"It was lovely meeting you, Hina," I murmured. Pressing the necklace to my side, I maneuvered off the small red, leather settee and stood.
"Won't you please consider my offer?" Senator Tanaka stared at me with lustful eyes as he reached out and snagged my wrist. I stiffened, balling my fist even tighter—thankful that he hadn't reached for the hand that held the necklace.
"Perhaps another time..." I carefully extracted my wrist, turned, and strode away.
The music threaded throughout the space, the fabric of my dress shifting against me seductively, but I didn’t see anyone around me. It was just me and my score. All that needed to happen was to secure it around my neck and get the hell out of this club.
Glancing over my shoulder, I scanned the room, noting that everyone was distracted by the next performer. I bit back the urge to roll my eyes at the club goers’ predictability—Ms. Star easily forgotten—and stepped into a darkened alcove. It only took a moment to slip the necklace around my neck and secure the clasp. The metal and stones were warm from my palm, resting gently against the hollow of my throat.Hm, couldn’t see how gorgeous it looked hiding in this corner, I thought with a frown. Seeing it on was going to have to wait.
At least until I passed a mirror hanging on one wall near the entrance. Even in the low lighting of Club Champagne, the jewelry sparkled like a thousand stars. Each twinkle caught my eye, the glimmer making me grin. The triumphant smile that stretched across my face didn’t fall or dim as I turned from my reflection and headed to the door.
It’s time to get the fuck out and enjoy my success.
Before I could exit, though, I had one final thing I needed to do. Pulling my signature card from its current home, I held it loosely between two fingers. Its thick white cardstock was hot and curved from where it had been secured against my thigh under the holster. On one side, a kiss mark, on the other a print of a red rose. Before, when I started doing this, I had used a real rose, but carting such a delicate yet fierce flower to my heists was difficult. Especially in such slinky, tight dresses. Dropping the calling card on the ground, I finally exited the building.
I ignored the chill in the night air, lifting a hand when I stepped up to the curb. It didn’t take more than a moment before a taxi pulled up, and the driver didn’t even have enough time to climb out from behind the wheel before I was settling into the old ratty backseat.
“Where to, Miss?”
Amber eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, and the thunk of his door closing filled the space. I had just opened my mouth to rattle off the dummy address when my phone buzzed. Digging it out discreetly, I pulled it from the place it’d been stashed next to my knives and calling card. An immediate wash of rage flowed through me when I saw the notification on the screen. Frozen accounts. Everything locked from my access.
Another buzz rattled the device before I could question what had happened, this time a message.
Unknown: Dear Scarlett, you are cordially invited to dinner at the Harlington Estate tonight for a chance to discuss the steps necessary to unlock your accounts. The meal starts within the hour, please come alone and unarmed. Regards, Mr. Black.
I stiffened as I read the words. A warning blared brightly in my mind. Who the fuck does this man think he is?I squeezed my fingers around the cell phone and gritted my teeth.No one gets the better of me. If this ‘Mr. Black’ had so easily found me and frozen my accounts then …I swallowed roughly. I couldn’t live without that fucking money.
“Miss?” the cab driver questioned again.
Pulled from the increasingly violent and anxious thoughts that swirled in my mind, I had a decision to make. Follow through with the instructions or go about my original plan. God fucking dammit. Keeping the smooth expressionless mask in place, I gave him the address I’d been sent, my plan forming easily in my mind. Learn who this mysterious Mr. Black was, using as many of my remaining resources and numerous contacts as it took, and if he couldn't be seduced or bought off … well then, I guess it was a good thing I was a thief. One of the best.
I would do anything necessary to secure my freedom.
One way or another.