Page 108 of Bad Attitude
“I promised you seven figures,” Kurt says quietly, and we all stare at him. “Declan’s right about the fencing costs, but the money’s all yours. I won’t be taking a cut. That’s six million split six ways. A million to each of you.” He focuses on Raven. “Enough for you to ride as long as you want.”
“Why aren’t you taking a cut?” Dario asks the question first.
“Because he’s getting paid another way.” Cole provides the answer I’ve already reached.
Kurt inclines his head. “True. That’s why we’re doing this job.”
“There’s something else, isn’t there?” I ask, my heart rate picking up. This is the information I need to give to Mercer, I can taste it. “What else is in that vault?”
Kurt smiles but says nothing.
“What is it?” Raven asks. “What’s so important that we’re risking our lives for it?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Kurt says. “Suffice to say, it’s worth enough to me that I’m giving up my three mil for this job, and you all get a million, cleaned and paid in crypto. Now, is that enough, or not?”
He’s asking everyone, but his gaze is on Raven.
She shrugs. “I told you I would.”
And that gives the permission for the others to agree. I have to hand it to Kurt; he knows Raven’s value the same way I do.
“Yeah, I’m in,” Dario says. “Could use a million.”
“Me too,” Cammy adds.
Cole nods thoughtfully. “I think that tips the balance.”
Tasha still hasn’t spoken, but no one expects her to. Her involvement is taken as a given. Instead, they’re looking at me.
“Sure, why not.” I want to dig more, but I know Kurt won’t give anything else away. And now I have enough to whet Mercer’s appetite. “One last point. We break into this place, figure out some way into the vault, inevitably trigger some alarms, private security descends on us. Seems getting in isn’t as hard asgetting out. We’ll need an exit plan.”
“We have one,” Kurt replies. “Meridian Pacific Capital’s HQ is a building nine hundred feet high in downtown San Fran, and the vault’s on the top floor.” He focuses on me. “Everyone here knows how to parachute. Do you?”
My eyebrows rise. “An urban BASE jump? Are you shitting me?”
Raven leans forward. “He’s got a goddamn gunshot wound in his thigh, Kurt.”
“He has time.” Kurt laces his fingers together, his confidence restored now that we’ve all agreed. “I’ve set this up to give you as long as I can. Two weeks from today. We can’t wait a day past that.” He nods to me. “You’ll be healed in another week; that’s one more to practice.”
“I’m going to need practice too,” Raven says.
“We all are, save Cole here.”
“And I’m the instructor again?” Cole asks, like he knows the answer. He winks at Raven. “It’s not been that long, babe. It’s like riding a bike.”
“You’ve done this before?” I murmur to her.
“We all have,” Kurt replies. “So my question stands: do you know how to parachute, Declan?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I’ve jumped out of a few planes.”
“I thought as much,” Kurt says. “For your security contractor role, if I’m not mistaken.”
I never told him about that. It’s part of my cover, but the only person who’s supposed to know is sitting next to me, staring at Kurt in surprise.
She didn’t tell him. He’s looking smug.
He wanted me aware he’s been digging.
