Finally, Lock and Tabs walked in with apologetic nods of acknowledgment. Lock open his mouth like he was going to talk, but it was Tabatha who spoke at first. “Apologies for our delay. Gennifer Goode from Oversight requested an audience with us. She wanted to know about the Igno situation.”

  I could practically see the lava escaping from Gabe’s ears. But it was Saffron who was well and truly ticked off. “And why would she be getting information from you two?”

  “We asked the same thing, as we are not primary or Ops Command,” Lock said. “She fed us some bullshit about how Oversight from time to time wanted team insight.”

  “That’s a load of shit. No one from Oversight has ever requested a meeting with me,” Saff said.

  I could see the tension in Gabe’s shoulders. “I’ll address her after this meeting. For now, let’s focus on this Igno mission so we can brief Rook. We have word that he is going to be at a secret meeting at the Bedford Manor. We’ve got some players we haven’t seen out in the wild in a bit. If we play our cards right, we’ll be able to tag and trace several of them while also grabbing up Igno.”

  So we were just going to fucking ignore the fact that Oversight had just meddled with Rogues? I itched to ask, but something told me that was information I did not need to have.

  “Rook, you’re on assignment that night correct?”

  I nodded. “Yep, I got the duty roster this morning. I’m not sure what Montgomery is playing at. He knows we’ve obviously got pressure on us. Nissa’s flat was ransacked. Common Denominator is Igno. Our threat level is red right now for this gala.”

  “You’ll be with the principal. Saff and Lock will be on the ground along with me and Saint. We’ll send schematics to your tablet. But your job is simple; stay on Nissa. And get us visual confirmation as well as audio. Some of that will need to be done on-site after arrival. Saff will shadow Montgomery. All other eyes are on Igno.”

  “Copy. And if anything goes wrong? If I have the chance to take Igno?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “You call for back up. Do you understand?”

  I knew how important Igno was. He was the end game. If there was a chance to end this, to make Nissa safe, I didn’t give a fuck what my orders were. I was going to take it.

  Nissa

  I tried to keep my posture straight and not peek back at Westin. I could sense his eyes lingering on me, and in spite of the fear that gripped me, it was a comforting feeling. I was surrounded by criminals and people that my father had wronged in some way. Knowing that Westin was here with me, watching my back, made me feel protected, but it terrified me to think of all the potential repercussions if Amelia’s plan went wrong.

  The waiter passed with glasses of champagne, and I selected one, my father giving me an admonishing glare as he talked to someone whose name I couldn't remember, which was probably for the best.

  I was doing my best to do my job. Which was wear the glasses, stand dutifully by my father's side, and nod at the appropriate times.

  Dad had been displeased by my eyewear. First thing he'd asked me when I came down the stairs in my dress was, "Why are you wearing glasses?"

  I'd made the excuse about my contacts irritating my eyes, but I could tell he didn't like how I looked. Didn't matter. I didn't care.

  Eyes on the prize.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Amelia. She had come to stun in a white and red open-backed dress. The gathered silk plunged off her shoulders and pooled at her waist, where it was tied with a belt of hand-woven rope. She also wore red high heels, and her long black hair was swept back from her forehead. She was stunning, but I quickly diverted my attention back to my father because that was the gig.

  This is all you have to do. Do it well, and you'll be done.

  As the minutes ticked by slowly, I wished that I could talk to Westin. At least a dance or something. But no, I stayed right next to Julian.

  My father leaned over to me at one point and tapped my glass with his. "Look alive, Nissa. Maybe we should dance?"

  I widened my eyes. "What?"

  He rolled his. "Dance. The point is to mingle and look like you're enjoying yourself. You look miserable."

  I sighed, placing my glass on the passing tray of a waiter. "I don't remember the last time we danced."

  He smiled. "It was your 20th birthday. Remember?"

  Oh yes, I did remember. Julian had insisted on a very boring stuck up affair when all I wanted to do was go to the clubs with my mates. I had been able to invite my friends from school. But even they had looked bored. Sure, they'd enjoyed the idea of going to a fancy ball, but they thought they'd get to hear Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift. They didn't think they'd be subjected to an orchestra that refused to play anything modern.

  The night was a disaster. But yes, we had danced.

  Julian held out his hand. "Come on, Nissa. You always have to be aware of how things look. How they're being perceived."

  I frowned at him. "Of course, because that's the only thing that's important, right?"

  When he took me in his arms, moving me easily through the crowd, I fell into step with him. I'd been taught to dance at school. I thought it was completely useless because it felt like one of those finishing school type activities and when I would much rather have been in my books, obviously. But as we danced, it afforded me the chance to check out the room properly. Westin was by the bar, in the corner. Looking like, well, like a bodyguard. Amelia was moving through the floor, looking every bit like the party goer. She was sipping champagne, talking animatedly. She looked so comfortable. How did she do that?

  As my father spun me around and around, I felt something inside of me soften. For just a moment, I could almost imagine he was a real father, someone I could trust and turn to for advice. I was so wrapped up in the illusion, the fantasy of this moment, that I almost believed it.

  But then, just as quickly as the dream had come, it was gone. Out of nowhere, a large man with a flat face and a sloping forehead stepped forward and whispered something into my father's ear, and suddenly the image faded away as quickly as it had come.

  He stopped our dance and seized my hand, yanking me to his side. In a dangerous and bitter tone, he hissed, "Our presence is being requested. When we enter this room, say nothing. Do you understand?"

  I nodded quickly, my mouth going dry. "What's happening?"

  He remained silent as he cast a signal of acknowledgment over his shoulder. Westin fell into step behind us. With each step, I could feel my heart pounding, my pulse racing as I remembered the wire I wore beneath my clothes. Amelia must have heard it too, and she was warning her team about something going off script. This was definitely not part of the plan.

  We were led up the ornate, winding staircase to the upstairs level. There were some guests mingling about, in and out of balconies, but not many. And then we were led down a hallway. It was just as beautifully decorated as it was downstairs, with art and beautiful decorations on the wall, and our shoes made a clopping sound on the marble floor.

  At the end of the hall to the right, a mountain of a man opened the door and stepped aside to let us in.

  Except he barricaded Westin's way. "Just those two."

  Westin scowled, looking up as if assessing if he could take him.

  I'd always known Westin was a bodyguard. But there was something about the intensity in his eyes that screamed, ‘Oh no, he is absolutely dangerous.’ It reminded me of that day up in Angel. He’d been all business, not the Westin I was used to seeing.

  When we were led into the room, there were several men already there, and my heart stopped.

  By the fire, sitting in one of the ornate high-backed chairs of red leather trimmed in gold weave, sat an all-too-familiar man.

  Amelia had shown me how the glasses worked. In essence, I didn't have to do anything except turn them on and wear them. I knew they were getting this, and of course they were listening in. They were getting all of this on a recording, and they knew he was there.

  "You brought a little girl to a meeting, Montgomery?"

  My father remained unfazed. "Well, considering this little girl's life has been affected by your movements, yes, I brought her so you can see she's still alive despite your best attempts. You had your goons break into my daughter's flat. That's going too far. Families are untouchable."

  Igno pushed up from his seat. "How dare you speak to me this way? I set the rules. And if one of you has transgressed, I can break any rule I see fit to rectify it."

  I could tell that he was a man used to being in power. A man used to getting his way.

  My father stood his ground, which surprised me. "You have no power here, Igno, unless you have that ledger in your hands. In which case, you know, I'll wait. If you can produce it, then by all means."

  Igno lifted a brow. "You play a dangerous game, Julian."

  "No. You crossed a line. My daughter is off-limits. Understand that. What you did means war. How do you think the Syndicate will feel?"

  Igno stalked closer. The other men in the room exchanged glances as if concerned that the meeting would erupt into violence.

  "You will watch your tongue with me, Montgomery. You think you can threaten me? The Syndicate knows I have their best interest at heart. I believe in business and money. Right now, you think I'm weak, but at some point, I shall be strong again and then you will regret your choice of words." Igno turned his attention on me. "If I were you, young lady, I would get as far away from your father as fast as possible. Because he is going to get you killed. Now, Julian, log your name in so that our friends know you were in attendance tonight."

  My father marched me over to the massive desk in the corner, and he signed his name in something that looked like some kind of guest book. I didn't know what it was. But I made sure my glasses caught the list of names even as my father signed.

  Another man with a thick shock of white hair and light brown skin stalked forward. "We do not have time for your petty squabbles."

  Igno turned on him. "Petty? My ledger's gone missing. And Montgomery here is the last man to have seen it. We have unfinished business."

  The other man shook his head. "Until you produce proof, we cannot interfere."

  Igno laughed. "I don't need interference. I can handle Montgomery all by myself."

  My father sneered at him. "You have no leverage here. You heard Sono."

  Igno's gaze remained impassive. As they were arguing, I fiddled with my clutch, pulling out one of the bugs I'd been given by Amelia. She'd given them to me with the glasses saying if there was a chance for me to bug the conversation, I had to do it.

  My heart felt like it was beating in my ears as I nervously glanced around the room. I dared not breathe, terrified of the consequences of my actions, yet I had to do it. Sweat prickled my skin as I plunged my hand into my purse and grabbed hold of a tissue, pretending to wipe away an imaginary tear. Digging further in, I manage to bury my fingertips deep enough to find the bugs, and with quiet precision, I peeled one off with my nails and released it from its prison before drawing my hand out, gripping the edge of the desk, and depositing the bug.

  I was sweating. I had to be sweating, but no one seemed to notice.

  Igno stepped to my father. "Where is my ledger?"

  Julian shrugged. "I don't know. All of our necks are on the line unless you find it, so I do hope you think of where you might have put it."

  As Igno was talking and I was trying desperately to catch everything being said, an explosion rocked the house. Through the window across the courtyard, I could see it on the west wing. My heart almost stopped. What the hell was going on? Amelia had said nothing about explosions.

  My father pointed a menacing finger at Igno. "You did this. There are people looking for you. And this is what you reap when you're careless."

  Igno glowered at him. "This isn't me. If it's law enforcement, I think maybe Montgomery here has been talking a little too much… as he's known for doing."

  My father shoved him just as another explosion hit. When he turned to me, his eyes were wild. And then it was as if he suddenly realized that I was there. "We're leaving, Nissa."

  "What the hell's going on?"

  "That man's enemies are coming for him. I don't intend to be here when they arrive." And then my father dragged me out behind him as another explosion rocked the building.

  Westin

  This was a mistake. I'd been uneasy all night. From the outside, this looked like a normal mission. My team was in place, I had everything I needed, and we were moving forward. The problem was I could feel that something wasn't right.

  All night, I'd kept my gaze pinned to Nissa and Montgomery. Nissa looked miserable as Montgomery schmoozed and pressed palms. And while he might look comfortable to everyone else, I could see it just there in the tension of his jaw. Something was going on.

  Even though I was working and not supposed to be drinking, I needed a way to cover up talking to my team. So I snagged a champagne glass from a passing waiter. Around the rim, I spoke. “Everyone, be on alert. Something's going on. I see a flurry of guards and Montgomery is tense.”

  Saff's voice was cool and calm. “Copy. All units prepare to move.”

  We had Interpol in play, but our goal was to get to Montgomery first because he would lead us to Igno. And if Igno was here, well, we would do whatever it took to bring him down.

  As long as Nissa stays protected.

  After all, she was my primary. If after all of this she was in even more danger, I planned to take her somewhere very far away. I knew how to hide. I could show her how. I had done it before, obviously.

  Suddenly, Ivan Resnick, a known mercenary, was tapping Julian on the shoulder as he danced with Nissa. He led the way for them. They were headed toward the center staircase. Julian inclined his head for me to follow. We were on.

  “Saff are you seeing this?” I muttered under my breath before falling in position.

  “I see it. We have your six. King, Legend, Saint fall into position.”

  I followed tightly behind Nissa, Resnick on my tail. Whatever the hell was going to go down was going down right now. And I had no way to get Nissa out of the line of fire. At the top of the stairs, Resnick led the way down a long hallway. Our footsteps on the marble floor echoed off the art-lined walls.

  At the end of the hall to the right stood an intricately carved wooden door. Resnick opened it, making way for us. Julian went first then Nissa. Before I could follow, Resnick barred my way. “Only them,” he murmured.

  I frowned down at his arm, assessing whether it was a smart thing to fight with the door open or wait until it was closed. Either way, I would need to take out Resnick if I wanted to protect Nissa.

  In the end, I had to take my team into account. They were on their way. I had tagged Nissa’s phone with the listening device weeks ago. Kaya could hear everything in the room. If we got confirmation, they would move forward. And then I would get myself and Nissa out of there. Post haste.

  As soon as the door closed, Resnick smirked at me. “You didn't think the help would be invited to the table did you?”

  I grinned at him as I leaned against the door. “Oh, I don't need an invitation to the table. I already have a man inside.”

  Just as his brows furrowed in confusion, I shot him with the tranq gun. He'd been so excited about barring me from entry, he'd missed it when I had palmed my weapon. To be sure he stayed down, I fired three into him, one into his thigh to ensure fast absorption, two more into his chest.

  That dumbfounded, confused look on his face remained as he lurched toward me, but he slumped, nonetheless.

  I let him fall, letting his face hit the marble. Whoops. I grabbed his shoulders and dragged him across the hall to the other door as I spoke into my mic. “We have a go for number ten on our most-wanted list. Michael Garrett. I saw him through the door. Let me know what Nissa is picking up.”

  I dragged Resnick into the nearest room, which was back down the hall and to the left, and unceremoniously dropped him back on the floor, using the zip ties I had in my pocket to tie him to a massive conference table. Suddenly, something skipped up my spine. A warning, a feeling. I couldn't pinpoint it, but I had the heebie-jeebies and I couldn't shake it.

  Saff, it seemed, had the same instinct. "Rook, what do you see?"

  I ran to the window. "I see three guards on the balconies, none in the hall we came down. And obviously the five rotating ones we saw downstairs at all the exits. We may have a tricky egress."

  Gabe's voice was firm. "Don't worry about the exit. A-team, get to Igno right now. We have confirmation that Igno is in the room with primary and secondary."

  My gut twisted. Fucking hell. She was in the room with that psychopath.

  I eased out of the conference room, careful not to make a sound, and found Saff running up the stairs. As we ran down the hall, she leaned down to her garter and pulled out a weapon. I reached into my tux and pulled out mine. Then she gave me a nod. "You got this."

  I grinned at her. "I was trained by the best, so of course I do."

  She headed left to go around to the room from the balcony side. I headed right and prayed to fucking God Nissa knew what to do next. She had her orders from Interpol. Stay low, record only. I prayed to God she listened to them because the room she was in was about to become a hot zone.

  A server room was near where the meeting was taking place, and my job was to pull all visual data from their system and access any data we couldn't get from the outside. These men weren’t meeting in a public place, but people said all kinds of things when they thought they were alone. There were security cameras everywhere, and some details would be picked up.

  I waited for all agents to call in their positions before taking a deep breath. This was almost over. In moments, I would have her safe. I had already set the algorithm on the cameras to loop, and Kaya had it under control from the van.

  But still, I eased into the server room that I knew would give me security feed access. Morgan Bedford was very particular about his privacy and security. This party had a lot of high rollers, which he used as a reason for all the cameras.

 

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