Number 06 │ A Leverage Fanfiction

The Zanzibar Marketplace Job | Part 2

Embassy Ballroom

The crowd buzzed with energy as the guests mingled under the soft lighting, glasses of champagne clinking and laughter echoing off the walls. I stood near the buffet, making casual work of shrimp rolls as my eyes scanned the room. The people were dressed in extravagant gowns and tuxedos, champagne glasses glinting in the dim lighting

Sterling strode through the doors. "Best be right about all this," he muttered, glancing at me and the team that was spread across the ballroom. "I pulled a lot of strings to get tickets for all of you."

Hardison's voice crackled in my earpiece, "All of you? Wait, no, Hardison—he's in the van, eating stale candy while all you get to dine on canapés and—what is this—champagne? Man, I love canapés."

Sterling flashed a sly grin to the CCTV cameras. "I'm terribly sorry about that. The company has to draw the line somewhere. I can assure you it has nothing to do with our little incident last year."

Hardison's voice came through again, mocking. "Oh, you mean the incident where I came within 5 feet of blowing your ass up? Yeah, I'm sure it has nothing to do with that at all. Van smells like cabbage."

Sterling sighed, muttering into the comms. "How do you put up with all this nagging in your ear?"

Tara's voice, calm and playful, answered him from behind. "I've learned to block most of it out." she said, covering her lips with the champagne flute in her hand.

The corner of my mouth twitched in amusement. Nate stepped in, signaling us all into action. "Okay, guys, Tara's on the grift. She's got the bidding envelope, so she's going to head into the auction."

Sterling straightened up, "Nate, there's something I need to tell you."

But Nate didn't even acknowledge him, his focus entirely on the task at hand. "Now, guys, once she spots the egg, Eliot, Parker, Sky—you move in and clean it out."

"How are we gonna turn Lundy over to the cops?" Eliot asked from his spot next to Parker.

Nate shook his head, "We're not. We're gonna get the egg, and then Sterling's gonna use his pull with I.Y.S. to clear Maggie. Clearing Maggie is the priority, guys."

Sterling opened his mouth, "It's on the tip of my tongue." As if on cue, the door opened, and there she was—Maggie, walking in on the arm of Alex Lundy. They exchanged a kiss, Maggie's hand clasped on his chest.

Sterling smirked. "Oh, yes. That."

Maggie and Lundy separated from their kiss, looking up to see Nate and Tara. As Sterling retreated, Nate turned to Tara, his voice low and commanding. "Alexander's seen you with me, so you can't be the bidder. Eliot, you're first team."

Tara nodded, "He needs the envelope."

"Get it to him," Nate ordered. "Make sure Maggie doesn't see any of them."

Tara's eyes flickered to Parker, and they shared a quick, silent exchange. "Parker, double reverse on three."

Tara slid the envelope onto a tray, and Parker took it, slipping it smoothly into Eliot's hands. With that, the three of us were in motion, heading for the auction site.

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Bidding Room

Eliot strode into the dimly lit bidding room, the subtle buzz of whispered conversations filling the air. A guard immediately stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"Whoa, sorry. I'm, uh, a little bit lost," Eliot said, feigning confusion as he reached into his pocket. "I've got one of these." He handed over his bidding card with a casual shrug.