Page 87 of One Last Stand

“You wish,” she said, but she didn’t blame him. The first time she’d done a covert mission, she too had nearly thrown up. “Dessert—I think it’s crème brûlée—then a speech and this is over.”

He squeezed her hand under the table.

Right then, Prince Luka came over to her, his hand on her chair. “Delaney Brooks. You look ravishing tonight.” He set his hand over hers on the table, and she felt a keycard press upon it. She turned her hand and took the bio card, secreted it back to the table.

She loved it when a plan came together.

“Good to see you too, Mr. Watson,” Luka said.

“Your Highness,” Shep said stiffly.

London met Luka’s eyes. Yes, he was a handsome man, the kind a girl could fall for. If she weren’t already taken.

“Save me a dance, chérie?”

She nodded, and he left them.

“You got it?” Shep asked, his gaze following the prince.

“I got it.” She tucked the card into her dress.

Shep raised an eyebrow.

“Women have been hiding things in their cleavage for years.”

“I’m not going to search you.”

She stilled. “Did you just make a joke?”

He shook his head. “Not even a little.” But he took her hand again. And now she fought the simmer under her skin, growing hotter, brighter, as the king finished his speech. She’d text York the signal, and he’d send it to Coco from where he was holed up—probably near the outer door to Cryptex—and then the game would begin.

A thousand years later, or maybe just twenty minutes, the guests adjourned and headed to the dance floor, where a small orchestra played a waltz.

“Does anyone know how to dance to this stuff?” Shep said.

“My parents do.” She gestured to them on the dance floor. “But after the king and queen leave, they might drag out a DJ and play some real dance music for the young at heart.”

“I hope this heist is over by then, and I can’t believe that is coming out of my mouth.”

She laughed. “Yes. Okay, ready for this?”

He looked at her. “Ready to become a criminal? Oh yeah, can’t wait.”

“I’m going to go to the washroom. There’s a window in there that has good cell reception. I’ll send York the signal, then come back out.”

“I’ll give you one minute after the lights go out. You don’t come out, I’m coming in.”

“Thanks for the warning.”

His mouth pinched.

“You get a little uptight during missions.”

“You’re just now noticing that?”

“Calm down. This will be over before you can say?—”

“Just go to the stupid bathroom.”