The soft hum of the ship’s engines pulsed through the floor beneath them, the faint rhythmic echo of gunfire from the other side of the range fading as the attendants began to clean up. The air was thick with gunpowder, whiskey, and expensive cigars — a cocktail of money and ego.
Nate adjusted his cufflinks, masking the slow, creeping fog that was beginning to settle in his head. His mind was sharp, but there was a sluggish drag at the edge of his thoughts — like he’d had one too many drinks. But he hadn’t, had he? He prided himself on his control, his tolerance. Yet the bourbon burned harsher this time, coating his throat with an unusual heat that didn’t sit quite right.
He exhaled quietly and kept his composure, smiling faintly as Gregory let out a boisterous laugh, tapping Cisco on th
