Chapter 28
CALISTA
I would pay good money to watch these two men fuck.
Vector shifts beside me, the smirk crossing his face identical to my own. We’re watching Christopher go up against the brains of our operation, the meticulous villain who’s got a good few inches over the furious Brit.
Dark and light do pair well together, don’t they?
“Ten bucks says Ken doll swings first.”
“Oh, that’s a given.” Humour leaks into my voice, “The better question is how long will it take?”
Vector grunts, “Three minutes. Tops.”
I snicker, watching the man in question jab a finger into Marlin’s designer suit. The latter looks unfazed as the international fugitive leans in, his brows pinched tight together.
“So, you’re telling me.” Christopher’s growl fills the room, “I almost fell into a tank of eels because you wanted to see how I hold up under pressure? Is this a fucking joke?”
“I found that evening to be quite delightful.” Marlin tilts his head, a smirk teasing the corners of his mouth, “Were you not entertained?”
“I’m about to be pretty fucking entertained when I break your perfect nose with my fist.”
“My features are perfectly proportionate, thank you for noticing.”
The taunt has Christopher letting out another growl, his hands curling into fists as he grabs the silky material of Marlin’s suit.
“I wouldn’t do that, if I were you.”
Dark eyes flash in our direction, the frustration coming off him in plumes.
“Dress shirts and Melody St. James.” I tap my lips thoughtfully, “Although not specifically in that order.”
“What?”
“She’s referring to the two things I care about in this town.” Marlin smiles, his teeth shining like a shark about to feast, “I’ve been known to leave a man rather... incapacitated when either of those belongings are touched. It’s a matter of possession, you see.”
Christopher stares at him, “A matter of possession.”
“I reserve the right to my trophies, something I’m sure a man like you can understand.” Violet eyes crinkle ever-so slightly, “Particularly when a female is involved.”
All three men turn and look at me.
Oh, please.
“Boys and their toys. Such a shame you never know when a game is being played.”
I lift a brow, staring directly at my old acquaintance. He chuckles softly, his smile spreading with recognition and a sense of pride that hasn’t diminished since his little plaything flipped his chessboard upside down.
“Some games are not meant to be won.”
It’s Christopher who speaks up, his eyes trained on my face. I study him right back, noting the windblown hair and black t-shirt that seems to be the only item in his wardrobe.
Dark stubble lines the border of his jaw, the kind of stubble I would love to trace with my tongue. He looks rumpled in those jeans, messy in a way that makes you want to drag him back to bed and demand the cosmic fuck his presence exudes.
It’s been a while since I’ve taken a man to bed and I’m curious to see how this one measures up.
“Before these two start fucking, can I ask why the hell am I here?”
Marlin rolls his eyes, his displeasure of team meetings echoing loud and clear.
“Your presence is required on this operation, Vector, therefore your presence is required for the planning stage.”
“But why?” The brute scowls back at him, “I just do what I’m told to do. You guys figure this shit out and then tell me where I’m supposed to go.”
“Some people.” Marlin gives me a pointed look, “Believe you have more potential than an oversized gorilla. I, for one, do not share that sentiment and could care less if you were present today or not.”
“Great. Can I leave then?”
“No.” I turn from the man undressing me and offer Vector a sugary sweet smile.
“Your search for a purpose starts today. We need to devise a plan on how we’re going to break into the Dragon’s vault. We have the logistics and the blueprints but we don’t have a distraction or an exit strategy.”
Marlin nods, flicking a speck of dust off his dress shirt, “Calista has provided us with all the information we need. And we do have an exit strategy, however, we need Christopher to iron out the details.”
He blinks, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The railroad.” I cut in, walking over to the table and tapping the street map, “We need you to regain access from the dwarves. Get them to show you the manholes closest to the Drache Manor as well as the sewer lines that run throughout the building. We need to figure out how many access points we have and how long it will take to access them.”
“Hold on.” Shaking his head, Christopher steps closer, “The railroad was contingent on the return of the Hoffmann Diamond. The diamond you stole from me.”
“Actually, I stole it from Evelyn White.”
“Darling, that doesn’t change the fact we have nothing to trade.”
“Unless, of course, we do.” Barely masking my smirk, I cast a sideways glance at Marlin, “Did you bring it?”
Christopher’s jaw goes slack when the gaudiest necklace in Wolf Hollow gets pulled from Marlin’s suit jacket pocket. It glitters under the florescent lighting, the uncut jewel bearing painfully sharp angles in nature’s most beautiful form.
“How did... What?”
“My little saint and I had a formal event to attend.” Turning the diamond over, Marlin studies it carefully, “I purchased it from Calista to ensure she would sparkle more than any other woman at the function. And, of course, to witness Evelyn’s reaction when she saw it.”
Christopher turns and looks at me, “Did you know about this?”
“No deal is worth pursuing if it does not hold a bargaining chip of some sort.” My shoulders lift, “Besides, we needed to ensure you hit the Seaborn Mansion as soon as possible.”
“Unbelievable.” He lets out a dry laugh, “Fucking unbelievable. This whole thing has been a ploy to get me exactly where you want me to be.”
“Not everything.”
My response draws his gaze, smouldering flames begging to be unleashed.
Marlin clears his throat, “The Dragon throws a gala at the end of every quarter to celebrate her latest business venture. Every council member will be present, as will every prodigy and offspring. Over the next two weeks, Drache Manor will be bustling with additional staff and security to help prepare for the event.”
“So, we’re going to break in during the setup?”
Marlin looks affronted, “Of course not. We’re going to rob the Dragon during her own party.”
It’s a bold, risky move.
Which is exactly why we needed to find a thief in equal measure.
“Marlin and I have been planning this for a very long time.” I tap my fingernail against the silhouette of my mother’s empire, “The gala gives us a time frame. We’ve got fourteen days to get everything in order and then we attend the best party of the year.”
“And you’re okay with this?” Christopher’s gaze is back on my face, intense and unrelenting, “Robbing your mother during her moment of triumph?”
I stare at the outline of Wolf Hollow. The geographical lines that frame the town I hate most in this world.
“The better question is, what’s our distraction going to be?”
Ignoring the inquiry entirely, I shift my focus onto the blonde men across from me, “We need something that will cause enough disruption to distract the guards long enough for us to access the main ventilation system. From there, it’s simply a matter of surpassing the traps my mother has laid in place. ”
“What kind of traps?”
“The kind that kill you.”
Marlin states it simply, his gaze roaming over the papers, “We need something that will distract the Dragon for a prolonged period of time.”
“Or someone.”
At my curious glance, Vector offers me a shrug, “Aren’t the best distractions the ones you can’t run from? Get someone to sneak inside the party and stir shit up.”
It’s the perfect solution except for one silly little fact.
“The Dragon doesn’t have enemies. Her power lies in allies, and those who oppose her reign are not brave enough to take action.”
Marlin supplies the information, his fingers making quick work of his shirt sleeves.
“What we need is an explosion of some sort, something that will-
“Vector is right.”
Violet orbs flash with irritation but I pay him no attention. Leaning over the table, I touch the stain wrinkling our papers. The innocent mark left by a misplaced teabag.
“We need someone to cause a scene. Someone who will spread chaos and confusion among the crowd. Someone who will strike fear in the darkest heart present.”
My lips break apart as the taste of victory spills across my tongue, “And lucky for us, he lives right around the corner.”
There’s a moment of silence.
“Who?”
Vector starts to look bored while Christopher grows more confused. I ignore both of them and wait for the man across from me to clue in.
It doesn’t take long. And when it does, his eyes brighten with a dangerous fire.
“Is he still alive?”
“The last time I checked.”
Another beat passes as we stare at each other.
“Is anyone going to explain what’s going on or should I start guessing?”
Marlin looks down, toying with his cufflinks as a low chuckle escapes his throat.
“It would seem our plan has made a detour.”
I bite back a grin, “You’ve always wanted to visit Hollow House.”
“Wandering through an insane asylum has been on my bucket list for far too long.” Licking his lips, he nods slowly, “And I do believe there is something waiting for me.”
Christopher blanks, “We’re talking about breaking into the loony bin?”
“Not entirely.” Marlin pauses, catching my eye, “We’re going to break out the longest standing patient.”
Anticipation fizzles in the air between us, the plethora of possibilities blooming like an oasis in this miserable town.
“Are you going to make me ask again?” Annoyance laces Christopher’s voice, his usual position as team leader well and thoroughly revoked, “Who are we talking about?”
“The only person Maleficent Drache fears.”
The answer is written across Marlin’s face. Fitting, really, considering he’s the only person in this room who is familiar with the other half of the party.
The mad love their riddles, so they say.
And nobody loves riddles more than Chester Shoreshire.
Except his brother.