Page 76 of Fatal Fantasy

Rather than ask why, or what significance that has to her, I continue on, only stopping once we reach the end of the hallway, her hand lingering above the doorknob for a beat before she pushes through, revealing her childhood bedroom to us.

“There’s three bags on the top shelf. Can one of you taller folk grab them?” She laughs to ease the tension, shutting the door as we usher into the room like giants, a place I never thought I’d see.

After learning Carter’s real identity – and being convinced she had a terrible childhood – I didn’t think a visit to her home was in the cards.

It’s always been different for the three of us, normalcy out the window, even though we tried the ‘meet the parents’ shtick back in Emory, and it failed miserably.

Of course, these are bizarre circumstances, considering that if we get caught, we’re all fucked seven ways to Sunday, and Carter will have to marry a man she doesn’t know, but I push all that negativity aside, following her direction and locating the black duffel bags inside the walk-in closet.

“We’re almost done, Principessina. You’ve been so brave, so incredible,” Jasper says, finally breaking his silence as he guides Carter to the opposite side of the room, being the very thing she needs to lean on as we complete a nostalgic phase of the plan that has the ability to lure her back into a fit of depression.

Just as I grab the bags down, I nearly drop each one, the sheer weight in them concerning, but I turn my attention to Carter, watching as she removes a floral painting from the wall, revealing the gun safe hidden behind it like a cliche you’d see in the movies.

“Jesus Christ, my little international spy, do you have any more hidey holes or gadgets around here?” Massi laughs, stepping back and marveling at the metal, trailing his fingers around the digital lock.

“The code is eleven, fifteen, sixty four,” she riddles off numbers, the combination sounding like a birthday, but Massi doesn’t ask what it stands for, and neither do I.

Once the lock pops open, I toss one of the lighter bags to her, while Massi stashes the weapons, cash, and jewelry inside, our first stop of the mission complete.

“You could buy a small village with all of this, Carter,” I joke, slinging the bags over my shoulder, but she only winks in response, her little way of saying ‘I told you so.’

“My father’s office is on the opposite side of the house. All we need is the location of the Villas they’ll be staying at this weekend, and we’ll be out of here,” she smiles, leading us down a series of hallways, stopping when we reach another staircase, different from the one we came up.

Carter takes the stairs like a graceful, dainty fairy who barely makes a peep, while Massi and I stomp down the wood like elephants, even though I’m trying to make my steps as light as possible.

Getting caught, or seen by another staff member looking to chat, would put quite the wrench in our plans, but Carter makes quick work of the hallways, leading us to a door with another code lock.

“Same one as my safe,” she says softly, her fingers guiding over the keypad with ease, but I catch myself holding my breath, afraid that alarm bells and sirens are going to bounce off these walls, clueing every person in the mansion into our presence.

“Lighten up, Tyson. I’ve been sneaking into my dad’s office since I was a little girl.” Carter notices my unease, laughing it off with a kiss to my cheek as she ushers me over to the desk. “I know it’s old, but do you think you can hack it?”

“Piece of cake, baby girl,” I reassure her, cracking my knuckles as I attempt to decipher this ancient computer likely bought in the nineties.

It reminds me of the one I had in our family living room growing up, but every hacker has to start somewhere, and luckily, I know the operating system like the back of my hand.

Massi and Carter nervously pace the room like caged tigers, taking turns pressing their ear to the door to listen for footsteps, but before long, I’ve located the Don’s calendar, it not even password protected.

“I’ve got it. Carter, does this address sound familiar?” I ask, waving her over, and she quickly skims over the location, nodding with approval.

“One of our Villas. I know exactly where he is,” she says, an evil smirk creeping across her pretty face, the devilish energy radiating off her body.

“Write it down. No phones, not in here,” Massi jumps in, snatching a notepad off the desk and pushing it toward me, a raging fire in his eyes.

He’s not typically the paranoid type, but being within a single digit mile radius of Carter’s father again has him on edge, a place where he could snap someone’s neck for giving him a dirty look.

“Alright, let’s get out of here.” Carter sways her hips, the cheeriness of another win stashed under our belts bringing out the playful side of her, but I know her well enough by now.

The root of her mood stems from the fact that we just found our target, a bullseye drawn on a map, and that alluring smile won’t be wiped off her lips until she gets a taste of her ultimate craving.

FORTY-TWO

JASPER

Ever since we left the mansion, Carter has an insatiable energy, a certain high about her that hasn’t calmed down, even after a few slices with the blade and a round of orgasms.

The sun has set, the hours ticking by as we wait to make our move, watching as the lights go out in the Villas one by one.

Carter’s family owns a handful of luxury condos, some rented out to tenants, others reserved for members of the Family to use whenever they please, and with the entire Cassini Family in town for the sham wedding of the century, it doubles as a hotel for made men.