I checked the time on my phone, then moved to the opposite side of the room, thumbed my earpiece and murmured, "Viper, audio check."
Viper's voice was a whisper in my head. "Sounds good to me."
"Stay on the channel."
"Of course, boss."
I muted the earpiece and walked over to her. She was standing now, fixing the creases in the dress.
"Let's repeat this," I said. My hands weren't listening to me. They flew up and grabbed her shoulders. Gently, like a parent sending a kid off to school. What the fuck was I doing? "You'll go in through the entrance in the alley. When you get to the door, the security will stop you. You will askfor Cosmo. He's one of the managers for VIPs. Then tell the guards Mr. H sent you. Got it?"
Kimmy nodded, jaw locked.
"Don't be nervous. Don't fidget. Don't talk unless you have to. And only say the bare minimum. You look the part. They'll never suspect anything unless you give it away."
"What if they ask for my ID?"
"They won't," I said. "They don't want any records of anything in places like this."
She blinked.
"You okay?" I asked, not expecting a truthful answer.
She tipped her chin, and I knew she was lying.
"I've got your back the whole time," I added, softer.
Even though I'd never mentioned I had help, she'd guessed I was working with someone. She saw me communicating with Viper earlier and just now. But she didn't ask any questions. And I didn't tell her. Even if I'd compromised myself, I couldn't do that to Viper. It was for the best to keep her in the dark.
"Let's get this over with, huh?" She gave me a small smile, tight at the edges of her corner.
I looked her in the eyes and my heart thudded wildly in my chest. It was annoying but also exciting. "You'll do fine, Ponytail."
Her left eyebrow perked up. "You gave me a nickname."
"Not a nickname. A code name," I corrected her.
42 kimmy
The driver didn't even glance at me as I handed him two twenty-dollar bills and climbed out of the vehicle.
I stared at the taillights as he peeled off, then stood there a moment, breathing the cold, damp air through my nose. It'd been a weird week with rain coming and going, which was a rarity for Southern California this late in spring.
My hands were shaking so bad, I nearly dropped my phone.
You can do this, I recited the mantra in the privacy of my mind.
I had to.
For my family.
For Seven.
For anyone else used by Caius Valmont.
For myself, too.
A single light illuminated the rear entrance of Club Dionisius. There were no signs to suggest what kind of establishment it was. The door itself was simple and unremarkable, designed to maintain a low profile and avoid drawing any attention.
