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Jesus Christ, Katherine.

"The actress thinks she understands the game," Viktor said, his voice dropping into something cold and dangerous. "Perhaps I should show you what happens to people who give me advice."

I heard movement. Katherine's sharp intake of breath.

"No! No, I'll do it! Just leave her alone!" Russell's panicked voice.

"Code." Jase grabbed my arm as we hit the fourth-floor landing. "Stay with me."

I nodded, forcing my focus back to the mission.

"I'm going to 1430," Jase said. "You hit 1530. We breach on your mark."

"Roger."

Jase moved left down the hallway. I went right, continuing up another flight of stairs. I carefully opened the door to the fifth floor, not wanting to draw attention. The hallway was empty except for a housekeeping cart. I ran to 1530. There was a sign on the door that said ‘Service Please’. Could it be that easy? Were the occupants really gone?

I knocked on the door.

“Maintenance.” I waited. Nothing.

I knocked again. “Maintenance.” Nothing.

The door was locked, and I was in no condition to kick the door in with my ribs the way they were. I pulled out my wallet, slid a card into the gap, and worked the latch. It was useless.

Fuck!

I didn’t have my lock-picking tools with me. I looked at the cart again, then I saw it, dangling from the cart handle, the master keycard. I slipped down the hall and peeked inside the room. I couldn’t see the housekeeper, thought she must be in the bathroom. I unclipped the key from the cord, then sped back to 1530. I swiped the card and pushed open the door. I was in. I'd return the card to her cart on my way out—if she even noticed it was gone.

I cleared the room fast. Empty.

Through the phone, I heard Katherine's voice. "I need to help Sophie. She's hurt."

Was she positioning herself for something?

“Get up off the floor,” Viktor yelled.

“No, she needs my help. If you’re worried about me, have one of your gorillas stand over me to make sure I don’t do anything funny.”

Fuck yeah, she was positioning herself and getting her victim in place. Brilliant.

I moved to the balcony and looked over the railing. Directly below was 1430's balcony. Empty now—the goon had already grabbed the tote bag and gone back inside.

I looked down at the balcony below. One floor. Maybe ten feet. I'd jumped worse.

I swung my legs over the railing, gripped the bars, and let myself hang for a second to reduce the drop. Then I let go.

I landed on 1430's balcony in a crouch, the impact jarring through my ribs. I bit back a grunt and stayed low, moving immediately to the wall beside the sliding door.

Through the sliding glass door, I could see into the room.

Katherine was on the floor next to Sophie and the injured maid. Viktor stood near Russell, who was sitting at the desk with his laptop open. One Russian goon stood between Viktor and the main door, weapon drawn. The other goon—the one who'd been on the balcony—was hovering over Katherine and Sophie.

"Jase," I breathed into my comms. "I've got visual through their balcony door. Two tangos inside plus Viktor. One by the main door, one by the bathroom."

"Copy. I'm at their main door. Ready on your mark."

I could see Russell typing, his hands shaking. Viktor was watching him work.