The Last Heist (Pretty Thieves Book 1)

by Samantha Keith

“The dogs are kept in their own room on the main floor.”

  “Well that’s great. I don’t see how we can get past three dogs,” Brock said.

  Milo didn’t say anything, but his eyes tracked her face. A hint of challenge lit his emerald greens. She scanned the papers again. Something had to work. She noticed an overhang off the master bedroom. Leaning closer, she smiled.

  “Right here. We’ll get in through the balcony. He won’t have cameras outside his bedroom—or inside for that matter, and there’s a good chance the dogs won’t hear us.”

  Brock’s chuckle broke her concentration. She looked at him.

  “It’s not a stretch of the imagination that he’d have cameras in his bedroom. If you know what I mean.”

  She pursed her lips. “Thanks for the visual.”

  He raised his hands. “Hey, that guy has more women coming through his bedroom than I do.”

  “Maybe he should aim for a world record then,” she mumbled.

  “Ouch. C’mon, S, I’m not that bad.”

  She snorted. “Don’t get me started.”

  Milo moved between them. “Let’s stay on track. How are we going to—”

  “Wait,” Brock said, holding his hand out to stop Milo. “I want to hear this. Has Dani said something? She’s been snooping, has she?”

  “Uh, no. That’s my observation. Not hers.”

  “For your information, she—”

  “Enough,” Milo barked. “We’re here to do one thing: finish this fucking job so we can save Dani.” He turned his attention to Brock. “Keep your comments to yourself. Now isn’t the time for drama.”

  “She brought it up,” Brock grumbled.

  Serena rolled her eyes but opted to seal her lips. Milo was right—they didn’t need to get distracted right now. Whatever beef remained between Dani and him was none of her business.

  “Any idea how we’re going to get to the balcony?” Milo asked. “It’s about twenty feet off the ground.”

  “More like fourteen. The ceilings on the main level are only twelve feet high, if you read the dimensions on the blueprints.”

  “Still.”

  She sighed and slid over the stack of images at the edge of the desk. She’d printed them earlier that morning. “These are pictures of the exterior.” She flipped through to the last ones. “The pillars holding up the balcony and the wall beneath it are lined with stacked stone.”

  “You’re not suggesting we scale them, are you?”

  She shrugged. “Not really.” She turned to face him and planted her hand on her hip. “You’re close to six feet tall—”

  He scowled. “I’m six three and you know it.”

  She hid her smirk. He was still so easy to rib. “Yes, if you count your head. But if I’m standing on your shoulders, then you’re close to six feet.”

  He rocked his head side to side. “That’s still only twelve feet with your arms stretched.”

  “I think we can do it.”

  “We might be able to get you in that way, but what about me?”

  She tapped her finger to her chin. “That’s a problem.” She and Milo had already had a lengthy discussion that morning, and he’d insisted on accompanying her inside. She wasn’t opposed to it. Two years ago, on another day, or another job, she’d have refused.

  Now, she didn’t have the luxury of being arrogant.

  Come hell or high water, one of them had to get out with the diamonds.

  “I have cable,” Brock said. “It can hold four times your weight, and with the stacked stone you’ll be able to scale it pretty easily.”

  Milo nodded slowly. “All right, then. We have our way in.”

  “I’d feel a lot better about this if he wasn’t home,” Brock said. “You know he cut off the hands of the last person he caught trying to steal from him. Then he killed him.” He looked down at the plans.

  Serena forced a swallow and shook her head, trying to erase the image from her mind.

  “Maybe we can lure him away,” Milo chimed in.

  “No, that won’t work.” She sighed. “Let’s take a break. My eyes are starting to cross staring at all these prints.”

  Milo nodded. “Good idea. I’m going to touch base with Rhett.”

  “I wouldn’t mind dropping in on the guys. Mind if I jet out for a couple hours?”

  Serena didn’t want to know the details of Brock’s businesses. For one, it would implicate her if something ever went down, and two, she wouldn’t be able to help repeating it to Dani, which would surely only infuriate her sister.

  “Not at all. I need to check in with Melanie and my assistant, and I want to get some info out of Dani’s team members—if anyone will talk to me.”

  Brock said goodbye and slipped out of the office and Milo pulled out his phone.

  “I’ll be in the living room if you need me,” he said.

  She nodded as she took a seat at the office chair, then searched for Melanie’s number. After touching base with both her and her assistant, she turned her attention to the CC’d names on Dani’s email. She stared at the three names, waiting for them to ring a bell. Wes Cook, Adam Walsh, and Vivi Probe. She’d reach out to Peyton first and get the others’ numbers. Using Dani’s email, she sent one to Peyton asking her to call her at Serena’s number.

  Dammit, she needed to talk to someone now. It could be hours before she heard from Peyton. She searched Dani’s Gmail account, typing each person’s name into the search box and scrolling through the messages. After about five minutes, one from Vivi caught her eye.

  My phone fell in the sink and is toast. Here’s my new number.

  Without missing a beat, Serena punched the sequence into her phone.

  “Hello.” The deep female voice sounded groggy.

  “Hi, this is Serena Smith, Dani Metcalf’s sister. Do you have a minute to chat?”

  “Uh . . . sure.” The rasp left her voice and the sound of blankets shuffling crackled over the receiver. “Sorry, I worked last night, so I just woke up.”

  “No problem, I’m sorry to bother you.”

  “What’s up?”

  “My sister”—she cleared her throat—“Dani, I mean. She’s been kidnapped.”

  The sharp inhale pierced Serena’s ear.

  “Oh my god! How? Who?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Is this line secure?”

  “Yes, yes. I always use an encrypted phone for calls with my team. How did you get this number?”

  “I found it in Dani’s emails. Something about your old phone getting damaged.” Serena waved her hand in the air, brushing away the unimportant detail. “I need you to tell me about the job you had planned. Who was the target?”

  Silence beat through the phone.

  “Um . . . that’s top secret.”

  Serena rocked her teeth back and forth. “I know that. But they could have found out about your plans. We’re having trouble finding any other possible motive.”

  “Look, I want to help and all, but I don’t even know you. For all I know you’re just trying to get information out of me.”

  Serena closed her eyes. She couldn’t blame Vivi for not wanting to jeopardize her team or operation, but she needed something—anything. “I understand. I won’t ask about the job, but what about your team? Is there anyone who has beef with Dani? Do you know and trust everyone?”

  “If I knew anything at all that would help find who’s after Dani, I’d tell you. Your sister is very respected among our team. I can’t see any of them being behind this.”

  Serena stared at the burgundy wall. All the hope she’d held for the conversation vanished. “Thanks for your help, Vivi.”

  Vivi made her promise to contact her with any news on Dani, and Serena agreed before disconnecting. She put down the phone and, despite needing a break, went back to the computer.

  Hours later, grits of sand scratched her eyes with every blink and she hadn’t come up with a damn thing. Milo showed up at the door to th
e office, two plates of food in hand. “Any luck with the team members?”

  “No. I spoke to someone named Vivi Probe, but I think that avenue is a dead end. I’ll try to reach Peyton again later. She might be more help.”

  They ate and chatted until the doorbell rang. Milo let Brock in, and they got back to work.

  Serena studied the blueprints for the hundredth time that day. She had to be sure she hadn’t missed any important details that could derail their heist. Then a solid weight formed in her stomach and dropped all the way to her toes. She brought up her hand to cover her mouth. How could she have forgotten?

  Milo zeroed in on her. “What is it, Serena?”

  “Oh my god.” Everything had just gone to hell. Brock’s and Milo’s hot stares forced her to collect her words. “We can’t do it. Titus has company for the weekend—his house will be full of guests. There’s no way we can get in and out unnoticed.”

  “Sonofafuckingbitch!” Milo bounced his palm off the desk and Serena jerked. Brock’s mouth flattened into a grim line, and he turned to pace near the wall. They had every right to be angry. This job was going to be hard enough as it was without another hurdle.

  She sunk her teeth into her cheeks until the tinny taste of blood hit her tongue.

  “So not only will Titus be home, but he’ll have people there—until when? Monday?” Milo’s tone had a rocky edge.

  “No, they leave Sunday. He’ll be out of the house Sunday evening for a business trip. He’s supposed to call me before he leaves to tell me if he’s signing with me or not.”

  A little bit of tension left Milo’s rigid shoulders.

  Brock turned back to them, his hands tense at his sides. “Then we need to ask for more time. Another twenty-four hours on top of the time we have.”

  Serena chortled. “Yeah, I’m sure they’ll be fine with that.”

  Milo took two steps, closing the distance between them. “Tomorrow night is the soonest we can get in. I’ll negotiate with the kidnapper. It’s not like we have control over Titus’s schedule, nor would you want to postpone getting Dani out safely if you didn’t have to.”

  He didn’t touch her, but the vibration of his body synched with hers, slowing the waves of nausea that pitched in her stomach.

  She dropped her shoulders. “You’re right. We have no choice.”

  Brock stepped forward. “We need to call them before they call you.” His gaze shifted to Milo. “What exactly are you going to negotiate with?”

  Milo’s arm moved around her lower back and cupped her elbow, steadying her. “I’ve got some cash I can offer them to buy us more time.”

  Brock drew back his head. “How much?”

  Serena snapped her eyes to him, and her mouth popped open. A muscle jumped at the side of his face. “I can get a hundred grand to them tonight. If they want more, it will need to be liquidated, which will take time, at least a couple of days.”

  Brock caught his chin between his thumb and forefinger, his gaze stuck on Milo. He looked to be at war with himself. “I can match that, and maybe another fifty.”

  Serena looked back and forth between the two men. The pit of dread in her stomach evaporated. “Y-You would do that? Both of you?”

  “Of course,” Brock said. “I told you I’d do anything to help.”

  This time, Serena didn’t stop the tears from leaking out of her eyes. She rose onto her toes and threw her arms around Brock’s neck, and then turned and did the same to Milo. Brock was an attractive man, but his proximity did nothing for her. Milo’s hold, on the other hand, made her feel cradled. Her head fit into the spot between his pecs, her shoulders snuggled against his ribs. Beneath the wall of muscle on his chest was his heartbeat, falling into pace with her own. He turned his head and his whiskers scraped across her forehead before he pressed a kiss to her temple.

  “We need to make the call now, babe. It might be best if you go in the other room.”

  She yanked herself out of his hold. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  Milo met Brock’s gaze over her head, and the silent communication raised her hackles.

  “No way. You know something.”

  Milo blew out a breath, and she stepped away from him and planted her feet. “Tell me what you know.”

  “I don’t know anything.” He rubbed his palm over his chin and down the breadth of bristly hair at his throat. A familiar uneasy gesture that brought up memories. “They’re going to be pissed that we’re not going to have the diamonds tonight. They could . . .” He grimaced.

  “Milo, tell me,” she said, stomping her foot.

  He blinked and then stared at her, his eyes reluctant and full of sympathy. “They could react.”

  “Hurt Dani is what you mean.”

  “Yes.”

  Brock moved to her side and bumped his elbow into Milo’s. “He’s giving you worst-case scenario. They’re not going to hurt her. They know we’ll pay up. We just need to get them to listen.”

  “Do whatever it takes, but I’m not leaving this room. After things are settled, I want to talk to Dani. Otherwise they don’t get a dime.”

  Milo’s and Brock’s expressions only grew more tense, but they nodded in agreement. Milo pulled out the phone and dialed the kidnapper’s number. Serena crowded Milo’s shoulder and stared at the screen. He tapped the Speaker icon, and the ring echoed through the room.

  “You should be working.”

  Milo tilted the bottom of the phone toward his mouth. “We ran into a problem.”

  Silence stretched for what seemed like agonizing minutes, though only seconds had passed. “What problem?”

  Serena sucked in one shallow breath after another through her nose, but none of the air reached her lungs. Her head buzzed with the need for oxygen, but terror kept her from making a single peep.

  “It’s come to Serena’s attention that Titus will have guests for the weekend. He’ll be leaving for business Sunday night. We won’t be able to get inside until late tomorrow.”

  The voice growled. Serena curled her fingers into the back of Milo’s arm.

  “Listen, we have—”

  “You’ve got nothing!” the man roared. “You just fucking killed her.”

  “No!” Serena tore the phone from Milo’s grip. “We have money. Cash. All we need is more time. We’ll get your diamonds, I swear to god.”

  “How much cash?”

  Serena looked at Brock. He gave one solid nod and she turned her attention back to the phone. “Two hundred grand. We can get it to you tonight.”

  A beat passed. Ice flooded her veins, making her fingers turn to icicles. She didn’t dare move a muscle or shift her attention to the men beside her.

  “You have my attention.”

  “We can—”

  “Shh. I’m thinking,” he hissed. “Two hundred. That’s above what you’re paying in diamonds—got it?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  More silence. Serena dragged a breath into her lungs.

  “Fine. Under one condition. I want Serena to meet me. Only her.”

  Hope soared through her. She opened her mouth to agree, but Milo snatched the phone from her hand and spun away.

  “No can do.”

  “Serena comes or the deal is off and Dani dies.”

  “No!” Serena lunged for Milo, but Brock caught her and covered her mouth, silencing her screams.

  “You’re out of your mind if you think I’m letting Serena anywhere near you. You can take an extra two hundred thousand and still walk away with what you’ve asked for, or you can kill Dani and get nothing. The choice is yours.” Milo pulled the phone away from his mouth and disconnected.

  Serena wrestled against Brock until his arms loosened. Rage burst through her, blocking her vision and scalding her skin. She’d rip out his eyes. His tongue.

  She’d kill him.

  “How could you? They’re going to kill her!” Her words scraped through her tight throat like a train barreling through a too smal
l tunnel and came out on a hysterical squeal that belied her fury.

  Her first blow landed on Milo’s jaw. The second one he dodged, and it bounced off his shoulder.

  Milo caught her arms and crushed her to his chest. She wanted to fight him, to hurt him, but her strength was slipping away. Devastation pulled her weight to the floor, where she let the sobs escape.

  Milo held tighter, bringing his lips to her ear. “I had to. He won’t dare touch her.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t know that! We don’t know these people.”

  He caught her face in his palms, forcing her to look at him. “I couldn’t risk you. What would you have done if he took you too? We have to think smart, be one step ahead. Right now, he’s out everything if he hurts Dani. He won’t get a penny and he knows it.”

  “Exactly why he would kill her.” She shoved at him, but he didn’t break away.

  Ring, ring, ring

  Lead formed in her stomach. Milo reached for the phone, which was on the desk. “It’s him.”

  A lingering sob bubbled through her lips, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Answer it,” she whispered, ready to face the devil again. If he was calling it was either to agree to their terms . . . or to let them hear Dani’s screams.

  “I will, but you have to trust me.”

  Serena lowered her hand from her face and grasped Milo’s shirt. “Okay.”

  Milo hit the Speaker icon. “Yeah?”

  “We agree to your terms. Meet me in one hour. I’ll text instructions. You’ll have twelve extra hours to get the diamonds.”

  “We need more time than that.”

  “I’m giving you until noon tomorrow.”

  Milo’s jaw rolled. “That’s impossible. I told you, we can’t get in any sooner than tomorrow night.”

  “You’ll have to find a way.” The man’s tone was hard and ruthless.

  “Another fifty grand,” Brock whispered behind her. She turned to face him, and he nodded at Milo.

  “Give us until 1:00 a.m. tomorrow night and we’ll throw in another fifty grand.”

  The guy laughed. “I’m beginning to think you’re pulling my fucking chain.”

  “No tricks. Two hundred and fifty grand, take it or leave it.”

  “Deal.”

  Serena perched on her tiptoes. “And I want to speak to Dani. Now.”