Page 2 of Sean Collins

“Did you notice anything unusual?” I ask her. I watch as Brandy goes through the night in her mind.

"No, everything was pretty normal,” she utters. “All the regulars were here, as well as the new girl who started hanging around a week ago. She often sat in the back, but tonight she sat at the bar and chatted with Hank.”

My eyes narrow. I know exactly the woman she is talking about. I caught a glimpse of her right before all hell broke loose and we had to rescue Cash. She was a looker with sultry bronze skin, dark hair that streamed down her back in a shiny waterfall, almond-shaped eyes – the color of storm clouds – and a body that would make any man weep. I have to admit I was disappointed when I didn’t see her when we came back. I rarely date the women who come in the saloon, but I was thinking about making an exception for the exotic-looking beauty. Now, it looks like she may have hit our place.

"Thanks, Brandy, I appreciate it." She nods and goes back out to tend the bar.

I walk back to the secret room and try to figure out how the thief got into the safe. After a thorough inspection, I see no pry marks anywhere. It requires a thumbprint and a retina scan, so I have no idea how someone has gotten around it. Everyone with access was with me, helping Cash, so I don’t think it's an inside job. Not that I would be worried about it – the men that make up my inner circle are the ride-or-die type.

“Let’s look at the surveillance video," I say, moving to the desk and turning on my computer. With a few taps, I have already found the footage. I fast forward through the night until it gets to the part where we all leave. Then, I let the film creep by, watching Brandy walk around the corner into the stockroom. The beautiful lady slides off of her stool and seems to look right at the camera, giving it the same sultry smile she offered me hours earlier. She walks out of the frame and is not seen again.

The thief isn't wearing leathers but a spandex suit that covers their entire face and body. I realize that they may have expertly picked up my fingerprint for the digital scan from my computer's mouse. Then, they walk straight over to the hidden door as if they know exactly where it is. Then, the surveillance goes dark for a few minutes. When it flickers back on, the safe is empty, and the culprit is gone.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I fish it out, looking at the number and feeling my heart freeze. The guys look at me warily as I push the speaker.

“Hey, Randy, how are things?" I ask my casino manager, but I already know the answer.

"Boss, did you send someone to pick up the deposit? The safe is empty."

I look from my phone to the guys and shake my head. It seems like our thief has struck again.

****

As I sit in the shadows beside the smaller, lesser-known armory, I seethe. The thief hit my office, the casino, and our large armory within minutes. I know it is doable by one person because I re-enacted it. You just have to be quick and know what you are doing.

The next logical target is this smaller armory. I hear a slight noise, the scrape of a shoe on gravel. I need to stop whoever this is before they reveal our safehouse or rob any more of our stashes. Whoever this person is will regret what they have done – messing with the Steel Kings is a no-no. We may be trying to go straight, but it doesn't mean we don't protect what's ours. I pull out my gun and creep towards the noise. Someone is in for a big surprise.

Chapter Three

Elora

I know what I am doing is stupid. This heist is so easy, though, so it is hard to stop now. I have the keys to all the businesses and buildings they own, and it's hard not to want to snoop around.

My team called me during the office heist. Not only did I steal all the cash, guns, and other assets out of the MC’s safe, but I also got into the president’s office and rummaged through his desk. If he is in any way involved in what happened to my parents, I have a fistful of documents the FBI would love to get their hands on.

“Hey, I am headed to the next target. What's up?" I ask Eliza, my team leader.

"We've been doing some digging, and it looks like this MC is the one you have been looking for. They have ties to the Russian mobsters that we believe had a hand in killing your parents. It's just a whisper of a trail, and we need to investigate further, but there is definitely a link between the Steel Kings and your parents’ death.”

I pull off to the side of the road and jam the car in the park, leaning my head on the cool leather of the steering wheel and closing my eyes. It is all coming back – my mother's screams, my father's pleading, and the men in black masks standing over them with guns. Then, a gun goes off, and bodies thump on the floor, one after another. I shut my eyes to avoid looking into the lifeless eyes of my mother, barely breathing from fear of discovery.

They didn't say a word once the deed was done and just walked out. I laid under the bed for hours, the spread pool of my parent's bodies soaking into my clothes going cold before I finally found the courage to call the police.

“Elora? Elora, are you there?”

I pull myself out of my memories and shake my head. Now is not the time to wallow. Now is the time to act.

"Sorry, Eliza, I am still here," I tell her, my voice steady as I pull back onto the road. The smooth purr of my Camaro is soothing my nerves.

“Is that all you found?” I ask as I pull into the gravel parking lot of the Steel Kings armory.

My car is pitch black, so it blends in with the night. I paid extra for the engine to be nice and quiet.

“Only the connection to the Steel Kings and the town of Truth and Consequences,” Eliza replies.

"Okay, keep digging. I will get back to you later."

"Be careful," Eliza warns before ending the call.

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