Page 81 of Into the Gray Zone

“And you think he can use it?”

He turned to her and said, “What’s with the interrogation?”

“I just know that you didn’t ignore Sledge because you’re bored. You did it on purpose, checking Sledge’s security guy’s abilities. Just like you did earlier with the Silicon Valley guy’s security.”

Knuckles laughed and held up his hands in surrender, saying, “Okay, okay. You caught me. But they think I’m a neophyte just captivated by their guns. To answer your question, yeah, they’re good to go. Sledge’s guy is ex Special Forces. The Silicon Valley guy’s security is retired Secret Service. They both know how to use their guns, trust me.”

“You’re worried about Pike’s call.”

“You’re damn right I am. They had an armed drone set to kill civilians at the Taj Mahal. That’s not firecrackers in the garage. That’s serious.”

“I know, but if their mission is to kill Thakkar, why did they wait until he’d left the Taj Mahal?”

“Yeah, that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Why miss him there only to attack him here, where the security is as tight as a presidential inauguration?”

He glanced around at the multiple different protective details and said, “I’m not too worried about an attack tonight. They’d get shot dead trying to breach the perimeter, never mind Jaiden and his boys here in the party itself.”

She said, “I agree. Let’s go get a drink before dinner starts.”

“That’s okay. I’m good.”

She squinted her eyes and said, “You’re still worried.”

“Not worried. Just prudent. We can get a drink after the party, back in our room.”

She kissed him on the cheek and whispered, “I don’t think we’ll have time for that.”

He smiled and then felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned, finding the bride and groom standing next to him. The groom said, “Annaka wants me to meet the man who’s smitten her old friend. She says Nadia has impossible tastes. I fear I’m in competition with you in this room.”

The groom was handsome, with sharp, angular features and a way of gliding about as if he was the most important man in any conversation. Which he probably was. The bride, Annaka, looked like a twin of Nadia, which was to say she exuded confidence and personal charmirrespective of her innate beauty. She should have been aloof, given her stature in India, but from their initial meeting Knuckles had found her fun to be around, and wondered how she was so irresistibly optimistic after having lived with Riva Thakkar as a father her whole life.

He was the complete opposite of Annaka. Taciturn and demanding about everything. Itdidexplain how Nadia, from a lesser station in life, had connected with Annaka. Neither of them, unlike Annaka’s father, saw a person based on class. They judged people by who they were, not on what pedigree they held. Knuckles had liked her immediately, and hoped her groom wasn’t a Riva Thakkar in the making.

The groom stuck out his hand and Knuckles shook it, saying, “Well, I don’t know about competition in here. You’re the man with the bride. I just met Nadia a week ago in Goa.”

The groom said, “A week?” He looked at Nadia with a smirk and said, “Annaka told me you were fast on the uptake.”

Knuckles saw Nadia’s face cloud over, but before she could answer, the groom said, “Mr.Thakkar would like to meet you. He’s in the other room. Come, come.”

The man began tugging on Knuckles’ sleeve, so much so, Knuckles thought about smacking his hand away, but Nadia gave him a look and he said, “Sure, sure, hang on a second.”

He turned to Nadia and pulled her away, saying, “What’s the protocol here? What should I do when I meet him?”

“Just be yourself. Thakkar’s still aggravated by my having been invited. He’s looking for a reason to be mad. To tell Annaka I’m a bad influence.”

Knuckles grimaced and said, “Are you shitting me? I’m not playing these games. I’m not a hired date. He can take me as I am, and I’m sorry for your loss.”

She laughed and said, “That’s perfect. Annaka sees in you what I do. She likes you. Which means he’ll probably hate you.”

Knuckles returned to the groom and said, “I’m all yours.”

They walked outside of the northern room onto the patio, the guests swirling around, waiting on the call to dinner. The groom said, “You want a drink before we go in?”

“Do I need one?”

The groom laughed and said, “Annaka said you were a pistol. But I’d like one. Wait here.”

He went to the bar and Knuckles remained behind alone, watching the various partygoers enjoying their time, feeling detached from it all.

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