Chapter 31
NASH
Iwas dressed in black.
I was ready for Snyder’s party. My black shirt was tucked into my black suit pants. I wanted this done. I never felt excitement or anticipation before a kill.
With Georgie involved, I just wanted this over.
I wanted her back here, safe and happy and unharmed.
“Snyder lost a lucrative real estate deal today,” Bastian said smugly. “He won’t care in a few hours, but he’ll be smarting about it right now.”
My friend looked very pleased with himself.
We were all standing beside the Range Rover, ready to go.
Like me, the others were all dressed for the party and wearing dark colors.
Landon wore a dark-blue shirt under his black suit, while Cole wore a black leather jacket.
Allesio wore a black shirt tucked into dark-gray pants. I never saw the guy wear much color.
Bastian wore a black turtleneck with a three-quarter coat over the top. He looked like he was going to a damn fashion show.
We were all armed with hidden weapons. Small knives and garrote wires were easy to conceal. What we couldn’t easily hide and smuggle in were in the vases of flowers that Georgie and I had left behind.
Now, we just needed Georgie.
I glanced at my watch. The party had started. We planned to arrive after it was in full swing. Our arrival would be less noticeable, then.
I heard the door of my villa open and turned.
I almost swallowed my tongue.
Bastian gave a low laugh. “You should see your face.”
“The man is so gone,” Landon murmured.
I ignored them.
She walked toward us with a swing in her hips.
The jumpsuit was dark green and gleamed in the light. It sheathed her body like a glove. It had long pants, was nipped in at the waist, and there were tiny straps over her bare shoulders. In her hand, she held something black and fluffy that I guessed was a faux fur coat and not a dead Muppet.
She was wearing a black wig again, but this one was long and pulled up in a sleek ponytail.
“You look…” I had no words.
Her red lips curved. “Thanks.”
The beaten, dejected woman was gone and she now shone with confidence and vitality. I knew she was focused on taking Snyder down tonight.
Tonight, she’d finally avenge her sister.
“Let’s do this,” she said.
I stepped forward and took her hand. We climbed into Bastian’s SUV.
The drive to Summerlin was quiet. On one side of me, Georgie sat with her hands resting on her thighs. On the other, Cole was checking the knife he had hidden in his boot. Landon and Allesio were behind us.
“The cameras are up,” Bastian said from the front seat. “I have Theo providing comms for us. Keep your phones close. I’ll pass on anything relevant. Theo says the place is packed, and there are several guards doing rounds. Snyder is in prime form. Lording over the party like an emperor.”
Sounded like Snyder.
Soon we reached the mansion and were directed to a parking spot by an attendant.
There were lots of expensive vehicles lined up.
Cole opened the door and slid out. I followed and heard music pumping.
The house was lit up and strobe lights speared into the sky.
I also noted several security guards strolling around.
Georgie looked a little nervous. She smoothed her hands down the front of her jumpsuit, then fluffed the cropped fur jacket she’d pulled on. I squeezed the back of her neck and she relaxed.
We entered the house, passing through the large front door flanked by giant potted plants. As we moved through the living area, following some other guests, I saw the back sliding doors were all thrown open.
People were packed around the pool, holding drinks. The braziers were on, and several women in tiny dresses were clustered around them to keep warm.
There was a DJ with headphones standing on a raised platform. There were already some guests dancing to the music and a few couples making out.
“Let’s split up,” I said. “Landon and Cole, you have Alden. Bastian and Alessio, you find Bruno. Georgie and I will look for Snyder.”
My friends all nodded.
They dissolved into the crowd with practiced ease. I kept an arm snug around Georgie as we wandered through the party and along the edge of the pool. The gauzy white curtains on the pool gazebos danced around in the breeze. Inside them, I could see people drinking and talking.
“Stay close.” I nabbed a drink off a tray. I needed to look the part.
“Oh, look.” Georgie pointed.
There were acrobats and performers on the grass. I watched a muscular man throw a tiny woman in a glittery leotard into the night sky. She landed on his palm and balanced, her arms in the air.
The crowd around them clapped.
Nearby, a man and a woman in red outfits were spinning burning sticks. They whirled them fast and it looked like a wheel of flames. The crowd oohed and ahhed.
“No expense spared,” Georgie murmured. “Viv was so awed by his parties. At first. She was so sure he’d help her achieve her dreams.”
I pulled her close and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. I knew she still hadn’t properly grieved for her sister.
She would. After she had her revenge. After this was over.
We continued on. Snyder wouldn’t be far away.
The phone in my pocket vibrated. I pulled it out and saw a text from Bastian.
Snyder on the north side of the pool. Near the cabanas.
I guided Georgie that way. We passed more entertainers—two couples who were dancing. They were doing some Latin dances, the men tossing the women around like they weighed nothing. Nearby, partygoers watched and clapped.
Then Georgie stiffened.
I followed her gaze and saw Snyder.
Yeah, the bastard was holding court. He had both arms around two young women.
They were smiling up at him, hanging on his every word.
He was talking with a small group of people.
He was nodding, and occasionally touching the women.
A stroke of a hip, a squeeze of an arm, a brush against their cheek.
Then I felt Georgie look to the left. I spotted Shandy. The singer wore a floaty, silver-gray dress. She was watching Snyder with the women, hurt and confusion on her face.
When Snyder let one of the women pepper kisses along his jaw, Shandy looked away, clearly upset.
I squeezed Georgie’s arm. “After tonight, she’ll be free.”
She bobbed her head. “Soon, it will all be over.”
There was a finality in her voice that made my gut clench.
Yes, Snyder would be over, but not us.
Maybe Georgie didn’t realize it yet, but she was mine. I’d warned her when she hadn’t left that there would be consequences.
I was never letting her go.