by Helen Scott
He texted Dem for help, and within seconds, his brother appeared next to him.
“What’s goin’ on, little brother?”
“I need your ciphering skills again. Tony found this on his printer.”
“Interesting. It’s different from what they were using before. Can you get me a pad and pencil?”
Thad obliged and waited patiently as Dem attempted to decode the first line. Dem scratched away on his notepad, and Thad tried not to hover over his shoulder. When he heard the shower turn off, he hoped Cin would get ready to go to the casino and not come out here. The gods knew he wouldn’t be able to take seeing her in a towel. That being said, it would be just like them to encourage her to do that just to torment him.
“Cin still here?” Dem said while scratching his head.
“Yeah. We have a lead on someone we are tracking down tonight. I really hope it pans out. Otherwise, we are starting to run out of options.”
“I hope it works out for you, Brother.” Dem sighed, his black hair hanging slightly in front of his face as he looked down at his notepad. “I think the first line is ‘Penguin Pride and Prejudice Movie Edition.’ What the hell does that mean?”
“No idea.” Thad shook his head, and his curls bounced along in agreement.
“Looking at the rest of it, it looks like a book cipher. The three numbers are usually the page, line, and word that the encoder is directing us to, and they have filled in the missing letters for where they couldn’t find the word they sought.”
“If we figure out what Penguin Pride and Prejudice Movie Edition is, then we can figure the rest out.”
“Hey, Dem,” Cin’s voice called out from the hallway. “How's it going?”
“I’m puzzling this thing out, little sister. How are you?”
“Ready to get going.”
Thad and Dem glanced up at the same time as her voice drew near. He was speechless. Thad had never been more at war with himself as he was at that moment. Her blue and purple hair curled in waves around her face, and her makeup made it look like her eyes were glowing. She was wearing lipstick, the same color as when they first met—a deep plum. The same thought he had then still held true. Her lips looked bitable.
His eyes traveled down, taking in the dress she was wearing. The deep v of the neckline drew his eye, and the way her breasts were perfectly balanced there between the black and tan lace of the bodice made him want to cover her up and ravish her all at the same time. The slit up the side of the solid black skirt exposed one of her tattooed legs. The hint of her curvaceous thighs had his mind and groin begging to have them wrapped around him again. Thad’s blood pounded in his ears, urging him to go to her and peel that dress off. Gods, how was he supposed to go out in public with her dressed like that?
Faintly he became aware of Cin and Dem having a conversation without him.
“Oh, I know! It’s the movie tie-in book. That’s what they’re saying!” Cin’s excitement had her bouncing a little, which had Thad grabbing on to the counter. The granite protested under his grip, the stone grinding to dust under his fingers.
Dem and Cin both turned to look at him. “Everything okay, Brother?”
Thad cleared his throat. “Yeah, just forgot my own strength for a minute there.” He wiped the dust from his fingers onto his jeans.
Cin arched an eyebrow at him. “Another part of you I didn’t know about.”
“We can go over anything you want to know in detail later. Please go on about the movie tie-in thing.” Thad desperately wanted their attention anywhere but on him right now. He was still busy trying to pick his jaw up off the floor from seeing Cin in that dress.
“You know sometimes when movies come out that are based on books, there is a special release of the book with the movie poster as the cover?”
They both looked at her blankly.
“You guys don’t get out much, do you?”
Dem chuckled. “We don’t pay attention to everything. Otherwise, we would never get our jobs done. So, we need the specific version of that book to crack this. Any idea where we can get one?”
“It’s kinda old, to be honest. I mean, we could try a bookstore, but we might have better odds at a used bookstore.”
“I’ll track down the book. You guys go find Norman.”
“I’m going to go and change. Apparently I need to step up my game if I’m going with you.” Thad winked at Cin. He didn’t know why winking was suddenly a thing for him, but she was bringing out facets of him that he didn’t expect.
The lights and sounds of the casino assaulted them again as they walked in. Their plan was to stop at the bar for a drink and work their way around to the blackjack table that faced the corner table. If Norman was there, Cin would give him a show.
If Thad’s reaction was anything to go by, then she still knew what she was doing. His eyes had almost popped out of his head when he’d seen her. Dem had been appreciative, but Thad had practically been drooling. A coil of pleasure released inside her when she remembered his expression. She knew she cleaned up well, and proving it to others gave her a distinct sense of pride.
He kept close to her now, and she knew it was because he was feeling overly protective. Norman was not a good guy, and she was the bait to either get him out of there or get something from him that they could scry with.
Thad handed her a drink, which she downed a little too fast, but she couldn’t look like she was on edge. She ordered another as her eyes roamed over the crowded tables. Women in dresses much more eye-popping than hers hung on men’s arms. The smell of cigar smoke clung to some of the men around the bar. Cin’s eyes watered with the cloying scent. Grabbing her second drink, she escaped the heavily scented area to one of the poker tables. She observed for a while, smiling and flirting with the men at the table who didn’t already have a companion.
She focused on the table in the corner, the one where Norman was supposed to be, and tried to take a guess as to which one was him. The table was surrounded by young men in a variety of attire, a couple of which had a young lady standing behind them. The ladies were chatting with each other, completely uninterested in the game before them. Cin saw eyes flash with anger, and she felt a chill. That had to be him. He was in a black suit with a black shirt and a black tie, which combined looked good, but highlighted his almost-black eyes and dark hair. His skin looked almost ghostly in comparison. Cin turned and walked back to the bar where Thad was sitting.
“Hey, stranger.” She smiled at him.
“Can a man buy a beautiful woman a drink?” Thad’s voice rumbled, giving her goosebumps.
“I don’t need another, but thanks.” She smiled at him. “I think our guy is in the black-on-black ensemble at that corner poker table.”
“What makes you think it’s him?”
“His eyes.” Cin glanced sideways at Thad. “I know it sounds weird, but he got angry at another player, and there was this super-brief flash of vicious anger on his face. From what Preston said, I think it’s him.”
“Okay, I’ll keep an eye on you from here. Go work your magic.”
Cin could feel the nervous energy radiating off Thad. It made her feel jumpy. She didn’t look directly at Norman, but kept him in her peripheral vision as she approached the blackjack table that would have her facing him. She played the game, squealing and jumping up and down when she won.
The tape she had used to secure her breasts within the dress so nothing slipped out accidentally was doing its job perfectly. She could feel eyes on her, but she ignored them all. Her job was Norman. She wasn’t surprised when after a little while, she felt a presence by her elbow.
“Excuse me, miss?” She turned and was disappointed to see a waiter standing there. Cin had been hoping that performance would have been enough to lure him over. Maybe she wasn’t his type?
“Yes?” she asked, batting her eyes at him. It never hurt to be extra nice to the staff.
“From the gentleman in black in the corner.” He raise
d his tray, and it was another cosmopolitan. She had chosen it at the beginning of the evening because the pink stood out nicely against her black dress. Plus, they were yummy.
“Did it come straight from the bar?” She knew she shouldn’t accept it, but it was also a way in to talking to him.
“Of course, ma’am.”
“Well, then, thank you very much.” Smiling at the waiter, she turned to the table in the corner as though searching for her mysterious benefactor.
She made her eyes widen when she landed on Norman, as though she was surprised it was someone so handsome who had sent over the drink, followed quickly by a wide smile. Norman raised his glass to her, and she mimicked the motion, followed by the tiniest sip. When Cin finished the hand of blackjack, she went over to Norman.
“Thanks for the drink,” she said in her best sultry voice.
“My pleasure. I’m Norman.”
“Hyacinth.” Cin tucked a curl behind her ear as his eyes slithered over her.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
“Thank you.” She glanced down and smiled, pretending shyness now that she was up close.
“Are you having a good night?”
“I am! I was doing pretty good at the blackjack table. I just learned a little while ago. It’s so much fun!”
“Well, you do seem to have all the luck tonight.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The dark brown orbs still looked almost black even from this distance. “How would you feel about being my lucky charm?”
“Sure! Maybe I can pick up some poker tips while I’m at it.” Cin hoped she wasn’t laying the ditz on too thick, but he seemed to want something pretty on his arm like the other men at the table, and that she could provide. All she needed was some hair or something so Thad could track him later.
“I’m sure a smart girl like you will pick it up in no time. Just don’t give my hand away if you see it. Deal?”
“Deal!” She stuck her hand out to shake his, but when he took it, he brought it to his lips and kissed it.
His cold lips pressed against her skin like frost on a window. She tried her best to suppress the shiver they brought from her. When she couldn’t, she turned it into a compliment. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a man kiss my hand like that—made me all shivery.” She playfully swatted him on his arm.
His eyes were different now. She couldn’t pinpoint what had changed, but he regarded her differently.
“Pay close attention now,” he said as he sat back down in his chair to begin the next round.
Cin studied the back of his jacket, hoping to find a stray hair that had fallen, which she could take to Thad. It was impossible to see his black hair against the black suit, if there was any there.
“Hyacinth, would you mind getting me a fresh drink?” Norman didn’t even turn around when he asked.
“Sure thing! What are you drinkin’?”
“Old Fashioned.”
“Be right back, sweetie.” She smiled down at him, and as she walked away, he grabbed her ass, giving it an almost painful squeeze.
“Careful now. You might bite off more than you can chew.” She winked over her shoulder at him.
“I’ll take anything you want to give me.”
Cin walked to the bar with her stomach turning. When she’d suggested this plan, she thought it would be a lot easier than this. Most guys had all kinds of bits she could pick off and return to Thad with, but not him. It was like he vacuumed himself before he came out or something.
“Anything?” Thad asked as she approached.
For a moment she took him in. His broad shoulders encased in a light gray shirt and black suit jacket looked delectable. She could just imagine pushing her hands up his chest under his jacket and sliding it down his athletic arms before wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing the bejeezus out of him.
Thad cleared his throat.
“He might be watching. Act like you’re hitting on me.”
“That’s not difficult. You look amazing.”
“Why thank you, and no, I’ve found nothing,” she said to Thad before ordering the drink.
“He sent you to order a drink for him?”
“Yep. He’s class personified.”
“Clearly.” Thad rolled his eyes.
“At what point do you want to call it and try and get him out of here instead of getting something from him?”
“Now.”
“I haven’t even had a chance yet.”
Thad grumbled under his breath at her. “He gets two drinks, and then we get him out of here and I jump us to the room I reserved upstairs.”
“You reserved a room?” She grinned.
“Just as a precaution.”
“I’ll be back later. Try to look as though you’re not staring.” She winked at him as she sashayed away with the Old Fashioned.
Chapter 15
Cin plastered a big smile on her face as she approached Norman.
“Here you go, sugar. One Old Fashioned.” She bent over as she set the glass down next to his cards, giving him a nice view of her cleavage.
“Thanks. Why don’t you sit that fine ass down and watch? The boys don’t mind a lady at the table, do you, boys?”
“Not one as beautiful as that,” the man in the ball cap chimed in.
“Can’t say I’d still be sitting at the table if a lady like that was giving me the time of day,” the oldest man at the table said.
“Why thank you, gentlemen. You’re going to make me blush if you keep that up.”
“And I’ll bet that’d be a picture,” said the older one again.
He was probably pushing sixty now that Cin could see him up close. The crinkles around his eyes and the lines around his mouth gave him away. She was willing to bet he dyed his hair.
She looked around at the other players while the other two women, who were still standing, gave her death glares. There was the man in the ball cap, who kept most of his face concealed, the older man, Norman, the two college bros with the women behind them, and one Ken doll.
They were all perfectly quaffed, except for ball cap. He was just there in his jeans and a collared shirt. The rest of the table were in different levels of business to business-casual dress. Cin had no doubt they were all playing for a lot of money considering how tense the atmosphere was now that she was sitting at the table.
She listened as the chips clattered in the middle of the table as each person took their time to bet. After the dealer put the turn card down, Cin felt a hand on her leg. Norman smiled at her as his hand slid under the slit of her dress to her inner thigh, pulling her leg toward him.
“Hey now, mister, don’t race ahead of me.” She placed her hand on his and guided it back to her knee.
“You better keep up, then.” He laughed, but there was something off about it. Cin could tell the other players noticed as well. A couple of them looked at them with concern etched on their faces.
Norman picked up his drink and pushed Cin’s toward her. “Cheers to new friends.”
“Cheers.” She smiled and took a tiny sip.
“Ah, come on now, honey. That wasn’t enough to qualify as a cheers drink. Did you even get any in your mouth?”
“I did.” She feigned shock at his accusation.
“Let’s try again, properly this time. Cheers to a wonderful evening.”
“Cheers,” Cin said again, taking a bigger sip. She wasn’t paying attention to what Norman was doing, so when he tipped her glass up more, she had no choice but to drink or let it splash all over her. She drank. Most of it, at least. There was still a good part that splashed all over her face.
“What the hell?”
“Relax, darling, just having a little fun.”
“I’m going to go and clean up. I’ll be right back.” Cin stood and made her way to the bathroom. She felt a little dizzy, but she was also very hot. Some cool water on her face would clear her head.
Just as she was about to open t
he door, she heard his voice behind her.
“I know what you are.” His hand came down on her shoulder and spun her to face him.
“What are you talking about?”
“I know you’re a fury. A goddess of vengeance. My boss is going to be thrilled when I bring you in.”
“I’m not going . . .” All thoughts seemed to leave her head.
“Get cleaned up and then head out through the kitchen. There’s a black Town Car that will be waiting for you there. You will sit in the car until I arrive. You will not talk to the driver or listen to what he has to say. Then when I get there, we’ll have some fun.”
Cin bobbed her head up and down. She couldn’t wait to be clean and go and sit in the car. It would be nice to wait for Norman.
Thad watched Norman go after Cin as she went toward the bathroom. He was fighting every instinct that he had not to rush back there and square off against him. He wanted to protect Cin more than he wanted the mission to be successful, but he knew if they failed and didn’t have a way of finding Aster, then Cin wouldn’t forgive him for screwing it up.
He edged down the bar, making it look like he was watching the different TVs, considering which horses and dogs to bet on. All he was watching was the hallway toward the bathrooms. When he saw Norman come back out, straightening his tie and jacket, he almost ran in there.
Blowing whatever Cin was working on was the last thing he wanted, so he reined in the feeling that he needed to protect her. The man was weird looking in all black like that, especially with the dark hair and dark eyes. He got that some people really liked black, but this guy seemed a little off his rocker. Maybe it had something to do with the dead-eyed stare he was wearing.
Cin came out of the bathroom hallway a few moments later. Her face was blank and she looked washed out, but that could have been because the wallpaper was a riot of color behind her. Instead of following Norman back to the poker table, she turned toward the back of the casino. Thad watched a moment longer, but when she headed through the swing doors into the kitchen, he couldn’t stand it anymore, so he got off his butt and went after her.