Tuesday morning felt like a hangover, minus the fun of the alcohol.
Daniel sat on the edge of the bed, trying to put on his socks. It was a tactical operation.
Bend forward.
Wince.
Suppress groan.
His ribs, bruised by the Red Queen's kick the night before, screamed in protest.
Elena wasn't faring much better. She stood by the closet, trying to pull a blouse over her head with one good arm. Her right shoulder—crushed by the Ghost's punch—was stiff, hot, and useless.
"Need help?" Daniel asked, watching her struggle through the reflection in the mirror.
"I got it," Elena gritted out. She forced her arm through the sleeve, biting her lip so hard she tasted copper. "Just... stiff. Slept wrong."
"Me too," Daniel said, finally getting the sock on. He stood up, hiding a grimace. "Must be the mattress. We should buy a new one."
"Maybe a firmer one," Elena suggested.
Or one that doesn't hide a sniper rifle and a tactical shotgun, she thought.
They looked at each other.
Two crippled assassins pretending to be a middle-aged couple with bad posture.
They smiled weakly.
"Coffee?"
"Coffee."
GLOBAL LOGISTICS SOLUTIONS
(AGENCY DEAD DROP)
Daniel walked into his office at 9:00 AM. He moved slowly, carrying his briefcase like it weighed a ton.
Vix was waiting for him.
She was wearing sunglasses indoors. Her neck was covered by a silk scarf—hiding the bruises where Daniel had choked her in the car.
"You look terrible," Vix said.
"Mirror," Daniel grunted, sitting down gingerly.
"The Lieutenant is dead," Vix said, dropping a file on his desk. "Good work. But we didn't get the ledger. The Red Queen interrupted before we could secure the data."
"I know," Daniel said, touching his chest involuntarily. "I was there."
"We tracked the money," Vix continued. "The Lieutenant was moving funds through an underground casino in the Financial District. The Gilded Cage."
Daniel nodded. He knew the place. High stakes. Heavy security. The kind of place where you didn't bet chips; you bet deeds to houses and fingers.
"The Mentor's finance guy is going to be there tonight," Vix said. "We need to get close to him. Clone his phone. Get the ledger."
"I'll go," Daniel said.
"It's a couples-only event," Vix said, smirking. "The 'Black & Gold Gala.' Very exclusive. You need a plus-one to get into the VIP room."
She stood up, smoothing her skirt.
"I've already printed a fake ID. I'll pick you up at eight. Wear a tux."
"No," Daniel said.
Vix paused. "Excuse me?"
"You're not going with me," Daniel said. "After the parking lot... after dinner... we are strictly professional. No field work together."
"Daniel," Vix sighed. "You need a partner. You can't go alone."
"I won't be alone," Daniel said. He picked up the invitation from the file.
He looked at it.
The Gilded Cage. A dangerous den of vipers, thieves, and killers.
The safest place for his wife was right by his side, where he could watch her.
"I'm taking Elena," Daniel said.
Vix's jaw dropped. "Are you insane? That is a shark tank. She is a barista."
"She is my wife," Daniel corrected. "And she looks better in a dress than you do. I'll tell her it's a corporate charity event. She'll drink champagne, smile at the donors, and I'll clone the phone while she's admiring the ice sculptures."
"If she gets hurt..." Vix warned.
"If she gets hurt, I'll kill everyone in the room," Daniel said calmly. "Print her a pass. Name: Elena Reed. Status: Civilian VIP."
THE CAFÉ - NOON
Elena was wiping down the espresso machine with her left hand. Her right arm was in a sling she had fashioned out of a scarf, telling her employees she had "sprained it playing tennis."
Her burner phone vibrated in her apron.
TEXT FROM ARTHUR:
Target located. The Money Man is at 'The Gilded Cage' tonight. Black Tie event.
Security is tight. You'll need a cover to get in.
Elena frowned.
The Gilded Cage. She couldn't just rappel in through the skylight this time. The place was a fortress. She needed an invitation, or a very expensive distraction.
She started mentally cataloging her aliases. Countess Romanova? No, burned that in Prague. Dr. Sterling? Maybe.
The bell above the door chimed.
Daniel walked in.
He looked out of place among the hipsters and remote workers. He looked... determined.
"Hey," Elena said, hiding the phone in her pocket. "What are you doing here? Lunch?"
"Better," Daniel said. He leaned on the counter, wincing slightly as his ribs hit the edge. "How would you like to put on a fancy dress and help me with work tonight?"
Elena froze. "Work?"
"Yeah. My company is sponsoring a table at a charity gala tonight. The Gilded Cage."
Daniel tried to sound casual. "It's boring. Corporate schmoozing. But my boss is pressuring me to bring my wife. Show off the 'family values' side of Logistics."
Elena stared at him.
Her husband was inviting her to the exact location of her assassination target.
He thought he was taking her to a boring party.
He was actually giving her the perfect Trojan Horse entry.
Fate, Elena thought, has a twisted sense of humor.
"A gala?" Elena asked, playing the hesitant housewife. "Daniel, my shoulder..."
"You don't have to do anything," Daniel promised, taking her good hand. "Just stand next to me. Look beautiful. Let me buy you a drink. I promise I won't leave your side."
That's the problem, darling, Elena thought. I need you to leave my side so I can go break into the server room.
"Okay," Elena smiled. "I'll go. But you have to buy me a new dress. The red one is... retired."
"Deal," Daniel said. He kissed her hand. "Be ready at seven."
THE MASTER BEDROOM - 7:30 PM
Elena stood in front of the mirror.
The new dress was gold. Liquid gold. It had long sleeves (to hide her shoulder bruising) and a high neck, but the back plunged dangerously low.
It was elegant. It was armor.
She slipped her Field Kit (lockpicks, poison vial, data drive) into her clutch purse.
She touched the Black King necklace.
Library Loop: Activated.
Daniel walked in.
He was wearing his tuxedo again.
He stopped. He looked at her.
For a second, the "Ghost" looked at the "Queen."
"You look..." Daniel swallowed. "Expensive."
"I tried to match the venue," Elena said, turning to him. "Is this okay for a logistics party?"
"You're going to distract the investors," Daniel murmured. He walked behind her, fastening the clasp of her pearl earrings.
His fingers were warm.
"Stay close to me tonight, El," he whispered, his voice dropping to that dark, protective register. "This place... the people there... they can be sharks."
Elena leaned back against him. She felt the gun holstered under his tuxedo jacket.
She smiled at his reflection.
"Don't worry, Daniel," she purred. "I love swimming with sharks."
"Why?" Daniel asked.
"Because," Elena said, turning to straighten his bow tie, "they never expect the goldfish to bite back."
Daniel frowned. "You're not a goldfish, El."
"No," she agreed silently. I'm the reason the sharks are swimming away.
"Let's go," Daniel said. "The car is waiting."
They walked out together.
Mr. and Mrs. Reed.
Heading to a casino filled with gangsters, spies, and thieves.
They were the most dangerous things in the building, and they were holding hands.
Author Note:
Daniel thinks he's bringing a shield. Elena knows she's bringing a sword.
They are walking into the lion's den arm-in-arm. This is the definition of a Power Couple (with trust issues)!
Next Chapter: The Casino Floor. A cheater tries to hit on Elena, and Daniel has to decide between his cover and his jealousy.
Drop a Power Stone for the Gold Dress! 👗✨