It Takes a Thief--A Heist Romance

by Sloane Steele

  “You’re an insanely rich dude who has nothing better to do but to take from other people simply because you can. How is it not the same? Please, explain.”

  “I can’t. It’s not just my story to share. And as far as sleeping together, I’ve never been more myself than in those moments with you.” He couldn’t tell her everything without Mia’s consent, but the truth in his confession was freeing.

  She shook her head slightly, squinting as she looked into his face. “How long did you practice those pretty words?”

  Her question stung. “Not at all. This is the real me, asking you to trust me. Come back.”

  “You don’t get it, do you? I can’t trust you. I gave you my real name and asked you to keep it between us. You blurted it out first chance you had.”

  “I was worried about you. I used your name because that’s how I think of you now.”

  She flicked up a hand to head him off. “I wasn’t finished. You keep asking and demanding that I trust you, allow you to keep your secrets, but you’ve been trying to expose mine from the beginning. Showing up here is a perfect example.”

  “Let me ask you this—would you have taken the job if I did tell you who I am, where I come from?”

  She rolled her lips in and licked them. “To be honest, I doubt it. But I guess we’ll never know for sure. Even if you didn’t lead with that, you could’ve told me later. You know, like any time up to and including the moment you stuck your dick in me. Like you, I prefer to know who I’m fucking. You didn’t give me the opportunity.”

  “I’m sorry.” He stepped closer, wanting to touch her, but holding back. “I wasn’t just protecting myself, though.”

  Her arms flinched as they tightened around herself. “Your cousin doesn’t seem like she needs much protection.”

  She had no idea, but he couldn’t explain that either. He was losing this battle and he didn’t like it. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”

  “I don’t know. Right now, I don’t even want to look at you.”

  “Even if you’re angry with me, this job needs to go forward. If you don’t come back tomorrow, we’ll have to replace you.” This time he indulged and ran a hand down her arm. “It would kill me to bring in someone to take your place.”

  Then he stepped away with the hope that she’d come back. Even if she remained pissed off, he could take time to convince her to give him another chance. But if she walked away for good, he’d have to learn to deal with it. No matter how much it might destroy him.

  * * *

  Audrey shook on her way to the bus stop. She didn’t have the energy for another face-off with Jared. Diane was kind enough to give her a shift at the Grind. If nothing else, she had to make rent. She also had to figure out an affordable place to move Gram. She didn’t have any headspace for Jared and his hurt feelings.

  As she scrolled online looking for another hacking job, she received a notification for a wire transfer. Confused, she logged in to her account. She’d already been paid for all of her jobs. When she saw the deposit, she knew immediately it had been Jared. Damn man. Did he really think he could pay her and leverage her to come back?

  She’d earned this money, though. Had she been thinking straight, she would’ve demanded a partial payout when she left. But she’d been too focused on her hurt feelings. She’d fallen for a guy without having a clue as to who he was. People sucked and she knew better. Except sometimes selfish people felt guilty. With a smile, she closed the app. The deposit was for a third of their agreed amount. She had her cushion to figure out her next steps.

  The coffee shop was slow since Diane didn’t need her for the peak morning hours, so to keep her mind off everything, she cleaned up the counter and restocked condiments.

  When she turned, Nikki stood in front of her. “What are you doing here?”

  “Looking for you, of course.”

  “How did you find me?”

  “The first time we met, you were wearing this shirt. If it had been a Starbucks, I might not have tracked you down so easily.”

  “I guess covert operations are out of my area of expertise.” Audrey smiled. “Can I get you some coffee?”

  “Only if it’ll buy me five minutes of your time.”

  She knew Nikki wasn’t here for a social call. And while she was still upset at Jared, Nikki hadn’t done anything to her. She waved at her coworker. “I’m taking my break.”

  Nikki glanced around and headed to a small table in the corner near the bathrooms.

  “Did he send you?”

  “Of course not. I wouldn’t do his bidding.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “To ask you to come back and finish the job.”

  “No.”

  Nikki raised a hand. “Hear me out.”

  Audrey crossed her arms and nodded.

  “I get that you’re pissed. I’m not a hundred percent sure on the why of it, but I can back you on calling him a liar. Personally, I don’t care who I work for as long as their money is good.”

  “Their money isn’t good. Their fathers stole it from hardworking people who couldn’t replace it.” Every time she thought about it, her stomach twisted. She’d done a lot of questionable things, but never against anyone who didn’t deserve it or couldn’t afford it. “Doesn’t that bother you?”

  Nikki shrugged. “My moral compass is a little off. I was raised by a con man who taught me everything I know. I was picking pockets before I learned to multiply. If people are stupidly naïve, maybe they have it coming.”

  Audrey had been stupidly naïve. All those thoughts about Jared and how he made her feel. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

  “But this time, they’re—we’re—stealing from a total asshole,” Nikki added.

  That knowledge had made the job appealing.

  “Think of your grandmother.”

  Audrey narrowed her eyes. This was why she didn’t let people in. They used information against her.

  Nikki continued, “She’s obviously important to you and you’re worried. I don’t have anyone like that in my life.”

  Something about the way she paused made Audrey think that maybe at some point there had been someone like that.

  “I like to work alone. But we started this together, and in all honesty, I’m not sure I trust someone else to come in and have my back. I’m the only one with my ass swinging in the breeze if shit falls apart. At least if you’re there, I know you’ll get me out.”

  Nikki made a compelling argument. Audrey liked her, but she didn’t know if she could continue to work with Jared.

  “I’ll think about it. I don’t want to leave you hanging, but there’s so much that’s not right with them. It’s all smoke and mirrors.”

  “But the cash is real.”

  She knew that too, and she wanted the money. She wanted it enough to reconsider. “I’ll tell you what. If you can get Jared to back off—no showing up at the apartment, no contacting me, nothing—I’ll come back. As soon as the job is done, they arrive with cash in hand.” She stood to go back to work. “You make that happen and I’ll come back.”

  One of Nikki’s eyebrows winged up. “Like I’m gonna argue with that? I lose a babysitter and get my hacker back? Win-win. Consider it done. He might not like it, but his cousin is all business. She’ll make it happen.”

  Audrey released a long breath before going back to work. She hoped she wasn’t making the mistake of a lifetime. The rest of the payment from this job would give her time to find another source of income. And Jared’s absence would allow her to keep her head straight.

  Hopefully.

  Chapter Nineteen—Mia

  Mia paced her office. Being surrounded by beautiful pieces of artwork was the most calming thing in the world for her. But Nikki had called. That woman didn’t communicate with anyone, so Mia had imm
ediately known something was up. They could have Data back. More importantly, Nikki demanded they get her back.

  “It was my one requirement,” Nikki had reminded her. “If I don’t work alone, I need to know who’s got my back going in. I’m not dealing with a stranger now. Audrey will get me in and out.”

  Mia couldn’t argue with any of it. Audrey. That was the name of the woman who had made a mess of things, including Jared. If the two of them had kept their pants on, they wouldn’t be in this position. She didn’t like having to capitulate to the demands of Nikki. She might be a brilliant thief, but the woman was a disaster.

  Mia had texted Jared and asked him to meet her for a late lunch. She’d break the news to him then. He was levelheaded. He’d understand. Hopefully, the logical part of his brain would take control of his dick, and they wouldn’t have any further problems. As she gathered her things for her lunch meeting, her brain cataloged the thefts she wanted to make happen.

  Her timeline had to move up exponentially. Where she’d thought they had six to twelve months to accomplish this, she now worried they only had a few months at most. Maybe she should have Jared create additional teams. She hadn’t considered it before, but that was when she’d thought they had all the time in the world. Their fathers were on the move and she had the chance to bring them back.

  Exposing themselves to more people as the moneymen behind a bunch of heists might be worth it if it brought their fathers to justice.

  In the back seat of the car, she called London. Another team didn’t mean they would need another artist.

  “Hello.”

  “Are you capable of creating other types of art? Other than paintings?”

  “Depends on the medium.”

  “Can you create sculptures, vases, pottery, or jewelry?”

  “Jewelry’s not my thing, but I’m open to discussion. I assume you’re looking for something specific?”

  Mia liked that London exhibited caution with her words. Didn’t ask about copies or forgeries. Safe. “Yes, I am looking for some very specific pieces.”

  “Then let’s talk after the thing Saturday night.”

  “What would you know about Saturday?” So much for being cautious. It seemed as if everyone was busy filling in every detail all around.

  “I told the girls I’d be at the apartment to keep them company.”

  “Hmm. I’ll stop by later to give you specifics of what I’m looking for. Time is of the essence. The sooner you start, the better.” She disconnected and wondered how much London knew about what had happened with Jared and Audrey. Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Regardless of who executed the thefts, they would need the forgeries. She would give London the full list to get started. Then she’d worry about who would make the switch.

  The car pulled up at the restaurant and Jared was standing outside waiting for her. He wore his usual suit, but he looked rumpled. And not in a good way.

  As she neared, she took him in. “You look like hell.”

  “Thanks. I love you, too.”

  “This has nothing to do with love. What is going on with you? So you slept with a woman who no longer wants you. It’s not like you to get this bent out of shape.” She pointed at him up and down, at a loss for words to describe the sight before her.

  He held the door open for her to enter the restaurant. “What is this urgent meeting about?”

  “It’s about how to make our plans come together, but you’re not going to like it.” She walked past him and the maître d’ immediately led them to a table. No small talk or names needed to be exchanged. They were regulars at the upscale establishment. Many high-profile people used the restaurant for business meetings. Celebrities had been known to indulge in private meals away from the prying eyes of public scrutiny. Politicians met to handle backdoor deals. Discretion was the name of the game here.

  Jared held the chair for her to sit. Even in his obviously sleep-deprived state, he remained a consummate gentleman. She sighed. Her cousin was a good man. He deserved to be happy.

  Sometimes she got so caught up in her own plans she forgot to look around her and see the people she cared about.

  After the waiter poured water and Jared stared at her for a few minutes, she began, knowing she was about to break his heart. “Audrey is back at the apartment with Nikki.”

  “She is?” His entire face brightened.

  Her heart broke a little for him in that moment. “Down, boy. There were conditions for her return.”

  Jared crossed his arms and leaned on the table.

  “You can’t be there, and as soon as the job is over, we pay her in cash.”

  “How am I supposed to make sure Nikki stays out of trouble if I can’t be at the apartment?”

  He was grasping for something—anything—to cling to. She’d never seen him so invested in anything, much less a woman he’d known for a few weeks.

  “The information came through Nikki, who tracked her down. Nikki wants to work with her, so I’m fairly certain she’ll keep herself in check.” She reached across the table and rested a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry you’re upset. I wish there was some other way. I don’t know how in a couple of weeks this one woman has swept in and managed to tie you up in knots.”

  He nodded. “I don’t know if I can explain it. We have something real and different. Maybe it was the fantasy of what we were doing. Like a vacation fling on an exotic island. Perfect for the moment, but not meant to be.”

  She hated hearing him sound so defeated.

  “So we’re set then?” she asked. “Things can go forward as planned?”

  “Of course. For the record, I went to see her. Nikki isn’t the only one who can find people. I asked her to come back, even if it wasn’t to me. For the job.”

  “But you hoped it would be back to you.” It wasn’t a question. She saw the truth written clearly on his face: he’d fallen for the hacker.

  Chapter Twenty

  After his lunch with Mia, Jared went back to his office. He needed to keep busy, keep thoughts of Audrey at bay. The best way to make that happen was to immerse himself in work. The thrill of engagement with his adversaries never disappointed.

  Sitting behind his desk, he sent a text to one client while dictating an email to set up a meeting with Alderman Rooney. Although Jared had never had any direct interaction with Rooney, the man had a reputation for being willing to deal on any number of matters. O’Brien Brothers Construction had been getting the runaround for months on a city contract they’d been promised. Thomas O’Brien had reached out to Jared a couple of weeks ago. At the time, Jared had put him off with a city-politics-are-slow excuse.

  Today, he banked on his reputation getting him an appointment with Rooney. He fired off a few more emails before he got the response he expected: Alderman Rooney had an opening in his schedule in an hour. Nice try, Rooney. Giving me no notice and a small window for an appointment are child’s play. Jared immediately had his driver pick him up.

  He took the time on the drive to revisit his notes on what Thomas wanted. It seemed rather straightforward—the alderman expected some kind of kickback but wasn’t brazen enough to come right out and ask for it. Jared looked forward to negotiating a solution.

  Surprisingly, the alderman didn’t keep him waiting. Once he arrived, the secretary ushered Jared right in.

  “Mr. Towers. It’s good to finally meet you. Please take a seat,” he said, gesturing to the chairs in front of the desk.

  Good to meet him? Anyone who recognized his name rarely responded positively. “Alderman Rooney,” he said with a nod.

  “What can I help you with today?”

  “A man who gets right down to business. I can respect that. I’m here on behalf of O’Brien Brothers Construction.”

  Rooney raised a hand. “Let me stop you right there. As I’ve explained to Mr. O’Brien,
the contract is outside of my control.”

  Jared chuckled. “We both know you have the power and friends to push a contract through. It just depends on how invested you are in the project.”

  “Mr. O’Brien knows I am very invested in this project.”

  If they already struck a deal, why the fuck am I here? Jared’s restlessness and impatience grew. “Then what’s the problem?”

  “The union. They’re breathing down my neck, threatening to picket and call in favors with inspectors. I can’t afford to have too many extra eyes on this, if you know what I mean.”

  He did and he had a solution. “I think I can arrange to satisfy all parties. However, the O’Brien contract will have to be increased by fifteen percent.”

  Rooney leaned back in his leather chair and studied Jared for a full minute. Jared kept total eye contact until the man finally said, “Done.”

  “I’ll have Thomas send over the revised bid.” Jared rose and extended a hand. “It was good doing business with you.”

  “You’re not nearly as bad as some of my colleagues painted you to be.”

  Jared offered a slick smile. “I’m only as ruthless as necessary.”

  As soon as he exited the office, he made a call to his union connection.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi, Bill. Jared Towers. How are you?” Standing on the street, waiting for his car, he put his sunglasses on. Mia may have thought he looked like shit, but his appearance didn’t hinder his ability to make things happen. Heartbreak didn’t inhibit his negotiating skills.

  “Busy. Summer is construction season.”

  “Excellent. That’s exactly the purpose for my call. I need to get some union cards.”

  “Ah, man. I wish I could help. But you know we don’t do that anymore. Buying your way into the union is a thing of the past.”

  They both knew that wasn’t the entire truth, and for some reason, it irrationally irritated Jared. He took a deep breath and walked down to the corner where he saw his driver pull up.