To Steal a Groom

by Cora Caraway

  Something crackles on Nic’s end. “There’s a car in the garage for you. The black one, closest to the exit. You’ll find an earpiece on the driver’s seat. For god’s sake, don’t sit on it.”

  Damon glowers. “Give me the phone. I want to talk to them.”

  “Is someone else with you?” Nic whispers. “Is it Damon?”

  “I’m going to hang up now,” I say.

  “Grace, there’s something else you need to know.”

  Damon holds out his hand, demanding my phone. My finger hovers over the end call button. I can’t let him know who’s calling.

  “I don’t want them to say another word to you,” the prince says.

  The phone crackles. “Your p—”

  “Goodbye.” I shut my phone. Nic can tell me later.

  Damon sighs, his shoulders slumping as tension subsides. “You shouldn’t have to talk to them if you don’t want to. Let me get you a new phone, a new number. A fresh start. What do you say?”

  “That sounds great. But first, I need to talk to them. Just once more.”

  “Now?” His expression is pained. “Can’t it wait?”

  “No.” I take one of his hands in mine. “But after this, we’ll have all the time in the world. I promise.”

  “And then you’ll tell me what this is all about?”

  I bite my lip so hard I’m afraid it might bleed. “I will.” Grabbing my bag, I walk from the room. I can feel his eyes on me. It’s wrenching, but I have to leave. How else will I know if I’m worthy of him?

  I make a quick detour through the kitchens. If I’m going to break into Natalia’s villa, I need to be prepared. I only have to open three refrigerators to find what I need, and it’s wrapped in paper too. How convenient. Slipping it into my bag, I head to the garage.

  The black car is right where Nic said it would be. The doors are unlocked, and the keys are in the ignition. Perfect. I slide in, careful not to crunch the earpiece. Delicately, I put it on. “Hello?”

  “Grace! It’s Gabe. Can you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear.” I wince. “No need to shout.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t get a real lesson in how these ear-thingies work. Nic just shoved one in my ear and ran off.” He keeps babbling as I adjust the mirrors. “This makes me feel like a proper spy. Or at least some kind of top-secret operative. Oh, we should have call signs, don’t you think? I’ll be Flaming Peacock. What do you fancy? Princess Sparrow, maybe? FML, for Future Mrs. Lion?”

  “We don’t need call signs. Focus, Gabe. What did Nic tell you to do?”

  “You just don’t like my ideas,” he huffs. “I was only trying to make things more fun. You try watching for Natalia. World’s most boring job, if you ask me. You wouldn’t ask James Bond to do this shit. It’s insulting.”

  “Well, Nic and I aren’t exactly MI6. Do you see Natalia yet?”

  “Not yet. Nic thinks she’ll come to the palace, and advises you not to leave until she’s inside. Oh, she’s actually pulling in now. That’s convenient.”

  I check my bag. As usual, it has just what I need. A scarf, a wide-brimmed hat, and some sunglasses. No one should ever go anywhere without them, and not just for sun protection. I put them on.

  “Gabe, tell me when Natalia’s inside.”

  He sighs dramatically. “Yes, M. I don’t tell you how to do your job, do I?”

  “Do you have any idea how to do my job?”

  There’s a brief silence. “What is it?”

  “Get past a handful of armed guards, locked doors, vicious dogs, and potentially hacking a computer.”

  “Then no.” Gabe clears his throat. “What are you stealing, anyway?”

  It’s my turn to be silent.

  “Yeah, forget I asked. Suddenly, I don’t want to know.”

  “You’re the best, Gabe.”

  “I know. Natalia’s inside now. Good luck. Don’t let the mean old guards bite.”

  “Thanks. See you soon.” Pressing my finger to the earpiece, I mute it from my end. Gabe can let me know if something goes wrong, but he can’t hear me. Turning on the engine, I slip from the garage.

  I feel slightly more confident with my head and face covered. The hat, scarf, and sunglasses are more than a disguise; they’re like armor, and they give me the courage to wade into battle.

  My mind is completely blank as I cruise down the road. That’s much better than having too many thoughts, all jumbled together and creating chaos in my mind. I’ve done jobs like this so many times that I don’t need a plan. I just need to assess the situation and react. Easy as pie. I can do this.

  Fief Street appears much sooner than expected. My hands jitter on the steering wheel, though I’m sure it has nothing to do with the armed guards I’m about to face. The villa comes into view, its golden 18 dull in the dying light.

  No turning back now.

  My heart thumps as I pull up to the guardhouse. That’s no good. Breathe. I belong here. This is my house now.

  A guard raps on my window. I roll it down, throwing him a withering expression. I’m Vivian Fa, Natalia’s little sister. I deserve to be here as much as she does. Arching my neck, I try to summon my inner haughty brat.

  “What do you want?” I snap.

  The guard looks taken aback. “Sorry, Miss. I need you to state your name and business. And could you remove your sunglasses, please?”

  I stare at him like he’s stupid. “You don’t know who I am?”

  “I’m sorry, Miss, but I don’t. I can’t let you through without authorization.”

  “You must be new here.” I flip my hair. “I’m Vivian Fa. That should be more than enough authorization.” I look down at the large dog beside him. Meeting its gaze, I give it a baleful stare. It cowers behind the guard, tail between its legs.

  The guard hesitates. “Let me just call and check…”

  “If you want to keep your job with my family, you’ll open this gate five seconds ago.”

  “Of course, Miss Fa.” He bows, almost tripping over his dog’s leash. “I didn’t know you were scheduled to arrive today.”

  “It’s Lady Fa,” I say sharply as I roll through the gate, “and don’t you forget it.”

  I don’t wait to hear his apologies. Leisurely, I roll down the drive to the villa. Once I finally park, I lay my head back on the headrest. I only need a moment to compose myself. At least the hard part’s over. My imitation was probably unfair to Vivian, but she is related to Natalia. She can’t be that wonderful.

  Allowing myself one more calming breath, I step out of the car. The villa glows with warm light, but when I last visited no one else seemed to be living here. I’m sure Nic would have told me if Natalia had guests. She probably just left all the lights on. Maybe she’s afraid of the dark?

  My earpiece crackles. I shake my head, and the noise ceases. How cheap are these things? I look back furtively at the entrance, and find that the lone guard has returned to his post. All clear.

  The front door isn’t even locked. I pause in the entryway, listening for any hint of life in the villa. There’s a clicking on the tiles as a tiny greyhound trots around the corner, his tail wagging furiously.

  Did Natalia replace her dog? I squint at him. “Are you Booboo?”

  He jumps up, placing his delicate paws on my thigh. I catch the tag on his collar, engraved with his name.

  “It looks like you’re the same dog, anyway,” I murmur. “I expected you to try to eat my ankles. I guess you’re not as crazed without Natalia around. We have that in common.” I pull the cool parcel from my purse, unwrapping the paper. The smell makes Booboo lick his chops.

  “Do you like that?” I set the steak on the floor, and the dog’s tail goes wild as he sniffs it. “I planned to distract you with it, though I guess that’s really necessary. But you deserve this steak more than anyone, being trapped with Natalia all day.”

  Booboo licks the steak, tail wagging furiously. I guess I’ll leave him to it. As quietly as I can, I walk in
to the next room.

  There’s a whine near my feet. Booboo lays his head over my shoe.

  “What is it?” I whisper.

  He rolls over, showing me his belly.

  I can’t resist giving him a few scratches. His eyes close in happiness as his tail thumps against the tile.

  “Sorry, buddy, that’s all for now. I have work to do.” I walk away, expecting him to return to his steak. Instead, he sticks to me like glue, keeping pace as I tiptoe through the house. How desperate for attention is this poor beast?

  “Fine,” I whisper, “you can help. Just keep quiet.”

  His tongue lolls as he looks up at me with adoring eyes.

  Briefly, I consider rescuing him as well. But my life is complicated enough right now. Besides, Reggie would probably eat him as a snack.

  A dark hallway lies before me. The door at the end is shut, though light spills out from the crack underneath. Booboo stops, staring at the door.

  “What is it?” I whisper.

  “Grace?”

  The sound in my ear makes me jump.

  “Grace, it’s Nic.”

  I lean against the wall until my heart rate slows. “Are you trying to scare the crap out of me? If so, it’s working.”

  “Sorry. You were out of range. Are you in?”

  “I am.” I look down at Booboo, who wags his tail. “I would be even further along if you hadn’t interrupted me.”

  “Do you want more apologies? I’m only trying to help.”

  Careful not to make anything creak, I continue down the hallway. “This part is my job. I don’t need any more help.”

  The earpiece crackles as if channeling Nic’s impatience. “Why are you so stubborn? I only have one last thing to tell you.”

  “What?” I wrap my hand around the door handle. “What could possibly be so important? Just tell me, then leave me alone.”

  I throw open the door. The two occupants look up, startled. Desiree lounges on a couch, eating grapes. Rex seems caught in the act of examining the locked door of a cabinet a bit too closely.

  The earpiece gives a low whine. “Your parents are here.”

  I mute him so hard I nearly box my own ear. The three of us stare at each other for a long moment.

  Desiree is the first to break the silence. “What are you doing here, darling? Are you a friend of Natalia’s?”

  “I could ask you the same question.” My brain feels like it’s working overtime, trying hard to process how the hell my parents ended up here, of all places.

  Desiree pops a grape into her mouth. “She did invite us over.”

  “To her villa?” I ask stupidly.

  “Yes, dear. But she also invited us to Lions. Very kind of her. I don’t know how we ever could have afforded the plane tickets ourselves.”

  I slump into the nearest chair. Booboo climbs onto my lap, but I ignore him. It all makes sense now. That’s how my parents found me. How they crossed an ocean, and how they gained entry to the palace. I grit my teeth as I imagine how gleeful Natalia must be at causing all this drama. Just thinking about all the money and time she devoted to this makes me want to punch something. And her face is too far away.

  “You never answered me, Grace.” There’s a whining edge to Desiree’s voice. “Is Natalia your friend?”

  “There’s a long list of reasons as to why we are most certainly not friends.” I say the words slowly to keep from shouting them. “Two of the biggest are in this room.” I rise from the chair, dislodging a yelping Booboo. Pacing the room, I try to remember to breathe.

  Rex takes a seat, lazily swinging one leg over the other, like he’s about to watch a soap opera. “If you’re not friends, then why are you in her house?”

  I freeze. Not only has Natalia gotten my parents close enough to torment me in person, she’s letting them stay in her villa. She probably thinks of them as insurance, extra security so I can’t steal the tape of the engagement party aftermath. I don’t care. Let them try to stop me.

  “Why am I here?” I ask. “I’m going to steal something from her. Just like you taught me, Dad.”

  He crosses his arms. “We owe her a lot. We can’t just let you take her things.”

  “Besides,” Desiree chimes in, “didn’t you just chastise me when I tried to steal three measly pieces of silverware from your precious new family? Where are your newfound morals now?”

  “There’s no honor among thieves.” I give Rex a pointed look. “That’s what you told me the first time the cops threatened to take me to jail, after you dove into a dumpster instead of helping me. Or have you forgotten that, like you conveniently forget so many things?”

  Rex sighs. “Why do you have to keep dredging up the past? I told you, I had three warrants at the time. What good would I have been to you in jail? And why does that matter now, anyway?”

  I can’t help that my hands form fists at his words. “You were supposed to be my father, then and now. You’re supposed to help your daughter when she needs you.”

  “What if I am helping you now?” He leans back in his chair. “Maybe you’ll regret stealing from Natalia. Besides, I thought you disowned me as your father. Isn’t that what all that yelling at the bar was about?”

  “Grace?” Gabe’s voice whispers to me over the earpiece. “Grace! Can you hear me?”

  Even when I turn up the volume, I can barely hear him. Maybe I shouldn’t have smacked my earpiece so hard to mute Nic. Cursing under my breath, I flick the switch that enables Gabe to hear me.

  “What is it?” I ask.

  Desiree sits up. “Who are you talking to?” she asks sharply.

  “Natalia,” Gabe says over the static. “She knows. I was watching her, in case she tried anything funny. She asked a guard where you were, and he told her she just missed you.”

  “Shit!”

  “That’s what she said. Anyway, she ran back to her car. I think she knows you too well for your own good.”

  I groan. Just when I thought this job couldn’t get any more complicated.

  From her place on the lounge chair, Desiree perks up. “What is it?”

  She’s only interested because it’s causing me distress. My mother, if anything, is predictable.

  “So she’s on her way now?” I ask Gabe.

  “She wishes. I may not know much about cars, but I know it’s not good if a bunch of wires under the hood mysteriously disappear.”

  “That’s not good enough.” I’m trying not to panic, but it’s not really working. “She’ll just order someone to drive her here.”

  “About that … Unfortunately, only one driver is available. And Rashad told me that his wheels are in desperate need of replacement. Why, they could go flat at any time. Oh, wouldn’t you know. They didn’t even make it down the palace drive.”

  I can’t help but laugh. “You’re a miracle worker, Gabe.”

  “I know. You can thank me later with a trip to Paris or something. But Rashad can’t delay forever, so get going.”

  “I will. Thanks.” I end the call and turn toward the door at the far end of the room. It leads upstairs, to the computer room. Striding up to it, I test the handle. Locked, of course.

  “Natalia’s coming back then?” Rex asks.

  “If she can.” I inspect the lock. This one shouldn’t be too hard to pick. I reach for my tools.

  “So she knew you’d try to steal from her.”

  I select my favorite tension wrench. “I’m not surprised she’s been expecting me. I am amazed that she thought she could outsmart me. That’s nobles for you though. Arrogant.” Unlike commoners, of course. That’s the three of us, a happy humble family. I slide the pick into the keyhole.

  “You’re going to go through with this?” Rex asks. “Even though she’ll know exactly who took whatever it is you’re after.”

  “Yep.” The pins dance under my pick, save for one stubborn holdout.

  “What about the law?” Rex asks. “Honor? Decency? Aren’t you all about tho
se now?”

  I cease fighting with the pin to look up at him. “Do you think we’re the only family who disregards those things? Why do you care, anyway?”

  He doesn’t answer, but it’s just as well. He’s probably only trying to distract me.

  The stubborn pin finally sets, and the rest fall into place behind it. The lock gives a faint click, admitting defeat.

  “You used to be able to pick a lock a lot faster than that,” Rex says. “You’re getting rusty.”

  I put my tools away carefully, resisting the urge to chuck them at his head. Turning the knob, I push the door open.

  Rising abruptly, Desiree hurries toward me.

  “Are you going to try to stop me?” I cross my arms.

  “Oh no, dear.” She stops just short of me, eyeing my left hand. “I’ve changed my mind. We’ll help you … for that.” Her finger, capped with a talon of a fake nail, points to the diamond.

  “You want my engagement ring?” I twist it around my finger, feeling my heart twist in tandem.

  “No dear, you’re the one who wants something that belongs to our host. The question is, just how much do you want it?”

  Rex stands beside her, cocking an eyebrow to echo the question. I guess he’s already forgotten his talk of honor.

  I slide the ring up my finger, imagining it gone. I don’t need a diamond—no one does—but this was a gift from Damon. He picked it out, hoping I’d like it. But if I don’t give up this ring, and my parents succeed in keeping me from the tape … Well, I might end up without a ring in that scenario too.

  “Tick tock,” Rex says. “You’re running out of time.”

  “What’s it to you, anyway?” Desiree asks. “You could easily get a new one. We, on the other hand, struggle every day just to eat.”

  She should have stuck with my dad’s contribution. Much more succinct, and not a huge lie. I slip the ring off my finger, holding it in my palm. Could I give this up? What would Damon think of me then?

  Desiree looks at it, her eyes shining with greed. “Just imagine, Rex. We can pawn this, and add it to Damien’s ten mil. We’ll never have to work again.”

  I close my fingers over my ring. “I think you’re forgetting something about the money. Oh, and his name is Damon, by the way. But you won’t get half unless I say it’s okay. And I won’t, unless you help me now. So which would you rather have: five million, or whatever you might be able to pawn this ring for?”