“Shit!”Kyle exclaimed, going for chagrined embarrassment because it fit his persona.“Sorry!”
“You fucking arsehole, look what you’ve done!”the heavyset man in question snarled, gesturing at the vest and white dress shirt he wore now stained with red wine.
“Look, I’m sorry.I didn’t see where I was going.”
“Obviously.”
Madison produced a small linen napkin from somewhere—probably stolen from a server—and stepped forward to offer it to the man.“Mr.Brannigan is terribly sorry for accidentally ruining your clothes for the evening.He’ll be happy to pay the price of your dry cleaning if you provide your contact information.”
The man snatched the napkin from her hand and started dabbing at his chest with frantic motions while his wife patted him gently on the arm in a comforting manner.“It’s not the clothes I’m worried about!”
“Your reputation will be fine, dear,” his wife absently said.
The man scowled, still muttering as he tried to soak up some of the wine stain.His hands were shaking through the motions, and Kyle hoped the guy wasn’t going to try to start a fight out of anger.Kyle would really hate to have to pay for his medical bills on top of his dry cleaning.
Madison went stiff in an instant, her utter stillness making Kyle take a step closer.
“Sir,” Madison said in an icy, polite voice.“I think we should get some water on that stain.”
“Your suggestion is not wanted nor—”
“Sir.”Madison stepped closer, teeth bared in a hard smile as she caught the man’s gaze, pinning him with a look that had him freezing where he stood.“Let’s go clean your clothes.Now.”
The man’s eyes flickered to the side, a panicked tell that had Kyle looking more intently at the stranger.Tall, more heavyset than broad, with a tuxedo that should have been tailored a little better, judging by the amount of jewelry he wore.If he could afford thick gold rings embedded with diamonds and emeralds, then he could afford a damn tailor.
Kyle narrowed his eyes, watching the way the fabric of his vest pulled when he breathed, the way the textured fabric bunched over something underneath.
Madison?Kyle asked harshly.
I need a better look, but yes, I think so, she sent back.
Guys?Katie asked, their tense exchange drawing her attention.
Give us a minute.
Kyle stepped closer, hiding the snap of his wrist that released a ceramic knife into his palm with a turn of his body.He flattened his fingers against the blade, tucking it against the man’s side, hiding the threat in a gesture of apologetic concern.
“Let’s find the bathroom, shall we?”Kyle asked around a smile that was all teeth.
The fact that the man knew what a blade felt like when it pressed up against his kidney, even through his bulk, told Kyle he wasn’t on the up and up at all.
“We’ll be right back with your husband, ma’am,” Madison said with a polite tip of her head in the lady’s direction.“Excuse us, please.”
“Do go clean yourself up, Albert,” his wife sniffed, apparently more concerned about their appearance than her husband’s underhanded dealings that had brought them here.
“I—” Albert said, sweat breaking out on his brow.
“Now,” Kyle ordered in a low, harsh voice.
They went, with Madison and Kyle escorting Albert to the nearest bathroom, which was located in a hallway off an exhibit room and near a set of stairs that led to the first level.They made polite apologies in the form of small talk in case anyone was watching, but Albert didn’t seem to want to fight them.
No one was in the men’s toilet when they went inside.Kyle put his back against the door immediately, leaning his weight against it to keep it shut.He watched Madison push Albert against the wall beside him, her mouth twisting in concentration as she patted him down.
“You have no right—!”Albert began in a ragged voice, raising one hand to smack her.
Kyle caught his wrist, yanking it backward even as Madison clamped a hand over the man’s mouth to muffle his scream of pain.“Don’t even think about it.Madison?”
“Suicide bomb vest,” she grimly said, the fingers of her free hand gently tracing over the fabric.“I need your knife.”
