Ria winced. “I have no idea. The Guild has never been able to track her down.”
“Can we approach as buyers again?” Eos suggested.
“Maybe,” Zayn mused. “But I don’t like the idea of going in completely blind. Nik, can you and BEll run some searches, see if you can find any info on this Lala?”
“On it,” BEll said as Nik nodded.
“I think Eos and I will head down to Souk and see Sel,” Dathan said.
Selesos ran a store on the market world selling electronics—and weapons—of all kinds. He might know something.
“And me?” Ria asked.
“You and I will keep going over these blueprints. Identify the primary way in and a Plan B.”
She didn’t look too happy about his answer. “Fine.”
The team scattered. Zayn and Ria worked on the plans until he found his eyes were blurring.
“If we can create a diversion, I think we come in here.” He pointed to an air duct.
“They have security on all the services.” She raised a brow. “They protect all the same weak points they use to infiltrate other people’s bases.”
Her snarky, cold tone was starting to grate on him. “So what do you suggest?”
She chewed on her lip for a second. “I suggest we use the front door.”
“What?” he asked, incredulous.
“Do what they won’t expect. If we can find Lastite Lala and use her to draw most of the assassins out, they’ll be in a bit of disarray. I sneak in, dressed as an assassin, and find the derringer.”
“Wesneak in.”
She shook her head. “They’ll pick you out as a flyboy from a mile away.”
“I can dress up and I can blend.”
“Fine. It all depends if we find Lala or not.” Ria stretched her shoulders.
He realized his muscles were tight as well. “Dathan and Eos won’t be back for another hour or so. Why don’t we take a break? You want something to eat?”
She shook her head. “I saw your gym downstairs. Think I’ll go and work out for a bit.” She swept out without a second glance.
Zayn stared at the empty doorway. She was still mad at him. Which wouldn’t be good for their mission. You couldn’t take your emotions with you into a dangerous situation, or they’d get you killed.
Without thinking, he followed her.
Moments later, he stood in the doorway to their spacious gym, watching her move.
She’d switched her casual clothes for form-fitting leggings in electric blue and a black tank that molded to her skin. She was moving her arms through the air, bending her knees deep and doing sweeping movements that looked like a cross betweenmartial arts and a dance. The graceful moves were almost hypnotic.
Then she spun and kicked high in the air before moving back into the slower, controlled moves.
“You just going to stare?” She turned slowly, leading with her hands, palms open, her gaze hitting him.
“What is it?”
“The Guild call it taiji.” She turned again, lifting a leg, extending it up in an awesome display of flexibility.
