40. Emmett

Chapter 40

Emmett

Thirty minutes had passed since the last auction items were moved to the storage room. Jayce was already inside, and she hadn’t reported any problems. She must have swapped the scarabs and had the disc safely stowed in her dress. The op wasn’t going perfectly anymore, but it was all within acceptable parameters.

Except for Noah. He was the one variable I’d hoped we wouldn’t have to deal with. At least I hadn’t spotted Enzo anywhere.

“I said”—Scarlett’s command tone was in full effect—“Jayce, put the disc back.”

Jayce blew a raspberry. “They tried killing me. Twice. And my man.”

“And you don’t think taking that disc will lead to a third attempt?”

Over my comms, Rav said, “I think Enzo’s piloting the tender. He’s picked up Massimo at the water door. The yacht in the distance must be his. No need for the drone, Will.”

An icy pain spread through my body at the mention of Enzo’s name. A bag flew over my head. Then the fist . I pushed the memory aside, focusing on the present. On the Casino. On the op. He was outside in a boat, not inside. Everything was fine.

Will’s response was quick. “It’s halfway there already. I only need one to monitor the cavern.”

Why were Enzo and Massimo leaving without Noah? Noah was on his way to the storage room, but the auction pieces weren’t supposed to be available until after the auction ended. Could Noah be trying to pick up the disc early?

He must have made some sort of arrangement with Martine. That was what he meant when he said he had a past with her.

“Jayce,” I said urgently, “I think Noah’s on his way to the storage room. Get out and duck into the high-rollers’ room. It’s right next door.”

And take the disc, Jayce. Show them we aren’t scared of them.

There was a pause before Brie’s voice came through. “Jayce just sent a text. Two staffers are inside the storage room now, so she can’t talk.”

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, scanning the room for Drew. When I caught his eye, I made a subtle hand signal indicating he needed to join me. I positioned myself by a craps table, surrounded by a large crowd, and waited.

Drew sidled up next to me, his expression neutral. “What’s she done?”

I almost laughed at his immediate assumption that Jayce was wreaking havoc. “There are two workers inside. Jayce is hidden but can’t leave.”

Drew laughed and clapped at a winning roll on the table. His ability to mask his true feelings and blend in was impressive. “Time for Plan J3?”

Whether or not she was leading the op, Scarlett ensured the team had enough backup plans to cover any eventuality. Since Martine had only promised to provide the passcode and no other help, we had multiple contingencies.

Plan J1 was if Jayce couldn’t sneak past the guards and into the Casino—Drew would have crashed the secret door from the inside to add an extra distraction. Plan J2 was getting Jayce into the storage room undetected if Brie’s hacking skills weren’t up to snuff—which they always were. J3 was if Jayce got stuck in the storage room.

“J3 it is. But we also need to account for Noah.”

Drew shook his head with the crowd as the next roll didn’t go well. “Can she hear me?”

“She might, if the signal’s strong enough inside the cavern.” I tilted my head slightly. “Talk to my left ear if you want to be sure.”

Drew leaned in close. “You’re going to owe me for this one, sweetheart.” He then wandered off.

Brie’s giggle came through the comms. “Jayce’s text says she’s looking forward to it.”

Will’s voice followed, tinged with amusement. “I don’t think I want to know.”

I tuned out Brie and Will’s subsequent conversation, focusing on Noah’s movements. “He’s at the storage room.”

He pressed the buzzer by the door, and the door opened. Noah started to enter but stopped. His irritation was visible even from a distance. The door closed, and Noah exited the short hallway, checking his watch and surveying the area.

“I think the staffer’s gone to retrieve the disc,” I said, my mind working through the possibilities.

Brie said, “Jayce gave two taps on her comms.”

I felt a small surge of relief. Two taps meant everything was okay, and Jayce didn’t need a rescue. But Noah was still waiting, and that made me uneasy.

“Did you grab the disc?” I asked, hoping for confirmation.

“Two taps again. I think that means yes,” Brie replied.

Will’s update came next. “The second wave of urban explorers is almost at the guard desk. Some of them are turning around because the first wave is passing them on their way out.”

Brie added, “People are posting about the armed guards on the message board. Although one guy did post about seeing a hidden door, which is attracting attention.”

“They’ll be at the guards in ten minutes. That’s Jayce’s window,” Will said. “Post instructions about how to open the door. That’ll keep more of them going forward.”

“On it,” Brie confirmed.

How long was Noah going to stand at the entrance to the storage room? And if he was there for the disc, what would happen when he found it missing? If he’d had to wait for the auction to end—which he was supposed to—we would have been long gone before he discovered it was missing.

The door behind Noah opened, and someone came out. Noah turned his back to me, engaging in conversation with the employee. Their body language told me they were arguing. The employee’s hands went up in apology, and Noah jerked forward, shaking his head vigorously.

I said, “I think Noah figured out we took the disc.”

Scarlett said, “Emmett, we need Jayce out of there. Now.”

Noah flung his hand out and spun around, storming out of the hallway. Eyes narrowed, he scanned the room.

I ducked, pretending to tie my shoe and shifting until I could spot him again. “Noah’s pissed. He’s searching, probably for me or Jayce. I don’t see Drew.”

Drew wouldn’t have abandoned his girlfriend. No doubt he was somewhere close, watching for his opening.

Noah approached a security guard, pointing at the storage room, then somewhere past me.

The guard touched his ear—engaging his comms—and nodded.

I stood, but stooped to ensure I didn’t stand out. The guard walked from the third giant room to the second. He met up with another guard, and they stopped in front of the ladies’ room entrance.

“Two guards have taken position in front of Jayce’s escape route,” I said.

Plan J3 transitioned to J5—the one where Drew risked himself to get Jayce out through the secret door.

Two women approached the guards, who pointed toward the third grand room, indicating where they could find another ladies’ room.

This was a problem. If Jayce tried to leave through the main door, she’d have to go through the metal detector again, and they might find the scarab or disc on her. Maybe we’d have time to use the water door before Enzo returned for Noah— if he was coming back.

Noah started up the stairs to Martine’s office.

I said, “Noah’s heading to the manager’s office, and the guards aren’t letting anyone pass into the hallway to the ladies’ room.”

Will said over comms, “The second wave is arriving at the guard post. It’s now or never, Jayce.”

Drew—where was he?—said, “Wow, sorry. I was looking for the men’s room.”

A gruff male voice responded to him, “How did you open the door?”

Drew said, “It just opened.”

I took my eyes off Noah for a moment to find Drew. He was at the storage room door, in someone’s face. He must have been covering for Jayce.

“Don’t touch me!” snapped Drew.

Jayce whispered, “I’m out.”

Drew stumbled away from the storage room as though someone had shoved him. After he cleared the area, he straightened his tux. “What’s the plan now?”

I said, “Two guards are blocking her path. We can handle them.”

Drew said, “You’re going to owe me twice.”

She made a kissing noise and said, “Okay, Mr. Grumpy Face.”

Noah vanished at the top of the stairs.

“Here we go, folks,” I said. “Noah’s out of the picture for now. Drew and I will get Jayce through. Will, bring the drone close enough so the guards can hear it. Hopefully, it will disorient them even more. Jayce, time to move.”

I walked up to the guards, putting on my best concerned-husband act. “Excuse me, gentlemen. Could you check if my wife is still inside? She’s been in the ladies’ room for twenty minutes, and I’m getting worried.”

One of them put out a hand. “I’m sorry, sir, but if you?—”

“Wait,” said the other. “You were with the boss yesterday, yes?”

“I was.”

They looked at each other and straightened. This was precisely why I’d wanted to make a show of parading around with Martine—immediate respect.

Jayce stayed close to the wall, inconspicuous and casual.

The man who’d recognized me turned his head and touched his ear, speaking quietly. He was calling for a female guard to join us. More security would ruin our plan, not improve it.

“That’s not necessary.” I touched the man’s arm, and the second guard swiped it away. I put up my hands in surrender, not interested in bringing more attention to us. “Just tell her it’s time to?—”

Drew appeared out of nowhere, tripping into both of the guards. They all careened away from Jayce’s direction. Then three men came barreling out from the ladies’ room, slamming into the guards, taking Drew and me to the ground with them.

The newcomers were all dressed in khakis and hiking boots.

Will’s excited voice came through the comms, “They got the door open!”

No kidding.

“Wow!” One of the urban explorers, tangled up with Drew and me, attempted to stand. As he did, he pulled out his phone to take a photo. “They said the tunnel would lead somewhere amazing, but?—”

The guards recovered first. The one who’d been calling for backup grabbed the explorer’s phone and smashed it. He yelled at the invaders to stay down. Another guard, newly arrived from the secret passage, helped Drew and me stand.

No sign of Jayce, but she said over the earpiece, “I’m out. The guards didn’t see me.”

I mouthed to Drew, She’s safe . Then I huffed out a breath, straightening my tux. “Thank you, gentlemen. I’ll let Martine know what a splendid job you’re doing.”

“This was supposed to be an exclusive event.” Drew looked down at the men on the ground in disgust. “I’m leaving.”

“And if my wife comes out, tell her I’ve gone back to the auction.” I ran a hand through my hair, ramping up my faux irritation, while still providing critical details to the team. “It’s so much calmer in there.”

I glanced toward Martine’s office.

Was Noah still upstairs? Was he watching us?

Was Martine helping him more than she’d promised to help us?