Enthralled: Tainted Book Four

4. A Better Idea

 Michael "Spin" Spinelli

"I have to wear a what?"

"A tux." Chessie rolled her eyes at me as Monkey giggled into her hand. "It's a gala, Spin, not a rave."

"And how exactly do you suggest we crash an A-list event, Francesca?" I growled.

"Simple. We don't crash it. We buy tickets like everyone else."

"What?"

"It's a charity event. It costs so much per plate to attend." She shrugged and went back to whatever she was scrolling through on her phone. "All we need are the right clothes and money."

"How much money?" Chance asked as he leaned over the back of her chair and watched what she was doing.

"Lots."

"How much is lots?" I squinted at her.

"Well, it's $20,000 per plate, plus our clothes. Since it's last minute, it'll be a few thousand extra to get our gowns and tuxes and accessories on time."

"How much did Kerry give you, Spin?" Chance straightened up and stared at me, but I was still digesting '$20,000 per plate' and couldn't answer.

"Or here's a better idea," Ray spoke up for the first time in our conversation about how to nab Christopher Remington. "We wait until the event is over, tail his limo, and hijack it when the time's right. Then we haul him out, shove him in the back of our vehicle, and take off. Easy."

Chessie laid her phone on the desk and joined the rest of us in staring at him.

"It's a good plan," he said with a shrug. "Doesn't cost a thing and, if the event is over, no one will be looking for him for a while. Gives us time to skedaddle without anyone in pursuit."

Monkey tugged on my shirt sleeve, and I cut my eyes down to see her bottom lip popped out. If we were alone, I would have sucked that pout right off of her face. Since we weren't, I whispered, "What is it, baby?" instead.

When she held out her hand, I automatically reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and laid it in her palm. She typed away on it for a second, then handed it back.

"But I wanted to wear a pretty gown," she'd written.

"We'll do that later, honey," I assured her, slipping my phone back in my pocket. "I'll take you on a date to somewhere really fancy so you can dress up as fine as you want."

The huge grin spreading across her face was well worth me wrestling into a freaking tux and dealing with dress shoes for an evening.

And it for darn sure won't cost twenty grand a plate! I told myself.

"Let's make it a double date," Chance said, and I turned to see him smiling down at Chessie. "Would you like that, Chess? To play dress up and go somewhere fancy?"

"I guess so." Her tone might have been begrudging, but her brown eyes sparkled.

She wanted to do that as much as my little monkey did, but didn't want to admit it, and for a moment, I wondered why.

Then I shrugged. She was all Chance's to deal with.

Although, if they become a permanent thing, I guess I'll have to get used to her and like her a little bit since I'll see her all the time, I acknowledged silently, then cheered up at my next thought. At least she and Anne get along well already.

Which was good because I was going to keep my girl by my side for as long as she wanted to be.

Hopefully, that will be forever.