Clinging to the bureau and stumbling, I step farther into the room. I refuse to look at Jason's face, though I can feel his eyes drilling through me like one of Danny's lasers on tissue paper. Forcing a deep breath into my trembling body, I eye the gun in Palino's hand. Reaching for it in the split second I have while they react, I pull on the persona like a costume.
"Oops," I giggle, and then purse my lips in an awkward pout , that I hope doesn't look too fake. " I was waiting for you, but then I got bored" I drawl. "And thirsty." I add thoughtfully, with another giggle, which almost gets stuck in my throat on the way up. Putting my hand on my hip, I act as if I'm truly irritated by the wait. "Someone gave me a drink." I grin, giggle again, and peeking at Jason. He's trying to get me to run using just his wide eyes, continuously flicking them towards the door. The sheer panic is written clearly across his face. He doesn't want me getting into the mix, just like Liam, except for much different reasons. I tilt towards Palino and give a little scared squeak.
"It's almost like a movie… oo, does he owe you money?" I snicker, before clumsily pulling out my phone while they're all still frozen in shock. I smile at the phone and snap a picture of the phone, including the gun pointed towards Jason's head. "He already has five likes on Instagram!" I squeal. Angling my face, I glance towards Jason and mouth "GO!" He shakes his head, pulling on obnoxious male bravado that irks me to the point where I'm tempted to break character just to yell at him. I wobble slighty, then glance down at my feet and tilt my head.
"Where are my shoes?" I ask my eyebrows crunching together. I shrug, before prancing over to the safe room and flinging open the door without bothering to avoid setting off the alarms. Channeling my inner Owen, I trigger as many security measures as I physically can without seeming too suspicious. The inner safe is still locker shut and I call out to them. "What's in there?" I slur and as Franks bursts into the room, chasing after me, I drape myself over his shoulder. He glances over his shoulder at his shell-shocked Uncle before responding.
"Nothing babe" He grits out through his teeth, and his uncle comes back to life just as I see Jason blend into the crowd, shaking his head and pointing out toward where the getaway car is parked, or was parked, depending on what Liam told them. I glance down the hallway and see that Liam is gone, without a trace. I knew he'd end up pissed that I ignored him, and went in to help Jason, but I didn't think he'd be that pissed. He would never have abandoned me like this before, and I grit my teeth a little, as Franks pulls me away from the safe room. I glance into the camera, propped against the corner of the room, and hope for the life of me that Owen has gotten control back. Palino rushes over to me and pulls my phone out of my hand, blanching when he sees the picture displayed there. Frantically, he and Franks bicker over what to do.
"The police will be suspicious, we have to get rid of it!" That was Franks. His uncle, shook his head, positively snarling.
"I've held on to it, and made too many sacrifices, to let go of the painting now." I've never heard such raw frustration in some one's tone.
"What painting?" I giggle, maybe laying it on too thick, but hey, this is one of the first acting roles that's actually worked and I'm milking it for all I've got. Glancing over my shoulder at where Jason is blending with the crowd, I remember I should be afraid, because both of our lives are on the line, but almost like an endorphin rush, all I can feel is cool, calm confidence. I know a rush like this could prove dangerous and try to remind myself to stay centered and focused, to acknowledge the feelings and file them away instead of being so caught up in them. She couldn't afford that, not now and not ever, but at this point the wave's already about to crash, and there's nothing she could do to dissuade that from happening.
Palino's eyes flash, and his hand twitches toward the gun he had just holstered. For the first time, something like fear passed over Frank's expression as he watched his uncle's hand move. Something like genuine recognition of how dangerous this all was seemed to hit him.
"Uncle, she already posted the pictures, if she turns up dead…." He murmurs, the previous anger having vanished from his tone. "The only way it will work out is if we play it out as a joke, I mean he's a thief," He hisses the word as if it's the worst derogative he's ever heard in his life. I smile a little on the inside, while silently thinking, "So am I."
JasonI dig in my figurative heels when Hannah once again silently begs me to just flea, I will not leave her in the lions' den. Back with my "family" I would've just nodded and disappeared without a second thought, if she had no plan of escape that was her own fault, and she's have to deal with it herself. It was nice of her to bail me out, but I don't have to return the favor. The only problem with that plan is that was then, and this is now, not to mention Hannah is definitely not my "family". There's an ache in my bones, wishing I'm not such a coward, and I could've gotten myself out of there and swept her off her feet like in those idiotic action movies. Even considering the fact that, option A, was impossible, especially with a gun in the picture, I wish I could come up with some ingenious, crafty plan and still get the girl in the end.
Franks' hand lands on Hannah shoulder, and I watch her body tense, a dangerous flare, though its not dramatic enough for him to really notice, and clue into the fact that she's not drunk. I have to admit, that was an almost awe-inspiring play on that one. He starts guiding her down the hallway, away from the throng of guests I'm currently using as my hiding place, when he freezes, every muscle going taught, before he turns around and burst back into his office, finally noticing my disappearance his uncle on his tail. I catch Hannah's eye and she sheds her façade like a dancer leaving the stage, and whips through the crowd to find me.
"We don't have a lot of time." She gasps, taking my hand in hers, seemingly without hesitation, and keeping us close every step towards the door. "They could trigger a lock down any-" The words haven't even fully hit me, when a light blinks on in the hallway and the cameras perched on the door frames spin around, frantically searching for movement. Reaching out, I pull Hannah back, pressing her tight against the wall with me.
"Second." I finish, and her hand tightens a little more around mine .