Illusory Moon

by Renee Jordan

  “That cop shot at us.”

  Axel laughed. “The bullet missed me by feet. The idiot shouldn't even have fired. We weren't threats.”

  “Well, I did blind him,” giggled Lexie.

  “Yes, you did, Babe.” A big smile crossed his lips, his eyes bursting with pride. He kissed Lexie, and she threw her arms around his neck, her right hand still holding her beer bottle.

  I shifted as their noisy kiss echoed through the living room. I stared back at the money. A hundred thousand was still a lot of money. How long could I live on that? A few years easy. I could take the time to find a real job, maybe go to school. I didn't need the big score.

  I could even see how long I could make it last on the beach. Probably only a few years, but still, it would be wonderful. I didn't need another hit. It wasn't worth the risk. Axel and Lexie were too important to me. What if one of them died?

  “Mmm, you were so sexy,” Axel said.

  “You just want me to transform into Princess Leia again,” giggled Lexie. “Or did you want to be Draco Malfoy while I'm Hermione Granger? You could stick your wand in my cauldron and brew up a wicked potion.”

  Axel laughed. “Sounds good.” He took a swig of his beer. “Though I had another idea.” He whispered into Lexie's ear and she squealed in delight.

  “Oh, you bad boy.”

  “First, we need to take care of business.” Axel looked at me. “Are you in on my plan or not, Penny? We don't have the money to live off of the rest of our lives. But this one will get us there.”

  I bit my lip. I glanced at the money again. My stomach twisted. He was right.

  “Please, Penny, we'll need your help. It's so bold.” Her voice had a liquid heat to it. She squirmed on his lap. She liked dating a thief.

  “I don't know.” I picked up a wad of crisp twenties. A sharp, fresh money smell tickled my nose as I thumbed through them. “We have $300,000 between us. Surely we can make something work with that.”

  “I can't keep my Lexie supplied in all the finery she deserves on that,” protested Axel.

  “Yeah,” Lexie nodded. “I have fine tastes.”

  “We grew up poor in a trailer park. We do not have fine tastes.”

  “But we can learn them.” She bounced on Axel's lap. “Please, Penny, please. We'll need your magic. You're so much better at air then I am. I can't do much besides light magic. My fire's okay, but air is critical.”

  Her green eyes locked with mine. Her plump lower lip trembled. I groaned, unable to deny her. “Fine. What's the plan?”

  “Well, it takes place in Vegas,” Axel said.

  “So we'll get to have fun, too.” Lexie threw her arm holding her beer bottle high into the air. “The strip will remember us.”

  I winced. That would be bad.

  “What are we doing in Vegas?” My stomach sank. “We're not robbing a casino, are we?”

  “Of course not,” laughed Axel. “We're robbing an armored car taking the casino's money to the bank.”

  My jaw dropped.

  “It's brilliant,” Lexie said, her eyes dewy as she stared at Axel. “The Lucky Strike Casino isn't one of the big ones. It's in old Vegas, off the strip. But it still does business. Every day, an armored car carrying millions of dollars takes it to the bank.”

  “I've been thinking about this one for a while,” Axel said. “I got it all planned out. We hit the armored car and take the money. Cash, Penny. Not jewels we have to fence well below market value, but cold, hard, cash. Millions of dollars. One score and we're set for life.”

  “But...” I stood. “An armored car has guards with guns.” Fear squeezed my heart. “No.”

  “It's not that dangerous.” Axel waved his hand. “You two have your magic. You'll have the four guards bound up in nothing flat. Then we empty the armored trucks, take the money, and flee to paradise.”

  “Four guards?” My eyes bulged. “Are they armed?”

  “Yeah.” He shrugged his shoulders. “With you and Lexie's magic, that's no biggie.”

  “No biggie.” My voice had a shrill cast to it. The cop's gunshot cracked through my memory. “Four guards with guns. Great.”

  “Relax, Penny,” smiled Lexie. “We'll be fine. Axel's plan is fool proof.”

  “Fool proof,” I squeaked and shook my head. My breath came fast. I shuddered, trying to think. But all I could see was Lexie and Axel lying dead on the ground, shot by the guards.

  “See,” Lexie nodded. “We can do this, Penny. They won't be ready for a pair of witches. It's perfect. Axel has thought of everything.”

  “Right.” My mouth was so dry. I swallowed, wincing at the pain. “They'll just let us take the money. Nothing bad will go wrong.”

  “That's right.” Lexie slipped off of Axel's lap. “Come on, Penny. We need this. We'll be set. We can live the good life. It's why we left Jefferson, remember?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I will not do it.”

  “Don't be a cunt, Penny,” Axel groaned.

  “Axel,” Lexie said, rounding on him. “Don't call her that.”

  I glared at him, too.

  “Sorry.” he stood. “I am sorry. We need this, Penny. A huge score. It'll set us up for life.”

  “Will it? It never works that way in the movies.”

  “This isn't a movie,” Axel groaned. “Don't be stupid.”

  “Stupid?” My back straightened. “I'm the one being stupid? You want the three of us to rob four armed guards. Do you even think before you speak?”

  “I think all the time.” Axel's face twisted. He stepped towards me. “That's why we're here. That's why we have all this stuff. Because I think. I plan. I'm telling you, Penny, this will work. There won't be any problems.”

  “Like a cop driving by and hearing an alarm blare?” I folded my arms beneath my breasts. “Like those sort of problems?”

  “One bad thing has gone wrong out of all the jobs I planned, and you give me this much shit over it? I have this planned. I know the contingencies. We have the money to buy what we need to pull it off. All I need is for both of you to be on board.”

  “Please, Penny.” Lexie moved to me, her face blocking Axel.

  “No.” I broke away from her and marched to the door. “I'm not gonna help you get killed.”

  “Fucking bitch,” snarled Axel. “You're fucking up our future, Penny.”

  “I'm saving it,” I snapped back. “You're not as smart as you think, Axel. Your meathead plans have worked so far, but they didn't involve taking on armed men.”

  “Meathead?” Axel's fists clenched.

  “Honey,” Lexie said, moving to her boyfriend. She put her arms on her chest. “Why don't you go take a walk and cool off?”

  “I'm not the one that needs to cool off.”

  “Honey.” Her voice was firm. “Let me talk to her. I don't need you calling her names and putting up her spine. She's stubborn enough as it is.”

  “You're not changing my mind,” I said. I was stubborn.

  “Fine,” Axel said. He took another swig of his beer. “Talk some sense into the idiot.”

  “Idiot.” I raised my eyebrows. My totem prickled.

  “Axel.” Lexie shook her head. “Cool off. I expect you to apologize when you get back.”

  “For?”

  “Calling her a cunt and an idiot and a bitch. Now get going before I get mad at you.”

  Axel sighed, then stalked past me to the door. He slammed it behind him, rattling the door knocker Lexie shook her head, then turned to me. Her anger fled, replaced by her pouting and puppy-dog eyes. She moved to me.

  “Not gonna work,” I said, turning my face away.

  “Please, Penny, I need your help.” Her voice grew higher pitched as she wheedled. “You can't say no after all we've been through together. How many times did I let you get us in trouble?”

  “We didn't get in trouble that much.”

  She stopped before me. I turned away. I couldn't look her in the eyes. They were dea
dly. I had to be strong. I had to stop this foolishness. It was up to me. I couldn't let Lexie and Axel get hurt. He may be an idiot and an asshole, but Lexie loved him. This was for the best.

  “What about the time we were strapped for breaking your grandmother's antique clock?”

  “That was an accident.”

  Her hands grasped mine. I tried to stop her from pulling my arms apart. Her fingers held mine. They were soft. I grit my teeth. I could see her out of the corner of my eye, tears beading in her eyes as she kept pouting.

  “And what about the time we were caught stealing your Uncle's car just so we could go see Shinedown?”

  “The concert was worth it.”

  “I was grounded for a month. My mom took my cell phone away.”

  “What's your point?” It was so hard not to look at her.

  “That I didn't complain when the next month you wanted to hitchhike all the way to Kansas City to catch Taylor Swift in concert. I thought it was dangerous and stupid, but I knew we had our magic and could take care of ourselves.”

  “Just like we could take care of ourselves while robbing an armored car?” I asked. “It's not gonna work.”

  “How long have we been friends?”

  “I don't know.” I squirmed. “As long as I can remember.”

  “And I have always been there for you. Through every stupid idea and plan you had. I never complained. Even when you wanted to come out to Hollywood. We had fifty dollars between us after our bus tickets. How stupid was that?”

  “Pretty stupid,” I admitted, a smile curling the corners of my lips.

  “Is this really much worse?”

  “Yes.” My resolve weakened. I turned my head and stared at her. “I'm scared, Lexie.”

  “I know. But it'll be fine. Axel really has thought of everything.”

  I bit my lip. My stomach twisted so tight inside of me I feared something would rupture, but as I stared into her eyes, I found myself unable to say no to her. I never could. She was right. She always supported my stupid ideas.

  “Fine,” I groaned. “But if I think it's dangerous or something, you'll listen to me, right?”

  “Of course.” A huge grin crossed her face. She threw her arms around my neck and hugged me hard. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  I couldn't fight it any longer. My arms went around her body and I hugged her. I rocked her back and forth. But the fear still held me. Flashes of Lexie and Axel lying dead burned through my mind. I had to make sure that didn't happen.

  Even if it meant calling off the heist itself.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I trembled as I called Thomas's phone number.

  I was so tired. After I returned the jewelry last night, I couldn't sleep. I called out of work—Miss Maggie was not happy about that—and tried to get some rest. But my stomach twisted. Fear held me. What would happen when the jewelry was found? What would Lexie do?

  Or Thomas.

  I lay in my bed, my stomach twisted. I had to hear his voice. I didn't want to lose him. My skin itched. I rocked as the phone rang once. Twice. Thrice. What if he didn't want to hear from me? It rang a fourth time.

  A fifth.

  I bit my lip

  A sixth. A seventh.

  My breath quickened. My hand shook. He was just away from his cell phone.

  An eighth.

  I squeezed my eyes shut. He didn't want to hear from me.

  A ninth. A tenth.

  I had lost Thomas. He—

  “Penny.”

  I shuddered at the sound of his gruff voice. “Yes. It's me.”

  He said nothing.

  “I'm so sorry about last night. I am. I...” I swallowed.

  “You were scared.”

  I nodded my head. “I was.”

  “About?”

  “It doesn't matter.”

  “It does.” He sighed. “It really does, Penny.”

  I bit my lip.

  “Let's meet in an hour. There's a diner by the station called Peach Tree. We'll eat and talk. Okay?”

  “Okay,” I swallowed. “I...I love you.”

  “Love you, too.” His voice was strained. He regretted imprinting me. He must hate that it happened.

  I couldn't help the thoughts that plagued me. I set my coffee machine to brew before slipping into the shower. It helped me to feel alive. I even wanted to linger beneath the spray, but I couldn't. The doubts and recriminations assailed me. Thomas hated me. Lexie definitely did. Axel probably cursed me from heaven.

  I was a terrible person.

  A horrible person.

  I didn't deserve happiness.

  I didn't deserve Thomas.

  I should be in jail. I should have stayed and served with Lexie. I wasn't there for her as she grieved and suffered. I was safe in Moonrise pretending to be a happy waitress. I had pretended so well, I forgot just how terrible I was.

  I didn't deserve my house, my truck, my job, my freedom, or my boyfriend.

  But I didn't want to lose them. I wanted to be a selfish bitch and hold onto all of them. I wouldn't let Lexie take them away. There had to be a way to help her and hold onto it all. I returned the jewelry she left with me. I would convince her to do the same.

  I would help her start fresh. She could find happiness here. Maybe even someone to love, not to replace Axel, but to make her happy again. I had always envied what she and Axel had, dreamed of it myself. I had that chance with Thomas.

  I couldn't lose it.

  Showered, I made a large cup of coffee and downed it as fast as I could without burning my tongue. The caffeine buzzed through me as I hoped into my truck and headed to Olson, my sweaty hands gripping the steering wheel.

  What if Thomas wanted to break up with me? Miss Maggie warned me not to hurt him. I never wanted to. But horrible people always caused pain.

  Always.

  I pulled into the diner. Thomas waited outside, leaning against the building, looking so sexy in his uniform. His broad shoulders filled out his police uniform. He was a wall of blue. I forced myself to smile as I stepped out.

  He smiled back.

  My heart leaped for joy.

  I rushed to him and hugged him tight. He didn't flinch from me. I rested my head on his chest as his arms wrapped about me. I still had hope. I had hurt others in my life, but maybe I could avoid it with Thomas.

  And then he said, “Someone returned half the stolen jewelry last night.”

  I stiffened. “Oh?”

  “Strange that half was returned when we thought only one person was involved.”

  “Pretty strange,” I laughed, trying to sound airy. I knew he saw right through me. “Why don't we go and get something to eat? I'm starving. And I bet you are, too.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, yeah, bears are always hungry.” He paused. “You okay? You look terrible.”

  I punched him in the short ribs, not hard, just a tap. “You never should say that to a woman.”

  “I mean it. Your eyes are red. Did you sleep at all?”

  I shook my head. “Come on, I'm starving.”

  “Yeah,” he nodded. “You do know you can tell me anything, Penny. Anything.”

  No, I couldn't. “I know,” I smiled.

  “I get it. I forget you're not a bear shifter. You're human. You don't understand what it means when I say I love you. The imprint's not something I can take back. Okay?”

  “I know.” I smiled at him.

  “So I'll be patient. I will.” He stroked my face. “I just...need to know. Eventually.”

  My eyes flicked to his uniform. He couldn't ever know the truth. It would tear him apart. I had to keep it from him to protect his job and his sanity. Why did he have to be such a good man? Since I couldn't answer him, I kissed him.

  And that was nice.

  More than nice.

  Wonderful.

  His arms were around me, holding me to his broad chest. He had to lean down to kiss me, and I had to rise on my tiptoes. My eyes c
losed. I trembled in his arms, savoring the roughness of his stubble. My hands slid through his short hair before clasping behind his neck, holding him.

  His hands hand tightened on my hips, pulling me closer to him. Such a stout man. A wall to lean against. A warm, breathing wall. I would not lose him. I would help Lexie, love Thomas, and have a wonderful life.

  I could have been happy if this moment never ended. If I could stop time, I would have. I didn't want the kiss to end. The questions would return. Questions I feared answering. One day he would ask again, pry at me.

  What would I tell him?

  So I didn't want this moment to end. I wanted to freeze it in ice. In a glacier sweeping down from the Rocky Mountains behind us, entombing us together. Preserving us. Happy in each other's arms.

  And then his radio squawked and ruined it.

  “Sorry,” he said, releasing me and straightening.

  I came down from my tiptoes as he grabbed his radio and pressed the button. “Sergeant Wilson, we have a reported robbery at Olson Rare Coins.”

  I blinked in shock. “In the middle of the day?”

  “10-4,” Thomas answered into his radio. “I'm on my way down there.” The radio squawked again as he looked at me. “I'm sorry. I have to go.”

  “Bad guys,” I smiled and leaned up, giving him a quick kiss.

  “Maybe the Donovans are back.”

  I grimaced. “I hope not. The bar's been peaceful without their mangy asses lounging around.”

  Thomas broke away from me, walking swiftly to his patrol cruiser with swift steps. I yawned. I was tired. I glanced at the diner, debating having lunch, then sighed and slouched to my car. I needed sleep more.

  I was halfway back to Moonrise when a thought struck me—what if Lexie robbed the rare coin store?

  I scoffed. It was the middle of the day. She would have had to rob the owner unless she did it while he was out to lunch. Small town stores often closed at midday for that reason. My stomach tightened. What if it was Lexie?

  And what if there was a pile of rare coins waiting in my panty drawer?

  My foot pressed down hard on the accelerator. My truck roared as gas flooded the engine. I raced past the dry brush and towering pine trees, following the road. I screamed across the bridge over the Whitefroth. Moonrise appeared ahead. I tore past the Moon Tear Roadhouse on the outskirts, hating that I had to slow down in town.