Page 130 of Gathered Sparkle

I look at Ace, and he takes it as his clue to come closer as I take a deep breath, my focus shifting entirely to the slimy man in front of us.

Showtime.

Annabelle’s charm is a weapon, and Foster is eating it up like it’s the first meal he’s had in weeks. She leans closer, drawing his attention entirely to her, her tone playful and curious as she peppers him with questions about the slots.

My eyes flicker to his jacket pocket again, the faint outline of his phone barely visible through the beige fabric. The way it presses against the thin material makes my fingers itch, but this isn’t a simple lift. His hand brushes the pocket every so often, and with Annabelle seated so close, space is tight.

“Really?” Annabelle gasps. “You mean to tell me the more you bet, the higher your odds of winning? That’s so exciting!”

“Absolutely,” Foster lies. His hand moves to gesture grandly, and my heartbeat spikes.

Now or never.

I shift to stand behind him, reaching around, my fingers grazing the fabric lightly as I test the tension. His focus is entirely on Annabelle, who has leaned even closer to whisper something conspiratorial.

As Foster laughs, his body shifts a little, and his hand drops to the tray of coins in front of him. The phone’s position adjustsjust enough, and I see my opening. My fingers slide into the pocket with precision honed by years of practice, and the phone comes free without so much as a whisper of resistance.

Holding it flat against the back of my thigh, I angle my arm behind me as Ace walks past. The moment he’s within reach, I extend my hand slightly, and the phone slips from my grasp into his waiting palm. His fingers brush mine briefly, a silent acknowledgment before he continues on his way without missing a beat.

My attention snaps back to Foster, who’s still chuckling at whatever Annabelle has said. She’s good,so good, at keeping him distracted, and the love I have for this girl swells in my chest.

Ace heads toward Sylus, who barely glances up from his drink as Ace slides the phone into his palm while he walks past him. My heart pounds in my chest, but Sylus works quickly, putting the phone on top of a device he brought.

He explained to me what it does, but I understood jack shit. The only thing I did understand was that when everything works out as planned, he can later send them a text from a burner phone, and it will appear in the text thread they already have with Veronica, looking like it was a normal text sent directly from her.

Annabelle laughs again, her hand lightly brushing Foster’s arm, and he’s too absorbed in her to notice the slight edge creeping into my expression.

Hurry up.

Sylus seems to finish just when Ace walks past him for a second time, and the phone changes hands once more. When he reaches me, I let my hand drift behind me again, and the phone is back in my grasp within seconds.

Quick, clean, flawless.

But now comes the tricky part—putting it back.

The phone is still warm from their touch, and the weight of it feels heavier now than when I first took it. Annabelle glances at me briefly, her smile unwavering, and I give her a barely perceptible nod.

“You know…” she flirts. “You’re probably the most interesting man I’ve met tonight. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who knows the ins and outs of a casino like you do.”

Foster’s grin spreads ear to ear. “Stick with me, honey, and you’ll learn all the tricks.”

“I will.” Annabelle smiles sweetly, standing from her chair. “But first, I want to check out the tables in the back before I come back here and—” She shifts, feigning a stumble as her heel catches on the leg of the chair. “Oh!” she gasps, pitching forward dramatically. Foster reacts instantly, his arms darting out to catch her.

“Easy there, beautiful.” He chuckles, steadying her with a grin. His hands rest on her waist, and she lets out a breathy laugh, one hand pressing to his chest as if to stabilize herself.

It’s all the opening I need.

My fingers brush the fabric of his jacket below where her hand rests as I slip the phone into his chest pocket from behind him, my touch featherlight compared to the distraction Annabelle provides.

“Sorry about that.” Annabelle giggles, her gaze flicking to mine again, and when I give her another nod, she straightens and steps out of Foster’s arms.

“No worries at all,” he replies, clearly enamored as he adjusts his jacket.

Annabelle hooks her arm through mine, seamlessly transitioning the conversation. “Come on, babe,” she says brightly, leading me away. “We don’t want to lose all our money before we’ve seen everything this place has to offer.”

“Don’t worry, ladies.” Foster chuckles, yelling after us, “The machines will be waiting for you when you’re ready to lose it all. Come find me if you need more help.”

The tension in my chest loosens a little as we step away from him and make our way toward the back of the casino.

---