“We’re not storming the castle.” Smoke gazes at each of them. “We’re entering freely with a well-thought-out plan of attack.”
“You get one shot,” Smoke says to Manny.
I shift my feet. “If anything goes wrong?—”
“It won’t,” Bolt cuts in.
“If anything goes wrong,” I repeat, eyes on Bolt, “you don’t just lose the footage.” My voice drops. “You could lose your lives. If there’s a security breach at this level, the men protecting the government officials won’t hesitate to pull the trigger.”
Diesel shrugs. “We’ve all looked down the barrel of a gun before.”
“Only this time, there won’t be any hesitation on the other side. It’ll be shoot-to-kill—especially in this political climate.”
Bolt’s eyes are riveted to me, and I can’t decide if he’s seeing someone different or seeing me for the first time.
Smoke leans his palms on the table. “And your father?”
My jaw tightens slightly. “He’ll be on stage. After all, he is the recipient of the Humanitarian Award this year,” I say with a heavy dose of sarcasm. “Front and center. Where he feels safest.”
“How do you already know the name of the award?” Blood asks.
“Because every year, someone from Riviera Country Club gets the Humanitarian Award.”
“Humanitarian?” Smoke growls. “What a bunch of bullshit.”
“Yeah, I have a feeling all those girls we took to the women’s shelter don’t feel he’s worthy,” Blood adds.
“Being worthy and getting an award don’t usually go hand in hand,” I say dryly.
Smoke leans back, considering. “And you think you can let this all go down without having second thoughts?”
Smoke’s question brings all my feelings to the surface. “No second thoughts. Not for a man who can have people killed in cold blood, try to set up his wife and daughter for murder, then send professional shooters to keep me quiet. But, worst of all, use innocent, desperate women for his own personal gain.”
My words radiate off all of them. Each of them have their own silent reaction.
I exhale sharply. “So, yeah, I’m good.” Again, the pain of knowing this man is my father hits hard. “We can’t let him control the narrative anymore,” I add. “He’s been spinning his perfect, orderly life for far too long.”
Bolt’s gaze sharpens on me, watching me closely. “You’ve thought this through.”
I meet his gaze. “I’ve lived in it, never realizing the horror of his life, and now it’s time to right those wrongs.”
Diesel crosses his arms over his chest. “If this all goes down right?—”
I cut him off. “My father and his accomplices will finally get what they deserve.”
Smoke taps the table once. “Timing,” he says.
I point to the stage area. “After all the boring speeches, they’ll announce my father as the award winner. After hereceives the award, he’ll thank everyone, then they play the video of what everyone will think are all his good deeds.”
A sly smile plays on Smoke’s lips. “With everyone waiting and watching.”
I glance between Smoke and Bolt. “People won’t understand what they’re seeing at first. Then they will. And once they do…” I shake my head slightly, “…they won’t be able to unsee it.”
“With all the top cops there, he’ll be led off in cuffs,” Blood says.
Smoke nods slowly. “I want the rest of you out of there way before this asshole gets his award.”
Blood nods. “Right, Boss.”
