Page 98 of Brazen Deceits

I honestly can’t tell if that’s a joke or not, so I make a noncommittal sound and swallow some more wine.

She pulls a blood-red envelope from her purse, sliding it across the table. I pick it up, but don’t open it.

She takes another sip of the wine, one finger tapping the side of the goblet. “I worked out a compromise with my client, but it’s not ideal. In fact, I’m certain my client is actively trying to make it difficult for your team to take the job.”

Staring at the envelope in my hands, I wonder how something so small can be filled with so much meaning. I wish at least one of my guys was here with me. I shouldn’t be making this decision without them. “Before I look at this, can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“If this were your team, would you take the job?”

Jasmine zones out the front window again. “I guess that depends. How much do you trust your team?”

My anger spikes at the question. But itisa reasonable one.

Obviously, I trust Jansen with my joy, my heart. Walker anchors my soul, while RJ soothes my mind. And Trips? I trust him to keep me in one piece. He hates every risky situation I put myself into. So…I guess if I’m going all esoteric and shit, I trust him with my body. Which is weird on all kinds of levels, but also kind of true.

Looking up, I see Jasmine watching me think. “You trust them completely, don’t you?”

I shrug. “They’re mine.”

Those were not the words I meant to say, but now that they’re out there? Yeah. They’re true. Even the grumpy asshole is at least a little mine.

She uncrosses her legs, waving for more wine. “Allfourare yours?”

I shrug again, not knowing how to answer that. Not yet.

She hums, accepting a long pour. “In that case, I’d say take the job and show my client what you can do. I saw a little of the footage from today, and oh boy, did I wish we had audio, too. The story you spun must have been gold-plated smoke and mirrors to get you two out of there.”

I chuckle. “It wassomething. I’m not sure I would have called it gold, though. More of a haze of fictional pot brownies.”

She bursts out laughing, and I join her, the absurdity of this morning so surreal that I feel like I’m telling the plot of a TV show rather than expounding on my adventure. Clara McElroy doesn’t take risks. That girl this morning? She was on fire, but she was for sure not me. Or at least, not the me I’ve known for twenty years.

My mind caught on a spiral, I pull my boring white envelope out of my purse, sliding it to Jasmine, hoping to get out of here before my spiral turns into a dive.

Jasmine looks at my envelope the same way I looked at hers—like it’s either a snake or salvation.

I guess neither of us wants to open them. Based on what she’s told me, whatever is in my envelope is a bomb, one with an arrow pointed specifically at us. I shouldn’t take or decline this job without the guys. “I need to chat with my team about the changes to the specs.”

Jasmine shoves her envelope into her purse without opening it. “That’s fine. I’ll need an answer before six.”

Whew. I slide the red envelope into my purse, finishing the last of my wine. We both stand, shaking hands.

“I look forward to a long, lucrative partnership going forward, Clara,” she says.

“The feeling is mutual.”

As I pull on my capelet, all I know for sure is that we’re missing a key piece of information. And that missing piece isn’t in this envelope. It’s somewhere out there watching us, waiting for the opportunity to smother us all.

Chapter 43

Clara

Trips explodes when we read the new parameters.

Wednesday, in the middle of finals week.

It’s not a great day for a heist in a city six hours away. I see what Jasmine said about the changes being targeted at us.

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