Read The Shoes Come First: A Jennifer Cloud Novel Page 67

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  At precisely 1600 hours, Caiyan and Brodie appeared at Marco’s door. Caiyan was dressed entirely in black, with a black fedora-style hat pulled down low over one eye. He had a rose tucked between his teeth.

  “Who am I?” he asked through clenched teeth.

  “Let me guess, Don Juan.” Suited him perfectly.

  He removed the rose. “Aye. Right on the money. I hoped it might take a few tries. I thought for sure you would go with Zorro.”

  Seriously? I thought to myself.

  Brodie had a briefcase with him. He gently sat it down on the coffee table, and after he fiddled with a combination lock, the top flipped open. Inside were several types of listening devices, headsets, and gadgets I didn’t recognize. Mission Impossible was right on target.

  “Where is Ace?” Brodie asked. “I need to fit him for a mic.”

  “Right here, love.” He was in the hallway leaning against the far wall, right hand behind his head and the other hand resting on his hip in a sexy pose. He looked great. An exact duplicate of Marilyn Monroe. White halter dress with a flared skirt, mole on the left cheek and short, sexy blond wig. We all stood slack-jawed staring at Ace. I walked over to him.

  “Amazing. How did you get your eyelashes so long? They are exquisite.”

  “They’re Eyelets,” he said, batting his luxurious lashes at me.

  “Whatlets?” I asked.

  “Eyelets, individual lashes that glue on. It does take a while, but you can’t even tell they’re fake. The only problem was the store was out of my normal superhold glue, so I had to buy the cheaper kind. I’m not sure it holds as good.”

  “Well, I think they look one hundred percent real,” I said.

  He smiled and walked over to Marco, who stood eyeing him across the room. “Whatcha think, big boy?”

  “I think we need to have a no-contact policy at the wedding.”

  “You’re no fun. Who’s going to believe I’m your date?” Ace asked.

  Marco frowned and backed up a few paces from Ace.

  Brodie fitted each of us with an undetectable earpiece and microphone. In order to talk, I just had to press the pearl brooch he attached to my sweater.

  I wondered why I needed a communication device since I wasn’t going on the inside, but Brodie explained Jake wanted everyone outfitted in case we got separated. Marco refused.

  “I am only getting you in the place, that’s it,” Marco insisted.

  After we were all communication ready and tested, Brodie’s cell phone rang. A brief conversation ended with a concerned look from our Australian defender. He explained to us that Jake had to wait for the van, and I should ride in the limousine with Caiyan and him. Thank God Brodie would be there too. Being alone with Caiyan for a two-hour ride outside New York City was not what I needed right now. Ace and Marco would go in Marco’s car and arrive at the wedding first. The limo would drop me and Brodie off at the rendezvous with Jake. Caiyan would arrive at the wedding ten minutes later, hopefully distracting the Mafusos to make them keep an eye on him, allowing Ace to snoop around.