Olivia clears her throat. “You told me that you were worried what would happen if Mason found out about what you did. What happens if he does?”
I ignore the lurch in my stomach. “I’ll figure something out.”
But short of throwing myself at his mercy, I don’t have any ideas.
I’m not even sure how much longer Mason will allow me to run around on my very short leash, knowing that I’m endangering my life.
I know I shouldn’t have gone to the clinic.
I know how stupid and reckless it is, but in the moment, it had seemed like the right decision.
Almost as if my feet had developed a mind of their own.
Don’t kid yourself into thinking he’ll let this go. He’s probably just trying to figure out the best way to make sure you can’t sneak out again.
Olivia leads me to the closet and throws open the doors. “Alright. Good. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to continue your involvement, but the second phase of the plan is ready.”
“Olivia, I know we don’t know each other well, but I need to know something.”
“A meeting with Michael Everett is all I need. The messages will guarantee that. That’s all I can tell you without endangering your life further.”
“What makes you think your history will be enough to get him to agree to see you?”
Too much is at stake for this to go wrong.
I need more than Olivia’s faith.
Olivia throws the double doors to her closet open. “Because I have something he wants. He just needs to remember that.”
Half an hour later, we’re sitting across from each other at the bar in the club, and Katia is somewhere in the shadows. I let Olivia take my hand and lead me to the dance floor as the pulsing music washes over me. I lift my arms over my head and run them down over me, aware of Katia’s eyes on me the entire time.
A group of women joins us on the dance floor, and Olivia and I exchange a glance.
Then I duck away, my head lowered as I make a beeline for the bathroom.
After splashing cold water on my face, I come out and glance down both sides of the hallway, relieved to find the assassin nowhere around. I flatten myself against the wall and creep forward until I reach the back door. A heartbeat later, a shadowy figure emerges, and my heart stutters until I recognize Carlisle.
Wordlessly, he takes a key out of his pocket, and the door opens with a thud.
The crisp, evening air lifts the hair on the nape of my neck. My eyes take a second to adjust to the darkness, and as soon as they do, I quicken my pace and hurry after Carlisle, sweat forming under my wig. When we reach a less exposed part of the estate, Carlisle lets out a low whistle, and a figure emerges from the shadows.
It takes a minute for my eyes to adjust to the darkness and recognize Miss Deveroux.
Wordlessly, she brushes past me, and I feel her hand slip into my pocket.
A moment later, she disappears into the shadows, and Carlisle leads me back to the club.
“You and Olivia are taking too many risks. This shouldn’t have been done on the estate. There are eyes and ears everywhere. You’re lucky I know the guards’ schedule.”
I swallow. “You’re right.”
Carlisle spares me a quick look before swinging his gaze back to the front. “It feels like I’m the only one with common sense. If I get caught because of you---”
“I won’t let that happen,” I interrupt. “I won’t give you or Olivia up. You have my word.”
Carlisle scoffs. “No offense, Princess, but your word doesn’t mean shit to me. I don’t know you.”
I curl my hands into fists and stare straight ahead. “Fair enough, but we’re in this together whether we like it or not, so let’s try and make the most out of this.”
