The Last Heist (Pretty Thieves Book 1)

by Samantha Keith

  She traced his cheekbone with her thumb, committing the line to memory. “Earlier,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Before we left for Peyton’s, you asked if I would forgive you.” She lifted her eyes to his. The skin around his eyes crinkled, and a shadow of pain crossed his face. He nodded.

  She wet her lips. “I forgive you for leaving me . . . Milo, we were kids. I don’t hold that against you.”

  He grimaced. “I did it again at Alban’s.”

  She pursed her lips. “Yeah, and I think you regretted that.”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head. His chest expanded against hers. He opened his eyes again and, if she wasn’t mistaken, moisture clouded the whites of his eyes. He blinked, and it vanished.

  “More than you’ll ever know.” The words pitched, tugging at her heart strings. She swept her other hand to the back of his head and rose up on her knees.

  “Don’t do it again, all right?”

  “Never.” A curse fell from his lips as her mouth connected with his. She eased her tongue through the part in his teeth and licked into his mouth. He splayed his hands against her back and his moan oscillated on her palms. She grinned and swept her tongue over his heady taste.

  “Ah-hem.”

  Serena jerked and swung her head to see Dani standing beside them, her toe tapping the pavement.

  “I see nothing’s changed between you two.”

  Milo’s hand fell to her ass, and then he shifted his legs underneath her and stood with her in his arms. Heat flooded her cheeks, and she wiggled until he set her on her feet. Damn, he was strong. Police cruisers skidded to a halt, and an ambulance rolled up the hill behind them.

  Serena left Milo’s side and pulled Dani into a tight embrace. The scent of dirt, sweat, and blood surrounded her, and Serena squeezed her eyes tight. “Thank god,” she wheezed.

  Dani chuckled. “Oh, come on. You really didn’t think that was how I was going to go down, did you?” Leave it to her sister to make a wiseass crack at a time like this. Despite her tough front, a quake rattled Dani’s shoulders. Serena pulled back to examine her face. Fresh fury flooded her veins.

  “That bastard,” she hissed.

  Dani touched her cheek. “Yeah, he got in a few good shots. You gave him what was coming to him better than I could have.”

  An image of her running-shoe-covered feet bucking Ian’s body out of the car formed in her mind. She clamped her hand over her mouth. “Oh my god. I’ve killed two men . . .”

  “Shh.” Milo’s sharp hiss brought her lips together. A car door shut and she looked over Dani’s shoulder. A man exited a black sedan. Serena pulled Dani beside her as she backed up closer to Milo.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Rhett.” Milo’s arm hooked around her waist. “I’ll talk to him, wait here.” Milo left her side and met Rhett near his car.

  Peyton pulled her into a fierce hug, and Serena winced. The shock was subsiding, and pain sunk into her sore muscles. She hugged Peyton back and smiled.

  “Thank you for everything.”

  Peyton pinched her strawberry-blonde eyebrows together. “I hope you’re kidding. I’ve been sitting around wringing my hands like my nervous grandmother since they took you.” She turned to Dani and clasped her hand.

  Serena frowned. “Wait. Dani, what was all that talk about the job being too big and me stealing your ex? I thought you were hinting at your next job, so we pegged Alfonso as being behind the kidnapping.”

  Dani made an O shape with her mouth. “Shoot, I was trying to tell you it was Angelo.”

  Serena tilted her head. “I don’t get it.”

  “The job that was too big was the one that Sebastian and Angelo did together before Sebastian ratted him out, and the ex comment was to hint at Milo.”

  “Well crap. That didn’t even cross my mind.”

  Dani shrugged. “Sorry, I was trying to word it in a way that wouldn’t alert Ian that I was giving you a message.”

  “I’m so sorry. I should have—”

  “Stop,” Dani said. “There’s nothing you should have done differently. It’s all over now.” Her words dropped with the weight of an anvil. The glare of emergency vehicles and glow of flashlights illuminated more of Dani’s appearance than she’d originally taken in. Greasy, tangled strands of her hair stuck to her face, and the neckline of her shirt was torn, revealing her breast cradled in a pink bra. A bruise the shade of an overripe avocado blossomed around her eye.

  Serena glanced over her shoulder so Dani wouldn’t see her wince at the sight of her. Her sister needed a shirt or blanket, or something. The area filled with officers, and two paramedics unloaded a gurney from the back of the ambulance. Serena started forward but Brock stepped in front of her.

  His bare chest heaved and Serena rose her eyebrows an inch. What the hell?

  “Can I talk to her?”

  Serena swallowed and looked back at her sister. Dani stood with her arms circling her waist, her eyes glued on Brock. His T-shirt dangled from his hand.

  “Uh, yeah. Peyton,” she said, jerking her head. Peyton let go of Dani and stepped away. Serena backed up enough paces to be considered a respectable distance, but in no way would she abandon Dani—even with Brock.

  She watched as Brock said something to her sister, his brow crunched in a deep frown. His hand came up and rubbed Dani’s arm and, just like that, her sister’s mouth quivered and she dropped her face to Brock’s bare chest. Tears crowded Serena’s eyes. Dani needed to talk about what had happened. Serena hoped to hell Dani wanted to talk to her, but if she chose Brock, then so be it. As long as she wasn’t holding in the abuse she’d endured, which would be typical behavior for Dani.

  Two cops strode toward Brock and Dani. Brock pulled away, shook open his T-shirt, and fit it over Dani’s head. His arm locked around her waist. Dani’s hand shook as she pushed her hair behind her ear, her face now hard. Given her ramrod stance, it was difficult to believe she’d been in tears only seconds before.

  “You okay?” Milo approached, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jacket. Her gaze shifted to the man a couple of paces behind him. She nodded and cleared her throat.

  “Ms. Smith, I have some questions for you, if you don’t mind.”

  * * *

  Milo hadn’t had a chance to prepare Serena for the cop’s questions, but she’d given her statement without pause. She’d stayed as close to the truth as possible but left out every detail that would tie any of them to a crime. Had Rhett not been there, things wouldn’t have gone as smoothly. Rhett wasn’t stupid, and his old ally’s words echoed in Milo’s head.

  You wouldn’t happen to know anything about a burglary at Titus Phillips’s house, would you?

  All the self-control in the world couldn’t have hidden his smirk, but he’d feigned innocence. Rhett had made a face. Never mind. Don’t tell me any more.

  His dad, who’d been loaded into a second ambulance, had lost a lot of blood. Dani had already identified him as her captor, so if Angelo recovered, he’d be heading right back to jail. Ratting out Sebastian had been tempting, but they couldn’t do so without tying Serena to Titus’s robbery. Sebastian would get his karma. Milo just had to make sure Serena had no part in delivering it.

  They rode in silence after dropping Peyton off at her apartment. They’d all stopped at the hospital long enough for Serena to assure Dani she would pick her up in the morning. Brock had insisted on staying the night there with Dani, and she hadn’t refused.

  Serena’s hand buried itself into Milo’s while he drove.

  “Do you think Brock and Dani will get back together?” he finally asked. Serena chuckled, and the wire of concern that had been wrapped around his chest released a bit. It was a frivolous, unnecessary question. The last thing on his mind was Dani and Brock’s relationship, but the need to lighten the moment after the stress of the night weighed on him.

  “No.”

  He glanced at her before returning his attention to th
e road. “Why not? She was pretty content to have him at the hospital.”

  Serena’s lips scrunched into a pucker. “You don’t know Dani like I do.” Her thumb stroked his knuckle. He lifted their hands to place a kiss on her wrist. “She’s in a vulnerable position right now, and they share something deep and familiar.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “For Dani it is. Once reality hits her tomorrow, she’ll remember everything that separated them.” A long, low sigh followed her words. He pulled into his driveway. “Let’s not talk about them right now. I just want to shower and rest.”

  She led him into the house, and a flicker of amusement hit him. They’d spent less than three days together, yet he couldn’t imagine walking into this house without her presence attached to it. Serena made her way upstairs and Milo traveled in her wake.

  Hell, he hadn’t even asked her if she wanted to stay at his place—it hadn’t even crossed his mind that she might want to go home.

  This is her home . . .

  He scrubbed his palm over his gritty eyes. God, he was losing his mind. He wasn’t the type to overanalyze situations, but he didn’t want to fuck things up with her. Not again. He sat on the bed and tugged off his socks while Serena entered the master bathroom.

  He glanced at the bedding, rumpled from their lovemaking earlier. Lovemaking. Christ almighty, he was either exhausted beyond comprehension or he was in a bad way over Serena. He had to do it. He had to hear from her lips what she wanted.

  That she wanted him.

  She’d forgiven him and told him not to leave her again. What did that mean? Shit, what if she just wanted to be friends? That hadn’t even fucking occurred to him. Nope. He wasn’t getting drop-kicked into the friend zone, and if he didn’t make his intentions clear, that could happen too damn easily. He shucked off his clothes and stormed into the bathroom.

  Steam clouded the mirror. He cracked open the glass door and she squeaked and slapped her hands to her chest. Her eyes flew to his.

  “You scared me,” she said, accusation lacing her words. He smiled and stepped under the water with her. She inched backward, allowing him space.

  “Sorry. We need to talk.”

  She let the water pool in her cupped palms and splashed the puddle onto her cheeks. Her strawberry colored nipples thrust forward when she lowered her hands, and a twinge of need strummed inside his balls. “What about?”

  “Us.” He didn’t miss a beat.

  Her eyes snapped open. “What about us?” Her voice shook, and he didn’t want to explore the possibilities of what could have her uneasy.

  “You said you forgave me.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Her mouth opened and closed, and her gaze darted around the tiled cubicle. “Uh, because . . .”

  He lifted his eyebrows and crossed his arms in front of his chest, even though all he wanted to do was touch her delicious, glistening skin. Nope. He wouldn’t give into the temptation until he had her confirmation. He needed to know the reason for her forgiveness. Did she forgive him just because he’d come to her aid to rescue Dani? If that was the case, he didn’t want her forgiveness.

  “Because why?” He was pushing her, but dammit, he wasn’t going to beat around the bush. They’d wasted enough time already.

  Her tongue peeked out between her teeth and her gaze crawled up to meet his eyes.

  “Because I love you, Milo.”

  His pulse beat a steady rhythm against his breastbone and his heart burst open. He caught her elbows in his hands and towed her closer until their bodies touched. Warmth exploded on his skin, and it didn’t have a thing to do with the hundred-and-fifty-degree shower they stood in.

  “Yeah?”

  She puckered her lips and shrugged. “Yeah, well. History and all that.” She waved her hand in the air.

  Milo let loose the smile that had been tugging at his lips, and a deep laugh grated from his throat. Her knee brushed against his inner thigh, and desire shot all the way to his dick. He let his hands roam over her shoulders and down the sleek arch of her back to her full, tantalizing ass.

  He cupped her cheeks in his palms and drew the length of her body against his. “I love you too.” His throat tightened on the admission but screw it. He’d never be anything but honest with her now. She dipped her chin, but he caught it with the crook of his finger.

  “I want to be with you, babe. Forever. Stay here with me.”

  She laughed and dashed the moisture from her eyes with her fingertips, but the spray continued to dot her cheeks. “Maybe we should get some sleep. You’re not thinking clearly—”

  “No. There’s nothing to think about. All this time I knew I fucked up. Seeing you in person reminded me of the mistakes I’ve made. I love you, Serena.” He’d repeat it a thousand times if she’d let him. “I never stopped.”

  Slowly, the humor fell away from the delicate lines of her face, leaving her exposed to him. “Neither have I, Milo.” She lifted her hand over her shoulder to finger her shoulder blade. “Remember my tattoo?”

  He brought his hand to settle beneath hers, and she twisted so her back was visible. He narrowed his eyes and read the tiny words that he hadn’t been close enough to make out before.

  It’s more than a feeling . . .

  A music note followed the ellipses. Bursts of emotion clustered in his chest. He trailed his thumb over the words. The 1970s hit “More Than a Feeling” played in his head, careening him back to the past. To simpler times. Lying in the grass, the stars rolled out above them. Her hand in his, always her hand in his.

  “It’s our song,” he said. The words floated from his lips.

  “Mmm hmm.” She glanced over her shoulder and caught his fingers. “It took me a long time to realize that you’ve always been a big part of my past . . . of who I am. I resented you for giving up on us, but hearing that song always brings back my happiest memories—memories of when we realized our feelings for each other, but also memories from when we were younger, before my mom died.” Her voice rocked on the last statement, making pain swell in his heart. The void her mother’s passing had created in her life would never be filled. She didn’t cry, but the corners of her mouth pulled down.

  “You look so much like her with your hair dark.” He toyed with one of the strands, then pressed a kiss to the ink on her supple skin. “She’d be so proud of you.”

  One tear trickled out of the corner of her eye, and Serena curled into his chest.

  “I mean, she always liked me.” He was rewarded with a chuckle. Serena tilted her head back, and her brilliant blue eyes shone. Gone was the sadness. If he could make her smile like that every day of his life, he’d die a happy man.

  “That she did,” she said, her voice rough but laced with humor.

  “Excellent taste in people.”

  She laughed again and swatted his chest. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Her hands coasted over his chest and down his abdomen, stopping at his waist. He threaded one hand in the hair at her nape of her neck and the other toyed with the satiny flesh of her ass.

  She giggled and squirmed when he explored between her cheeks. She sunk her teeth into his bottom lip and captured his cock in her grip. Need blazed through him like a forest fire. He pushed her back against the shower wall. She released his lip, and he trailed a line of kisses down her jaw and over her collarbone to her breasts, stopping to suck her nipples between his teeth.

  She arched and cried out, her hands tugging his hair. He dropped to his knees and steadied her hips in his hands. He tilted his head back to take in the sight of her. Dark hair wet and tangled around her shoulders, lips plump from his kisses, dilated pupils peeking at him from behind heavy lids.

  The most erotic sight he’d ever witnessed. He nuzzled his mouth against her thigh and stared up at her.

  “You’re gorgeous.”

  She gave her head one firm shake, and her eyes burned. Her hips bucked against him, a
nd a grin settled on his mouth. Compliments weren’t what her body wanted right now. Keeping his gaze on her, he nudged her knees open. She complied, and her tongue poked out to wet her lips. Her chest rose and fell sharply, and satisfaction kept him from standing up and sinking his sheath into her wetness. Not yet. This time, he was going slow.

  He brought one hand between her legs and pressed her folds open with his fingers. He closed his mouth over her sex, and her head dropped backward. She moaned as he moved his tongue over her delicate crevices. Her hips began to grind with her pulsations around his tongue, and he held her in place. He licked into her, slowly, leisurely, tasting every droplet that swarmed his mouth.

  His blood hummed with desire as he took possession of her body. Her panting grew faster and rose an octave.

  “Oh god.” She spasmed, but her hand fell to his head, urging him on. “Yes, Milo,” she cried. He swirled his tongue around her clitoris and her scream ricocheted off the walls. Her body jerked, and her orgasm coated his tongue. He swallowed and sucked on her until her moans trailed off and her arched back melted. He stood up and caught her in his arms.

  Her cheek fell to his shoulder and her body dangled in spent satisfaction. He turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She squealed as the cold air hit her.

  “Can’t we finish—”

  “Oh, we’re going to finish. Right here.” He strode to the bed as she clung to his chest like a wet towel. Water dripped from their bodies. He lowered her to the bed and fell with her on the sheets, nestling his hips between hers. Before he pressed into her, he caught her face. “Serena, I love you so damn much. Marry me.”

  She giggled, and light sparked the blue depths of her eyes. He’d never tire of looking at her. Never tire of making her laugh . . . and making her come. Her smile revealed every perfect ridge of her teeth, and her face glowed with excitement.

  “Yes! Yes, I will.” Her eyes filled with tears, making his chest tighten. She clapped her hands to his cheeks and kissed him, then pulled away. “Now stop stalling.”