Page 43 of Klaz
“Good thing you’re so charming. That station manager would never have given us a discount otherwise.”
As we bantered, I noted the positions of the security cameras. Three blind spots near the VIP rooms. A service corridor partially hidden behind a holographic waterfall.
At the Spiral Roulette table, I adopted the persona of an overconfident gambler. “Place your bets, ladies and gentlemen! Tonight’s my lucky night, I can feel it.”
Cinta hung on my arm, giggling at my boasts. “Oh darling, you’re incorrigible.”
I placed a large bet and lost spectacularly. Then another. And another. With each loss, I grew louder, more belligerent. Security took notice, two guards moving closer to our table.
“Maybe we should take a break, love,” Cinta suggested, her hand on my chest. “How about a romantic stroll?”
I grumbled but allowed her to lead me away. We wandered the casino floor, pausing to admire the view from a large window. Outside, storm clouds gathered on the horizon, flashes of lightning illuminating the sky.
“Looks like we’re in for some weather,” I murmured.
Cinta leaned against me, her warmth seeping through my suit. “I’ve always loved a good storm.”
I fought the urge to pull her closer, to bury my face in her hair and breathe in her scent. Instead, I pointed out a service entrance partially hidden behind a potted plant. “Reminds me of that little café on Loriesta IV. Remember?”
She nodded, understanding my coded message. Another escape route identified.
We returned to the gaming tables, this time to a game of Stellar Hold’em. I played to win now, drawing more attention as my chip stack grew.
“My lucky charm,” I announced, pulling Cinta in for a kiss. Her lips were soft, tasting faintly of whiskey and something uniquely her. I lingered longer than necessary, desire coiling in my gut.
When we parted, her cheeks were flushed. “For luck,” she whispered.
As I continued to play, Cinta mingled with the other patrons. I kept half an eye on her as she charmed information out of a besotted Orlian merchant and a tipsy Mondian diplomat.
Between hands, she returned to my side, her lips close to my ear. “The vault’s on the lowest level. Tripled security since last week’s attempted break-in.”
I nodded, placing another bet. “Interesting. Any word on why?”
“Something about a special item. The Larain Diamond, if rumors are to be believed.”
My fingers tightened on my cards. The very item we’d been sent to retrieve. I met Cinta’s eyes, seeing my own determination reflected there.
The game continued, tensions rising as the stakes grew higher. Through it all, Cinta remained by my side, her presence both comforting and maddening. Every brush of her hand, every whispered word sent electricity through my body.
As the night wore on, I wished this wasn’t just an act. That I could truly claim her as mine, take her back to our room and lose ourselves in each other.
A thunderous crack split the air, followed by a flicker of the casino’s lights. Startled gasps and squeals erupted from the crowd. I instinctively pulled Cinta closer, my body tensing for potential danger.
“Sounds like that storm’s getting serious,” Cinta murmured, her breath warm against my neck.
Then she sauntered towards the roulette tables, her midnight blue gown shimmering under the casino lights. My fingers itched to pull her back to me, but I suppressed the urge. We had a job to do.
She effortlessly inserted herself into the crowd of sentients gathered around the table. A Xarian, two Mondians, and anOrlian merchant. I admired her skill as she laughed at their jokes, her hand lightly touching the Orlian’s arm.
“Oh, you simply must tell me more about the trade routes through the Veil Cluster,” she gushed. “I’ve always wanted to visit, but I hear the tariffs are outrageous.”
The Orlian preened under her attention. “Well, my dear, there are ways around such inconveniences if one knows the right people.”
I tuned out their conversation, focusing instead on the distraction Cinta was creating. The aliens clustered closer, drawn in by her charm. Security guards relaxed, their attention diverted by the growing crowd.
I slipped away, moving casually towards the restricted areas. A distant rumble of thunder reached my ears, and unease prickled along my spine. The storm was getting closer.
The first guard I encountered barely had time to open his mouth before I had him in a sleeper hold. His body went limp, and I dragged him into a nearby supply closet. His keycard gave me access to the next level.