"Tell yours first."
Her voice was steel. Pure Vanta Blackmore, the kind of don't-fuck-with-me energy that had made her sister famous.
At Tzipi's challenge, Hannon flicked his chin to the right. Two WWF-sized guys Jonah hadn't even noticed stepped back a few paces. His pulse hammered.
Real security.
Of course.
Hannon hopped up and down a few times, rolling his shoulders like he was about to enter the ring. "Let's do this. I came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass." He spit his wad of nasty gum on the floor. "And I'm all out of bubble gum."
Oh, he did not.
He did not just quote the late, great Roddy Piper from They Live. This asshat was not going to ruin Jonah's all-time favorite cult classic movie. Or Tzipi's night. Or her sister's career.
Jonah touched his earpiece, keeping his eyes locked on Hannon. "Asher, you copy?"
"Copy," came the immediate response.
"Need an extraction. Ballroom entrance. Now."
"On my way."
"Avi?"
"Yeah, man?"
"How fast could you set up a guest DJ set?"
Static. Then: "Three minutes. Why?"
"Because we're pulling focus. Hannon's about to be escorted off-site."
"Say less."
Hannon was still bouncing, psyching himself up for his adoring public.
"Mr. Kershaw!" Rebecca's voice cut through the tension like a knife. She appeared at his side, all business in her tight dress and heels. " We have special room ready for you. For makeup.”
"The one you call a green room?" Hannon sneered. "Lame!"
"No." Rebecca's smile turned mysterious. "This is the one we call the Gold Room. After Eli Gold?"
Hannon's bloodshot eyes went wide. "Wait. THE Eli Gold?"
“The Gold Room," Rebecca repeated, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Very exclusive. We've been holding it for you all night."
He grabbed her arm with the intensity of a drunk person who'd just heard the most important information of their life. "Take me there. Now. I demand to be taken there."
"Asher's en route to escort you," Jonah murmured into his IFB. "Scenic route."
"Copy that," Asher's voice crackled back. "This is gonna be fun."
It was an inside joke on the Baller between the friends – the smallest cabin on the far end of the boat was "Eli's Gold Room." Asher, needing to still burn off some nervous energy anyway, was the perfect person to take Hannon there... the long way around.
Hannon stumbled toward Rebecca, who looped her arm through his with the patience of a saint. Handed him off to Asher. And shot Jonah a triumphant smile as the two men disappeared around the corner.
“Nice work.” Jonah fist-bumped Jay’s girlfriend.
