Hank seems eager, but Holly balks at the offer. Though the twins share the same dark goth looks, each with multiple tattoos and exotic piercings, it’s clear they have differing opinions on life in the Royal Syndicate. Hank’s settling in better than Holly, and I’ve even caught some of the Syndicate women in the estate eyeing him favorably.
“Wait a sec! These people fucking blew up half the old Syndicate heads. You want us to get on their bad side?”
“I’m sure hackers as clever as the two of you can avoid getting caught.”
“What if we do get caught? Will the Syndicate protect us then?”
Matt levels a glare at Holly. “The Syndicate guards its own like family. If you’re with us, we’re with you.”
“Like the previous don and his friends? I’m not sure that qualifies as ‘guarding like family.’ I want assurances that we won’t be slaughtered in our sleep if we hack your enemies.” Holly crosses her arms over her chest, a move that putsemphasis on her sizeable breasts but is unlikely to affect Matt in the slightest.
“Are you declining to help?”
Hank opens his mouth to speak, but Holly’s faster. “You’re damn right we’re declining! We’re not putting our necks on the line for people we don’t even know.”
“Wait a sec, Hol. We should at least ask what we get out of this.”
A sly expression spreads across Matt’s face. He’s hooked Hank; now it’s just a matter of getting Holly to cooperate.
“The Syndicate is willing to compensate you both, of course. I’m sure we can agree on a reasonable number, say, twenty million each?”
Holly pouts. “We can’t fucking spend it if we’re dead.”
Hank shoves her. “Fuck, Holly, we can hire our own fucking guards with that much money.”
That starts a shoving match, and Matt finally gives me the all-clear to break them up. I restrain Holly first, as she’s the one who’s being resistant. She tries biting, licking, and kicking, but I’m not letting go.
“Fine! We’ll do the fucking job. But I want half up front. No short-changing us!”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
With that settled, Matt calls Rico to arrange for a room in-house for the twins. In addition to the forty-million-dollar payout, Matt also agrees to furnish the twins’ room with the latest high-tech equipment. In his words, “tell us what you need, and we’ll buy it for you.”
After he deals with the twins, Matt calls in Evan and Lyta, two of the thieves.
Evan and Lyta are a married couple who met while on a heist. Lyta has jet black hair and striking blue eyes, with a figure that’s sure to successfully distract most guards. Evan is more of agolden boy, with the kind of blonde himbo appeal that probably wins over both women and men.
“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. … Smith, is it?”
Evan snorts. “Smith is all you’re getting.”
“Fair enough.” Matt indulges Evan’s ego with quiet dignity. “I have a proposition for the two of you. A challenge, if you will.”
They both perk up at the word “challenge.”
“What’s the gig?” Lyta asks.
Matt picks up an envelope from his desk. “I want you to put this under Javier Martinez’s pillow. While he sleeps.”
Lyta’s jaw drops, and Evan scowls. “That’s impossible,” he says. “That guy is more guarded than you are. Word is he doesn’t even sleep. Fucker keeps himself coked up so no one can get the drop on him.”
“That’s why it’s a challenge.”
“And what do we get in return?”
I stifle a sigh. It’s going to be a long day if everyone Matt sees insists on squeezing money out of us.
“Ten million each upon entry into Javier’s penthouse. Twenty million each upon exit.”
