CHAPTER THIRTY
“Go faster!” Ronnie squeals in the backseat when I press a touch harder on the Passat’s accelerator. “Turn on the boosters!”
“Gonna get me arrested at this speed,” I tease her. As if this snail of a sedan that Byron forces me to drive is capable of breaking the law.
“Hurry!” Her little legs straighten to push against the passenger seat like that will get us moving quicker. “We gotta win the race!”
I scoff, tightening my grip on the steering wheel. “Nobody can beat us.”
The tires are silent as I whip into a parking spot. This snoozer couldn’t burn rubber if I set it on fire. But what’s most important is that Ronnie arrives safely. See? I’m maturing.
“We’re here!” My voice is entirely too chipper for seven-thirty in the morning.
She wanted to get to school early today for breakfast. I didn’t question her even though the options are usually flimsy and floppy and not appetizing.
It must be the novelty of it. Byron was still passed out on the sofa when we left.
I didn’t have the heart to wake him. Maybe he’ll still be dreaming by the time I get back and I can reward him.
Gosh, I really am becoming a better person.
Who would’ve thought? Certainly not my old crew.
“Chop, chop. We’ve got places to be.” Such as riding a certain cowboy before the sun completely rises.
Ronnie scrambles to open her door. “Don’t leave me!”
A cloud of mist puffs from my mouth as I hoof it around the trunk before her feet even touch the snowy pavement. “I’m not going anywhere, kiddo. We’re stuck together.”
“Daddy too?”
I smile while ducking into the car for her backpack. “Yep, he’s along for the ride.”
She slides her tiny hand in mine as we walk to the school’s entrance. “Do you love him?”
“Meh.” I tip my head from right to left. “Maybe a little.”
Her gasp is a rowdy burst of excitement. “Do you love me?”
“Lots,” I admit while my pulse begins to gallop. That’s the closest I’ve come to fully saying it.
“We’re a real family,” she murmurs under her breath. “I knew it.”
Flutters fill my stomach until I have the urge the skip, which is completely ridiculous.
I might be giddy, but that’s taking it to an unhinged level I can’t accept.
At least not yet. If trashy reality television has taught me anything it’s that this is the honeymoon phase when everything feels shiny and bright.
Much can go wrong, especially for a jaded crook like me.
But I allow Ronnie’s joy to fuel my own. We stroll along the sidewalk as if rainbows and unicorns surround us. My spirits are warm and toasty despite the cold. All that matters is the future we’re building together.
Except there are obstacles in our path.
Two recognizable stains on society are standing beside an unmarked van as if they’re about to offer candy to kids. There’s a jail cell with their names on it. My grin melts into a scowl. These assholes have to be the dumbest criminals on the planet.
Their already unfortunate faces are bruised and mottled. Whatever Dennis did to them must’ve hurt, but it missed the mark of finality. I won’t make that same mistake.
But first, I need to get Ronnie out of their sight. My hands tremble slightly as I loop the straps of her bag over her arms, settling the weight on her shoulders. Ice fills my veins when I kneel on the frozen ground in front of her. A crease appears between her delicate eyebrows.
She tips her head at that adorable angle and I suddenly want to cry. “What’s wrong, Frannie?”
“Nothing,” I say too quickly. “I’ll just miss you.”
Her features pinch tighter. “You’ll see me at the bus stop later.”
My nod is jerky. “Have a great day, okay?”
Ronnie stares at me, burrowing into the depths of my conflicted soul. “Don’t forget to feed Tux.”
I offer a wide smile, but it’s more phony than the couples on Too Hot to Handle. “What about Darla and Dottie?”
“Duh, silly. You know their schedule.”
“Of course,” I reply dutifully. “And I have to give Greta seventy-five pats on the neck.”
“Don’t skimp out. She’ll tell me.” With two fingers, Ronnie points from her eyes to mine as if she’s watching me.
“Got it.” And then I trace along the length of her nose, swooping off the end to drop a tap on her chin. “Love you, kiddo.”
Her eyes go round. “You did it.”
“Is that okay?”
She lunges forward to wrap me in a hug I’d willingly suffocate from. “I love you sooooo much. Will you let me call you Mommy soon?”
I hold her tight, squeezing my eyes shut against the watery sting. “Really soon.”
Ronnie pulls away and her expression is almost blinding enough to blot out the trouble behind us. “Thanks for loving me and Daddy.”
“Thanks for showing me how,” I whisper.
“Welcome,” she chirps and begins backing toward the doors. “Gotta go! Byeeeee.”
My reason for compassion trots off, turning once more to wave at me. I return the gesture and up the ante by forming a heart with my hands. Ronnie giggles while trying to copy the action. When she disappears around the corner, red tints my vision.
I stand and whirl to confront the dumbass duo. The edges that little girl has softened now sharpen into deadly points. My shoulders square as I strut forward with malicious intent. These morons are messing with the wrong bitch.
“Rough week at the office? Damn.” My cringe is way over the top while I inspect the damage to their mean mugs.
The older one who likes to believe he’s in charge grunts at me. “That was touching, Frankie. She clearly means a lot to you.”
My expression hardens into stone. “Leave her out of this.”
“I don’t think we will,” he drawls. “Unless you cooperate.”
“Are you threatening me?” I tip my head back and let a shrill cackle fly free. “Good fucking luck with that.”
His beady eyes narrow. “We’ve got a couple men that were just locked up in county thanks to Dennis Benson and his sleazy cop buddies.”
“Awwww, did they forget about you? That must be really upsetting.”
“Didn’t take ‘em but a day to join forces with your brother.”
“How unfortunate for them,” I sigh. The legal system should really pick up the pace and move my brother to maximum security prison already.
“Walker seems to think you’ll come to your senses and agree to this job. You owe us. Veronica will stay out of harm’s way.”
“She will regardless,” I snap. If they don’t think I’ll end their miserable existences to protect hers, they’re more stupid than I originally thought.
“Just one job,” he coaxes.
“As a start, right? That’s how you lure me.” I study my nails, cleaning an imaginary smudge off the middle one. “You need to learn to respect a woman’s wishes. I’m not interested.”
The criminal well beyond his prime scrubs at the greasy whiskers on his jaw. “We brought someone to convince you.”
When the two step aside, the air crackles around me for a second. Just as suddenly, my body bows under the brutal force of the unexpected attack. I just got sucker punched straight in the gut. That’s the only way to describe Jaxon Steele appearing like a mirage.
“Hey, Frankie.” The man who I used to consider a partner in actual crime smirks as if I’m the problem.
Memories are a tidal wave crashing over me until I struggle to breathe. I haven’t let him cross my mind after wallowing at Sip in the Stacks, licking my wounds like a neglected stray. My gaze flicks over him now. Based on appearances alone, I landed in a much cushier spot.
“Are you fucking serious? You abandoned me and teamed up with these losers?”
His shrug couldn’t care less about my outrage. “They had more to offer.”
“Ouch,” I hiss. “That’d burn if I didn’t label you as a traitor.”
He laughs, but it lacks humor. “Come with us.”
“No.”
“C’mon, Frankie. Admit that you miss it.”
My nose wrinkles at his filthy jeans and ripped shirt. “I don’t.”
Jax’s features look even more ragged when he frowns. “Why are you pretending to go legit? You’ll never be satisfied as a housewife in the ‘burbs.”
I roll my eyes skyward. “Nice try, but I’ll still pass.”
“Why settle? Nothing beats the adrenaline of a hustle. Once a thief, always a thief.”
My glare is a serrated blade. “Your argument is weak. Much like your loyalty.”
“I’m sorry about running off, but I always planned to find you again. We’re a team. Let me prove it to you.” He beckons me forward as if I’m an obedient hound.
For whatever reason, I pause to contemplate my choices. Intrusive thoughts are illogical like that. Past and present collide in a gruesome battle for control. The perceived disappointment from Byron and Ronnie induces nausea. It’s tough to shake the queasiness of admitting a relapse.
But Jax isn’t completely wrong, which I hate to admit. It might be fun to be part of a con, just for old time’s sake. The devil on my shoulder steeples his fingers and I exhale heavily.
“What’s the job?”
His haggard expression lifts in victory. “It’s a simple in and out. We just need you to crack into the safe.”
I stare at these crooked men and something clicks. A slow smile curls my lips. It feels like destiny or some other divine intervention.
“Okay, I’m in.”