“Where will Hayden and I be?” She clips the small radio pack onto the back of her waistband.
I bend over to retrieve the last few items I’ll need, then add them to my bag. “You’ll be in the van with Hayden outside the club.”
Sebastian kneels to the floor, adding the things he needs to his bag as he says, “There are four guys setting up a perimeter around the motel as we speak.”
Lux nods, but nervously picks at her nails.
I grab her hands in mine, hoping to provide some comfort. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
She nods with a small smile.
As the three of us deplane, Hayden zips down the tarmac, pulling up in a black SUV. After a quick greeting, we’re on our way to the Slippery Kitten. Lux is silent on the ride over while Hayden, Sebastian, and I discuss the plan for the night one last time.
Twenty minutes later, a large flickering neon sign of a black cat comes into view.
“Let’s get this party started!” Sebastian jumps out before Hayden has the chance to stop the vehicle completely.
I turn to Lux. “We shouldn’t be that long.”
“Be careful.”
I look down at our intertwined fingers, but I can’t recall when we began holding hands.
“Don’t worry, Lux.” A confident grin grows on my face. “I’m the only monster out here.”
Lux takes in a shaky breath, and I wink at her before letting go of her hands.
“Don’t let her out of your sight, Hayden,” I warn.
Sebastian and I are dressed casually in black hoodies and jeans as we exit the vehicle. Rain immediately drizzles on our backs while we casually walk into the strip club.
“Are you sure we don’t have a little time to enjoy ourselves?” Sebastian says.
The drumming of the bass vibrates through the floor, while the clacking of plastic heels in the air drowns out everything but the music.
“Focus.” I pull him over to the side and say, “They’re only naked women.”
“Naked women that look good enough to eat,” he points out as I make eye contact with a blonde stripper walking toward us from the end of a long dark hallway.
She walks up to us. “Here for a good time?”
“We are,” Sebastian answers for the both of us.
Then she steps closer to me and brings her arms around my neck. “Christian didn’t say he was sending a couple of guys who look like you two,” she purrs into my ear.
I smile, although I’d like to push her away.
The woman reaches up, pulling down the shoulder of my hoodie and bringing her lips to my collarbone. “I dropped him off in VIP room four, all liquored up. My manager turned off the cameras, but you’ll only have nine minutes to get in and out. Give me a moment and I’ll bring him out.”
“You got it,” I say to her.
“Head down the VIP hallway and make a sharp left by the bathrooms. That’s where you’ll find the back door.” Then she gives us both a wink before turning toward the back and gesturing for us to follow.
“Did you get that, Hayden?” I ask into my earpiece.
“Copy that, River,” he answers.
“I have eyes on the room.” I remove the syringe from my bag, already prepped with sedation.
