"And you think they're just going to hand over five hundred million dollars?"
"No, they won't hand it over. We're going to take it."
I stiffen. "How do you expect to steal that much money? I doubt they have half a billion dollars locked away in a safe."
Damon pulls out his phone, and shows me a digital invitation to Han Li's forty-fifth birthday party at one of their casinos.
I scoff. "Is this a joke? You want us to rob a casino?" A disbelieving laugh escapes me. "You're not Danny Ocean, Damon. Jesus Christ."
Damon rolls his eyes. "Han plans to display a set of Parlaut diamonds his wife was gifted after the success of an oil merger a couple of years ago."
I blink, processing. "How do you know this?"
Damon shrugs. "The Li brothers talk a lot when they're drunk. And I listen. I have a plan, Q. All you need to do is follow my lead."
I pour myself a drink, shaking my head in disbelief. "Lovely, I've always wanted to commit a jewel heist."
As the jet speeds toward Macau, I glare at Damon. This plan is risky. Moronic, really. But for Emery, I'd be willing to rob God himself.
Damon better know what he’s doing.
THE DRESS REHEARSAL
EMERY
In another life,I could have been an actress. It’s not hard for me to play ill. My whole life has been a dress rehearsal. A cold is easy to mimic. A couple of coughs here, a few sneezes there. As I rub my eyes with my knuckles, creating the perfect illusion of ailment, my ears tune in to the hushed conversation outside the door.
"I have to go away for two days,” Simone says. “I'll be back before the deadline at noon.”
"You're always leaving,” Toni whispers, and even through two inches of wood, I can hear her disappointment. “Where are you going?"
There's a plea in her voice, a desperate need for reassurance. It almost makes me feel bad for her. But it works in my favor. She’s submissive to Simone. So, when I, so sad and weak and in need of help, reach out to her as if she’s a goddess, she’s no longer on the bottom.
I am.
And she eats that shit right up.
Simone sighs. "You need to trust me, Toni. It's better if you don't know everything."
Toni's veiled frustration turns to anger. "Trust you? How can I trust you when you keep leaving me in the dark?" There’s silence for a moment. “Call me, at least.”
Shuffling sounds from the other side of the door, and I press myself farther into the dark corner of the mattress, my breath caught in my throat. The door creaks open, revealing a sliver of their figures in the hallway.
Simone peers into the basement, her gaze darting toward me. "Keep her alive, Toni. We need to send at least one more video."
I swallow. One more video until they kill me? Or will they wait until the funds are received to do the deed? I’m hoping for the latter. That still gives me forty-eight hours to escape. Simone’s departure is a blessing from the universe. One less hurdle to leap over.
The foundation creaks as Simone leaves the basement and heads up the stairs. Toni hovers by the door, her expression unsettled. I give her a moment to be in her emotions, and then I release a string of dry coughs, beckoning her over like a silly fucking moth.
“Damn it,” Toni sighs, rushing over to the kitchenette. She pours me another cup of hot tea, this time stirring in a tablespoon of organic honey. I suppose if I had to get kidnapped by someone, Toni’s not that bad. Although, I’m starting to think she wasn’t the mastermind behind this plan. Kidnapping and extortion scream Simone. Toni walks over to me, careful not to spill the tea. She holds it out. “Here. Drink it while it’s hot.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, taking a small sip. “Mmm. It’s good.” I glance up at her, drawing my brows together. “Are you okay? I heard you guys…” I look away. “Does she leave you often?”
Toni clears her throat as she steps away from me. “That’s none of your business.” She turns around and heads toward hercomputer desk. Damn it. The clock is ticking. I can’t have her ignoring me.
“Have you…” I set the tea aside as I prop myself up and perch on the edge of the mattress. “Have you always been a hacker?”
With a loud sigh, Toni slumps down in the computer chair and spins toward me, ankle hiked over her thigh. “You are interested in my career?”
