Page 35 of Rhys

“I think…” Rhys swallowed hard, the aching in his crotch becoming downright painful. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” Her ruby red lips spread into a genuine smile.

“I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“Kind of the point, isn’t it?” she teased. “Have you heard from Parker yet?”

“He’s on his way.”

“Good.” She glanced down at the watch she’d asked Trace to get for her. “I want to be casually late, but not overly so.”

When she’d made the list, she’d written down ‘inexpensive gold ladies’ dress watch’. Just so she’d have something to keep track of the time once inside Austin’s estate.

But the watch Trace had purchased wasn’t some cheap costume knockoff. It was a twenty-five-thousand-dollar gold Rolex with a delicately braided band and diamonds surrounding the face.

Apparently, their team leader had one hell of a connection with a man who owned the city’s most high-end jewelry store. Who knew?

When Rhys asked why go to the trouble of getting a bona fide Rolex, Trace had reminded him what kind of party Vanessa and Parker would be attending, and explained he didn’t want the entire op busted because of a cheap watch.

Aaand…that’s why he’s the one in charge.

“You got everything you need?”

“Hope so.” She held up the shiny gold clutch.

He’d enjoyed watching her earlier as she’d expertly sewn her spy gadgets into the purse’s lining. The small pick lock set and encrypted jump drive containing Greyson’s cloning program would be visibly undetectable should she be forced to open it for security at the door.

The clutch had a decorative metal edge on top, along with a metal clasp. If she and Parker were wanded, the detector would most likely go off. The purse, however, would easily explain it away. And if they were to ask her to open it, all they’d see would be her I.D.—which was fake, of course—a lipstick, and a compact mirror.

It was an odd feeling, being both impressed and terrified over the exact same reasons.

Rhys was impressed at her knowledge, skill, and calm demeanor. But he was equally terrified because if Austin was in bed with North Korea, then she was about to walk straight into the lion’s den…

Without me.

“Here. You’ll need this.” He handed her a tiny earwig. “It’s a mic and a receiver, so we’ll be able to hear and talk to each other.”

She took the flesh-colored transmission device from his palm and placed in her right ear before combing the wig’s shiny strands back in place.

“I’ll be with Trace and the others,” he reminded her. “We’ll be in the van less than a half-mile away.”

Because surveillance was a big part of their job, Charlie Team had a black panel van that was fully equipped with monitors, computers, and just about anything Greyson’s genius brain could think of that might come in handy during a stake out or sting operation. All they had to do was change out the vinyl stickers on the sides to fit whichever company they wanted to use as a cover.

For tonight’s gig, they were posing as an internet service provider doing a maintenance check just down the road from Austin’s mansion.

“I hate not being able to take my gun.”

Even with the colored contacts in place, Rhys could see the nervous energy pouring out from behind them. Given that she did this sort of thing all the time, it did nothing to appease his own anxiety over tonight’s mission.

“That reminds me.” He walked over to the room’s six-person dining table and grabbed the specialty items he’d asked Trace to bring him earlier. “Thought you should have this, just in case.”

Vanessa took the items from his hand and smiled. “You got me a dagger?”

“Not just any dagger.”

Careful not to cut her or himself, Rhys took the weapon back from her hand. Ignoring the heat from an innocent brush of her skin, he explained exactly what it was.

“This is made of a nylon composite.” He slid the small dual handle between his index and middle fingers. Gripping it tightly, he told her, “It’s almost as hard as steel and undetectable when passing through a metal detector. And that”—he pointed to the thin black strap still in her hand—goes around your thigh.”

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