Page 29 of All The Pretty Little Lies

“Someone is staying with the car,” Alex fires back. “One of us needs to be ready to get us the fuck out of here if and likely when this thing goes south. Plus, there’s no hiding me,” he gestures at his towering stature, “in a crowd, even with a ridiculous fake name.”

“Aw,” Talon whines. “I was going to call you Harry Ballsack.”

"Not on your fucking life,” Alex warns him.

I suppress a smirk. "Let's hope Ricky's intel and these invitations hold up."

Alex, dressed in a suit, casually pulls our SUV up to the main entrance and hops out to open the car, taking his role as our driver seriously. We watch as he’s directed away from the entrance and disappears around the back of the warehouse.

As we approach the entrance, I can't help but marvel at the transformation. What was once a dilapidated warehouse has been converted into a high-end auction house for the night. Velvet ropes and burly security guards funnel guests through a checkpoint, their eyes sharp and hands hovering near concealed weapons.

"Invitations and identification, gentlemen," a guard with a neck as thick as my thigh rumbles.

I produce our forged documents with a steady hand, praying that Ricky's work is as flawless as he claimed. The guard scrutinizes them, his face an unreadable mask. After what feels like an eternity, he nods and waves us through.

"If you plan to bid tonight, please proceed to the registration desk for proof of payment," he adds as we pass through a body scanner.

Inside, the warehouse is a study in contrasts. Industrial beams soar overhead, but the concrete floor is covered in plushoriental rugs. Chandeliers cast a warm glow over clusters of the criminal elite, their designer suits and glittering jewelry at odds with our surroundings.

"I'll handle the registration," Talon murmurs, peeling off towards a discreet desk in the corner.

Zaire's eyes roam the room, cataloging exits, and potential threats. "Heavy hitters are here tonight, Oz," he whispers. "I count at least three family heads and a dozen underbosses."

I nod, my own gaze sweeping the crowd. That's when I see him – Dmitri Petrov, my cousin, holding court near the center of the room. My blood runs cold. If he recognizes us, this entire operation goes up in smoke. A pretty little blonde hangs off his arm, beaming up at him.

"Nine o'clock," I mutter. "Our dear cousin has decided to grace us with his presence."

“Got him,” Zaire remarks.

Talon joins us a few seconds later with a bidding paddle in his hand. He spots Dmitri immediately. Talon casually shifts, angling his body to block Dmitri's line of sight. "Well, isn't this a lovely family reunion?" he quips, but I can see the tension in his shoulders.

“Are we registered? I ask him.

"We're cleared to bid, but the buy-in is steep. Whatever this exotic merchandise is, just cost one of your uncle’s not so secret off shore accounts a ten million dollar deposit.”

I turn to Talon, my eyebrows raised in surprise. "How did you get that information?" I ask, keeping my voice low. The constant murmur of the crowd around us provides some cover, but in a room full of criminals, you can never be too careful.

Talon's eyes sparkle with mischief, a stark contrast to the serious atmosphere permeating the warehouse. "Ask Harry Ballsack," he replies with a wink.

"Ask Al…Harry?" I repeat, my voice barely above a whisper. "He's supposed to be with the car. What's going on?"

Talon leans in closer, his breath warm against my ear as he speaks. "Our boy Harry has been busy. Remember that fancy new smartwatch he's been showing off? Well, it's not just for counting steps and checking his texts."

I feel a mix of admiration and concern wash over me. Leave it to Alex to find a way to be in two places at once. "Go on," I urge, my curiosity piqued.

"That watch? It's a high-tech piece of equipment," Talon explains, his voice tinged with pride. "It's got a built-in scanner that can pick up and decrypt nearby wireless signals. While Harry was 'parking the car,' he managed to intercept some very interesting financial data being transmitted to and from this place. Knowing Dmitri is here…if we find what we are looking for, our uncle will only assume his precious little heir spent the money. None the wiser, and nothing spent from our coffers.”

I take a moment to process this information, my eyes scanning the room once more. The opulence surrounding us suddenly seems even more significant. "So, Harry essentially hacked into their system without even stepping foot inside?"

Talon nods, a grin spreading across his face. "Exactly. He's our eyes and ears on the outside, feeding us real-time intel. And let me tell you, the numbers he's seeing? They're astronomical."

“And he’s communicating with you how?”

“That’s our little secret,” he winks.

"What else has he found out?" I ask, my mind already racing with possibilities.

Talon's expression grows serious. "That's the thing. The amount of money changing hands tonight? It's not just about rare artifacts or illegal goods. Whatever's being auctioned off, it's big. Like, 'change the balance of power in the underworld' big."

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