Page 73 of Destroyed With You

“Leah mentioned that you added some Hollywood guy to the team? Is that true?"

“Renly Cooper. Not sure how he’ll take being called a Hollywood guy. He’s a former Navy Seal. Does consulting now, especially on action movies.”

“I remember she said that.” The idea had been so intriguing to Winston that he'd used that as his own cover with Linda when he'd caught her in the hotel room. Had that only been a few days ago? It seemed like a lifetime. “What I’m really interested in are the people he knows. Leah mentioned he’d dated some A-listers.”

“Celebrity watching? I never would have pegged you for that.”

“Funny,” Winston said dryly. “No, I need access to a party. Apparently it's infested by celebrities, very closed, and invitation only." He frowned. “Actually, I probably could have asked Jamie. Or Damien.”

“Damien and Nikki are out of town until late tonight, and while Jamie could probably pull strings, she’s still climbing the Hollywood ladder. Renly’s a better choice. And this way he’ll feel like he’s already part of the team. Will you need him on site with you? I presume this is about more than expanding your social circle.”

"Honestly? I'm going to break into a vault."

Ryan burst out laughing. "Well, now I really want to hear this story once you can tell me. I can't make any promises, but I can put you in touch with Renly. Are you prepared to tell him what you're planning to do? I don't think he's going to want his ass hanging out there without knowing what's at stake."

It was a good point, and one that Winston honestly hadn't considered. "I'll tell him as much as I can, and I’ll let him know the risks."

"In that case, I'll set up an introduction. When is this party?"

“It starts at ten.”

Ryan’s eyes widened. “Tonight.”

Winston shrugged. “I’m not one to procrastinate.”

Ryan exhaled, then stood. “In that case, I’ll set up a meeting right now."

* * *

Renly Cooper pressed the limo’s intercom and asked the driver to circle the block one more time.

“Nice transport,” Winston said.

Renly grinned, his golden eyes dancing with humor in the limo’s low light. “It’s not my usual ride.”

He was sitting across from Winston and Linda, and the overhead light gleamed on the copper hair that he no longer wore military-short. He had the build of a Navy SEAL, that was for sure. But the looks of a movie star. Winston wondered if that was his ambition. And, if so, why the hell he signed up with Stark Security.

As it stood, he liked the guy, but wasn’t quite sure what to think of him. Still, he was getting them into the party, no questions asked, and Winston definitely couldn’t complain about that.

“I picture you in a Porsche,” Linda said, making Renly laugh.

“I get that a lot. Actually, I’ve got a bike, not a car. A Ducati. But I didn’t think that dress of yours would ride well.” He flashed a slow smile. “Not on a bike, anyway.”

Linda laughed, and Winston stifled the urge to shoot Renly a harsh glare, not to mention a punch in the lip. He knew Renly was just kidding around, but Linda was his, dammit. And as for that dress, with the slit all the way up to her hip and the bodice that looked like it would fall off her shoulders in a light breeze, well … he was already regretting the hands-off arrangement he’d set between the two of them.

Not that any of that mattered now. They were here to do a job. And one more time around the block, and it would be time to go into the Bigelow and take a giant step forward in this operation.

“—perk of the job,” Renly was saying, and Winston realized he’d tuned out the conversation.

“Pardon?”

“I was telling Linda that the limo is a favor from a producer I was working with. A ragtag team of military castoffs fights a giant squid alien. And I’ve seen the first cut. It’s surprisingly good.”

Winston laughed. “And you consulted because of your vast experience with aliens?”

Renly grinned. “Well, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.”

“Fair enough,” Winston managed to keep a straight face. And decided that he liked this guy.