CHAPTER 28
MELANIE
NO ONE ELSE HAS EVEN A CHANCE OF PULLING IT OFF.
Jordan’s voice replayed in my head as I addressed his team. Nobody had ever acknowledged me in that way and I had to admit it felt nice to be validated, even if it came from the spawn of Satan.
I’d also seen the way Katnissa had taken a step back like he’d dealt her a physical blow when he’d said it, and I was trying to decide if she had the hots for him or was just used to being his favorite. Not that he frequently played favorites, at least from what could tell
None of hus people seemed to like me apart from Sebastian the driver, but my take way that it had more to do with my gender than me personally, I didn’t need them to like me, but it would’ve been nice to establish a rapport rather than the strain and tension that was sure to follow.
Katnissa especially disliked me and she seemed to hold sway over the others so it wasn’t looking good. Well it was only for a few days, then we probably won’t run into each other anymore. I turned the blueprint around so they could see clearly from their end of the desk and tapped the red pushpins,
“These are all the possible exits. And I mean all. Vents, backdoors, sewers even.”
“I’m not crawling through a freaking sewer” Mia interrupted and I sighed internally. It was like she’d taken it upon herself to contradict me at every turn but I refuse to be frustrated.
“If it gets to that, you can and will. Unless taking up residence in a Swiss jail has always been a fantasy of yours, then please be my guest” I said with a sweet smile.
Sebastian snorted, making her glare at him. I returned back to business, “We have to try and be as discreet as possible. Enter the bank dressed casually, locate the man who Jorge handed it to, and get him to lead us to the safe. He should have a spare key and if he doesn’t, that’s where Mia comes in“.
I took a yellow pushpin and placed it on the area marked VAULT.
“I will go with the bank employee first, then Mia follows a minute after. Dimitri and Katnissa, engage the attention of the other employees so they don’t notice anything’s amiss” I place two on the main floor.
“Sebastian, there are surveillance cameras on all sides of the bank, so avoid putting the vehicle in their view. Find a suitable place to park and wait or drive around if you need to. Shit.”
I paused, thinking
“If the four of us exit one car and approach the bank it’ll look suspicious. We’re going to need another vehicle and driver.”
“I could do it” Jordan drew everyone’s attention.
“Tl be nearby anyway, and I can drive.”
Katnissa shook her head immediately, “Or we could have Seb drop each of us off at a different location and we walk the
rest of the way to the bank “I nodded.
“That could work Sebastian” once I got his affirmation I went on.
In the event that things don’t go as planned, what could be a workable contingency?” I asked, opening the floor in the hopes that it wouldn’t seem like I was calling all the shots, since they had such fragile egos.
I listened as they tossed out ideas and selected the combination that should work best.
“A lot of things will be left to chance. Everyone should remember their roles and be as efficient as possible in exercising
“We’ll go over it again and iron out the finer details, such as vehicles and weaponry, tomorrow. I’d say thanks for your cooperation, but that should be a given.”
With that, I sat back in the chair and closed my eyes, listening as Jordan told them they’d be staying in – huh, wasn’t expecting that the bungalow I’d previously occupied I kinda missed the place.
Once their footsteps receded, I opened my eyes expecting to see an empty room but instead Jordan was still there staring intently at me.
CHAPTER 28
That’s a little creepy” I noted. He ignored that.
“Your handling of the team was impressive. I didn’t know you’ve worked with groups previously,”
I shook my head “Never have. Partnered up with someone once or twice, but that’s it.”
“It seems you’re a natural at leadership then he stated, causing me to raise a brow “You’ve practically been showering me with compliments. Having a good day? Made another billion? Bought a solar systern?” I prodded.
“Let’s just say it is my way of apologizing for accusing you of being in on it, especially when you haven’t done anything to warrant such suspicion” he replied, lightly running a hand along the edge of the desk while those forest green eyes stayed trained on mine
I fought back a wave of guilt; there was no reason for me to feel guilty that he didn’t know all the facts about me, or that there was a spy in his ranks and it was probably someone he trusted
While I might technically owe him my life, we weren’t allies in any way but on paper.
Still, because I technically owed him my life, I could push him in the right direction to find the mole.
Eventually I’d figure out how to do that. For now I changed the topic, “Your guard dog doesn’t seem to like me very much.” The instant I said it I half wished I could take it back. It was an unintentional play on our very limited as we were too busy doing other things to talk–conversation back in Rome.
From the way his eyes darkened and the mood shifted, I could tell he’d caught it too.
“She’ll get over it“, he replied, still holding my gaze. I suddenly became very aware that we were alone, and not too far from each other.
Two
steps would bring me close enough to bury my hands in his hair- which, I reminded myself, was as silky and soft as it looked- or wind his tie around my hand and pull him closer until his lips were on mine.
The sound of the door opening brought me back to reality and I looked away from him, cursing. Thoughts like that had no business being in my head, especially for someone who’d tried to kill
“There are my two favorite people,” Blaine said, spreading his arms as he walked towards us. Once again, I was hit by an irrational wave of guilt and I had to remind myself that Blaine and I weren’t anything, or even a whisper of anything. “How did the meeting go?” he asked, coming to stand beside Jordan and clasping a hand on his shoulder.
I shot him a rueful grin. “They don’t like me. You’re sure you won’t come with us and protect me?”
Jordan abruptly shook Blaine’s hand off, muttered something about having work to do, and left the room. Blaine’s eyes tracked his exit before returning back to me. “It’s impossible to not like you, Mel” he smiled.
Tell you
what. How about we go out tonight? A bit of good food, good Sangria and good music ought to make you forget all that. What do you say?”
His presence alone had already lightened my mood, but I grinned at him “I say, oddly specific alcohol choice, but sold.”
