Page 139 of For a Price

A pretty damn good one at that.

I told Roman I had skills that were useful. I could hack into devices. I could swipe wallets from pockets with most people clueless as to what I was doing.

Finch and the others often used me as a decoy. Sometimes, I was even the one sent undercover.

No one suspects a woman who looks as harmless as I do to be a criminal.

It’s proven to be its own superpower whenever we were carrying out a job.

Tonight it’ll be used to my advantage one more time.

My footsteps are slow and cautious. I gently draw the bedroom door open and then slip through the crack.

Though we’ve only been at this base of operations for a little over a week, I’ve already memorized the layout. I’ve paid close attention to which exits are guarded and the shifts among Roman’s personnel.

As he’s in the war room mapping out the final plans for tonight, I’m sneaking through a side door and crawling into the trunk of one of the Hummers.

I can get myself out from the inside. I do so over an hour later when the Hummer rolls to a stop and the men Roman’s brought to the Winchester get out. They’re focused on gaining entry to the hotel.

The same exact goal I have tonight… except through different means.

After a moment, I get to work letting myself out of the trunk. My boots touch the asphalt as I crouch low and glance around the street, making sure no one sees me.

Not even Roman.

He’s situated in one of the taller buildings across from the Winchester. He and a handful of his men are waiting for the pakhan to arrive before they make their first move.

My heart hammers in my chest as I take a moment to collect myself. What I’m about to do could go horribly wrong in every possible way.

It could wind up even worse than what happened with the situation where we tried to lure JC into Rosita’s apartment. Icould be caught by the Midnight Society and sent straight back to the marketplace. The pakhan himself could get hold of me.

A shaky, nauseous sensation tortures my stomach. I fight against it with deep, slow breaths.

“You can do this, Kat,” I whisper to myself. “You can do this… or you’ll die trying.”

Roman isn’t the only one willing to die tonight.

He’s not the only one willing to do whatever it takes to get his revenge.

I want the pakhan dead. I want the people who hurt me, who have gone after Roman, who are responsible for Rosita’s death, to suffer.

I’m willing to do anything to make it happen.

With a final, steadying breath, I stand up and then dart across the street once the coast is clear and no more cars are coming. I have my hoodie up and I look fairly nondescript as I stroll down the sidewalk and then turn toward the street corner that’ll lead me to the back of the huge, prestigious hotel.

Now I just need to find my in.

Slowing down as I come up on some delivery trucks and vans parked in the loading area of the hotel, I study the scene carefully. The driver of a floral delivery van has gotten out to talk with hotel security as they check his identification and delivery paperwork.

An exchange that lasts only a few seconds but more than enough for someone quick and nimble like me.

While the security guard is handing back the paper and the driver turns toward his van, I’m slipping open the rear door and crawling inside. The door gently snaps shut a split second before the driver’s hopping into his seat behind the wheel.

I lay flat against the floor of the van and pray he doesn’t happen to glance at the merchandise he’s delivering.

What must be thousands upon thousands of fresh floral arrangements.

Luck is on my side, because he doesn’t check the back of the van. He shifts gears and the van rolls forward past the security guard and toward the hotel’s loading area.

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