Chapter Three Addie
After my meeting with Vaughn, I called my crew and told them to meet me at A-Squared.
Now, we’re sitting in the conference room at a large table, and I’ve just explained the situation I’ve apparently gotten myself into.
They’re my family, the people I live and die for, and they look extremely concerned.
The good detective has me by the balls, and he knows it.
“Do you really think he has an incriminating picture of one of us?” Knox asks.
“He says he does, but who knows? It really doesn’t matter.” I look from Knox to the others. “It’s not a risk worth taking. I’m not letting any of you go down.”
Knox and Linc recently found their life partners, their HEAs, and are happily in love. Linc and Merritt are already expecting, and I will not allow the former MMA fighter to wind up in a jail cell because of some heist we probably pulled off a year ago.
I’m The Boss, and my job is to protect my team at all costs. And that’s exactly what I plan to do.
Brighton Leroux, the only other woman on the crew and my best friend, makes a face and swears in French.
She’s drop-dead gorgeous, all emerald green eyes and raven hair, with a figure that stops traffic.
Her father is a former French pro-race car driver, and when she’s not playing her usual role—The Sex Bomb—she’s our getaway driver. Fast is in her genes.
“Whatever you need, we’ll do it,” Ryder McKay says. He’s our tech guru and The Diamond Man, a gems expert. His family has billions, but Ryder isn’t close to them. I know there’s drama there, but he doesn’t talk about it. We don’t push, either. When he’s ready to talk, he will.
“Who’s on that list?” Linc asks.
“Yeah, let’s take a look at that.” Knox leans back in his chair, lacing his fingers and laying them on his stomach. “The way I see it, we help Vaughn knock out some of our competition, take ourselves off his radar, and then we cut ties. No big deal.”
“Knox is right,” Linc agrees. “No real loss getting any of them off the scene.”
“Most of them operate like amateurs, anyway,” Ryder states, typing away on his laptop.
I already sent him the list from Vaughn. There’s one name on it that makes me hesitate. Actually, two, if you include mine—which really pisses me off.
“I’m looking at Simon Nyx, Bella Diamond and Billy Warrant. Those are the key players I’ve been focusing on…”
Strike One. Vaughn lied to me, and I don’t appreciate that shit. Because if what he claimed at the café is true, why am I at the top of his list?
“Plus, things have been running a little differently around here lately,” Knox says. “Hunter is trying to keep me legit, so it makes her happy we’ve been staying aboveboard.”
“Happy wife, happy life,” Linc murmurs, and they bump knuckles.
And that’s exactly why I need to protect my team. They have too much going on in their personal lives, and I won’t be the cause of anyone’s downfall.
“There are five names on Vaughn’s list,” Ryder announces. “Our girl, Addie, is number one. That’s fucking concerning.”
Yeah, it is. But I don’t let them see I’m worried.
“I’m sure I can work out some kind of deal with him,” I say with a wave of my hand. “I’m more concerned about you guys. And that last name.”
Knox sits up. “Who?”
“We’ve got Simon Nyx, Bella Diamond, Billy Warrant and…” Ryder frowns. “Laurent.”
“He saved my life,” Linc says, voice low. “I owe him.”
“I called that favor in,” I remind them. “Technically, we’re even.”
“He’s a fellow Frenchman, so I’ll give him a pass,” Brighton says. “But the other three? I have no problem bringing them down.”
“So, we take Laurent off the list,” Knox says easily. “Fuck the good detective.”
Yeah, I’d definitely like to fuck the detective.
Oh, shit. Where did that come from? No, Addie, you will be keeping your legs closed around Mr. Autumn Eyes, because he has the power to destroy you and everyone you love.
Clearing my throat, trying to banish every last sexy thought from my mind, I shift in my seat and cross my legs. “He wants to prevent the Phoenix Kiss from being stolen, and he thinks someone on that list is going to try to do it.”
“Well, we’re not,” Linc grumbles.
“You’re way too busy playing Prince Consort to your Princess,” Knox teases.
“Damn straight,” Linc agrees. “And with a baby on the way, my ass needs to stay on the straight and narrow. Unlike my asshole father, I’m going to be present in my kid’s life.”
“Of course, you will be,” I say. “My brother and sister-in-law have a baby coming soon, too, and I plan to be fun Aunt Addie. We agreed all future jobs we take are going to be on the up and up. Nothing’s changed.”
“But the past has a way of coming back to haunt you,” Brighton murmurs.
“Not happening, B,” I utter with complete confidence. “First thing we need to do is gather intel on our targets. What do we know about Simon Nyx, Bella Diamond and Billy Warrant?”
“We’ve run up against Nyx out in the field,” Linc says. “He’s smart, lethal and works with a revolving crew.”
Working solo is fine. But if a thief works with a revolving crew, it means he has no loyalty.
“He’s the one I’m most concerned about,” I murmur, remembering my run-in with Nyx, and how I outsmarted him. “Last year, we both went after that Rembrandt painting.”
“And he pulled a knife on you,” Knox states darkly.
“Yeah, I haven’t forgotten. He would’ve stabbed me for it, too. Good thing I’d packed my emergency exit parachute,” I say dryly.
“Mon Dieu!” Brighton exclaims. “I almost had a heart attack when you leapt off the roof of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.”
I smile. What an adrenaline rush that had been. And the look on Nyx’s face when he realized he’d been outsmarted? Perfectly priceless.
“Nyx is a vicious asshole, and I’d love to see him go down,” Linc says. “What about Warrant and Diamond?”
“Warrant is sneaky as fuck,” Knox says. “He gets in and out of a joint so fast, it’ll make your head spin. But that makes him reckless, too. His plans are half-assed, if he even bothers making any.”
“He’s lucky,” Brighton states. “And eventually, luck runs out.”
“What about Bella Diamond?” Ryder asks. “I’ve heard rumors but never ran into her. At least, I don’t think I have. She’s supposed to be a master of disguise.”
“She’s hard and ruthless. I heard she likes to tase her rivals in the family jewels and then run off with the prize.” Knox shivers and covers his nether regions.
I chuckle. “That’s an urban legend. From what I know, you’re right, Ryder. She’s a chameleon, an expert in disguising herself. I don’t think anyone even knows what she really looks like.”
“I can run some checks on the Dark Web. See what else turns up,” Ryder offers.
“There’s a big charity ball this weekend,” Knox says, voice thoughtful. “That means plenty of shiny baubles will be out of their safes and on display.”
“Too tempting for jewel thieves to ignore,” Brighton adds, green eyes gleaming.
“Know your mark,” Addie murmurs.
“An Angel-ism?” Knox asks.
I nod. It’s what they call my mom’s wise sayings. Knox coined the term years ago, and it’s stuck. I like it because it helps keep her memory alive for all of us. “If Nyx, Diamond and Warrant are in town, they won’t be able to pass up that kind of event.”
“Yeah,” Linc agrees. “It practically screams, ‘Take my shiny shit.’”
“Easy pickings. Hell, if we were still in the game, we’d be choosing our marks right now.” Knox looks at me, and I nod. He’s right.
“It’ll be a great way to study their moves,” Ryder says. “See how they operate firsthand. I’ll get all the details on the event.”
“Thanks, Ryder.” I run a hand through my hair, flipping it behind my shoulders. “If we can prevent the Phoenix Kiss from being stolen, I think we’ll find ourselves in Denver PD’s good graces.”
“Detective Vaughn must be ecstatic that you’re working together,” Brighton says cagily, and I ignore her smirk. “The way he watches you—”
“He does not watch me,” I interrupt.
“Like a hawk,” Linc states gruffly.
“A hawk who wants to devour his prey. After he mates with her,” Knox adds with a chuckle.
I roll my eyes. “The Feds are up his ass, and that’s the only reason he wants my help.”
“Oh, yeah, he definitely wants up your ass,” Brighton laughs. “Oh, wait. Is that not what you said?”
“This meeting is over,” I announce curtly, getting cranky fast. “Ryder, email us details once you have them. In the meantime, I’m going to do some research on the Denver Art Museum, study its layout, entry and exit points. I need to figure out how the Phoenix Kiss could be taken.”
We say goodbye, and everyone leaves except Knox.
“Have you talked to The Man about this yet?” he asks, voice curious.
The Man is our mysterious benefactor who keeps his identity a secret and keeps us in business. His endless connections can provide us with whatever we need, even at the last minute. I have no idea who he is, but my mom told us to trust him. And that’s good enough for me and my team.
I shake my head. “Not yet. I still have to tell him about our plans to go legit.”
“The sooner you do that, the better.”
“How do you think he’ll take it?” I’m honestly not sure, and a part of me is dreading it. Interestingly enough, our most recent jobs haven’t involved stealing anything. Well, technically, the stealing we did was from the bad guys. So that doesn’t count in my book.
“I don’t know. Could really go either way. But if you want me there with you, I’ve got your back.”
“Thanks, Knox.”
I’ve known Knox Remington Beckett since we were eighteen.
Growing up poor, his family was always struggling to make ends meet, and he vowed to escape that cycle.
With his charm and good looks, he’s a natural when it comes to the con.
And my mom saw that, taking him under her wing and teaching him the art of the heist. I can’t imagine my life without him.
He’s more than a pretty face—he’s like a brother to me.
After saying goodbye, I stand in the doorway of A-Squared, watching him saunter across the parking lot and slip into his fancy convertible Jaguar F-Type. Although the color is technically British Racing Green, we all know he got it because it’s hunter green.
With a sigh, I realize there’s nothing here in the office I can’t do on my couch at home.
I grab my purse, laptop and keys, then lock up.
Walking toward my black Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, I remember an especially important Angel-ism: “If the Feds offer you a job, you’re either doing something right, or you’re screwed. ”
I wonder if the same wisdom pertains to the Denver PD and the illustrious Detective Cole Vaughn?
Is the good detective trying to screw me?
Jury’s still out. And unfortunately, I’m not talking about the kind of screwing I’d like. No, this screw involves me being locked up in a jail cell, and the key being tossed away into the nearest and deepest lake.