AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Austin steps out of the car and fixes his suit, his gaze running up the building in the same way mine had. “It is the club on the 100th floor.”
“Oh. And Valentine owns the penthouse?” I ask. I totally dropped the ball on doing recon, I’ve done jobs on less.
“No, he doesn’t have enough money for the penthouse,” Saint chuckles. “But I bet he is salivating at the mouth with just the idea of ever having enough money to buy it.”
“He is on the 17th floor.”
My stomach dips. The heist is feeling like a failure, and I haven’t even tried yet. I nibble on my lip as we cross the courtyard that leads to the entrance. A door man stops us and checks for our names on his list before he steps out of the way and lets us in. My heart beats loudly in my ears as we ride the elevator up to the 100th floor.
The doors slide open to reveal a lavish space already full to the brim with party goers. I run my hands over my dress as if I am smoothing it down, when in reality my palms feel clammy. Austin’s hand lands on the small of my back, and it steadies me as he guides me through the space effortlessly.
“Nervous?” he whispers next to my ear.
“Is it that obvious?”
He chuckles. “You keep smoothing out your already smooth dress.” He nods at my hands that are currently doing just that.
I shake them out and cross them lightly over my stomach. “It’s a lot.”
“Yeah. But imagine how much you could lift here. You’d be set for years. A watch here, a necklace there,” he whispers as he nods at a woman wearing a line of diamonds around her neck.
I laugh. “I think I learned my lesson on that one.”
He rubs a circle on my lower back. “It didn’t turn out so bad.”
When I look up at him, he’s smiling. Adoration shines from his eyes and makes me melt. That look. That is the reason I’m still going forward with this crazy plan.
“Yeah, not that bad at all,” I agree. “But are you suggesting I trade up?” I tease, and a growl rumbles in his chest, making my nipples hard.
He slides his hand around my side and pulls me close just as Saint returns with our drinks.
“Where is Felix?” I ask, glancing behind him.
Saint gives me a lopsided smile. “Doing what he does best, flirting with the millionaires so they invest in Zade enterprises.”
“And we are okay with that?” I ask, a twinge of jealousy rattling in my chest. I might be a little possessive of my guys.
Austin presses a kiss to the side of my head as my fingers curl around the stem of the glass Saint hands me. The bubbles rise to the top, and I swirl the liquid around the edge.
“Come on, you can see him in action yourself. No reason to be jealous,” Austin says.
He guides us through the room until I spot Felix. He’s chatting with a group of people. Smiles are all around, and he is clearly the center of attention, but the flirting he is doing is subtle and clearly not sexual. He meets my stare, and his gaze softens for me, telling me everything I need to know. He might play a part, but he is mine.
It relaxes me, and I finally take a sip of the bubbly in the glass. The champagne tingles as it slides down my throat. Austin excuses himself, and Saint takes his place at my side. We watch from the sidelines, where I’m most comfortable, as Austin and Felix work their magic.
“Are these parties just for making connections?” I ask, tilting my head up to Saint.
The corner of his mouth lifts, and he nods. “Basically. They are so boring.”
“Definitely not like the clubs my brother frequents,” I agree. Not that those are fun either.
We circle the outside of the room, coming to the large floor-to-ceiling windows that have a view over the park. It is so far down I feel slightly dizzy looking out over the sprawling park. I take a few more sips of the champagne. It is slightly sweet on my tongue, and the bubbles are pleasant as they travel to my stomach.
I switch out my glass for a full one as a waiter passes. The liquid isn’t like whiskey that burns a path down your throat and makes you aware it is there, settled in the pit of your stomach before it roars through you like a storm. This one is unassuming and soft as it eases your muscles and bleeds into your bloodstream. One minute I’m sober, and the next I can’t stop the giggles at apparently nothing.
Saint smiles indulgently down at me as I cover my mouth as a hiccuping laugh escapes. “Look who's a lightweight with champagne. I’ve heard of that, but never seen it in person.”
I shush him as he plucks my empty glass from my fingers.Huh, when did that happen? I just picked it up. Didn’t I?
