The hotel suites that Frankie arranged for the group were akin to luxury apartments. There room included a hot tub, huge hdtv, and gorgeous view of Ho Chi Minh city. The Saigon One Casino was easily one of the most impressive hotels that Grant had stayed in.

"I'm hungry from all that running around the city," said Monty. "Can we get dinner?"

"We just had dinner," said Grant. "Pho with Gordon remember?"

"That doesn't count," said Makenna. "None of us had much appetite with that man sitting at the table."

"I saw an all you can eat seafood buffet downstairs," said Monty. "Cmon its on our Gordon anyways!"

Grant had never seen so much lobster being served at once. Red lobsters were stacked in a bowl, smothered in scallion and ginger sauce. A few of a chefs could be seen in, concentrating on sushi rolls and sashimi pieces they were crafting.

"Sure beats the cafeteria doesn't it?" said Monty.

"Nothing tops those frozen cheeseburgers," Grant joked.

"Uh huh," said Monty. "Jesus man just look at those scallions. I'm getting emotional just by standing here looking at all of it. They even got this fancy noodle soup bar."

Grant walked over to the drink section. Even the soda was served in individual glass bottles rather than at a fountain. The desert section was right beside the drinks featuring both a milk chocolate and white chocolate fountain. Many slices of high quality cheesecake were laid out on small plates. A colorful assortment of macaroons were so tempting Grant took one and bit into it on the spot.

It was difficult to decide where to start so Grant just followed his instincts and began filling up his plate. He started with a few lobster claws followed by garlic fried crab legs and tiger prawns. For his sides he picked out a couple of shrimp spring rolls and pork sliders. The waitress brought to their table six different dipping sauces for the seafood, none of which Grant recognized.

"Um," said Grant, pointing at the sauce he was most curious about which was sitting by his plate of crab and lobster.

"More lobster?" said the waitress in a thick accent. "I go tell chef now."

"No no I meant the---" Grant started. However she was already gone.

Monty was so invested in his meal that he seemed to have forgotten about the existence of his companions.

"Slow down or you'll choke on something," said Rourke.

"The fried rice had crab in it Grant," said Frankie. "Each crabs gotta be at least twenty dollars back home. But here you can eat as much as you like!"

"I gotta admit this is probably the best meal I've ever had," said Makenna. "The steak is just as good as the seafood. Ugh I wish I could take this sauce home."

"Once that treasure is ours we can pay for all of this with our own money," said Grant. "We could travel the world together, buy a mansion."

"That does sound nice," said Frankie. "But a good portion of that treasure should also go to a museum. I don't want to go down in history as just some grave robber or looter or artifacts."

Grant looked around the table and nodded. "Frankie's right. We will take our share then donate the rest to experts or museums."

"I doubt Gordon has the same idea," said Makenna.

"Then all the more reason to make sure we get there first," said Grant. "Enjoy this place while you can guys. You earned the rest."

Grant leaned forward and looked at Frankie. "Frankie, do you think you could figure out where the treasure is located here in Vietnam by tonight?"

"I can try Grant but I make no promises."

"Good enough for me. In the meantime I think I'll grab some of that grape sorbet to help wash all this dinner down."

When dinner was over, each went to their own rooms. It was a nice break from the four to one situation that they had to endure before. Grant was glad to have some privacy to himself for once, especially so he could go through the contents of the lack duffel bag properly. It seemed Lin expected Grant to arm everyone in his group. In his mind only himself, Rourke, and possibly Makenna had the fitness and strength to use a firearm. He had fired a few before at his Aunt Marianne's ranch but never at a person.

A knock came at the door and Grant quickly pulled the blankets over the weapons.

"Who is it?"

"It's me," said Makenna.

Grant walked over and opened the door to let Makenna in.

"I was just going over our tools," said Grant.

"Tools? I thought we left most of our stuff behind."

"Yes but I had to grab this."

Grant uncovered the guns. Makennda didn't seem too shocked at the sight of so many firearms on his bed.

"Another gift from your policewoman friend I assume."

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"Yeah. I think they will come in handy soon. You ever use one of these?"

Makenna ran her hand over one of the pistols. "My mother's older brother was in the army. He'd show me some of the guns he kept in the house but I never actually got to fire one."

"Well take one just in case," said Grant. "I'll bring some to Rourke myself."

Makenna put a hand on his chest. "Hey whatever happens we're in it together alright?"

"Yeah I know," said Grant. "I'm glad I got to share this trip with all of you."

Makenna wrapped her arms around him and they shared a kiss. Grant realized right then how much he had been aching for this moment. He had suspected the chemistry between them since they got on the plane for Shanghai. She was kissing his cheek and trying to pull off his shirt and he was unbuttoning her shorts, the sweet smell of her hair arousing him as he did.

"I want you Grant," Makenna breathed. "I want you inside."

Rourke and Monty had gone out to purchase some additional supplies with the money they had stolen from Gordon. At the biggest electronic store within walking distance of the casino, Rourke was overwhelmed by the massive selection of laptops, desktops, and other peices of computer related hardware.

"Hello would you like to look at our gaming pc?" said a petite man wearing the store uniform.

"I just want a laptop that is lightweight and has decent power," said Rourke.

"Our Alienware gaming pcs have great power and are very portable for their level of output," said the employee.

"Wait no we just want something basic," said Monty.

"Very low price guaranteed," he said, walking off towards a row of colorful glowing laptops that looked like tech from the future.

"Look at frame rate," said the employee, pointing at a heavy duty laptop with a green mechanical keyboard. "Can run Final Fantasy 15 at 200 fps."

"Look do you have any chromebooks?" said Monty. "All we want to do is surf the web with this thing."

"Very fast streaming," said the employee, going on about the gaming pcs. "12 core cpu, our custom cooling system and the latest in graphics cards. Can load any software within 10 seconds guaranteed. On sale too."

Rourke checked the price tags. "Sorry but these are too much of an investment."

"Very worth it," said the employee, nodding quickly. "You buy 100 dollar piece of shit laptop you get broken in 5 days. We sell you cheaper than any other store. 2 year warranty, guaranteed power."

"We just want something basic ok?" said Monty impatiently. "Basic. Read my lips."

"Ok ok," said the employee, guiding them toward some more normal looking laptops. "These are our laptops for basic office use. No sale though and no promotion. You save no money. not very powerful."

"Yes that sounds perfect," said Monty. "Just what we needed. We will buy the white one right there."

"Ok I check with my manager to see if still in stock," said the employee, nodding quickly. "You pend some time to decide while I go. These cheap ones not in good condition I think. Used and returned. Some had the sex on it."

"Someone had sex on the laptops?" said Rourke.

"Watch adult video," said the employee, walking away. "MSI gaming laptop back there brand new. Latest model. Maximum power and quality guaranteed."

"Yes we heard it before," said Rourke, waving him off. "Just go talk to your manager and see if you guys have one of these office laptops in stock ok? No more maximum power super 30 core computers alright?"

"You give me 10 minute," he said before taking off.

"Good lord I thought he would never shut up," said Monty.

"He's just doing his job," said Rourke. "Come on let's just browse around and see if there is anything else we could use in this store."

Makenna sat on Grant's lap in nothing but her undergarments. She was beautiful, her butterscotch blonde hair and eyes that looked deep into his own. The taste of her lips on his was nothing short of bliss.

"Shouldn't we be focused on finding out where the treasure could be hidden?" Grant asked his hand sliding over the strap of her bra.

"Not until Rourke comes back with a laptop," said Makenna.

"Oh right," said Grant. "Still, it seems wrong to be enjoying ourselves like this when Frankie is likely hard at work next door."

"You'll have to find girls for your friends too," said Makenna, looking down as Grant gently removed her bra. "So they don't feel left out."

"Monty is more interested in his video games than girls," said Grant. "By the way how will your friends react when we return and they see you in the arms of the guy who smashed your laptop?"

"Mmm I don't care what will think. Your more important than their opinions."

"I'm starting to really, and I mean really fall for you Makenna."

Makenna stopped nuzzling his neck and smiled down at him. "Has no girl ever tugged this hard at your heartstrings?"

"Not since fifth grade," said Grant. "I used to crush on this cousin of my mine. But it was a childish thing, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

"So then I am your first," said Makenna. "The first girl that made you feel something this real."

"The gold won't be the only treasure I'll be taking back that's for sure."

A knock came at the door.

"It's Frankie," said a voice.

"Alright give me a second Frankie," Grant yelled. He put on a shirt.

"Grant your jeans!" Makenna warned.

Grant looked down and quickly buttoned them back up. "Thanks. You put on some something besides nothing."

"Who are you talking to?" Frankie asked.

"It's just Makenna," said Grant, walking up to the door. "We were talking."

Grant pulled the door open to let Frankie inside.

He seemed subdued, as if he had just waken from a bad dream.

"Something the matter?" Grant asked as Frankie stepped past him. Frankie stopped in front of Makenna who had put on her clothes and was standing by the bed.

"So you two are like an item now huh?" said Frankie quietly.

"Yeah I guess you could say that," said Grant. Frankie's shift in tone was making him uneasy.

"I see," said Frankie. "Well I guess it makes sense. Your quite the guy right?"

Grant sighed and put his hands on his hips. "Oh Frankie. Don't tell me you've been crushing hard on Makenna back at school."

"When you mentioned her to me at the start of all this I thought it would be an awesome opportunity to get close to her," said Frankie, turning back to face grant. "But I guess that's just a fantasy now."

"Frankie wait," said Makenna. "I always thought you were a nice guy. So all those times you helped me out in history class---"

"Yeah classwork time was the perfect excuse to talk to you," said Frankie glumly. "It doesn't matter now though. Anyways sorry for interrupting. We can talk about the Taiping treasure another time."

Grant could tell that Frankie was on the verge of tears. His friend was already fast walking out the door to save face.

"Frankie wait!" said Grant. "Let's talk!"

"Let him go Grant," said Makenna as Frankie disappeared into the hallway. "We needs time to walk it off before you talk to him.

"But---"

"We did nothing wrong," said Makenna. "I don't like hurting Frankie as much as you do but it's like you said we are kind of an item now. He's going to need to come to terms with that unless you and I decide to call it all off."

"No we aren't going to do that," said Grant, struggling to gather his thoughts. "I like you too much to stop anything right now. Jesus I feel bad though. I bet he's like you for a while now."

"Yeah I feel bad too," said Makenna. "That's the thing about shy guys. They think we girls are scarier than we actually are. I would have gone out with him for some coffee if he had asked."

"Really?"

Makenna raised and eyebrow and folded her arms. "You know girls aren't just into muscle. Frankie might look like a stick figure but he's easy to be around and he's a diligent worker."

Grant rubbed the back of his head. "Alright you should go back to your room. I'll check on him later tonight or maybe tomorrow morning."

"Gotcha," said Makenna, making for the door. "Get some rest."

"Yeah I'll do that," said Grant with a sigh. "Goodnight."

"Night," she whispered softly.

The door closed leaving Grant standing in the dark with a nothing but a mess of emotions.