Page 103 of So Close

Rogelio reads my determination and sighs heavily. “Fine. You’re the boss.”

Turning in the vanity seat, I look up at him. “It would save me time if you could open the jewel safe. Can you get through the fingerprint recognition?”

“Of course. My crew handled the installation.”

“I’ll help him,” Tovah says. They leave through my closet.

A movement across the room catches my eye, and I see that one perfect Blacklist lily bloom has inexplicably fallen from its stem. It lies on the dresser top, beneath the abundant bouquet, facing me. The stamen has shed across the glossy surface in an explosion of bright orange that inexplicably resembles blood splatter. There’s a thud at the window, and I jolt. Salma curses. A bird thrashes against the glass, clawing for purchase, flapping frenziedly until it slides out of view.

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph,” Salma mutters, crossing herself.

A shiver runs down my spine.

“Go help Lacy,” I tell her.

Her hand presses over her belly, briefly hiding the letters that spell out PANTERA. “You’re my family. If anything happens to you, I will haunt your ghost and kick your ass when I die.”

We hug tightly. She smells like strawberries and champagne. She’s sniffling as she leaves the room with a quick stride.

Tovah returns with Rogelio on her heels. She carries a weighted blue sack with her and pats the side of it. “We’re all set.”

“Time to get dressed.”

She passes the bag to Rogelio and follows me.

“I can dress myself,” I tell her wryly.

“Not this time. If something fucks up, it will not be because of your wardrobe.”

When we’ve finished, I look at myself in the mirror. The gray slacks with the navy tuxedo striping are baggy and held on by the grace of a slim black leather belt. The long-sleeved button-up top is a paler shade of grayish blue and has a patch with the image of an eagle on the breast. It, too, is oversized, even with the silicone breastplate that gives me the appearance of having huge breasts. My rear is also padded, and I wonder how I’ll sit during the drive.

“There’s a hat and sunglasses in the bag,” she tells me. “Put ’em on, keep ’em on.”

“Got it.”

She grabs me by the forearms. I’m wearing flat black orthopedic shoes. With her ankle-breaker heels, Tovah barely hits my eye level. “I expect you to call as soon as you’re free and clear.”

“I will,” I promise. “Stop worrying.”

Her mobile mouth puckers, and I know she’s fighting the urge to argue more. “Okay,” she says finally. “Okay.”

I follow her out of the closet but pause on the threshold as she disappears into the hallway. Rogelio paces in the fluid way of a man who’s trained his body to be a weapon. Leaning into the doorjamb, I cross my arms and watch him.

“You look ridiculous,” he says.

“I feel ridiculous.”

He stops and holds my gaze from across the room. Then he grabs the bag off the bed. “You ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

47

LILY

Lacy waitsfor Rogelio and me by the front door, twisting the handle of a feather duster nervously between both hands. “I’ll see you later.”

I kiss her cheek. “Take the time to think about what you’ll do next. Places you’ve always wanted to travel to, maybe?”

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