Page 36 of Scar Tissue

Chapter

Twenty-Two

NATHAN

“You know what to do?” Dyer asks from where the four of us are seated inside of the catering van. Except it’s notactuallya catering van.

“I think so.” Thea nods. She’s messing with the bug that conveniently doubles as her necklace.

The drive back on Friday had been uneventful. Claire rode with Thea, whether due to my act of violence or because she sensed Thea could use the company, I wasn’t sure. I tried apologizing for my outburst as I wasn’t aware of how that might trigger her when I hit Lucas.

She told me that I shouldn’t apologize for protecting someone I love. Good, because I definitely don’t regret it—the bastard deserved it. Either way, whatever transpired between the two of them in that car ride has done wonders for Claire, as she is starting to open up. Over the weekend I had overheard her telling Thea that she was starting to feel more comfortable with us. That the way I defended Thea against Lucas showed her that people who love and protect each other still exist.

It struck me that she never knew that love was something thatwas supposed to be embraced, not when she’d never experienced it from her parents, who left her to fend for herself. Let alone what she was put through once she was kidnapped. She only knows that version of it. Regardless, she seems lighter now and when she gave us her first real smile when Thea shared something funny from our childhood, I knew something was changing. It’s the next Friday now, the week having come and gone just as quickly as the one before. Thea got up and went to work Monday through Wednesday, and while we haven’t kissed since the night in the bar, something has also changed between us. I made the decision to get Claire a cell phone as a show of good faith and sense of normalcy for a girl her age, setting up security measures for her safety. But I also wanted her to have it for tonight. It’s the evening of the gala.

Dyer gestures between the necklace Thea is wearing, and the monitors in the van. “The necklace will record any conversation once you’re within three feet of the subject and relay it back to us. Don’t go out of your way to be near them, I’d rather we get bits and pieces then have our covers blown. It should be enough for you to walk around and serve drinks like they’d expect. Try not to draw attention to yourself; they won’t hesitate to get handsy if you give them the chance.”

My teeth grind against that thought, truly hating that I ever thought this was a good idea. “He tends to talk more the more he has to drink,” Claire adds. “Wait for him to make his

speech to the guests and then keep his glass full. He isn’t above boasting to his colleagues, especially when most of them are in on it.”

Thea swallows and I watch the way her throat bobs. “What happens if I’m found out?”

“Run like hell,” Dyer says, matter of factly. “That’s why I wanted you in practical shoes.” His eyes flick to her feet, which are donning flat sandals. Clark has all of the women who are volunteering wearing simple black dresses that fall to mid-thigh and are form fitting with an open back. The way Claire put it was ensuring theywere dressed in a way that was enticing so the men attending would be more willing to throw their money in. Essentially, the girls are allowed to be tipped, but what they don’t know is they won’t get to keep the money at the end of the night. They’ll still get paid, but not what they were promised…and all it takes is a few threats to keep their silence. Thea already knew this, of course.

She’s radiant tonight. Her dark hair is styled with half tied up and the other half falling down her back in curls. She’s painted on makeup that makes her eyes pop, but not so much that it takes away from her natural beauty. Her lips are painted in a dark shade of pink and my cock twitches at the thought of those lips wrapped around it as she stares up at me.

“Nathan?”

I jump, hitting my head on the wall behind me. “Yeah, what?” I clear my throat and the image from my mind.

“I asked if you were ready?” Dyer is looking at me, unimpressed with my lack of attention.

I nod. “Ready as I’ll ever be. Thea?”

“Yeah?” she says, looking up at me with those siren eyes.

“You’ve got this. Just…be careful. We need you.” My eyes dart to Claire. But really, I want to sayI need you.

She stares at me, eyes searching my own for any underlying meaning. She doesn’t need the distraction though, otherwise I would’ve swept her into my arms and kissed her breathless. The urge to do so is stronger now than ever knowing what she’s walking into. Instead, she gives me a small dip of her chin and walks out of the van, across the street, and to the entrance. She pauses, looking back at us over her shoulder, before disappearing amongst the crowd entering the building.

Over the next several hours we listen in on conversation after conversation as Thea works the gala. So far, nothing of substance has been given away. People come and go throughout the evening; some stepping out to smoke or get some fresh air. My anxiety has only increased since she walked into the building, but we know she’s okaybased off of the audio that fades in and out as she walks by people. I really wish they would’ve considered a video cam, but Dyer was worried it would be more likely to be spotted.

“You really have it bad, huh?” Claire asks from where she lays down on the bench seat.

“I just don’t like not being in the know, that’s all.”

She raises her eyebrow at me in ayeah rightmanner.

“I’m not having this conversation right now,” I assert.

Dyer looks between us as if he doesn’t want to be privy to said conversation, but Claire persists. “What else are you gonna do? I’m tired of listening to you sigh every five minutes and crack your knuckles over and over.”

Dyler chuckles then as I gape at her. “She has you there.”

“I don’t do that,” I deadpan.

She smirks at me. “You absolutely do, want me to tell you your tally?”