Page 68 of Revenge & Truth

I waved off her argument. “Sorry, but I can’t risk you being late because of public transportation. We will get you back to where you need to be and drop you off where you won’t be seen and can walk the last part back.”

“If you insist,” Dezie muttered.

“I do,” I answered, clarifying there was no getting out of this offer. Turning to the man who’d been watching the room, I raised a brow. “Since they put you in charge of her, then it only stands to reason you should get her back safely.”

“Yes, Mistress,” the grunt nodded. “Please come with me, Miss Destiny, and I’ll get you back straightaway.”

Ensuring Dezie didn’t bolt, I followed them and watched the woman get in the town car before driving off. “You truly never know what can happen in a day,” I mused aloud.

“Was that the last piece?” Boykov asked in a low voice.

“That it was,” I said. “Now it’s time to tip the first domino and watch it all fall to pieces.”

“I’m gonna need an umbrella this time, aren’t I?” Boykov sighed. His comment had me giving him a confused expression. “If shit’s gonna hit the fan, then that means the aftermath is gonna splatter all over the place, and waders aren’t going to be enough.”

Snorting, I grinned. “No need to waste a perfectly good umbrella. I say you simply get a cheap poncho you can throw away and not feel bad.”

“Mistress, in what world do you think I won’t need that poncho again? Just because this fight’s going to be over doesn’t mean there aren’t more to come,” Boykov reasoned.

“Wow, way to bring the mood down, Ralph,” I muttered.

“Not everyone can be a delight all the time,” he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

My jaw dropped. “Did you just give me the world’s most epic backhanded compliment?”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Boykov huffed, turning to head inside, ignoring my question.

Grinning, I preened under his compliment and glanced at the two men guarding the front door. “I am a fucking delight, aren’t I?”

“Yes, Mistress,” they responded simultaneously.

“Why thank you, boys,” I gushed, flashing them a bright smile before heading after my bodyguard. “Today is turning out to be a great fucking day.”

Putting the final touches on my makeup for the evening, I stepped back to take in the whole look. My dress was a dark red color, so I added hints of that into the smokey eyes to draw it all together. I picked something slightly lighter for my lips, feeling that going too dark would be a little on the gothic side. My hair was wrapped in a black silk headscarf to protect the curls while I dealt with planting the gun. It was an interesting challenge to be gala ready while also accommodating that I’d be sneaking through a basement window.

Everything I was going to wear for the gala was already at the location where Hound and I were going to ditch the van and pick up our ride to the gala. While I would be arriving with Hound, all my guys were going to be at the event, arriving at various times to keep an eye on all enemies. I’d filled them in on my meeting with Domenico, checking one person off the list to keep track of. The enemy of my enemy is my friend as the only saying goes. He needed something only I could give him and vice versa, creating a mutually beneficial alliance. If this were the olden days, we’d have to get married to pull this sort of thing off. Thank God, times have changed.

Walking out of the bathroom, I tugged on my long-sleeve spandex shirt and sat to lace up my favorite rock-climbing shoes. They were the perfect thing for thieves since they were thin, flexible, and had an amazingly grippy sole that wrapped up over the toe of the shoe. If you needed to wedge your foot in a small nook, these would ensure you didn’t slip.

Compulsively, I pulled out everything from my pack of tools I’d need for the job and triple-checked I had it all. Thankfully, I realized I’d forgotten to put in extra pairs of latex gloves. With those added, I was as ready as I was going to be. Closing my eyes, I took slow, deep breaths in, counting to ten as I let them out. There had never been a job more important than this, and I couldn’t fuck it up. Luca trusted me to bring him home, and the Family depended on me to protect the Caprioni name and way of life.

No pressure—get in, find the key, open the safe, leave the gun, and go to a party. What could possibly go wrong?

Hands settled on my hips, followed by a kiss pressed to my neck. “Tin-Tin, when you go out tonight, could you bring me back a crab puff? Everyone is always talking about how good they are, but since I’m never going to be allowed at parties like that, I need you to bring it back.”

This was the request that started it all the night I got the first taste of the thrill stealing gave me. Not only did I bring him a plate full of crab puffs but also a bejeweled pocketknife that was worth thousands of dollars.

Turning to face him, I placed a hand over his heart where he’d tattooed a picture of the damn thing. “You never did tell me if the crab puffs were any good… you just kept yelling at me over the knife.”

“Love, I was fourteen, and you had handed me something that should be in a museum like it was of equal value to a crab puff. Of course, I yelled at you,” Ryker pointed out. “As for the crab puffs, I didn’t eat them because they were cold, soggy, and mushed from being in your purse.”

“Good thing you got a knife out of the deal, or I’d have been a shitty friend,” I teased.

Ryker cupped my face and kissed me lightly, then leaned his forehead against mine, trying not to mess up my makeup. “One thing you never were was a shitty friend. There was nothing you wouldn’t do for me, and now you’re doing the same for Luca. I know I wasn’t there for you, but I am now, and there is one thing I know about you, Astin Caprioni, and it’s you never leave people behind. This is why I know tonight is going to go off without a hitch because you can’t leave Luca in jail for even one more night if you can help it.”

“I love you, Ryker,” I whispered, my throat catching with how seen I felt by this man.

He pressed a firmer kiss to my lips, making me moan but pulled back before I could get caught up in him. “I love you too, Tin-Tin… more than you’ll ever be able to understand.” Pulling back, he searched my face and smiled. “Ready to pull the rug out from under these assholes?”