Chapter 29
I woke alone, like so many times before.
Grayson never slept much, but he always left something in his place.
This time it was a tray with a plate of fruit.
I frowned at it. I couldn’t find the little hidden message he usually left.
It would always be something that hinted at a memory, or an inside joke, or his feelings or even future plans.
It started with a single stem of Blue Vervain, as a playful nod to the time I drugged them, then it escalated from there.
Becoming more elaborate and complex. I was excited to wake every morning for his next little puzzle.
I decided to delve into the fruit, thinking that maybe he didn’t leave a message this time, but then I saw it.
The black plate had a beautifully painted, vivid red pomegranate.
I giggled at it, my stomach fluttering. When I’d still refused to give him my name, I had once told him my name was Persephone.
And as the story goes, Hades gifted Persephone a pomegranate, in a last desperate attempt to keep her with him in the Underworld.
As soon as she ate it, she was forever bound to Hades and his hell.
And Grayson had gifted me a pomegranate.
His secret little way of telling me that I was his and forever bound to him.
And surely it was also a reminder to me, that he was, in fact Hades and not like Athena.
But that was his opinion. Though, this pomegranate wasn’t edible.
But even for a man of his resourcefulness, it would be difficult to find a real one.
We were right at the end of winter. Pomegranates have long been out of season.
I looked to the clock. I had slept for two hours, and it was time to get ready. I wondered where Grayson had gone off to this time while I showered and dried my hair.
My outfit and hairstyle had been strategically chosen by Gemma and myself. I had to wear something that was sexy, so Charles wouldn’t get suspicious, but it also had to be comfortable enough to flee in, and dark enough to help me hide, should it be necessary.
So I pulled on the tight-fitting, black dress, made of stretchy material, that flared at my hips.
Gemma also left me some spandex, to put on underneath.
Lastly, I pulled on the black knee-high boots that were mercifully not heels.
She paired it with a black leather jacket and a choker.
It was absolutely sexy and absolutely comfortable to run in.
I tied my hair in a slick, high ponytail, and decided on a dark, smoky eye and a red lip so dark that it almost looked black, to finish off the look—perfecting my own little hidden message to Grayson.
I stared at myself in the mirror, in awe of the woman that stood before me.
The woman in the mirror was strong and confident and had a fierce look in her eyes, her head high.
The woman in the mirror had a lust for danger, for adventure, for excitement.
She was free and she was wild. And she was glowing.
I made my way to the staircase and found Grayson, dressed in complete black, with his hands deep in the pockets of his cargo pants staring out the window. It reminded me of how he used to sit on the windowsill at the cabin. His shoulders were tense, just as they’d been back then.
He turned when he heard me descending the stairs, his eyes roaming over me appreciatively. “My princess of darkness. My angel turned.” He gave me a sad smile. “You are breathtaking.”
I let my hands slide down his chest, feeling the outlines of Aegis pinned over his heart, underneath his jacket. “Are you okay? You seem… troubled.” That little voice was chafing at me again, my nervousness returning.
“I’m fine, Princess. This day just brought up a lot of sleeping demons. But I’ll finally get to put them to rest. Thanks to you.” He kissed my head. “I won’t forget what you’ve done for me, Ava.”
He wanted to say more, but the front door swung open. “Everyone ready?” Gemma’s sing-song voice filled the room. “Wow, girl! You look fine. Dibs on the next undercover assignment. I also wanna look that good taking down the enemy.” She punched the air, slaying her invisible foes.
Gemma’s hyperactivity brought an air of excitement.
I could almost see the nervous anticipation taking form and swirling in the room with us.
The energy swept through us like a wildfire.
Trepidation, unrest, exhilaration. Was this how they always felt before a heist?
Such fear, such thrill? It was addicting.
“Okay, bring it in,” Grayson said, taking my hand. Gemma and Hunter stepped closer, both closing their eyes, going still. I looked up to Grayson, confused, but he smiled down at me, waiting for me to follow suit. So I did.
“Slow your breathing. It’s time to focus.
” Grayson paused as each of us obeyed, stilling our minds.
“You know the plan. You know your part. You can see it play out like dominoes perfectly cascading into place. You keep a clear head. You think through your obstacles. You leave no traces behind. We protect each other at all costs. And nothing can stop us.” Grayson delivered the words like a familiar poem.
It was a mantra of sorts that settled them, got their heads in the game. And it did the same for me.
I was ready.
It was ten ‘o clock sharp as I made my way through the doors of Charles’s building and stopped in front of security. The building was quiet, except for Charles’s men still milling about.
“Can I help you, ma’am?” A guard stepped in front of me, eyeing my fierce outfit with displeasure.
I gave him an innocent smile. “I’m here to see Charles. We have a date.”
He looked me up and down again. He was dressed as a mere security guard, but I knew better. “Yes, Miss Beaumont. Please lift your arms.”
I did as he said, keeping the smile on my face, but my heart thundered. He waved the metal detection wand over me but stopped as it beeped at my crotch. I giggled. “My panties. Charles like me in leather and metal.” I raised my brow at the security guard. “Wanna see?”
The man straightened and cleared his throat. “You may go through. He’s on the tenth floor. Past the cubicles and through the wooden doors.”
“I know,” I said haughtily. I’d been to his office once before. With Shaun.
My feet carried me past the security desk and onto the elevator. I gave one final look at the men guarding the foyer, and guilt slammed into my guts. I shook my head and slammed on the elevator button. They were bad men, doing awful things. I had to remember that.
Instead of pressing the tenth-floor button, I pressed 10A, then entered the maintenance code when the keypad lit up.
The lift took me up to the service floor at the top of the building.
I stepped off the elevator into the dark.
But I was prepared. The powerful flashlight illuminated the dusty floor before me.
I found the steps I was looking for, right where Grayson said they would be.
I went up and stopped at the door, taking the signal jamming device from the garter around the top of my inner thigh.
There was an alarm connection on the rooftop door that would go off if I opened it.
Thus, the jamming device, which I placed on the floor next to the door.
I tried to unlock the door with the key Grayson gave me, but it wouldn’t budge.
Ice crawled up my spine, and panic thundered in my throat.
Remember what Gray said. Keep a clear head, Ava, and think through your obstacles.
Rule Number Four. I shouldn’t let fear overpower me like this.
I took a steadying breath, forcing the panic away, then pressed the key back inside the lock and turned it, jiggling the door harshly. The lock sprung open with a groan.
My breath came out in a woosh. The lock was just rusty, that’s all. I wedged a brick in the door, stopping it from shutting and locking again.
There was no keyhole on the other side of the door. And with security so tight, this was the less conspicuous way for Grayson and Hunter to enter, but they needed someone on the inside to open the door for them.
I stood back and appreciated my handiwork. They would be coming through this door in exactly ten minutes. I had to stay on task, and on time and get to Charles’s office. My work wasn’t done yet.
Stepping off the elevator, I took a few breaths and straightened my face into a comfortable smile before entering Charles’s office. He looked up from his desk and smiled broadly.
“Ava, dear! How I’ve missed you!” He pulled me into a tight embrace as I reached him, his tongue already invading my mouth. I put my arms around his neck, the best I could do to seem like I enjoyed him.
“You look beautiful. A bit heavy on the makeup, but I can look past that for tonight.”
I managed to supress the intense urge to roll my eyes at him. Such a small man, I realised. The makeup wasn’t for him anyway. It had been for Grayson. The symbolic meaning of it, caught by him immediately. “My princess of darkness. My angel turned.”
“I’m sorry, Charles. It’s been a rough couple of days; my brain is scattered. Please forgive me.” I hated saying it, but he loved hearing it.
“No worries, dear. Now tell me. Have you sorted out everything? Because I am done waiting. You will be moving into my house immediately. I cannot go another day without you.”
His words made me blister. What he meant to say, what he so eloquently disguised, was that he couldn’t go another day with me walking around freely, of not being under his complete control. Because that was the only thing he truly cared about. His only true love—control.
“My, my. We’re moving fast, aren’t we? And I don’t yet see a red diamond ring on my finger.” I peered down at my fingers, then smiled sweetly up at him. I have steered the conversation in the way we needed, the dominos all lined up.
He laughed, a too-loud sound. “If that is what you want, sweetheart. I’ll get that ring.”