Chapter 44 - Armor for the Gala
|
The Zenith Gala required black-tie elegance, which meant standard body armor was out of the question. I stood in the center of the safehouse while Audrey made the final adjustments to my gown.
It was a breathtaking, floor-length dress made of deep crimson silk, plunging at the back and slit up the right thigh. But the beauty was purely tactical.
"The bodice is lined with Kevlar-weave microfiber," Audrey explained, tightening the internal corset. "It will stop a standard nine-millimeter round, but it won’t save your ribs from breaking. The fabric itself is treated to disrupt thermal imaging."
"What about weapons?" I asked, testing the flexibility of the fabric by dropping into a low crouch. It held perfectly.
"Your clutch purse is heavily modified," Audrey handed me a sleek, black velvet bag. "The clasp is a garrote wire. The internal battery pack doubles as a high-yield flashbang. And you have a ceramic, undetectable throwing knife sheathed against your left thigh, held by the garter."
"It's not much against a syndicate of trained killers," I muttered, strapping the ceramic blade against my bare skin.
"I’ll be in your ear the whole time," Audrey tapped the tiny, flesh-colored earpiece resting on the table. "I’ve hacked the casino’s secondary security feeds. I will guide you through the blind spots. But once you're inside the VIP lounge, you are on your own. Julian’s private security uses a closed-loop system I can’t penetrate remotely."
I looked at myself in the cracked mirror leaning against the concrete wall. I looked like a socialite, a billionaire’s wife. I looked like prey. But my eyes were hollow, reflecting the predator hiding just beneath the silk.
"Nicolás stays here," I said, my voice hardening. "The blast doors are locked. The automated turrets are online. If I don't check in by midnight, you take him and you disappear, Audrey. Do you understand?"
Audrey paused, her hands resting on the table. "You're coming back, Elena. We didn't survive the Vanguard just to die in an evening gown."
May you like
"Midnight," I repeated firmly.
I grabbed the velvet clutch, turned away from the mirror, and walked toward the freight elevator. It was time to meet the Viper.
