Page 49 of Release You

Shaking my head, I shut the door and walked around to the driver side.

“So, what’s the plan?” Nikki asked when I peeled off the curb. “I’m thinking something simple. Security is minimal, if not nonexistent.”

“Well, I was thinking we could talk to Mr. Paredes and ask him, very nicely, if we could please have access to my mom’s security box.” I drove the two miles up main street then pulled into the bank’s parking lot. When she didn’t respond, I turned off the engine and shifted my body to look at her. “Are we in agreement here?”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes. “Can we go now?” She climbed out of the truck and headed for the front door.

“Henry,” Bill, the security guard, greeted us as soon as we walked in. “Here to see Mr. Paredes again?”

“Yes. He’s expecting me.” I patted him on the shoulder.

“Go on in.” He grinned, tipping his head to Nikki.

To the untrained eye, she was all hair and tight dress. But I could tell she’d already pegged him for an easy target. I shookmy head, rubbing the stubble on my face. Life with Nikki would never be boring. Overnight, she had dissolved my fear of spending the rest of my days alone.

She took my arm, smiling. “Your way is so civilized. I like it. We even have an appointment.”

“Henry. Ms. Swift.” Mr. Paredes met us in the lobby and ushered us into his office.

With his eyes on Nikki, he gestured for us to sit. I took the seat he offered while Nikki snaked her hand around the crook of his elbow.

“Your office is incredible. Look at that view. I can see our hotel from here.” Nikki couldn’t take no for an answer. What the hell was she up to?

“I’m so sorry.” She leaned on his chest for support. “You gentlemen have business, and here I am, babbling away, taking up your time.”

Mr. Paredes’s ears turned red. “Not at all. You know, I’m here so much, sometimes I forget to just take in the view.”

I sat back in my chair. Jesus, he was pathetic. How could he not see that it was all an act? I didn’t have time for Nikki’s games.

“Were you able to find out if I’m on the authorized list for Mom’s security box?” Great. I forgot to say “please.”

“Henry. I hate to keep giving you bad news. But you’re not.” He sat in his chair while Nikki roamed the office.

When she made her way back to the desk, she shuffled a few papers out of the way to get to a framed picture of his family. She smiled at it fondly, and Mr. Paredes stood a little taller.

“Darling, Henry. I told you it was unsavory to put Mr. Paredes in such an awkward position.” She turned to him. “Thank you so much for your time. Your view truly is spectacular.”

Mr. Paredes mumbled a few more apologies as Nikki escorted me out and closed the door behind her. She dragged me down the corridor to the left of the tellers and pulled me into the women’s bathroom.

“What the fuck, Nikki?” I whisper shouted.

“That was a dead end. First Rule of Con—know when to cut your losses. Move on quickly.”

“There are rules to thieving?” I placed both hands on my hips.

“Yeah. Second Rule of Con—improvise to save the con.” She flashed me a sexy grin, dangling a key in front of me. “The security box requires two keys. Your mom’s key and Mr. Paredes’s key. Now we have both. All we have to do is go in the back where they keep the boxes.” She shrugged. “Simple.”

“The back? You mean the vault. No. We’re not doing that.” I crossed my arms.

She did the same, standing tall and looking so fucking sexy. “You know, you look very hot when you do that. Bulging arms, scowling look.” She licked her lips and snaked her arms around my waist.

I cupped her face. As usual, my cock reacted to her touch. I wanted to go home. I wanted her out of that dress. “I’m serious, Nikki. If we get caught and my uncle gets wind of it, he’ll have the two of us killed. You know I’m not exaggerating.”

Jonathan was capable of horrible things. Stealing from an eleven-year-old wasn’t the worst thing he’d ever done. I knew that now.

“And he won’t. Mr. Paredes said no, and we accepted his answer graciously. Like the dumb-ass kids your uncle thinks we are.”

“I have Mom’s key. And I’m saying no.”

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