Page 77 of Reckless Seduction
Click.
My sleeve erases any trace of my fingers across the brushed metal. The envelopes return to their places, angled exactly 15 degrees from the edge.
Footsteps outside. Heavy. Deliberate. The distinct squeak of Italian leather on marble.
My heart hammers against my ribs, but my hands remain steady. Years of piano lessons weren’t wasted after all.
The footsteps fade. My chest aches from holding my breath. I count heartbeats—thirty-seven before I dare move.
I cross the Persian rug on bare feet, avoiding the spot near the window that always creaks. At the door, I press my ear against the cool wood. The corridor clock ticks. Nothing else.
The hinges don’t make a sound—another thing I fixed months ago with graphite powder stolen from the gardener’s shed.
In the hallway, I become someone else, shoulders relaxed, face placid. The girl they expect. The girl they think they know.
Back in my room, I slide down against the door. The drive’s edge presses into my hip like a promise. On it, every transaction. Every name. Every secret that keeps the Crowe fortune gleaming while others starve.
Tomorrow, they’ll smile at me over breakfast, never suspecting I’ve already composed their downfall.
THIRTY
I slideout of the back seat of the Escalade, holding my hand out for Dani. She easily slides out of the car, her burgundy satin A-line gown gracefully curving around her body. There is a bright smile painted on her face as she poses for the camera, the paparazzi eating us up. It isn’t often that I am photographed. Not unless I want to be.
Most people identify me as Kiernan Kavanaugh, next in line to inherit the Kavanaugh crime family, but to the rest of the world and the paparazzi, I am a business mogul. A billionaire club and restaurant owner who rarely likes to be seen in public.
Reporters line either side of the red-carpet entrance to the building, calling out my name as we begin our walk toward the ornate double doors that lead into the hotel. I don’t stop to pose for any of them. I rarely do, and there is no way in hell I am going to put Dani in that awkward position. Instead, I keep my gaze forward, ignoring the flashing lights around us.
“Your tickets, sir.” The man at the door smiles at me before his greedy eyes fall on Dani. My cousin barely bats an eye at his obvious perusal. Good. I brought her because she knows how to play the game we need played. Father refused to allow Dani to be entered for sale, but he agreed to let her accompany me tonight.Her father is a prominent doctor, and she knows many of the people in this social circle well. It won’t look out of place to have her here.
“Have a good night.” The man’s face falls a bit when he realizes I am only wearing a bidder pin. I don’t bother to acknowledge him any further as I lead Dani into the spacious ballroom. The hotel is grand and historic. The room is cast in dark tones—aged wood with walls painted a dark mauve. A string quartet sits on a recessed stage playing a melancholic tune that sets the mood perfectly.
Waitstaff circle the room, carrying silver trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres to those who allow themselves to indulge. My gaze searches the room, first finding Ava on one side with one of Matthias’s men. The Italian—Leon or something like that. They both hold a glass of champagne in their hands, but the moment Ava’s eyes land on Matthias, she downs the sucker faster than a shot of whiskey and reaches for another.
I’m not touching that with a ten-foot pole. Not tonight.
My gaze slides from my sister, searching the room for one last person. I move us around the room, nodding and smiling at the other guests as if it doesn’t pain me to be here. A few of them stop me for some mild conversation, which I reluctantly engage in until I find some excuse to slip away
“Where is—” A loud, obnoxious laugh draws my attention toward one side of the room. My gaze catches on her immediately. She stands awkwardly with her hands at her sides, looking forward as the man at her side prattles on with another guest. He has one arm around her shoulder. From the pained look on her face, his grip is no doubt tight.
The douchebag Drew.
Bailey looks gorgeous in the deep emerald satin dress she is wearing. It is a long-sleeved split blouse with a satin pleated skirt that has a deep V-neck with a corseted top and a long legsplit. Her raven hair falls in gentle waves around her, framing her beautiful face. My heart races inside my chest at just the simple sight of her.
But I can’t let that get in the way of what needs to be done.
“I’ve spotted her,” I whisper toward Dani to make it look as if we are having a conversation. “Let’s get everything moving.”
“Got it.” Seamus’s tone holds a note of bitterness and reluctance. He doesn’t like that we changed how everything is going down. “Her comm is now linked with ours.”
I let a moment pass before speaking.
“Bailey,” I say into the comm. Bailey’s head twitches, no doubt startled to hear my voice in her ear. “Hold out two fingers if you were able to get what we needed.”
Her hand tightens into a fist before two fingers descend.
Perfect. Now it is time to put the plan in motion.
“Meet me in the blue room just off the main corridor in ten minutes. We can exchange everything there,” I tell her. “Two fingers again if you understand me.”
