“Why thank you, Mother. You know exactly how to warm my heart.” I fluttered my eyelashes at her before picking up the dress I was supposed to wear. The shoes were something I wouldn’t wear for a runway job, much less somewhere I might need to fight.
There was a smaller room next to Mavis’s that I had procured for my stay. I slipped out of the outfit I’d worn on the plane and changed into my new dress.
I pulled my hair up in a sophisticated ponytail, leaving my bangs to shield my eyes, and amped up my look for a night time date. Normally I didn’t wear this much makeup. It made me feel fake and I’d swear I could feel my pores getting clogged, but this was a special occasion. I needed Captain Horny to think he stood a chance. Wanted him to think I’d dressed up for him, not so I could sneak in a pistol tucked into a band around my waist nor the knives I’d strapped to my inner thighs and between my shoulder blades. I might not be able to do much with the deadly blades or new pistol, but I could at least act like a pack horse for Mavis and Owen.
Kenny had gone with Owen, which had made my heart bump a little harder. Despite his initial disregard for the teenager, he seemed to have really taken him under his wing. It was sweet. He was teaching him how to break bones, shake someone down for information, and stay out of sight. Yep, very assassin-sweet.
“How do I look?” I turned to look at Mavis. The dress felt more like lingerie than attire appropriate to walk the streets. Scratch that. It was appropriate when combined with street walking.
She turned to look at me, her critical eyes running over the ensemble. She twirled her finger in the air and I performed on cue. The shoes were much more comfortable after breaking them in over the last two days. I’d even gotten used to the extra height.
“Perfect.” Mavis nodded her head. “Seriously sexy with a touch of innocence. Which seems to be the captain’s weakness.”
The sound of someone moving downstairs announced the arrival of Owen and Kenny. I could hear the two different sound of footsteps as they moved around. Suddenly the reality of what we were attempting that night hit me like a ton a bricks. We were going to sneak into an underground casino in an attempt to catch a woman that had put a hit out on my best friend, but had mistakenly targeted me instead.
My gut clenched and I knew we weren’t going to make it out unscathed. We might die. If Mavis died tonight, she would be leaving behind a nephew that needed her. If Owen died tonight…I couldn’t even think of it.
Tears filled my eyes and I turned my attention to the ceiling. How fitting would it be that I finally came to Paris just to die?
“We’re going to be okay.” Mavis touched my shoulder. I opened my eyes and looked down into her concerned face. “You have to focus on one step at a time. Don’t try to anticipate the outcome. Just know we’ll all be fine and we’re going to get what we needed.”
“You should stay here with Kenny. We’ll say you got sick.” My stomach rolled and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very wrong.
“I have to find Laura.” Her eyes narrowed. “I owe it to her sister.”
“What happened?”
“I had a job go wrong. I was so intent on keeping Kenny out of the sights of someone wanting revenge that I accidently led them to Laura. Kenny was tutoring her in maths one day. I was observing, he didn’t even know I was back in town.” Her eyes swirled with regret and guilt. “Laura is petite with blonde hair. They must’ve thought she was the one I was protecting.”
“Oh God.” I tried to keep from gasping.
“So, I’m going tonight. Kenny knows what to do if things go bad, but I have to try and right this wrong.” Mavis frowned at me. “I shouldn’t have told you, but there is something about you that makes people…comfortable. You’re already at your edge. Just forget what I said and focus on distracting Captain Horny.”
I took a deep breath and looked back at my reflection. I could do this. I could pretend I was on a blind double date with a grabby guy. While the man I loved pretended to be on a date with another woman.
This was completely do-able. It was practically normal. Someone had probably written a scene just like it in a book. A romance novel set in France.
Okay, it sounded like a bad romance novel. Or some kind of spy flick. Only we were bad guys against very bad guys.
Stop thinking about it, I commanded myself.
“Better?” I tried to smile at Mavis. Footsteps sounded on the stairs and I looked toward the door.
“Let’s find out.” With more strength than someone of her stature should possess, she pushed me into the tiny hallway.
I practically fell into Owen’s arms and fought to keep my footing in the stupid heels.
“Sorry.” I untangled myself and stood up. “Mavis is like the Hulk stuck in Barbie’s body.”
Her snort came from behind me and I shot her an angry look. I turned back to look at Owen. He hadn’t said anything yet but his eyes were a little wider than normal.
“Owen? Are you okay? Did something happen?” I placed my hand on his chest, surprised by how fast his heart was beating.
“You’re wearing that tonight?” His eyebrows drew together.
“Yep. It’s perfect,” Mavis announced before stepping back and closing her bedroom door.
“Does it look bad?” I dropped my eyes to the dress and frowned. It wasn’t something I would normally pick out, but I hadn’t thought I looked gross. Was my butt hanging out? I looked over my shoulder but couldn’t really tell. I didn’t feel a draft so I hoped that was a good sign.