The bar smelled of cigarette smoke and poor choices, but Raven hardly registered. She was too intent on the man standing before her.
Flynn let out a breath, massaging his temple as he looked at her with a tired smile. "You know, I should begin charging you for these little drop-bys."
Raven grinned. "Put it on my tab."
Flynn snorted, but his face grew serious as he looked at Dante. "You sure you want to get mixed up in this, kid?"
Dante didn't even flinch. "Already am."
Flynn nodded. "Okay. The Calloways are moving to make their move tomorrow evening. They're having some highly select party, one of those rich-person events where they're all pretending to be decent while arranging filthy deals in the broom closets." He drank another sip of whiskey. "It's invitation-only. High-security. No getting in unless you're somebody. "
Raven leaned back, thinking. "So we need to blend in."
Flynn smirked. "You'll need more than that, sweetheart."
Dante's eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
Flynn sighed, clearly enjoying this too much. "It means… it's a masquerade ball."
Silence.
Raven and Dante exchanged a look.
Dante was the first to speak. "No."
Flynn smiled. "Oh, yes. And the best part is: men are to dress up as noblewomen, and women as noblemen. Some historical theme thingy."
Raven exhaled a slow, happy breath. "Oh my God."
Dante moaned. "Absolutely not."
Flynn shrugged. "Then you can remain outside while Raven acquires the intel."
Raven clapped her hands together. "Flynn, you just made my day."
Dante glared at her. "This is not happening."
Two Hours Later – Back at the Safe House
Lucas took one look at Dante and immediately collapsed to the floor, gasping with laughter.
"Say something, I dare you," Dante snarled, fiddling with the heavy skirts of the absurd, frilly blue dress Raven had made him wear.
Lucas gestured at him, still panting. "I can't—I can't breathe—"
Valerie, who had entered a second behind him, stopped in the doorway, looked around, and coolly turned on her heel to leave.
"Valerie, no—" Lucas yelled after her. "You need to see this!"
Valerie slowly spun back around, drinking in Dante's really cranky face, his tall, muscled physique crammed into a richly embroidered ballgown, and the dainty lace gloves over his scarred hands.
She nodded once. "Worth it."
Dante shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and counted to ten. "I will kill all of you."
Raven, meanwhile, was having the time of her life way too much. She fussed over her dark blue waistcoat and smoothed out her crisp, tailored trousers, smiling. "I have to say, I look fantastic. Dante, how do you feel?"
Dante grumbled something under his breath.
"What was that?"
"I told you I hate everything."
Lucas finally sat up, blubbering tears out of his eyes. "*Oh, man." This is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I will never let this go.
"You say one word of this to anyone," Dante cautioned, "and I will make you regret it."
Lucas grinned. "Brother dearest, I regret nothing."
Raven folded her arms. "Alright, alright, game's over. We have a mission."
Dante grumbled, "I *swear* this better be worth it."
"Oh, it is," Raven said, smiling. "Especially because I still haven't told you about the corset."
Dante moaned. "Kill me now."
Lucas, still chuckling, applauded. "I love this job."