Page 125 of Stealing Blinds

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She takes it all in stride, appreciating their levity. “Cash and I will be gauging the rest of the guests, scouting any tells or interest in the lower level.”

“And we all meet back in the family suite by twelve,” Zara tacks on.

“Yes.” Sylvie points to her, as if she remembers they discussed something else. “And exit options. We have the helicopter. It can explain the absence of Axel, Maddox, Cash, and Jax because I already used the excuse that you four would be checking on your properties. So, if we need someone to investigate and be gone for a while, the pilot can take it for a spin under the guise of transporting one of you. But it can also be sent over for a quick pickup. In case getting to the tender is too much.” She takes a deep inhale, preparing for the worst. “There will also be a rescue boat. And if we need to leave in an emergency, we will all meet in Barcelona.”

I move my lips to her ear, letting my five-o’clock shadow scrape across her cheek to shower her with goose bumps and ground her again. “We’ll be okay, Sylv. We’ve got this.”

She bobs her head, choking back an arduous swallow. And I can almost hear her fretting about all she has to lose. My family and I have made this whole situation harder in a way because she has something to fight for now. And hope is a bitch.

But Sylvie is a warrior, so she lifts her chin with her resolve to do what she came to do, ushers in two waiters standing by with trays, and as the faint moon fights against the dusk canopy to make an appearance, she wishes us well.

“As you all probably know, the Sazerac is the official drink of New Orleans. But this isn’t really a sipping occasion, so I had the staff prepare it in shot glasses.”

“Absinthe-lined?” Maddox asks, probably impressed that she planned this ahead of time because it’s doubtful the yacht bars were stocked with that.

“Of course.” She takes her shot from the waiter. “It seems fitting. Sazerac symbolizes resilience. And wormwood—which is what absinthe is derived from—is considered to be the plant of divine retribution.”

“And doom,” Jax adds with a sinister smirk. “But, yeah, biblical retribution. It’s in Revelations. Morbid but cool.”

“Thanks, Jax.” She shakes her head, waits for everyone to get their drink, and leads with all the grace of a Noire queen. “This is a toast from the great Heath Jenkins, which he probably stole from someone else.”

She raises her shot, smiling when we all do the same. “Here’s to lying, cheating, stealing, and drinking. If you’re going to lie, lie for a friend. If you’re going to cheat, cheat death. If you’re going to steal, steal a heart. If you’re going to drink, drink with me.”

Leaning in with her glass, she gestures for us all to clink them together for a twist on our trademark mantra. “Welcome to Minds of Our Time. Drink and conspire.”

SYLVIE

“We’re in,” Wells reports over the comm. “Should be hooked up in less than five minutes. Confirm visual when you have it.”

“Roger that, Chief,” Ty replies.

The crew loads the last of our luggage into the tender, and I brace myself for what’s in store. The water is dotted with yachts of all shapes and sizes. Some docked, others just arriving. Some recognizable, others still obscured. It’s like an extravagant summer-camp scene, an even playing field while we all prepare for a weekend of determining where we belong.

Once we’re over there, we’re on. It will be a never-ending game of deceit and survival until the main drive is in our hands. And we’re long gone.

With that in mind, I quickly send a text to my sister. I spoke with my mother earlier, but didn’t quite land on what to say to Flora. After my father’s arrest, Flora shut him out. She was hurt because she viewed him as choosing a quick win over us. It was hard to ignore her point because we paid a steep price for his crime, too, even though I know that’s not what he’d intended. If that taught me anything, it’s how regrets hold us captive. I didn’t have my father physically during those years, but I had him. Flora is still paying for his sentence. That’s why she’s so relentless about fixing things with me.

I don’t want to leave things broken. She hurt me, but she hurt herself too. And while I might be in a mess, I’m surrounded by people. She’s still wading through the wreckage with only my mom.

Me: It’s been two years, and I miss my sister. When this is over, I want to reconnect. It won’t be easy, but I’d like to try.

Before I can even tuck my phone away, she replies.

Flora: Thank you. I’ll do anything to make things right. I love you.

I choose to simply heart it because going back and forth right now isn’t the best idea, especially when Ty chimes in through my earpiece.

“We’re up and running, Chief. Visual confirmed.”

“Outstanding,” Wells replies. “Moving out.”

“One task down,” I whisper to Cash.

“That’s right, Sly.” He grins and slides his hand over the small of my back to usher me toward the tender. “One trick at a time.”

We pile into the small boat, and other than “Love Story” by Indila lending French background music, not a sound is uttered. The sweeping scene is breathtaking. Moody blues and purples paint the sky and water. Dramatic limestone cliffs, sugary sand, thick Aleppo pines, and Mediterranean umbrella pines splash the landscape with whites and greens.

The resort itself is like a castle with its rugged historical elegance, sprawling across the island. Terra-cotta roof tiles, creamy stone, and earth-toned stucco. Soft golden lighting spears the night and renders it mysterious and enchanting. It’s unmistakable that we’re secluded in the middle of the sea while also surrounded—in the clutches of the enemy’s fortress. They just don’t know they’re under attack.