Stealing His Thunder (Masters of Adrenaline)

by Sparrow Beckett

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Fox said, holding out his hand.

  Her grandpa grabbed it and pulled him in close, then whispered in his ear, “Take care of my little girl.”

  Addison’s eyes welled up as she grinned at them. She hadn’t seen a true glimpse of her grandfather in months.

  “He likes you,” she told Fox as they left her grandma to get settled in. She’d never be able to thank Fox enough after seeing her gran’s face light up when she could finally live in peace with her husband.

  He smiled. “Your grandma reminds me of mine. Tells it like it is, but has a heart of gold.” At the lobby, he stopped. “I’ll grab the van from around back and pull up. You look exhausted.”

  “Okay.” She collapsed on a chair while she waited, then remembered the letter from school in her purse.

  Her belly fluttered as she took it out of her purse and opened it. She scanned the page quickly. Key words jumped out at her. Failing. Scholarship. Academic probation.

  “Fuuuuck,” she murmured.

  This was bad. Really bad.

  What the hell was wrong with her? She’d been so wrapped up in the world of stealing cars that she’d lost sight of everything else. The STEM foundation had awarded her the scholarship, out of thousands of applicants, and this was how she repaid them? Wasting their money, wasting her potential, blowing her future . . .

  And her family—they’d been so proud of her accomplishment. She was ruining everything she’d worked so hard for just because something more exciting had come up. The situation with her grandparents had shaken her, and living life had suddenly seemed more important than preparing for the future, but she hadn’t realized how far she’d let things slide.

  She wanted to smack herself. She wanted to cry.

  But Fox had been kind enough to loan her the money to help her family, and she’d promised to pay it back. This was the first time she’d felt hopeful about her grandparents’ situation in . . . forever. Not only did she feel obligated to start paying him back right away, despite him insisting she didn’t have to, but she enjoyed working with him. Now she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. How could she find the time to do everything—concentrate on school, and on Fox, and his business? It was impossible.

  She had to choose.

  Her parents would tell her to choose school over them, but that didn’t seem right. But she couldn’t ignore the scholarship and the opportunity she’d been given either. Even her grandma would be disappointed if she gave that up.

  The pressure was overwhelming and making her sick to her stomach.

  Fox pulled up to the roundabout and met her gaze through the window. Her legs felt like lead. What should she do? Guilt ate at her, tightening her chest and making her feel like she might be crushed under the weight of this decision. She needed space. Time to think without being tempted by Fox.

  She walked to the van in a haze then buckled into the passenger seat.

  “Are you hungry? I was thinking we could try the new Thai place near the house.”

  “Um.” She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to think of an escape plan. “I’m not feeling well. Could you just bring me home?”

  She stared straight ahead, avoiding his gaze. If she looked at him, she’d fall apart. And she desperately needed to hold it together. Just a little longer. Until she could figure out what to do, and where her priorities should be.

  “Sure,” he said. “Are you okay?”

  Biting her lip, she nodded. “I just feel a headache coming on,” she lied. “I’ll be okay if I lie down for a while.”

  He was looking at her, but she didn’t have the heart to start explaining. If she did, she was pretty sure he’d tell her the same thing her parents would—the same thing he’d been telling her all along. That he was bad news, and that she had a bright future ahead of her that didn’t involve stealing cars. Hell, he’d tell her to forget her debt to him too.

  But that wasn’t right. Not paying him back would make her feel dirty.

  “All right.” He pulled onto the road and drove toward her apartment. “Text me when you feel better though, okay?”

  Fox had turned out to be more of a distraction than she’d expected. He hadn’t been a fling at all. And falling for him was dangerous in more ways than one.

  “Okay.”

  Chapter 14

  She wasn’t answering.

  He’d texted. He’d left a voice mail. He’d driven by her place and waited until she walked by a window. When he saw her looking healthy and unconcerned, he’d left. She was safe and choosing not to respond to him. It gave him some relief that nothing crazy had happened to her, but it would have been nice if she’d at least shot him a text to break things off rather than ghosting him.

  Around him, he was vaguely aware of the chaotic milling of people that was typical for the club area of Fitte, but it was all background noise while he flipped through his texts with Addison. He could feel Luke and Atlas watching him, but he just wasn’t in the mood to be here tonight.

  It had been three full days since he’d helped move her grandmother, and he couldn’t figure out what he’d done wrong. Had it all been about the money? Because it was really starting to look that way. He kept catching himself trying to hope she was just busy, but they’d developed the kind of relationship where they texted back and forth all day. Silence for days was a pretty clear message.

  He was far more angry and hurt than he would have thought possible. He’d really liked her—still really liked her—but apparently he’d been deluding himself into thinking his feelings were reciprocated.

  Had she freaked out after introducing him to her family? Had they hated him but been polite until afterward? He’d thought things had gone well. Maybe he’d been too chummy with them. There were ways of telling him these things without just disappearing though. Had it been something unfixable? Unforgivable? If she couldn’t even voice her concerns to him, if she couldn’t even trust him that much, maybe ghosting him was for the best. But hell, he hated not having any closure. Not knowing why was the worst of it. He tried to be callous and not care . . . but he cared, all right. Too fucking much.

  “Earth to Fox.” Luke snapped his fingers in front of Fox’s face.

  Fox jerked his head back in annoyance. “Fuck off.”

  “So grumpy when you’re not getting any pussy.” Luke shook his head in disapproval. “We didn’t decide to come here so you could sulk. How long are you going to wait for her?”

  “It’s only been three days, dickbag.” Atlas chuckled. “Leave him be.”

  Fox stared off into the surroundings of the club section of Fitte, wondering what it would have been like to bring Addison, even though he’d vowed not to. Here and there masochists and submissives were tied to pipes protruding from walls, and to overhead pulleys.

  There was no opulence in this part of the hotel, just a sterile, industrial environment, like some sort of steampunk laboratory torture chamber. Men and women being flogged, tickled, whipped, tortured. Submissives knelt at their dominants’ feet. People watched, talked, made out. Some drank, although no one was drunk. Danced. The heavy metal that came from the speakers was quieter in the seating areas. The only time it got deafening was when a band, like Fitte, performed. Playing with her here would have been fun, especially with the option of taking her upstairs again.

  Wishing he could have spent more time with her was stupid and pathetic if his money was all she’d wanted.

  Several pretty little kinksters had been checking them out since they’d arrived but Fox found himself comparing them to Addison. They were lacking, at least for him.

  A diminutive redhead in pigtails and a schoolgirl uniform was shyly watching Atlas, but giving a definite “come hither” vibe.

  “Just go, for fucksakes,” Fox grumbled. “I don’t need babysitting.”

  “
Looks like she does, though.” Luke laughed.

  “It’s so hard to resist a woman who knows how to do the naughty schoolgirl shtick so well.” Atlas got to his feet, and Fox and Luke snickered when her eyes went very round. Apparently Atlas was bigger than she’d anticipated. When he approached her, she backed a step, but then held her ground.

  Good. Atlas enjoyed a woman who’d stand up to him. She was smiling up . . . way up . . . at him and twirling her hair. Ugh. Fox was glad his own bedroom was in the basement. He wouldn’t have to listen to them tonight.

  “How is that going to work?” Luke winced.

  “Carefully, I’m guessing.”

  “Slowly and with lots of lube.” Geir grimaced and sat down with them. The club owner swept his long blond hair back from his eyes. “He’s going to break that bit of fluff. And where’s your woman, Fox? I was hoping she’d be here with you so I could ask to borrow her.”

  “You know that’s not how things are. I don’t own her. She’s a free woman. One that’s not texting me back at the moment.”

  Geir’s grin was vaguely threatening. “Too bad I don’t know her whole name then.” He slung a companionable arm around Fox’s shoulder. “I like a girl who isn’t shy about worshiping cock in public places.”

  Like Fox needed that reminder.

  “I didn’t know you brought her here,” Luke said, splaying a hand over his heart like he was wounded.

  “Just for a tattoo. This nosy fucker caught us in the hallway.” Fox leaned in and sniffed Geir’s hair. “You smell purdy,” he teased.

  “If I run out of women, I’ll give you a call.” Geir kissed his temple then got to his feet. “I liked Addison, but not texting back is pretty clear, my friend. Don’t wait around like a hopeful little subby. Plenty of pussy here.”

  “Yeah, but none of the women here are as pretty as you, Geir,” Fox shot back.

  “True,” Geir agreed. “But I don’t get the impression you’d like being my sweet little pain slut, so you’d best set your sights on someone else.” He winked and wandered back into the milling crowd. A moment later a server came with a beer he hadn’t ordered.

  “From Master Geir,” she insisted, when he tried to refuse. He took the beer and thanked her.

  “Does he feel sorry for me or is he wooing me?” Fox asked Luke, taking a swallow of the beer.

  “Maybe this is his way of letting you down easy,” his cousin replied.

  “He should call Addison and give her some breakup tips, then.”

  A guy about their age approached their table, spooking two girls who’d been sidling closer. His casual work attire made him stand out in the room full of leather and latex. With his navy button-down shirt and khaki pants he looked like an extra from an office movie, right down to the thick-rimmed glasses.

  “Fox?” he asked, looking directly at him.

  The man didn’t seem familiar. Hopefully, Marcel hadn’t sent him, but he didn’t have a hit man look about him. Then again, that would probably make him more terrifying and effective as a hit man.

  “Yes?”

  “My employer has sent me with a proposal for you.” He smiled faintly. “Mr. Smith has heard good things about your work.” The man handed Fox an envelope.

  Smith? Hell, he was a big customer, but he’d been working with Marcel for years. And why would he have tracked them down at Fitte instead of through the regular channels?

  “No business here,” Luke murmured, glancing around for Geir, Rune, or Loke. It was a strict club rule.

  “I am aware. It’s just a delivery.” The man inclined his head and walked away.

  Fox folded the envelope and slipped it into his pocket.

  “Interesting,” Luke murmured.

  “Unexpected,” Fox said, anticipation improving his mood. He glanced over at Atlas, wondering how long they’d have to stay for him to close the deal with little Miss Schoolgirl, but he’d ditched her and was walking up to the table.

  “What was that about?”

  “Smith has sent us a proposal.”

  Atlas frowned, then glanced around. “A bit too public.”

  “Yeah,” Fox agreed. “If we start working with him regularly, we’ll have to explain our boundaries.”

  “We leaving?” Atlas asked.

  “You not picking up?”

  His brother shrugged. “Got her number. Not sure if I’m interested. Our kinks don’t line up very well. She’s hot, but hot’s not everything.”

  No. No, it wasn’t.

  Addison had been perfect for him though—or so he’d thought at the time. Maybe she hadn’t been into any of it and had just submitted to his kinks to reel him in.

  But enough about her. It was time for business.

  ***

  “So he seriously wants us to bring all of these in on the same night?” Luke looked over the order sheet, brows raised. The letter they’d been given at Fitte had been a slip of paper with an email address. When Atlas had responded to the email, they’d received a coded order sheet, but it was a code they knew. There’d also been a short, cryptic message about Smith wanting to change sources. Marcel had either screwed up or pissed him off. “How the hell are we going to do all this?”

  Atlas stretched out on his couch, his muscular bulk taking up the entire piece of furniture. “We almost have to start now and hide some of them here until we get to the delivery date. Three would have been doable, even though it meant none of us would have a driver or backup. But six? Not in one night.”

  Fox frowned. It was a crazy job, but if things worked out with Smith, they’d get a foothold into his market, if they wanted it. They had a few weeks to figure things out. Marcel had been filling orders for Smith for months. They’d have to listen to some gossip to see if they could figure out what had happened.

  “I wish we could bring Addison in on this one.” Luke sighed and sat down on his own couch. “At least to take some of the pressure off so we don’t fuck this up. It could make or break us in the area.”

  “Absolutely not.” Fox grumbled. Said unexpectedly, her name was like a slap in the face. “We’ve been doing just fine here until now. We don’t need Smith’s business, but if we accept, we damn well better make it work or we’ll get a rep for not filling orders. As for Addison, I don’t want to bring her in on a job that’s going to piss off Marcel. The run-in that you had with Lurch two days ago would have been very different if it had been Addison instead of you, Luke.”

  Luke nodded, his gaze unfocused, probably recalling the confrontation he’d had with Marcel’s heavy. Lurch had threatened Luke and told him to leave town, but in typical Luke fashion, he’d ended up chatting with the guy and buying him a beer at a nearby dive bar.

  “True, but I really think they wouldn’t be paying any attention to us if it wasn’t for Marcel,” Luke said. “Even when Lurch stopped me, it was all ‘the boss this’, and ‘the boss that.’ I think we seriously insulted him when we declined his invitation to join his group, but the other guys don’t seem to care. There’s plenty of business for all of us here, but if we do this job it’s seriously going to piss him off.”

  “It’ll make him shit or get off the pot, I guess.” Fox shrugged. “I’m tired of tiptoeing around him.” He’d be damned if they were going to give in to the guy’s bullying tactics. If anything, Marcel going after their friends had made Fox less willing to play nice. Marcel needed to man up and come after him personally at some point so Fox could have the satisfaction of beating the crap out of him. The only problem was that he knew Marcel and his men were all packing, which made them far more dangerous than the typical bully. A fistfight wasn’t a problem, but guns were a different story.

  “What about stealing them ahead of time and stashing them here?” Atlas prompted again.

  “First of all, I’d rather not have stolen cars in the garage before the VIN number
s have been dealt with.” Fox said, rubbing his forehead. This whole job was giving him a headache. “It’s a bad idea. I also think the whole point is to make this almost impossible so they can see whether or not we’re any good. He wants good and fast, not sneaky.”

  Luke laughed. “Not sneaky? He does realize we’re car thieves, right?”

  “It’s like a test,” Fox said, more sure of that the more he thought about it. He paced the room. “Smith is giving us something hard for three guys to do in one night to see if we’re capable and motivated. I’m not sure how I feel about the idea of working for a guy who likes playing games like this, but I’d rather do this job and prove ourselves then turn down the next job from him if we don’t like him, rather than concede defeat now. If we say we’re not interested, he’ll assume we’re declining because we can’t fill the order.”

  “Well, we can’t let him think that.” Atlas said simply.

  “No,” Fox replied. “No, we can’t.”

  Chapter 15

  “Shit.” Addison fumbled with the signal disrupter she’d just built. Fox had tested her only a few weeks ago with a garage-door device, but this new one should work for any car with automatic locks.

  With a frustrated sigh, she keyed in the program code for a second time. This one was being exceedingly stubborn.

  “Come on,” she gritted through her teeth. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Though it was past midnight, it was sweltering shoved between a row of cars and a Dumpster in a casino employee parking lot.

  This was a testing ground. She wasn’t actually stealing anything tonight. She still had no contacts, no connections. Fox had taught her some, yes, but he’d left her with nothing useful in terms of making money.

  And after dodging him for the last week, she sure as hell wasn’t counting on him to continue helping her grandma. He might even demand she pay him back right away.

  She’d visited her grandparents today and couldn’t remember a time when they’d both looked so happy. Not since she was a young child. Her grandpa had more moments of clarity now that Grandma was living there with him. And her grandma hadn’t stopped grinning and thanking her “angels” who’d donated to the online fund she still thought existed. There was no way she could take all of their happiness away from them now. It would kill her.