Trent wanted a woman on his arm who would make him look good. I wasn’t the only woman here. I only had to find him a replacement, and then I could escape right on time for the plan.
With the vultures circling, it was easier than I’d thought.
A pretty young woman in a show-stopping gold dress came up to chat with one of the older lawyers Trent had worked with. It was as simple as shaking her hand and then placing it on Trent’s arm, like he’d done with mine.
She gave him a calculating look, he gave her the same lecherous once-over he’d given me, and I was free to excuse myself to use the washroom.
They’d spend the rest of their night figuring out whether or not the other was worth their time. I’d spend the rest of mine sneaking through off-limits areas of the mansion.
Down a long hallway were the washrooms, where women fixed their makeup in the gold-framed mirrors. I used a stall, sliding a single scent-blocking pill from my handbag and swallowing it. Then I stepped back out into the hall, but didn’t go back the way I’d come. I continued down until I reached a door with a sign labelled ‘Staff Only.’
I had a lockpicking kit strapped to my inner thigh, but luckily the knob turned without complaint. Checking over my shoulder for anyone watching, I slid through the employee door and quickly closed it behind me.
In the back hallways meant for employees to wander out of view, I should be able to sneak my way to the window Mercer waited by.
Then I wouldn’t have to face the rest of this cold mansion alone.
Chapter
Twenty-Three
MERCER
My mate was in the viper pit without me.
She mingled among socialites and high-class criminals while I waited in the goddamn bushes along the side of the mansion. If something happened in there, I wouldn’t get past the doorman without a fight—I didn’t fit in here. Saving her would be a challenge; would take time that we might not have.
I prayed to whoever would fucking listen that she was able to slip away from the party on time and let me in.
Once I was inside with her, she’d be far safer.
“Are you inside?” Lavinia asked in my earpiece.
“No,” I whispered back. “Not yet.”
“I’ll ask Emmy if she’s left the ballroom yet.”
Thank fuck we at least had eyes on the inside. Kind of. Until Emilia took out the cameras, anyway—but she wouldn’t do that until she knew Talia had left that damn ballroom through the staff entrance we’d mapped out.
“She should be on her way. Interior cameras are down. You’re officially on the clock.” Lavinia’s update didn’t comfort me.
If she’d already left the ballroom, she should be here, right? How long did I wait before smashing a window to save her?
I shifted from foot to foot, peering around the small side garden. My dark clothes helped me blend into the shadows, but I’d be easily spotted if anyone decided this was a nice discreet spot for a conversation or quick fuck.
When I heard the window beside me click and slide open, I huddled deeper into the bushes. No scent came filtering down—whoever had opened it was using scent blockers. It was probably Talia, but I couldn’t be sure until I heard her voice.
“Mercer?” She said my name timidly, in a barely-there whisper.
I relaxed.
My mate hadn’t gotten caught, and now I would be by her side for the rest of the night. She would have protection close at hand.
We still had thieving to do, but the most stressful part of the evening was over.
The window screen leaned against the house, giving me a nice open space to hop through. I’d pried it out of the frame in preparation for her arrival when I first got here.
I stepped out from the shadows, drawing Talia into a gentle kiss through the open window. She smiled against my lips. “Get inside before someone sees you.”
