18. Chapter 18
Raz claimed Kate with just his eyes as they stood in front of the mirror. Her chest throbbed, knowing how lucky she was. Despite the ticking clock and the rest of the Dragon SEALs in the next room over, she wanted to take his hand and show him how wet he made her.
“I’ve changed my mind,” Raz said.
“About what?”
He turned her gently using her hips. “I don’t want you to go alone. Are you sure you can’t access Ziegler’s hacker without the gala?”
Strife clawed up her spine, but she drew a deep breath, pushing it back down. She feared this might happen. The link had swarmed like bees with his worry. “His identity is ironclad. This is the only way I can have access to his computer. I can handle myself, Raz.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “I know. I would just feel better.”
She couldn’t blame him. If she were in his shoes, she’d probably feel the same. This wasn’t a normal crowd she planned to waltz with. “All right. It’ll have to be one of the other three.”
“Why?”
She stepped around him to grab the gold, shimmery clutch from the bed.
Sticking her hand inside, she ran her finger over the indentations of the letters on the invitation.
“I’m going into a crime syndicate. They’ll hack that badge right out of your wallet even if you use an alias and have day-old stubble. ”
She opened the door and strolled out into the suite’s living room. Her body tingled from the gazes of the other Dragon SEALs, who’d spread out on the beige sectional watching a blank television. “Sid would be the most helpful.”
Raz scoffed, hot on her tail.
She had expected as much. Around her, Sid’s name to Raz was like a matador’s cape to a bull. Whether that was because Sid trusted her the least, she had the most in common with him, or some other male reason—she wasn’t sure.
“He’s staying in the vehicle with me,” Raz muttered, following her to the kitchen area connected to the living room.
“What’s going on?” Sid asked.
“Raz wants someone to go with her,” Caige said.
“What about Lewis?” Kate pointed her clutch at the man who dwarfed the couch.
Lewis put his hands up. “I’m terrible at lying.”
Well, there goes my only options…
“I’ll go,” Caige said into the silence.
The hair on her arms stood on end. What?
No. Anyone but him. The Mirage’s motivations were as much a wild card as his ever-changing appearance.
His power to manipulate his image astounded her.
While she could only cast an image of another person over herself for a few hours, he managed to do it all day.
His power over Influence, or what Raz had called Illusion, was incredible.
He could probably take out Ziegler before she even knew he had left her side.
The man was a trained spy and assassin—and as safe as that might be in dangerous situations, she didn’t want him attached to her arm.
He might decide to turn his skills on her to find truths she didn’t want to tell, or worse—take her into a dark corner and finish her off.
She looked toward Raz. Caige and Raz stared at each other as if having an inner conversation.
Raz nodded. “Caige will go with you.”
She frowned. “What? Why?”
“He has an undercover alias in Matsuda’s inner circle,” Raz said.
Oh. Wow. She gave a pointed look to Caige. “Why didn’t you mention it sooner?”
“It wasn’t pertinent information until now.”
Shit. This man knew how to play his cards right, only giving away secrets when needed.
And she couldn’t be upset at him. Because it didn’t change the overall mission, only how she needed to revise this next part.
Matsuda had people everywhere, and given both her and Caige’s aliases worked in similar circles, it would make sense their paths would cross.
Caige would act as a strong presence to the people at the gala, and this event might help put him in good favor with Matsuda if their plan worked as she’d hoped. Or it could blow his cover.
“Fine,” she said. “But I expect you to follow my lead and wear a suit.”
“I can help with the latter.” Lewis jumped to his feet.
Caige grumbled. A knock silenced the room. Everyone swiveled toward the door.
“Relax, guys. I’m expecting someone,” she said, heading over to investigate. Peering out the peephole, a familiar face came into view with round cheeks and deep crow’s feet.
She breathed out a relieved sigh and opened the door. “Just the man I wanted to see.”
“Gomen-nesai, Ichikawa-san,“ Clyde said, short black hair bobbing as he bowed.
“No need to apologize.” She ushered her Coheart inside.
He removed his shoes outside and placed them just next to the door with hers as he walked in with a large navy backpack.
She took in the deep bags under his dark oval eyes like punches to her gut.
He’d been dealing with Bonnie falling off the wagon while Kate was away.
Bonnie thought they were going on a honeymoon when, really, Clyde had taken her back to rehab.
A deep weight crept over the relief running through her. “How’s Bonnie doing?”
“She checked herself in, thankfully. I’m heading back after this to make sure they can handle her.”
“This shouldn’t take too long. Come and meet the others.” She guided him through the entryway into the living room. All the men stood to their feet. Raz stepped out of the kitchen to eye their visitor. The Dragon SEALs all together before her were picturesque, a moment to remember.
“Kuso…you’re all here.“ Clyde looked at her.
She laughed. “Everyone, I would like you to meet Takeshi, Clyde. Clyde, this is Sid, Lewis, Caige, and Raz.” She pointed to each one. Clyde bowed.
Raz stepped forward and offered his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” Clyde’s fingers barely clasped Raz’s as he bowed his head.
The Western handshake was awkward to him, even though he had spent decades in the United States as her Coheart.
He pivoted to Kate. “Anyway, I have your toy.” Clyde rummaged in his dress pant pockets until he pulled out a compact mirror.
“Oh! It’s perfect.” The pink circular mirror with a cat face on the front hid a wireless network interface controller.
“Do I want to know?” Raz asked, leaning over her shoulder.
“It’ll allow Clyde to gain access to Ziegler’s hacker’s computer.”
“I’ll set up here,” Clyde said, placing his bag onto the island in the kitchen. While he unpacked his equipment, Kate slipped the mirror into her clutch. It clanked against her lipstick.
“Do you have an extra pair of Micron Ears?” she asked Clyde.
Clyde lifted an eyebrow. “Who’s going in with you?”
She nudged her head toward Caige, who gave a blank look back.
“I have a couple extra,” Clyde said, scratching the back of his neck. “The rest will have regular headsets.”
“What are Micron Ears?” Sid asked, stepping closer to Clyde’s laptop and router.
“An untraceable earpiece and microphone that is pierced into your tragus,” Clyde said, pulling out a plastic piercing gun and two small blue boxes. “Your body pushes it out within twenty-four hours.”
“Very expensive, but very useful.” She hopped onto the barstool next to Clyde. “The rest of you will get the cheaper version. Caige, you can either fly in blind or take the earpiece.”
Caige mumbled through an agreement, and Clyde pulled on a pair of blue nitrile gloves with a snap.
Kate stared up at the skyscrapers as their drive through Detroit came to an end. The Renaissance Center rose like windowed goliaths into the dark, cloudy sky. Anxiety bubbled in her rib cage. This is the simple part.
The vehicle stopped in the valet section, and Sid jumped out of the driver’s seat. She waited for him to open her door after he opened Caige’s.
“We’ll be here.” Raz’s reassuring voice came from the backseat and calmed her nerves a fraction.
This part was up to her and Clyde. And they only had one chance. She offered him a beaming grin to reassure him and herself before she exited the SUV. The chilly air whipped across her bare arms, creating goosebumps.
She turned as Caige strolled around the vehicle.
The suit highlighted his lanky build, but the black and white combination seemed bland.
His Influence muted his striking icy eyes to a plain blue, and his hair was light brown and longer.
Wrinkles stressed his cheeks and forehead, making it seem as though he’d aged ten years.
For Influence changes, it deserved a ten out of ten.
So this was his alias as one of Matsuda’s lackeys?
“Time to fake it until you make it.” The motto had been another one of Naomi’s lessons, and her stomach twisted at the reminder of why she was here.
He offered her a chilling grin and his arm. Taking a deep breath, she accepted it. No longer did danger radiate from his pores. Instead, he felt normal. Not even eye candy. Okay…maybe eye candy, but not the kind she would take a second glance at.
What kind of person was his alias? Excitement scuttled in her stomach at the idea of going in blind. Unknowns always made the heist more challenging.
Releasing a breath, she walked with him, heels clicking as they headed to the front desk.
“Good evening. How can I assist you?” the younger woman behind the desk asked.
Kate slid the black and gold invitation across the counter.
She smiled bigger than before. “I’ll have Patrick take you.”
A man too muscular to be just a bellhop led them to the elevator, put his key in, and hit a button for the floor marked Z. As they rose, Caige’s arm remained steady like a dance partner. She inhaled deeply, and the doors swung open to two large guards in full tuxedos.
“Invitation,” the burly one on the left grumbled.
She handed the black piece of paper over with a grin.
He flashed a light under it before he waved them forward. “Stand on that white line to be frisked.”
“Oh, I love a good rubbing,” she murmured, unable to help herself, while the other guard, who had more of a boxer build, approached her. A soft red tinge highlighted his cheeks.