19
VELVET TRAP
CALLAHAN
The rumour took three days to seed properly.
I'd learned years ago that the best lies were the ones that sounded like secrets. So I didn't announce anything. Didn't make it obvious. Just dropped careful words to specific people who traded information like currency and let the whisper network do the rest.
Two of Harrow's known associates had inquired about availability. By Thursday, Harrow himself had made discreet contact through channels that were supposed to be untraceable but weren't if you knew where to look.
I met Adrian in his office at Ravenswood before the event. Dom was there. So was Noah. Viktor stood near the window like a particularly deadly piece of furniture.
“Eden stays protected,” Adrian said without preamble. “Whatever happens, my club doesn't become collateral damage. You get your proof, I get assurance that when this blows up, none of it traces back to my operation.”
“Agreed.” I kept my voice level. Professional. “You'll have documentation showing you were investigating suspicious VIPactivity. That you cooperated fully with any subsequent inquiry. That Eden was a victim of exploitation, not a willing participant.”
“And the guests? The people who attend thinking this is legitimate entertainment?”
“Carefully vetted. Consenting adults who understand what they're walking into.” I pulled out the list I'd been building for weeks. “Most are connected to your network already. A few are plants. All of them have reasons to keep quiet about what happens.”
Adrian studied the list. Nodded slowly. “And the performance itself?”
“Controlled chaos. A group scene that looks organic but follows strict choreography. Dom leads. I work in the background. Harrow watches and thinks he's getting exactly what he came for.” I met Adrian's gaze. “While your people extract everything useful from his entourage.”
“Dmitri handles surveillance,” Noah said. “He'll pull Eden's internal VIP logs, access trails, anything that shows patterns of who Harrow meets here and when.”
“Luka keeps Harrow's fixer occupied,” Viktor added. “Social interference. Make sure the man's too busy being charmed to notice what's actually happening.”
“Troy shadows the enforcer,” Adrian continued. “Makes sure he doesn't wander into spaces we don't want him accessing.”
“And my office team cracks whatever device we can get our hands on.” Adrian's expression was unreadable. “Phone, laptop, tablet. Whatever Harrow or his people bring that might have useful data.”
“That's my job,” I said. “Getting access to those devices. Cloning keycards. Planting audio surveillance. The small moves that happen while everyone's distracted by the show.”
Dom had been quiet through all this. Now he spoke. “And if Harrow tests us? Tries to fracture our composure or expose weaknesses?”
“Then we don't fracture.” I looked at him. “We stay in role. Stay controlled. Give him nothing he can use.”
“Easy to say. Harder to execute when he's deliberately trying to humiliate you.”
“I've survived worse humiliation.” My voice came out flatter than intended. “I can handle Harrow.”
“Can you handle watching me with other people?” Dom's gaze held mine. “Because that's what this requires. Me performing dominance with whoever's in the room while you work in the background. Can you do that without it compromising your focus?”
The question landed exactly where it was supposed to. In the soft place I'd been trying to ignore since Ravenswood. Since the night Dom had held me while I fell apart. Since I'd admitted wanting him terrified me.
“Yes,” I said. “I can handle it.”
“You're sure?”
“I'm sure.” I wasn't. But I would be. Because the alternative was backing down, and I'd spent too long becoming someone who didn't back down to start now.
Adrian stood. “Then we're agreed. Friday night. Midnight. VIP room three. Dmitri will have the space prepared. Noah coordinates team positions. Dom and Cal handle the performance. And we all walk out with what we came for.”
“And if something goes wrong?” I asked.
“Then we improvise.” Adrian's mouth curved slightly. “But I'd prefer we didn't need to.”
