Page 85 of The Twilight Theft

I flipped the door’s lock between his arm and his body, and gripped the handle. The lights from the fountain danced in the background, casting intricate patterns on the buildings across the square. “We’re professionals, remember?”

Was I talking about my harebrained idea? Him listening to me as the subject matter expert? Or the look in his eyes that almost seemed to be worry.

“Scarlett,” said Drew, even though he wasn’t able to hear any response. “She’s going to climb the outside of the building. Tell her no.”

Instead of Scarlett, Rav answered. “Security slowed Marc down. He’s fifteen minutes out.”

That meant‘Go.’

“Drew, the balcony protrudes from the outer wall. I’ll stay above it, so if I slip, I’ll only fall one floor.” Not that I would fall. I never fell.

He shook his head, clenching his sexy jaw. With a slow breath, he let go of the doorframe and held out a hand. “Give me your shoes.”

I did as he asked as he pushed open the door. “And my clutch.” Before leaving, I tied the skirt of my dress up so it wouldn’t get in the way. It was pretty, but it was a pain in the butt. At least it was stretchy, allowing me to move.

The first handhold was eight feet up. A moderate jump off the balcony railing. But with my things in his pockets again, Drew laced his fingers together as a foothold. He lowered his voice, likely in case Wyatt was close to us. “Where do you need me?”

I pointed to a spot by the door and he gave me the boost I needed. Another whiff of his sandalwood and leather cologne. I could get used to that smell.

Fingers into a hole where the brick mortar’s crumbled. Foot on the frame of the door. Ease over to the decorative protrusion. Toes into the gap between two rows of brick.

“And I’m waiting right here,” said Drew. “I’ll catch you if you fall.”

Something warm knotted inside my stomach. That was a far cry from yelling at me that he wouldn’t call an ambulance. I wasnothappy Drew Donovan was worried about me. He didn’t care, not really. He wanted a fling, not to look out for me.

“I don’t fall,” I muttered.

“Good. That makes my job easier. I’d hate to put out a shoulder catching you.”

I tried to hold back my smile, but that warmth in my stomach was growing too fast, influencing muscles it shouldn’t have. “Don’t worry, I’d aim for your head. I prefer a soft landing.”

“Can’t stop, can you?” said Emmett over my earpiece. He could have directed the statement at anyone on the open comms, but it was obviously for me. And he was right.

I couldn’t stop taunting Drew. I didn’t want him to stop taunting me. It made no sense.

Regardless, I was almost at the top and needed to be quiet.

Toes in the crack. Palm the decorative stone boss. Push with the legs. Stay silent. Ignore the stone scraping your knee, Jayce. Reach.

Wrapping my fingers around the roof’s ledge, I hung for a moment, relaxing my body and listening. No footsteps. No words. No noise at all coming from the top. The dark evening must’ve hidden my climb, as the same gasps and screeches which had accompanied my antics Wednesday didn’t repeat.

I pulled up slowly. Years of trying to match Rav at pull-ups paid off.

No grunts. No heavy breaths. Shh.

Once my eyes were above the ledge, I glanced around. Fifty feet away, the bulkhead protruded from the roof. A loud thud came from that direction. Rav was still trying his shoulder while he waited for Marc’s return.

No sign of Wyatt.

I swung a foot up to the ledge and and crested the top.

Where was he? Had he already run?

With the fountain lights behind me, my shadow danced across the metal roof.Second foot up, roll over the edge.Stay down, in case he’s up here.

Someone grabbed my hair.

Shit!

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