He’s also desperate for juice, to latch on to any powerful political arm he thinks can do the heavy lifting and hoist him over the bar.
That’s where we come in.
Jace is going to disguise me for that party and I’ll use a different assumed name for the introduction and discussion with Cunningham. Set up another, private meeting to discuss things, but tell him it’s with a PAC group representative looking to spend some money and who isn’t in attendance because they need secrecy.
Secrecy is the norm rather than the exception in this world, so Cunningham won’t have a second thought about the circumstances.
And then all we have to do is spirit him away and kill him.
Without anyone seeing us do it.
One of my tasks today was renting a large storage unit on the outskirts of Tallahassee and buying an old used SUV that I’ll register in the name of a throwaway LLC Jace had left over from an op years ago. That’s already safely parked in the storage unit now, completely wiped down so my prints aren’t on it.
When we take Cunningham, we’ll be wearing gloves.
We’re both ready to head downstairs to meet the limo Jace hired for us for tonight when he stops me, pulls me in for a kiss, and smiles.
“Feel like I’m going to prom.”
I smirk. “I never went.”
“Neither did I.” He nuzzles my nose with his. “We won’t stay late tonight,” he says. “Just long enough so I can get the introduction.”
“Yes, Sir. Thank you.”
“Nervous?”
I nod. Why lie? He apparently can read my mind. I thought I was a damned good liar until I met Jace.
Or, maybe it’s a case of he can read me better than anyone else in the world because he knows me better.
Carter could, too, once upon a time.
Except in many ways, Jace now knows me even better than Carter did.
Not sure how to process or frame that, but I’ve tucked it away in a mental folder for future contemplation.
Don’t have the time for that right now.
In the back of the limo, he holds my hand for the short ride. We’ll be arriving a little after eight thirty, so only fashionably late. But not too early to catch anyone’s notice, or too late, either.
Carter, Susa, and the others are already inside. As the limo nears the drop-off point, Jace squeezes my hand. “Big smiles tonight, baby. Fit in. Happy, happy, happy. Keep eyes and ears open, and stay frosty.”
“I wish we’d met years ago,” I honestly say.
“Why’s that?”
“We would have made a great team.”
He grins. “We make a damned good team now.”
“I meant professionally.”
That earns me a chuckle. “They would have liquidated both of us for becoming a massive pain in their asses had we joined forces back then.”
“This is true.”
I’ve spent most of my adult professional life moving with ease through nearly every situation I’ve been put in, including large crowds. Tonight, however, my stomach clenches and tightly knots to the point I’m not certain I won’t be sick.
