Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Author:Marie Lu
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

18

Dangerous Games

He was a thin, slight young man, with no unusual features. But just as Sauda had claimed, the little jewelry Connor wore was noticeably expensive. A thin necklace, rings resplendent on his hands, a platinum and gold limited-edition Rolex. He wasn’t showy in his attire, but definitely had a penchant for expensive accessories. And now was finally Winter’s chance to get close to him.

The hotel crest pin Sydney had slipped him felt heavy in his pocket. Winter noted it, glad to have a hidden weapon with him.

Just be yourself, Sauda had said. And so, because he knew it was what he’d say if he weren’t undercover, Winter turned his charisma up, leaned close to Penelope’s ear, and whispered, “Who’s that?”

Penelope shivered at his breath against her ear. She cast a smile over at the table. “Mr. Doherty is one of my accountants. Why do you ask?”

Identity confirmed, Winter thought. “He has good taste in jewelry,” he said honestly.

She grinned, as if pleased that he’d noticed. “Yes,” she replied, “I sometimes send him to pick out jewelry for me.”

Winter gave her a playful smile. “Can he pick mine out, too?”

Penelope laughed, her cheeks pink. “Never hurts to ask.”

He must have noticed them approach, but he didn’t look up from where he was watching the action. Instead, as they drew near to the game table, he pushed his glasses higher on his nose and said, “Bored of your birthday already, Miss Morrison?”

“Can’t a girl visit the private rooms when she wants?” she said, casting Winter a conspiratorial smile. “We just both wanted a break from the eyes watching us.”

Being in here, away from her father’s men, seemed to boost Penelope’s confidence, as if she were indulging something secret and wholly her own. Winter could sense the straightening of her figure and the fading away of that stiff gait in her walk, the new smugness in her posture at showing this side of herself to him.

Connor offered her an amused smile and a deferential nod. His eyes went to the bejeweled pin in her hair. “Glad you’re wearing it,” he said.

She lowered her eyes, pleased, and patted it. “It’s perfect,” she gushed.

Winter watched them closely. He could feel a hint of tension between them, an electricity in the air that didn’t exist with usual business associates. But there was also something off about it that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Was Panacea certain they had the whole story about them?

Around them, Winter noticed the other spectators as they each gave Penelope smiles and well wishes.

Connor now said mildly to Penelope. Then he glanced over for the first time, caught sight of Winter, and looked back to the table again with disinterest. His eyes were a pale, watery blue. “You’ve brought a friend.”

So he wasn’t much of a fan. Maybe he wasn’t a fan of meeting people in general.

Penelope slipped into the spot beside him and shot him a look, something that Winter read as a silent plea to be nice. “This is Winter Young,” she said.

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