his tux. Shouts of pain and anger could be heard behind him. More police and agents were swarming the house as the fight continued.
“We’re getting control of the situation, Ace. Stay out of the fight,” the agent in his ear commanded. The man knew him well, and knew it wasn’t easy for him to back down.
