Page 135 of Ricochet

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

There was a certain amount of bullshit that Adelia was prepared to pull out of her derriere when she arrived at the Stanley Hotel. But walking into the hotel had been ridiculously easy. Maybe that was why assassination attempts were always made at fancy parties and fundraisers at hotels in real life and the movies.

Hotel guests milled around her, coming to check in, andheading toward the elevators. Staff directed those with roller bags to the reception area while she ducked to the side, searching for an event listing. It wasn’t her first time in a swanky place like this. Well, maybe just like this since it had the extra cachet of being in New York City.

She bit her lip and stepped out of the way of two businessmen who never noticed her. That needed to stayher plan—she was inconspicuous and needed to remain that way.

“Can I help you?”

So much for the big plan of invisibility. Adelia spun on her flat-heeled boot, toward the gentle voice of an older man. “Um.”

“You seem turned around.” His hotel uniform was neatly pressed, but it was his ageless eyes that she couldn’t turn away from. All she had to do was politely ask about the evening’s locationas though she belonged there and ignore the fact that she looked like a tired ragamuffin.

His smile calmed her racing heart. She hadn’t noticed its pace until then. “I guess I am.”

“Where are you going?”

“I, uh.” I’m here to get themonster.That wouldn’t go over well. “I’m looking for tonight’s event.”

His gaze carefully flicked away. “You’re working?”

“Yes,” she said. “Working. But I’mnew.”

His posture relaxed the slightest degree. “Wrong entrance. The east side and the back stairwells are easier to navigate than this.” His hand turned over. “Tell your supervisor you’d never have found it without better information.”

She winced, hoping that hadn’t opened a new hiccup. “I’ll figure it out.”

“It happens all the time. HR thinks the supervisor told you. Your supervisor assumedit was covered in the training.”

Her eyebrows went up.Shit. Trainings. Well, hell.

“Don’t worry. They never get the trainings scheduled either.” He chuckled. “I didn’t have my first timers training until I’d been on the clock two months.”

“When was that?”

“Ten years ago. The kinks work themselves out.” He winked, still laughing, and pointed. “Head that way. Lockers, uniforms, whatever youneed for tonight will be there. You’re what? Part-time, server? Bussing?”

She nodded, having no idea if those would be separate positions here.

“Dress in black.” His gaze inspected her clothes again. “Like you had tried, but more… fresh, and you’ll be good to go. Report in, because you won’t get a badge before orientation and that’s how you’ll get paid.”

“That’s important,” she said.

“Andnow you’ve had your training.”

“Thanks.” Her smile was genuine, but guilt surfaced. The old man wanted to help. His eyes were kind, and warmth radiated from him, and here Adelia was, using his information so that she could… Could what? Kill Gloria? Wasn’t that what monster hunters did? They killed predators?

Why did this feel wrong to use this man? Would he care that he’d played a small rolein destroying Gloria? What if Adelia could one day reassure him he’d helped abdicate a malicious person from her throne?

The old man’s directions were perfect, and she found a narrow hallway bustling with employees readying for their shift. No one cared that she came, lost and unrecognizable, and watched where others got their clothes.

What if Javier was in the ballroom where Gloria would behonored? What then? Ryder might see her, or any of his teammates. But her heart was stuck on her brother. He wouldn’t understand, and he would try to stop Adelia before she…

Before she what?

They always had a plan—and today’s would be to stop her. She was flying on a high, untrained and without a strategy. What the hell was she going to do?

What would Delta do? They weren’t murderers, butthey also didn’t show up to work without their weapons.

---