Oh, Mervyn...
He clasped his hands behind his back, eyes twinkling with the quiet thrill of what was to come.
It would be a night to remember, indeed. But not for the reasons Mervyn so foolishly believed.
***
The night air cut through Ryley's coat like a blade as he stepped out of the taxi. A sharp gust sent a shiver down his spine, but he ignored it, exhaling as his gaze dropped to the watch coiling his wrist.
Almost time.
Without hesitation, he made his way inside. A staff member stood waiting for him, their stance rigid, eyes darting to the side as if unsure how to meet his gaze.
It wasn't just them.
As Ryley moved through the hallway, he caught the stolen glances, the stiff shoulders, the hushed whispers that faded the moment he walked past. He could feel the wariness thick in the air.
Like they were waiting for him to do something—something dangerous.