I climbed off the bike, lifting my mask.
“Having fun?” I asked her, helping her off.
She tossed the can and moved the pack to her back again. “I don’t know.” She laughed. “How much does this fun cost?”
“Sticking with me for the rest of your life,” I replied, putting my arm around her waist. “That’ll suck.”
I walked her into the tavern, everyone else following. Once inside, I looked over my shoulder at Kai.
“There were no guards at the door when we drove past,” he told me.
“He might not be here yet.”
He was here. This was an annual get-together and the only time he invited his reputable business associates from out of town to his home. Or as close to his home as he wanted them. My father was methodical about his routine, and his pride wouldn’t have allowed him to miss this or cancel it.
“Let’s go,” I said.
We filtered into the tavern, which wasn’t really a tavern anymore. It was a revolutionary-era meeting house with fireplaces, original wood floors in some rooms, and three levels of dining, drinking, and private poker rooms.
The clientele was fancier than outside, which still sat in a mountain of smoke.
Men wore suits and tuxes, while the women wore cocktail dresses and eye masks.
“Spread out,” I told them, every single one of us keeping our masks on, as well, blending into the crowd.
We veered, some to the left and some to the right, drifting around the outside of the party. The space was so small, people were packed in here, but we slid in between tables, trying to make out all the guests in the dim candlelight.
I knew he was here. He had to be in the back or on another floor.
But then I spotted him. Dead center of the floor, a spiral staircase winding behind him as he stood with another man and sipped his drink.
He wore his usual black suit but with a white shirt this time and no tie.
Will came over, and I clutched Winter’s hand.
“There’s too many fucking people,” he said.
I nodded. “I thought he’d be in a private dining room.”
We couldn’t do this in public.
“How do we get him alone?” he asked.
I didn’t know. I needed to think. I scanned the room, spotting his guards—three standing around the perimeter, and there were probably a couple more outside somewhere.
I knew we’d have to take down the guards, but I assumed it would be on the second or third floor. Less people. Less witnesses. If we started shit here, the cops would be inside in seconds.
“You get everyone else to leave,” Winter finally answered for me.
I looked down at her.
“How do we do that?” Will asked.
She pulled off her backpack and dug out a couple remaining smoke grenades.
“For once, everyone will be on an even keel with me,” she joked.
Meaning they’d be stumbling around blind in here. I smiled, taking them and giving them to Will.