[Jake's POV]
The Grand Lisboa was a towering lotus flower of gold and neon, dominating the Macau skyline.
From the street it looked like it was on fire. Lights crawled up its curves, reflecting off the black water of the harbor. Cars rolled up the curved drive one after another, tires hissing on pavement that was still damp from rain earlier. The air was humid and heavy. It stuck to my skin. It smelled like salt, diesel, and the faint sweetness of orchids from the entrance planters, cut through with expensive cologne.
I arrived in the back of a rented Rolls-Royce.
The leather seats were cold against the back of my thighs. The cabin smelled like leather conditioner and the faint metallic tang of the AC. My suit was black. A flawless Tom Ford tuxedo. Julian Croft's suit. The fabric was cool and smooth against my shirt and it had weight to it. When I moved, it made a soft sound, like silk sliding over itself.
