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She sobered instantly. This wasn’t the movies. This was life and death. Hers. And others, her friends. If she didn’t get the key back tonight, she would not only lose her family legacy, she might even lose her life. She swallowed and followed Lacy up the walkway.
“You made it,” Logan said with a smile. “I was starting to worry. You look beautiful, my love.” He bent and dropped a kiss on Lacy’s cheek.
“You look rather handsome yourself,” she replied.
Remy looked at Hawk. He was magnificent in a tux. A lock of his dark hair curled over his forehead in a way that made her want to touch it. He filled out the lines of his tux so well she knew it had to be expensive. His cuff links looked like they might be real diamonds. He reminded her of James Bond, only more dashing and debonair. His eyes raked over her, too. There was a fire in their depths, but all he said was, “Ready?”
She nodded. So, it was going to be like that. She really shouldn’t have expected anything else. He had been irate when he discovered that she was part of the plan to distract Najeddine. He’d probably spoken to the Callahan brothers to make sure they wouldn’t involve her, but she’d gone to Lacy and Alex. They were more than happy to include her. As Alex said, it washerlife. She had a right to play a role. It made her feel better to be involved. How could she ask others to risk everything for her if she wasn’t willing to risk it all herself?
Still, she was annoyed that Hawk was so upset. She would have felt much better about the whole event if he wasn’t so angry with her. But he was, and it was time for her to pull up her big girl panties and get on with things.
They walked up the museum steps and showed their tickets to the guard. Then they each went through the metal detector. Lacy had explained that Alex would smuggle their weapons into the museum through the back entrance inside some catering equipment. Remy handed her cloak off to the coat check attendant, a young, well-groomed man wearing a traditional black tuxedo with bowtie. She turned to find Hawk assessing her one more time. His gaze lingered on her cleavage before he raised his eyes to meet her own. The fire burned brighter now. Anger came off him in waves.
She shot him a bright smile and then took Lacy’s arm. “Shall we go get some champagne?”
Lacy nodded, and off they went through the crowd.
The room was huge and stunning. The cream-colored marble floors set off the various pieces of sculpture scattered about the room. People in austere tuxedos and glittery dresses that sparkled as they moved around, examining carved statues as well as the art that was hung on the walls. An upper balcony ran all the way around the room with a balustrade also made out of marble. She glanced up and noted Gage in the far-right corner. Mitch was all the way opposite in the left corner. The tension in her belly eased slightly. She had a lot of eyes on her. They were here to help.
“Hawk is not pleased with you at all,” Lacy murmured in a low voice. She nodded to Remy’s right. Hawk was glowering at her from the corner of the room, standing by a statue of a man who looked like he was in pain.
“Well, at least he picked the right sculpture to stand by,” she murmured back. She was trying to keep her voice low because they were all wearing ear buds, and she didn’t want Hawk to hear what she said although it was probably pointless. Maybe he needed to hear he was being an ass anyway.
Lacy giggled. Then she grabbed two glasses of champagne off a waiter’s serving tray and passed one to her friend.
Remy did her best not to touch her earbud but it felt weird. It was similar to her airpods but smaller, flesh colored and she only wore it in her right ear. Lacy had told her to wear her hair down specifically so no one would notice it. She had to admit, it kind of made her feel like she was a spy.
After taking a sip of champagne, Remy swallowed and asked, “Do you see him?”
“No,” Lacy responded, and they clinked glasses, then each took a sip.
“Does anyone see him?” Lacy asked.
“Negative,” Logan said. Gage and Mitch both responded in kind.
“Hawk?” Gage asked.
“Nothing,” was his curt response.
Remy’s palm was sweaty against the champagne glass. Her heart was doing a quick beat against her ribcage. She turned slowly as if studying the art in the room, but she was scanning the crowd. Her heart stuttered in her chest when she spotted the Triad group. “The Asian guys from your apartment building, Hawk. They’re by the statue of—” She broke off. What the hell was that statue supposed to be anyway? “The slab of rock in the corner that looks like a badly mutilated rooster.”
There was laughter in her ear. “I thought it was a duck,” Mitch responded. “Glad it’s not just me who thinks that’s awful.” Then he sobered up. “I have eyes on the gang members. There are four of them. They look mighty uncomfortable in those suits. They’re with an elderly Asian gentleman.”
“Ying Chan. He lives in my building,” Hawk’s voice sounded in her ear. Even though he was being an ass, it was comforting to know he was there.
“Did he see you?” Gage asked.
“Not yet, but once he sees Remy, he’s bound to know I won’t be far away. He had his goons search my apartment.”
“Keep out of sight as long as you can, then.”
“Roger that.”
Remy took another sip of champagne and then winced. The sound of that brash Texas voice was unmistakable. Austin Davis was in the middle of the room, holding court.
“Great, another asshole to add to the crowd,” she said, hiding her lips behind the rim of the champagne flute.
“I hope you weren’t talking about me,” a voice said behind her left ear.
