Sparks Beneath the Surface.

ＴＥＮ- Snake Eyes!

The night of the mission finally arrived.  The club is floating with the elite and morally corrupt, of course. Probably anonymous donors to the "cause". Roles were assigned the way surgeons assign scalpel and scope. Elian and Ivy were to play the power couple: Ivy as a the quiet, socialite wife to Elian who was disguised as a discreet sponsor. I was their aide, the low-profile energy that blended heat into hospitality. Lilah's the logistics ghost—papers, credentials, and an icy stare that cleared rooms. Zade's listening in on conversations at the bar. Kiyo and Benji were the social anchors, distraction specialists. Clarke and Orion handled brute problem-solving and light-based reconnaissance. Kami stood by as our shadow lawyer, and Diana kept the clock and the bell. Women in bunny costumes sail through the guests, trays of drinks and appetizers always in hand. The girls were right, their outfits are super cute, but all the eyes of creepy middle aged to old men with gray hair fixed on their asses is soooo not worth it.

I take a sip of my mojito as I walk around the room, looking out for anything out of the ordinary. I lean against the balcony before I click on my in-ear and I speak, "Nothing up here. Anyone else get better luck?"

"Can't see anything interesting from the bar," Zade replies as he mixes a drink.

"Maybe we'll see something when we come back to the bar. Ive and I could use a refill," Kiyo sighs, "Anything the the doors?"

"Me, Clarke, and Benj just checked in with each other. So far? Nada," Orion responds, "but I'll stay alert."

"What time is it?" Kamari asks.

Elian checks his watch, "8:43. Should be arriving soon. Everyone in their positions. We can't risk being discovered."

"I think I can down a sex on the beach in that time." Ivy sighs.

"Mm, is that okay? Especially with your, like, breastfeeding."

Ivy rolls her eyes, "The alcohol will be out of my system before it ever reaches him. And anyway? I deserve it. Wren's been struggling to sleep these past few days. And when he can't sleep, I can't."

"Awh, no! I'm so sorry, honey."

"Di and I and take him off your hands for a little so you can get some rest?" Kami suggests.

"No, no. We'll figure it out. I wouldn't wanna hand him off to you with this problem unsolved. Then you guys would also have eyebags that go down your neck," Ivy giggles. Zade serves her a drink and she smiles.

"You're welcome. It's 8:45 on the dot. Everyone look alive." Zade says and I straighten up, looking harder in the crowd.

"Hey, guys. Something interesting at the entrance. Kimberly arriving in a black Benz, license plate ABK 1053." Orion tells us.

"I'm gonna head to the back, send the other bartender out here as I make sure the microphones and cameras at all the tables are online," Elian says as he heads into the door behind the bar.

"Martinez just walked past me, seems as if she's headed toward table 18," Benji says.

"She's closer to me. I'll keep an eye out. Dani? See her from up there?" Delilah asks me, "Black backless dress."

I skim through the crowd once more before my eyes finally catch on to her, "Got her."

Kimberly sits down at table 18, next to a man in a white suit smoking a cigar. Maybe that's one of her associates? They don't greet each other, they just sit there in silence. Another man then quickly emerges as if from the shadows and sits down as well. They don't greet him either.

"What's going on in there?" Orion asks.

"They haven't greeted each other yet. Shit's weird." Benji replies.