East End (Hear No Evil Trilogy #1) - Nana Malone Page 0,14
think he'd won that round, but we were coming for him. He had a lot to answer for.
East
To catch a thief, you needed to be a thief. Prince Lucas of the Winston Isles had taught me that.
So for the evening, amongst the glitz and glamour, I was exactly that. International thief. No, international spy. A regular James Bond.
You wish.
“East? Mate, are you focused?”
I frowned as Ben’s voice pinged in my earpiece. “Hush, I know what I’m doing.”
Bridge’s voice was wry. “Are you sure about that? Maybe we should ask your last girlfriend.”
I bit back my scowl as I took a sip of the champagne. “Would you two knobs shut it so I can get this done?”
Bridge’s chuckle was low. “You know, I quite like being the one in the van. This is easy. Twist a few knobs, glance at a few monitors. Why are you always whining about how it’s not easy to be in the van?”
“I swear to God, Bridge, if you touch any of my shit, I will kill you.” I loved my mates, but my gear, those computers… They were like my children.
“Oh relax, I’m not going to break your precious machines.”
Ben’s voice was gruff. “Both of you, focus. The sooner this is done, the sooner we all get to move on.”
I placed my champagne glass on the tray of a passing waiter. It was showtime.
We’d all drawn straws as to who would be next in line to deal with the Elite, the one to deal the next blow. It was between Drew and me. And as Drew wasn’t attending the gala tonight on account of fatherhood duties, where both Jameson and Middleton would be, I was the lucky git.
When we were barely more than kids, we’d all joined the fastest path to fortune and power. Some of us had to learn hard lessons along that path.
For starters, the three of us, the London Lords, could have made it without the Elite. Membership had its benefits, but we’d been determined not to use those benefits if we could help it. They came with too many strings.
To make matters worse, our so-called brothers were behind the death of our friend. So, tonight was about payback. And she was one hell of a feisty bitch.
The aim was to clone their phones. Once we could listen in, we’d get leverage. And once we had leverage… It was game over for them. Ben, as Director Prime, needed to be above reproach. And someone needed to be in the van to make sure the data came through. Someone also needed to be able to handle the coding tech if it glitched. We’d already tried this once, and not only did it not work that time, but it had taken way too long. So we were using a new tech now. One that required me, someone a little more technologically savvy, to make it happen.
“Just get it done, East. It’s easy. You plant the device, remove it after five minutes, then do it again.”
“I notice you’re not the one doing the switch.”
I adjusted my cufflinks peeking out of the sleeves of my Tom Ford tuxedo. The Bridgeport Hospital Charity Gala was a yearly event. All members of the Elite attended, and the guest list was a who’s-who of London society, as well as some of the rich and famous worldwide. It was the charity of all charities to be seen at. Everyone wanted their name on the placard to say they supported whatever the hell the cause was this week.
Not actually because they cared, but because they wanted the ability to preen and show off.
And I hated the lot of them.
“We have incoming.”
I stilled while trying to look nonchalant. “What’s the problem?”
Ben muttered, “Your father is coming straight for you on your five o’clock.”
I swallowed my groan but still headed for my mark. I would deal with the old man later. Now was not the time. “Yeah, fine.” I picked my route. One that seemed unintentional as I deftly avoided him in the crowd.
I twirled around a waiter here and sidestepped a socialite there. A smile and a dancing flirt with a model across the way. By the time I made it to Garreth, he was speaking to a tall brunette woman. She had a wide smile and a familiar look to her. I knew her from somewhere.
Garreth’s grin was on me. “Hale, twice in one day? I’m starting to think you’re stalking me. Enjoying yourself?”