Page 19 of Point of Infinity
My costume came with a mask that covered the top half of my face, a collar, and a whip. I had my own boots to complete the look. I paid for it in cash and headed out.
I grabbed a sandwich from the shop next door and took a car service back to the hotel. I laid my outfit out on the bed, tore into my sandwich, and opened my laptop to do more research. My plan came together nicely. I could waltz into the party undetected, find Sonny, and put my plan in motion. Every detail had to be perfect. There was no contingency I hadn’t thought about. I was focused and sure that nothing could go wrong.
A knock on my door pulled me out of my pep talk.
“Shit,” I said under my breath. “Just a minute.” I shut my laptop down and gathered my notebook and shoved it in a drawer. I grabbed the costume and threw it in the closet, then I ran to the door, but before I opened it, a piece of paper slipped under the door.
Hi Mackenzie,
We need to talk. Meet me in the lobby.
Reid
KENZIE
I read the note a few times before I noticed.
“Mackenzie.” I said the name out loud. No one had called me that in years. How did they know?
I threw on my sweatshirt, grabbed my phone and the room key, and made my way down to the lobby. I half expected a SWAT team of police to be waiting for me, but I hadn’t done anything wrong—yet.
I checked in under Becky; my passport said Becky. Mackenzie no longer existed. I found Reid sitting in the bar at one of the four semicircular booths near the window. It looked out onto a pool area. The light was dim in the bar, and a few people sat at the counter.
I stopped at the entrance. He’d yet to see me. I could take off. I looked over my shoulder at the lobby exit. If I ran and made it to my van, I’d be home free, and I could forget all about my stupid plan and go on living my life.
“Becky,” he called and waved me over. My eyes darted around, but no one paid any attention to me.
I slid into the booth but kept my distance.
“You want a drink?” He waved a waiter over.
“What can I get you?” The waiter set a cocktail napkin on the table in front of me.
“Uhm, a club soda.”
He nodded and scurried away.
“I figured you’d want something stronger for this conversation.” He took a sip from a small glass packed with ice and a brown liquid. I sat with my hands in my lap, my face neutral. I wasn’t giving anything away, but at the same time, I needed to find out what he knew.
I didn’t get angry vibes from him. If anything, he seemed amused, like he knew the whole story, but he couldn’t know all of it. The waiter delivered my drink. I took a sip, placed it back on the table, and waited.
“Well, I guess I’ll start.” He winked. I wanted to smack the sexy smirk off his stupidly handsome face. I sighed.
“Before we get into it, let me assure you, no one else knows I’m here except Patrick.” He took another sip and let me contemplate his statement.
My bullshit radar was dinging, but I remained quiet. Ready to hear him out, and if my plan needed to pivot, then so be it.
“You’re Mackenzie Peterson. Your father is Sonny O’Connor, president of the Infinity Kings.” He wasn’t asking a question; he was stating facts. He crossed his arms over his chest.
I opened my mouth, but he spoke before I could.
“It’s been eating me up since stepping into the diner about why you seemed so familiar, and then it hit me.” He pointed. “It’s the eyes.”
My eyes narrowed.
“You and Patrick and Dana have the same eyes.” He nodded.
“Who’s Dana?” I took another sip and waited for his answer.
