Thieves Like Us

by Starr Ambrose

  Beneath the red circle on his cheek bone, Easy’s face went pale.

  “I warned you, Easy. I said you could try, and I told you what would happen if you got caught.” He looked at Janet again. “Police,” he reminded her.

  She ran for the bedroom, made her report, and returned to the hallway with the cordless phone, hoping to take out her anger on Easy before the cops hauled him away. But Rocky had it covered.

  He knelt beside Easy, who was trapped with the commode at his back. Rocky ran a hand over each side and down his legs, checking for weapons. “Have you taken on a new sideline, Easy?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Are you a Peeping Tom now? Watching women in the shower?”

  Easy’s gaze flew to Janet, then back to Rocky as he shrank back farther. “No! I wasn’t watching her. I was just breaking in.”

  “While she was in here. A coincidence, then.”

  “Yes! I don’t give a fuck about your girlfriend, man.”

  “I see.” She’d expected to hear anger, but Rocky’s voice was surprisingly calm—unnaturally so. She didn’t blame Easy for being nervous. “You didn’t know she was in here?”

  “No! How would I know that?”

  “Oh, you couldn’t. Unless you heard the water running,” Rocky suggested. “That would be hard to miss. Or saw all the steam fogging up the skylight.”

  Easy tried to squeeze between the toilet and the vanity, but only managed to wedge himself against the toilet paper roll. Panic made him blink faster as he kept his eyes on Rocky. “I didn’t see her.”

  “You mentioned that. I’m just not sure I believe you.” Rocky rose to his feet, taking a few steps toward the tub and casting a casual glance toward the open skylight. Easy didn’t even try to make a break for it as he followed every move with his darting eyes. Rocky considered the opening above his head. “I guess you can’t see much with the skylight set so far in like that. Unless she was in the bathtub.” He looked to where she hovered in the doorway. “Did you stand by the bathtub, honey?”

  She shook her head no, scattering water droplets from the spiky, short ends of her hair. She was nearly as fascinated by his manner as Easy.

  “No? Well, that’s good. Because then we know he didn’t see anything. Maybe he really wasn’t trying to spy on you.” He wandered back to Easy and squatted in front of him, making direct eye contact. “But then again, maybe he was.” Before either Janet or Easy could react, Rocky pulled back a fist and slammed it into Easy’s jaw. Easy slumped against the base of the toilet, unconscious.

  Rocky stood, shrugging. “I guess we’ll never know.” He eyed Janet’s towel where it showed a good bit of cleavage. “Honey, maybe you could get dressed before the cops get here and I have to beat them up, too.”

  She nearly forgot she’d been standing there dripping wet. She trotted downstairs and collected her clothes, using the downstairs bathroom to dry off and get dressed. She finished just as Rocky let two police officers in the front door and escorted them upstairs. She followed.

  Easy was just coming around. One officer stepped forward to cuff him before he was alert enough to resist.

  “Don’t usually find burglars in bathrooms,” he said, eyeing the room as if looking for a hidden doorway.

  Rocky pointed at the recessed area in the ceiling above the tub. “He came in through the skylight here. I think he must have hit his head on the toilet when he jumped down. Stupid criminals, eh?”

  She couldn’t help feeling a small thrill about the whole thing. They were all fine, and Rocky’d had the situation under control the whole time. So she didn’t understand why he acted so withdrawn. He hardly spoke to her, staring straight ahead as he drove, his face expressionless.

  She supposed he felt responsible because he’d practically dared Easy Joey to do it. Rocky was good at taking responsibility for things—whether he should or not. He took it on himself to reclaim his family’s lost jewelry and coins. He kept her safe from an elusive jewel thief, not to mention a couple of angry Colombians, while trying to track down the Pellinni Jewels. Ben had told her that even the FBI probably couldn’t have traced the jewelry to Sleazy’s pawnshop.

  He even tried to protect her heart. She’d known it when he’d joked about letting her use him again. The phrase had been useful for establishing an emotional distance between them. But now it grated against her happiness, making it feel vaguely salacious.

  The reason why was obvious—she liked him. A lot. The intimacy and the connection she felt now were things she’d never had with Banner. Being with Rocky was comfortable, but it was also new and unexpected so she needed to move slowly. She knew now it was time to take the plunge, though, and talk about how this had turned into something more, something with the potential for a relationship.

  Saying it out loud would be the perfect way to punch through that preoccupied frown that made him look so grim. She smiled as she imagined his reaction.

  She waited until they stood before the huge double doors of the Westfield mansion. In the porch light he looked even more serious. Her heart skipped like a kid’s on Christmas morning. Just when he was feeling dejected about her lack of commitment, she would tell him exactly what he’d waited to hear, that he meant something to her.

  “Janet—”

  “Rocky—”

  They spoke at the same time, and she laughed. “You go first.” She hugged her confession to herself a little longer, her excitement building.

  He didn’t look happy about going first, but he gave her a brief nod and went on. “I can’t see you anymore.”

  For one stunned moment her ears buzzed like a swarm of hornets in her head. “You can’t—what?”

  The look on his face said it all. She’d heard him right.

  He touched her face, a tender caress that brushed her cheek and gave him an excuse to avoid eye contact as he watched his own hand. “We can’t see each other anymore, at least not for now. Being with me is putting you in more danger. I won’t allow it.”

  “You won’t allow it?” He was tossing her aside, and she had no say in it.

  “I thought I was keeping you safe, but it’s just the opposite. Twice now you’ve been in my house and been right in harm’s way. The first time you ended up in the emergency room. This time I don’t even want to think about what Easy might have done if I hadn’t caught him.”

  She forced herself to stay rational, trying not to give in to the frustration bubbling inside her. “You did catch him. He’s not a problem any more.”

  “He’s not a problem tonight. In a couple days he’ll post bail and be out looking for revenge.”

  Annoyance seeped around the edges of her cool facade. She dodged his fingers as he smoothed a lock of her hair, causing him to drop his hand in confusion.

  She spoke slowly, forcing herself to stay calm. “So, you can’t see me because of Easy Joey.”

  “Yes. And because of the Colombians who have followed us everywhere and slashed my tires to show they don’t appreciate my presence. And because of the thief who wants the Pellinni Jewels so badly he followed us to Sleazy’s and killed him. Don’t forget that part.”

  She folded her arms and pressed them against the painful knot in her stomach. “If the thief still thinks I might have the jewels, how does not seeing you keep me safe?”

  “It’s worse because of me, and you know it. I never even told you about the Detroit Barber Shop and the scarier-than-hell Russian who thinks he’s my best friend. Or God knows how many more disgruntled thieves besides Easy who have a score to settle with me. I don’t want any part of that world to touch you, Janet, and it has. If I leave, it goes with me. I’ll still try to track down the Pellinni Jewels and figure out who is after them, but I need you safely out of it. Safely away from me.”

  She stated the obvious because it seemed to have escaped him. “You don’t think I might worry about your safety, too?”

  “There’s no need to. I know these people, Janet. You don’t.” He d
arted an annoyed glance at her tightly pressed lips. “I don’t understand why you’re mad that I want to keep you safe.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Maybe because you aren’t giving me much credit here. What happened to all that stuff about how competent I was when I escaped the drug dealers in Colombia and when I went after Banner?”

  He ran a hand through his hair, looking thoroughly frustrated. “You were competent. And lucky, Janet. I’m not willing to count on luck this time. I had—still have—connections to an underworld that is both illegal and violent. The closer I get to finding the jewels, the more danger it puts you in. Easy is only a small part of it. God knows how many other cockroaches will come crawling out of the woodwork, looking for the jewels, thinking they’re on the right track because they recognize me.” He touched her arm tentatively. “Please try to understand, Janet.”

  The anguish behind his words softened her anger a bit, but not enough. “I resent being stashed away when I could be helping.”

  “Or getting yourself killed.”

  “Not likely.”

  “I’m not willing to take that chance.” His voice was hard and unequivocal.

  She wasn’t going to win this argument. “Fine,” she ground out, as if conceding to being locked away. “We won’t see each other.”

  Saying it out loud made it suddenly real. The anger drained away, leaving her feeling hollow. A couple hours ago his lovemaking had warmed both her body and her soul, making her think maybe she wasn’t irreparably damaged from her sick relationship with Banner.

  “I’ll miss you,” she admitted, the tightness in her throat making it barely more than a whisper. Before she could get too emotional about it, she turned to leave.

  He grabbed her arm, spinning her back so close she felt the heat of his body and had to tip her head back to meet his gaze.

  “Nothing’s changed between us.” His words vibrated into her, deep and strong. “Not the way I feel about you and not what we have together.” His gaze burned into her for several seconds before his mouth came down over hers in a searing kiss that took her breath away. She clung to his shoulders until he pulled back, leaving her staring and confused.

  He ran a gentle hand over her cheek. “Good night.”

  She swallowed. “ ’Night.” Slowly this time, she turned to unlock the massive front door and slipped inside without looking back.

  She leaned against the closed door. She had seriously underestimated Rocky when she’d thought she could have a safe, easy relationship with him. Whatever they had—and she wasn’t ready to use the scary “L” word—was too powerful to be casual.

  And too incredible to be put on hold. If he thought she would agree to that, then he’d underestimated her, too.

  Not seeing Rocky until the remaining Pellinni Jewels and the diamonds were found wasn’t going to work. There was only one solution—she’d just have to find them herself. And quickly.

  Chapter

  Thirteen

  Rocky wasn’t happy with his decision, but at least Janet would be safe. That was all that mattered. All that should matter, anyway. The ache in the center of his heart mattered, and that would take a long time to get used to. He missed her already. He drove home, trying to keep his mind on traffic and only partially succeeding. He couldn’t get her stricken look—or the anger beneath it—out of his mind. He hoped like hell it wouldn’t take long to track down the jewels and diamonds.

  He would find the jewels, but his priority was getting the criminals off her back. It was no less important to him than when he’d given up three years of his life to track down his grandparents’ stolen heirlooms. With one exception—their lives hadn’t been in danger if he failed.

  The Colombians would only be patient for so long before they came for revenge. Drug dealers weren’t the forgiving sort. Neither was the thief who was after the Pellinni Jewels. He was already desperate enough to kill Sleazy. It was damned inconvenient, too, since Sleazy was the only tie they’d had to the stolen jewels. No one else knew anything except Banner, who would rather see Janet die than give her information.

  Finding the diamonds might not even be possible— they were untraceable and easily converted into cash. The Pellinni Jewels would be easier to find, if someone were dumb enough to brag about having them. But who would advertise the purchase of the hottest cache of jewelry to hit the black market in years? The thief might as well call up the FBI and surrender. Or hold an auction, since every thief in the world would be targeting him, waiting for their chance to—

  The idea hit Rocky with such force that he missed the light change to red and nearly rear-ended the guy in front of him. As soon as it turned green, he pulled his Lexus into a deserted strip mall, letting his pulse return to normal while his mind created a plan.

  It would be dangerous. It would mean taking another dip into the local underworld cesspool of thieves and killers. It would mean dealing with Vasili and the Russian Mafia.

  But it just might work.

  Vasili raised one bushy eyebrow high enough to make it disappear under the wild tangle of hair at his forehead. “You want me play trick on customers? You crazy man.” He leaned over the glass countertop, staring into Rocky’s eyes. “I run business. You want ruin my reputation? I work hard, earn respect.”

  There was no way Rocky would tell a member of the Russian Mafia that he was full of shit, even if he was.

  “Your reputation won’t be ruined.” How do you ruin a reputation as a brutal, conniving mob boss? It’s not like Rocky was asking him to buy Girl Scout cookies. “In fact, it might be improved. You’d be the envy of every other”—he searched for a polite euphemism for Vasili’s particular criminal activities—“dealer in used jewelry. Who wouldn’t want to host a bidding war on the Pellinni Jewels? How often do you get an opportunity like that?”

  “Never. Is not my business.” The Russian straightened, crossing his burly arms across his chest. “I buy jewelry. I export jewelry. Simple. What you think this is, Sotheby’s? You think I sell to highest bidder? Pfft. You know better.” Vasili’s scowl said Rocky should at any rate. “Someone want buy from me, they pay my price. No auction.” He made a cutting motion with the side of his hand, a visual aid more convincing than his blunt words. “No deal. Bad what you call it— example?”

  “Bad precedent?”

  “Precedent.” He thrust a finger at Rocky. “Right.”

  He’d known Vasili wouldn’t like the idea, but it was the only way Rocky could think to draw out the thief who had trashed Janet’s place. As much as he wanted to believe the guy wouldn’t hurt her, he knew it wasn’t true. This guy had already killed once looking for the Pellinni Jewels. He would do it again.

  “It wouldn’t be an auction, Vasili. You’d just pretend it was in order to lure the guy in. It’s like a sting. You put out the word that you have the rest of the Pellinni Jewels and that you’ll make them available for the right price. He’ll contact you.”

  Vasili snorted. “Him and ten others.”

  “No, I don’t think so. Most of them don’t want something they might have to hold onto for a long time before they find the right buyer. I wouldn’t have. They want a fast turnaround, the faster the better.” He was telling Vasili what he already knew, but he needed to be persuaded. “But one guy out there will be interested, because he already has a buyer. I figure it’s the person they were stolen from in the first place, but it doesn’t matter who, it only matters that someone wants to get their hands on the rest of the Pellinni Jewels.”

  “And if he comes here, so what? I got no jewels.”

  “If he comes here, he’s mine.” Rocky wasn’t sure what he would do with the thief, but it would probably include some persuasive martial arts. He couldn’t involve the police or FBI in their sting, and not just because Vasili would have him sliced and diced and lost at sea. Their mark wouldn’t be breaking any laws; expressing an interest in stolen jewelry wasn’t a crime.

  Vasili looked intrigued with his answer.
“You want beat crap out of this guy?”

  “Yes.” That, and give his name to Ben and the FBI. A little unofficial harassment couldn’t hurt.

  “Sounds personal.”

  “It is.”

  “Huh.” Angling his head, he contemplated Rocky before speaking. “I heard about guy at Treasures store.” Another lift of his bushy eyebrow. “Shot dead.”

  “Yeah, I know. I found him.”

  “Yeah?” His interest rose. “That personal, too? You do him?”

  “Hell no!”

  Vasili gave a dismissive snort. “No loss to human race if you did.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Okay, I believe you.” He patted Rocky’s cheek as if he were a small child. “You good boy now, eh? Obey laws?”

  “Absolutely.” Especially the ones about murder, which he’d never considered breaking. Maybe Vasili couldn’t conceive of refraining from killing someone simply because it was illegal.

  “So who did him?”

  Rocky shrugged. “Whoever wants the rest of the jewels. The same guy I expect will contact you if you put out the word that you have them.”

  “So I should try get murdering, scum-sucking bastard to come here? This is your great plan?”

  He gave him a hard look. “Why not? This guy murdered a fence.”

  “Like I said, no big loss.”

  “You don’t want to know who he is?”

  Vasili shrugged. “Why I care? He knocks off my competition. Plus I got plenty protection. No one stupid enough to try kill me.”

  No one without a death wish, which was why Rocky needed to arouse the Russian’s pride. “So this guy looking for the jewels gets to decide who lives and dies? I don’t know . . . seems bad for business, Vasili. Intruding on your turf, deciding he can eliminate someone if he wants to.” He shrugged. “Sets a bad precedent.”

  Vasili squinted at him over his fat cheeks, his eyes calculating pools of darkness amid acne-scarred skin. Rocky tried to look unconcerned.

  “You do this because of girl, eh?”

  Where’d that come from? “Like I told you last time, she’s a friend and she got dragged into this.”