“You’re already making my life miserable,” she screams. “By breathing.”
That’s when Tony and another guard move in. Tony takes Kali by the arm, steady but gentle. While the other guy grabs Dipshit.
I catch Tony before he can step away, keeping my voice low.
“Give me your keycard.”
His brow furrows. “Why?”
“Because I need it.”
He hands it over with barely a pause. Which both reassures and unsettles me, considering it opens every door in the building. Including the vault.
Then I switch gears. Full command mode. Military ops.
“First, get the press out of here. All of them.”
Tony hesitates. “How?”
“Tell them we’re beyond capacity. Fire code.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah, that might work.”
Then, without breaking stride, I order, “Walk Mr. Maddox to the bar. Keep the drinks flowing. Tell him it’ll be ten minutes before you escort him upstairs.”
Tony nods once. “And then what?”
“Then you take him up.”
His brow creases. “I don’t get it.”
“Miss Alvarez won’t be staying tonight. I’ll grab her things and clear out,” I say. “But if Mr. Maddox believes she’s still upstairs, he’s exactly where I want him. Waiting for her and out of my hair.”
He nods. “No problem.”
Kali looks between us. “What do I do?”
“Come with me.”
We head to the elevators as Tony blows out a breath, then spreads his arms wide, voice raised.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are officially beyond capacity. Anyone not registered as a guest needs to exit immediately.”
For a moment, no one cares.
Then, louder, he adds, “And if we can avoid trespassers being arrested tonight, that’d be a win-win.”
That does it.
The room loosens. The press peels back in reluctant waves.
One pap lunges for a final shot. Kali slips neatly between us as the elevator opens, and we duck inside.
The doors close.
“Camera-shy?” she asks.
“Something like that.”
