Page 113 of Smuggler's Beauty

Aiden set the chair on all four legs. “Let’s find you another distraction.”

They left the kitchen and found the crew, less the moms, in the lobby. Aiden knew they’d be in their quarters, sharing a bottle of wine as they did the evening before every job. Their rituals were sacred. Tariel was shuffling a deck of cards at one of the cafe tables, and Veronique was doling out chips to five places at the table. Cairn was spraying a plant with a mister and giving it some sort of pep talk.

Veselko took a seat at the table and started playing with the pile of chips that were steadily growing before him. Aiden spied motion on the observation deck, saw the flick of blonde waves over the railing as Evelyn adjusted her hair.

That’s my preferred distraction sorted. Now, to settle Veselko.

“Nervous?” Veronique asked. She flipped a chip in the air and grabbed it with deft hands. Then she twisted her fingers, and it disappeared.

“I love watching you do that. You’re so clean,” Veselko said. “I don’t know if I’m nervous or if I have heartburn. Maybe both. One feeding the other.”

“I won’t make you a coffee, then,” Nannette said.

“You’re all so calm,” Veselko said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him worry. Vague concern, senior year. Nothing since then. It’s new for him, be kind,” Aiden said.

“You took all the anxiety points off the board. I had to be the calming ballast.”

Tariel shrugged. His movements were graceful, making the noncommittal response a dance of his limbs. “I have doneeverything I can do. All I can do now is provide support. Being worried isn’t helpful,” he said, dealing the cards.

“Steady hand steers the ship better.” Cairn brought over a tiny espresso cup and placed it before Veronique with a kiss on the top of her head. A few dark curls embedded themselves in his scruff as he pulled away.

“I’m going to be watching everything through Aiden’s glasses and giving Evelyn directions. I’m trying to harness any anxiety for future micromanaging,” Veronique said. She peeked at her cards, frowned, and picked one to return. “I have notes.”

Nannette snorted. “You and me both. Starting with about fifteen amendments for that dumbass Compromise Constitution.”

Veselko sighed and picked up his cards. Peeking over his shoulder, Aiden determined he was going to lose the hand. He watched Veselko throw chips into the pile to call.

Judging by the grin on Tariel’s face, Veselko was absolutely losing this hand.

Never knew about the next, though.

Aiden left them, an encouraging squeeze on Veselko’s arm his only notice of departure. He wound his way up the spiral stairs and found Evelyn curled up on the banquette. Her arms circled her knees as she stared out at the stars rushing by. Every bright speck they passed counted down toward tomorrow’s seditious activities in time with the blinking of the clock on the displays.

Though, was it sedition if you were overthrowing an invading force?

He sat down next to her on the bench and curled a strand of her hair through his fingers. Aiden could hear the others playing cards in the lobby below, their banter comforting background noise bouncing off the marble.

“How’s the head?” he asked.

“I haven’t had any complaints yet. You here to lodge one?”

He chuckled and shoved his shoes off. When she shifted into him, resting her head on his shoulder, he abandoned the strand of hair and wrapped his arm around her, settling in.

“At this time I have no desire to consult with the complaints department,” he said. “You’re looking mighty serious, dollface. Whatcha thinking about?”

“Something Corrie told me earlier sent me down a rabbit hole.”

“Must have been quite the comment.”

“She told me to think the thing all the way through. And so I have been.”

“Planning your victory address?”

She snorted. “Absolutely not. That’s Veronique’s gig.”

Aiden was glad the joke made her crack a smile. The weight of the entire operation seemed to sit heavily on her shoulders. Any moments of levity he could provide her, he would.