Page 14 of Knot a Thief

The other jobs were planned because there are too many mega wealthy people here to not take advantage of where we are.

“Nice work,” I murmur as she pockets the other jewels in the safe. She stares at the glimmering pink diamond for a few seconds before slipping it into the bag strapped around her waist.

“Focus sweetheart. There’s no time for thinking of anything but the job.”

“Yeah,” she murmurs, rushing to the hotel door.

“Next job is only two doors down, and then you’re out of that hotel. Stop!”

Her hand hovers over the handle.

“Hold position and get ready to hide if I tell you. There’s a maid coming your way.”

Ava freezes, pressing herself against the wall.

I hold my breath, watching the maid pass by on the security feed. I wait for her to disappear into a room a few doors down and say, “Okay, go.”

The next job goes like a dream, and before I know it, she’s at the next hotel and cracking open the first safe well ahead of time.

“We have an hour and fifteen minutes before the race will finish.” I tell her, hoping nobody leaves the race early.

This dance continues for the next hour. Ava moves like a ghost through the hotel, me as her eyes and ears. It’s exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

“That’s it, make your way back here,” I tell her.

She removes a black card from the bag strapped around her waist. I squint to see gold writing on the card. “I have one more job to go.”

“You’re finished.”

She removes one black glove which is sewn into the sleeve of her top and checks the time. “I’ve got eight minutes.”

“Ava. I’ve not planned for anything else.”

“It’s the penthouse in this hotel. Open the cameras, and I’ll make my way there.”

She doesn’t wait for my response.

She rushes to the emergency staircase while I scramble to get access to the upper floor cameras.

“Ava, turn around and get out of there. Security’s coming up the main elevator.”

Nothing.

“Ava?”

The feed from her headset shows only darkness. My heart rate spikes.

“Ava? Do you copy? Ava!”

Nothing but silence. Panic claws at my throat as I frantically switch between camera feeds, searching for any sign of her.

Minutes stretch into an eternity.

I lift my wrist. My watch shows it’s been ten minutes since I lost contact.

There’s a roar from the crowd watching the Monaco Formula One. Only then do I realize how much I zoned out of the sounds of the cars zooming around the track.

But right now, nothing is as loud as the blood thrashing in my ears.

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