Steal the Day (Thieves 2)

by Lexi Blake

  “I don’t have any children in this world. Like I said, I take care of my lover.” Dev was letting Daniel get really close. “I don’t put her in the hospital.”

  Daniel stopped. “This world? How many kids did you leave behind in Faery when you decided to fuck half the Western world?”

  I got to my feet because I was interested in that discussion. It was, however, a conversation that should be happening between me and Dev, not aired for all our crew to enjoy. “The two of you need to stop it.”

  Then Daniel was the one on the ground, his powerful legs tangled in a flurry of vines and shiny weeds. They wound themselves around his body, starting at his legs but were more than happy to envelope every inch of him. They came from everywhere, springing from the dead ground to hold their master’s prey tightly to the dirt.

  Daniel struggled against the tide, but there were too many of them. This was often the way Dev’s magic went, utterly wild. Daniel couldn’t have picked a worse place to have it out with his rival. The woods around the cemetery were thick with plants waiting for a part fertility god to bring to life and command.

  That burst of spring in the winter started to pull Daniel underground. He punched through the vines but more came to pull him back in. I saw a clawed hand attempt to rip through his bindings, trying to clutch the ground as he began to go under. It was like the earth was dragging him down, and I’d had enough.

  “Stop it, Dev. You’ve made your point.” My hands shook. The last thing I needed was a pissing contest.

  Dev’s hair was wild, and that perfect male-model image he went for had been ruined to the point that he looked brutal. I’d seen Dev fight before and knew he was more than competent, but now I realized he was just as capable as Daniel of loving the kill. Dev just hid it better.

  “I’m serious, Dev,” I shouted.

  Daniel was completely underground, every trace of him erased by creeping vines. It was too much like a grave, and the thought of Daniel in it gave me the chills. Dev finally dropped his hands and walked to me. There was no tenderness in his eyes as he took my hand and started to pull me away.

  “Let’s go,” he growled. “Wouldn’t want to miss cocktail hour.”

  “Daniel.” I turned back to where I had seen him last.

  “He’s a big boy. He’ll manage.”

  The ground quaked as Daniel “managed.” He burst from the earth sending dirt and plants flying in all directions. Dev instinctively pulled me close and covered my head with his arms. Daniel flew up and was back on his feet, not caring to brush the dirt from him before he was coming for Dev again.

  “You, get in the car,” I ordered Dev.

  “Sure thing, boss,” he replied, sarcasm dripping.

  Daniel pointed our way. “Not on your life, Quinn. We finish this.”

  “Can’t,” Dev said in a calm tone that would drive Daniel crazy because he wanted a fight. “My girlfriend says I’m not allowed to fight.”

  “You’re gonna listen to her?” Daniel taunted. “You’re pathetic.”

  Dev shrugged as he backed up. “Hey, I might be pussy whipped, but at least I got some pussy. Come to think of it, I got your pussy, buddy.”

  Dev had the good sense to duck as the several hundred pounds of marble headstone flew at his head. He flipped Daniel the bird as he got into the sedan and started it up.

  “Nice, Danny.” What a way to start a job. “I swear if the two of you fuck up this job, I’ll leave you both. I’ll move to a new city, and I’ll find a new crew.”

  “I’m trying to protect you,” Daniel argued.

  I shook my head, not willing to go into it with him. Protecting me was Daniel’s excuse for everything. He stayed away to protect me. He left me behind to protect me. He lied to me to protect me. Now he tried to start World War III with Dev because it would protect me. I didn’t want to hear it.

  And, to top it all off, Dev hadn’t bothered with the luggage. He was far too busy revving the engine to help me out. Chad came over and was kind enough to lift the two suitcases Dev and I had brought. He carried them to the car and tapped the back. Dev was gracious enough to hit the button that released the trunk, and Chad slid the luggage in.

  “Don’t be too hard on him,” Chad said quietly.

  “Which one?” I had to ask because I was thinking about throttling them both.

  “Daniel,” Chad clarified. “I was listening in, too. I think Daniel is figuring out what the rest of us already knew.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Dev isn’t some fling. It might have started out that way, but you’re not the kind of girl who can be that intimate with a man and not have her heart get involved. Daniel is waiting for you to get Dev out of your system and come back to him. He’s starting to realize he could lose you. I don’t think he’s going to handle that well.”

  I shook my head. Chad had seen an awful lot in a single week. “I can’t deal with that right now. I have to go. We’re on a deadline. We have to be in Vegas next week, and if I don’t have the Revelation, I can’t even try to rescue Sarah. We’re never going to get a better shot at this.”

  “He’ll be fine.” Chad was along on this endeavor because Daniel wouldn’t leave the fledgling alone. He was too young to be trusted, but Chad was proving to be stronger than all expectations. “Just keep him and Dev apart, and we’ll get through it. I’ve been told I get to hunt in something called ‘the old ways’ tonight. I think that involves some form of cattle. Why I have to drain some poor unsuspecting cow when my little piece of hotness over there tastes so good, I have no idea.”

  “Zoey, let’s go!” Dev yelled out the window.

  I rolled my eyes. Chad smiled sympathetically. “You know, I used to envy you with your two superhot guys.”

  “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. O’Malley,” Mary Jo Renfro greeted as Dev and I entered some form of pastel hell.

  The Hideawhile Bideawhile Bed and Breakfast was a rambling Victorian with a large porch and vaulted ceilings. It was also painted pink. The lawn was a meticulously groomed piece of green surrounded by the wild Ozarks. Unfortunately, the lovely lawn was covered in statuary one can only find at the finest of home improvement stores and probably a local Walmart. There were several Venuses, countless cherubs and angels, and I spotted a couple of well-placed garden gnomes. I’d hoped the inside would be better, but I was disappointed.

  Our proprietor, and unknowing mark, was a small woman in a long khaki skirt and a fussy button-down shirt. She wore comfortable shoes, and her non-descript brown hair was in a ponytail. I noticed her necklace, a silver angel. It was a theme of the B&B. Little angel statues littered every available space. I especially liked the ones where a giant angel loomed lovingly over a small town. I’m sure the purpose was to show the angel protecting her charges, but I just wanted the angel to start stomping out the little town like a big old heavenly Godzilla.

  “We’re so happy you made it,” Mary Jo was saying. “We were getting a little worried about the two of you. We didn’t want you to miss our little cocktail hour.”

  Dev smiled, a smooth expression guaranteed to melt the heart of any female within a hundred yards of that high-wattage charm. “We’re thrilled to be here, Mrs. Renfro.”

  Mrs. Renfro actually giggled. “Oh my, you’re an exceptionally attractive man, Mr. O’Malley. You should make quite the splash in our little community. All the girls will just be swooning.”

  Dev slung his arm over my shoulder and pulled me close. “Unfortunately, I’m off the market. My lovely wife and I just got married. I’m afraid I only have eyes for her. You know how newlyweds are.”

  “I do, indeed.” Her voice had a girlish affectation to it. “You’re a lucky woman, Mrs. O’Malley, to have snagged such a handsome man.”

  She gave me a once-over, obviously wondering exactly what I had done to deserve him since I wasn’t in his league.

  Dev was th
e lucky one because he was still alive. I thought several times about murdering him during our brief car ride. He’d been sullen and silent throughout the trip, refusing to answer my questions. When I’d ask about the possibility of children left behind in his sithein, I’d been told to mind my own damn business. I really couldn’t wait to get to our room so I could let my boyfriend know exactly what my damn business was.

  “I am lucky. It took a lot to get this one pinned down, let me tell you.” It hadn’t. I’d managed to pin him down the first night we were together, and he’d been happy to do it. I sighed with what I hoped was a look of longing. “I think we’ll skip the social hour tonight, Mrs. Renfro. You understand, right?”

  We were supposed to be newlyweds after all. It was supposed to be our first night of wedded bliss.

  “Now, honey,” Dev replied. “We don’t want to be antisocial. We’ve waited this long. We can wait a few more hours.”

  I quietly brought my entire body weight down on his big toe. I was rewarded with a muffled groan. Dev had never waited for anything in his life. I especially didn’t like the fact that our hostess was now looking at me like I was a sex-crazed maniac, and Dev was some poor man at my mercy. Dev was going to find out later tonight that I didn’t have any mercy.

  An elderly man took our bags while Dev signed us in, and then we were shown into the parlor where cocktails were being served from a small tray. The backwoods version of cocktails was a little different than what Dev and I were used to.

  “Where’s the vodka?” I whispered as I looked around the room. This was supposed to be a place frequented by honeymooners. Dev and I were easily the youngest people in the room by forty years.

  “I don’t know,” he whispered back.

  “Let me introduce you.” Mary Jo pressed a tiny glass of something that vaguely resembled wine into my hand. “Sherry. It’s your honeymoon. Live a little.”

  As pissed as I was at Dev, I smiled up at him because this was a story we would tell for a very long time. He graciously took his tiny glass and let his free hand cup my waist. We were introduced to three other couples. The Milmans, the Ruckers, and the Bells. Dev smoothly managed to mingle, putting everyone at ease. It wasn’t long before we were seated for dinner, and Dev had all eyes on him. It was where he felt most comfortable. As I watched him converse with the older couples and our host, I was struck by how polished he was. Sometimes it was easy to see that he was the son of a queen. I rarely thought about it, but Dev’s upbringing more than likely consisted of a lot of training in courtly practices. I spent enough time with Fae creatures to know a little about their culture. Royalty in the faery world kicked it old school. There was no democracy. The queen’s power would be absolute, until someone killed her or she gave her throne to one of her children. I wondered if Dev was the oldest. Had he been promised a throne only to have it taken away when they discovered his mortality?

  “How many children are you planning?” the blue-haired woman I thought was the new Mrs. Bell asked. She and Mr. Bell had recently married after her husband of thirty years had kicked the bucket last spring. It hadn’t taken me long to realize this place was popular among the geriatric honeymoon set. They might have mentioned that on their website.

  “Oh, now, Mrs. Bell,” Dev replied, his voice all teasing seduction. I rolled my eyes as several of the women actually sighed. “That’s the kind of thing that sorts itself out. My wife and I will be willing to accept any babies we’re blessed with.”

  “But don’t you think we should talk about any possible kiddos?” He needed to know this conversation wasn’t finished. “It’s too important to just leave it up to fate.”

  Mary Jo Renfro vigorously disagreed with me. “You just have to have faith, Mrs. O’Malley. You have to trust in God. He knows best. I’ve been blessed with four little ones, each a gift. I’m sure you and your husband will have beautiful babies.”

  I was still wondering if my “husband” already had beautiful babies. Dev swiftly moved the conversation to a thrilling recitation of Mr. Rucker’s passing of a kidney stone. I glared at Dev the rest of the meal.

  * * * *

  We finally made it to the “Seraphim Suite” a few hours later. It was a monstrosity of love. The bed really was a heart completely decked out in ruffles and more pillows than any two people could ever use. The evening had been a complete bust with the exception of planting a few bugs that I was pretty sure would only catch more of Mr. Rucker’s health horror stories. I was tired, having driven all day, so my plan was to get some sleep and start snooping tomorrow.

  After I settled one little issue.

  Dev stretched out on the frilly bed. He looked out of place in this room. I couldn’t help but think of his condo. That was Dev’s natural habitat. The mixture of nature and the sleek lines of the city perfectly defined Dev. He looked silly surrounded by ruffles and lace. He turned on one side and rested his head in his hand. He patted the bed beside him and gave me that smile. It was the one he had when he knew he was getting some.

  “No.” I turned away and started shoving clothes in the ornate dresser.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” He asked the question as though no woman in his life had ever said no to him when he was trying to seduce her. It was a viable possibility.

  “It means that I’m not sleeping with a man who thinks his children are none of my business.” I pulled off my sweater and jeans and exchanged them for sweat pants and a tank top.

  “Zoey,” came that silky smooth voice as he walked up behind me. His arms surrounded me, and he pulled me back against him, letting me feel every bit of what he was offering. It was a substantial offering. “This is a stupid fight. This is exactly what Daniel wanted to happen. Come to bed and we can play a game. You can be the reluctant virgin bride, and I’ll teach you everything you need to know, sweetheart.”

  It would be so easy to let him pick me up and toss me down and envelop me in his unique magic, but I was falling in love with the man. I couldn’t risk my heart on a man who just wanted me in bed and not in any other part of his life. “No, Dev. You can either open up and talk, or we can spend a nice evening sleeping with no touchy touchy.”

  “I don’t take well to ultimatums, darling,” Dev replied, his voice harder than I’d ever heard it. “I wish you a good night’s sleep.” He undressed, sparing me not a moment of his breathtaking body. He slid under the covers and turned away from me. “Now I know why Daniel’s pissed off all the time. Being married to you really cramps a person’s sex life.”

  He managed to get to sleep, but I couldn’t force myself to get into bed. I knew what would happen. I would end up cuddling with him, and I didn’t want that right now. I wanted to keep my righteous indignation fully stoked.

  An hour passed and then two, and I decided it was time to get a little work done. It was past midnight. I doubted the other three couples were real big into the nightlife. I got my story straight. If I got caught, I was searching for the kitchen because I needed a glass of water in order to take my medication. Surely this crowd understood the importance of medication. I just intended to get really turned around.

  I slipped thick socks on my feet because it was cold, and for the same reason added a sweater. I was careful about not waking Dev as I slipped quietly into the hallway.

  There are a couple of necessary skills to perfect when your chosen profession is thievery. The ability to move silently is right up there at the top along with a certain moral flexibility and the patience to put up with wearing a lot of black. While other fathers tossed a baseball with their kids or carted them to dance class, my dad taught me his profession. I learned to walk almost silently a long time ago, and the skill came in handy this night. I shut the door behind me and stuck as close to the wall as I could. Unfortunately, the floors were wood. Carpet or anything with a pad is best at covering sound. When you find yourself dealing with hardwood, your best bet is staying near the wall. This minimizes creaks and groans. I also had stretched carefully
before starting out, paying careful attention to the joints. You would be surprised how loud an elbow can be when it pops, and if you’re cold it just might. It’s better to stretch out all the kinks before starting.

  There were three rooms on the second story. Dev and I were in the largest. All of the rooms were dark now. I passed by the Ruckers and could hear one of them snoring loudly. The paintings on the walls were all of angels. Mary Jo Renfro was really into angels. It begged the question why Felicity hadn’t been able to work her charms on the proprietor. It also gave me an in when it came to engaging the woman in conversation. Once I got someone talking about their favorite subject, they tended to give things away without thinking about it.

  I made my way down the stairs, again sticking close to the wall.

  I had already seen quite a bit of the first floor. There was a frilly foyer that led into the parlor, where I’d learned I really didn’t like all liquor. The dining room was large, with a nice-sized table covered in white lace. Mary Jo had cleaned up. Everything was pin perfect neat. There were two bedrooms on this level, and I would have to find a way to search them tomorrow. There had been talk of a backgammon tournament. It would serve Dev right to have to spend an afternoon playing board games.

  Then, there it was, right off the kitchen, a little door. It could have been a little laundry room or maybe a pantry, but I seriously doubted it. This one had a brand new shiny lock. I smiled in the darkness. I really liked locks. They were like big neon signs pointing the way to treasure. A shiny lock was one big X marking the spot.

  The light in the kitchen came on, and I whirled around. Maybe I wasn’t as good as I thought I was since I hadn’t heard anyone at all.

  “Oh, it’s you, Mrs. O’Malley.” Mary Jo wore a long robe that probably covered an old-time nightgown. I wondered where Mr. Renfro was and those four blessed children.