Page 64 of The Twilight Theft

“Crystal clear,” said Brie. “Although we need Will to add more control over camera angles, so you don’t have to be so obvious next time.”

The bird looked more like a griffin, with a beak and tucked wings like an eagle, but a thick body like a lion. It was intricate, with distinct feathers and adorned with row upon row of hundreds, or possibly thousands, of tiny golden beads.

It stood barely more than a foot tall, atop another custom-made platform by my buddy, what’s-his-name the carpenter. Unlike the scarab, which was tiny and could easily be palmed if someone disabled the security catch underneath it, the bird didn’t have a glass case over it. That allowed the spotlights to hit it just right, so its beauty radiated.

“Fascinating, isn’t it?” A woman sidled up to me in a draped, emerald green dress that barely hid her ridiculous curves.

A pit opened in my stomach. It was Drew’s ex. An urge to cover myself festered in that open pit. I was too short, too thick, too strong. I was a thief, not a woman who should be in heels and an evening gown. “It is. The rows of granulation—”

“Not the huma bird.” She moved closer, one impossibly long, toned leg revealed from the slit in her skirt. “I noticed you arrive with Drew. Hand in hand?”

“Yes?”

“He’s working, isn’t he?” She gave me a conspiratorial grin and looked around the room. “Who’s the client?”

Feign ignorance, Jayce.“I don’t understand.”

“Well…” She tossed her long blond hair and eyed me up and down. “He’s here withyou, not me. You’re obviously working with him.”

Scarlett chimed in over my earpiece, “Is she as much of a bitch as she sounds?”

“Hold on…” I snapped my fingers and pointed at her. “I thought you looked familiar. You’re Drew’s ex who couldn’t keep her legs closed, aren’t you?”

Scarlett assumed the calming tone I probably needed. “Keep your cool. Malcolm and I are two minutes away if you need a distraction.”

“Or I can call Drew,” said Brie.

I loved my team. They had my back.

The Blond Betrayer’s lip twitched. “Didn’t have them closed last night at his place, either.”

Wow, hadn’t taken him long to move on to the next piece of ass. Or an old piece of ass. I craned my neck around, checking behind her. “And who are you here with tonight?”

“That doesn’t matter, because I’ve got something better.” She leaned close and her flowery perfume nearly choked me. “I know I’m right about you two, which means I’ll be leaving here with a story.”

“And I’ll be leaving here with Drew.” How was that a comeback if he was with her last night?

She ran her teeth over her bottom lip as she straightened. “Has he made you the Beef Wellington yet?”

The pit in my stomach gaped wider.

“Taken you to the roof to see the river and the city lights?”

Was that meal and the line about the Potomac his standard MO? How many other women did he need to get out of his system? Good thing I’d run from his apartment. I wasentirelyreplaceable to Drew Donovan.

Not even replaceable.

Interchangeable.

Brie whispered, “Drew’s on his way back. He’ll be there in less than a minute.”

“He offered to take me to the roof. Instead…” I glanced around, drawing her gaze toward the patio windows so she wouldn’t see him coming. “You won’t believe it, but we—”

“Vanessa,” Drew practically growled. “What are you doing?”

“Just getting to know your little friend.” She fluttered her overly long eyelashes and jutted out a hip. The neckline of her dress shifted, showing the profile of one irritatingly perfect breast.

Who had a body like that? Scarlett. Scarlett had a body like that. But the big difference? I’d never wanted to shove Scarlett into a server carrying three tiers of food.

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