Page 56 of It Takes a Thief
Get your head in the game and out of the clouds, Decker, I chastise myself.
The vault is located in a windowless room, and a sense of déjà vu crashes over me. I did this all before when we tested the original system to determine what upgrades were needed. I easily beat it, but then Merritt ended the game early by intercepting me and taking her crown back.
This time around, it’s not going to happen like that.
Since I already turned the system off, that also includes the motion detectors in this room. I just need to avoid the cameras as best as I can. Keeping my head down, I open the door and boldly walk over to the huge, floor-to-ceiling oil painting of the island. Slipping my fingers beneath the frame’s edge, I slide it sideways to reveal a large steel door. It looks a lot like a bank vault, and I know it’s nearly as thick as one, too.
I also know the original combination to open it won’t do me any good. After testing and defeating the old system, we hadAlain change it. We also suggested he make it longer and more complicated. Now, I get to figure that out.
Luckily, it shouldn’t be too hard because I have a top-of-the-line codebreaker with me. It’s one Ryder developed, and it’s practically foolproof. It also happens to be one of my favorite toys and I never leave home without it.
Making sure I’m facing away from the cam, I unzip my bag and pull out the palm-sized device that will zip through hundreds of thousands of potential number combos. One by one, a number will lock into place until the entire ten-digit code is visible, thereby opening the lock. All I need to do is plug into the panel and wait.
Holding the codebreaker, I watch numbers begin flashing on the screen. It could take anywhere from five to ten minutes, and as I watch the steady flicker, I think about how Knox is a whiz with numbers. No clue how his brain works the way it does, but we teasingly call him the Human Calculator. Not a gift I have, so I rely on my tech to get the job done.
Exactly eight minutes later, there’s a soft click and the door opens. I unplug my device, stuff it into the backpack and step into the vault. She’s just as sexy as I remember, filled with gem-laden trinkets, family heirlooms and all sorts of shimmering baubles. My gaze moves over to the very tempting ruby necklace and matching ring I wanted to snatch last time.
However, this time around, I realize that I want them because Merritt wore them. I touch the sparkling stones, remembering how they looked against her porcelain skin. Giving my head a shake, I turn to the reason I’m in here.
The diamond and pearl encrusted crown sits on a black velvet bed. Earlier at Merritt’s birthday party, it adorned herhead. That’s when it hit me how out of my league Merritt truly is, and how I have no business in her world.
Momentarily squeezing my eyes closed, I shut thoughts of Merritt down and pluck the crown up. After tucking it in my pack, I walk out of the vault.
And come face-to-face with Merritt.
“You left without saying goodbye,” she says coolly, eyes dropping to my backpack.
Fucking shit.
Chapter Twenty-One: Merritt
Icouldn’t sleep, so I was wandering the halls, thinking about the man now standing only a few feet away, his big hands reflexively tightening on the backpack.
What is he doing in the vault? And why is his face covered? Not that it matters—I’d know those deep brown eyes anywhere. I’ve been seeing them in my dreams for weeks.
There’s really only one logical answer. My heart sinks, and I couldn’t be more stunned. Or hurt.
“You’re stealing from us?” I search his face, hoping I’m wrong. I expect him to look away, but he doesn’t. He holds my gaze steadily, dark eyes intent. Serious as a heart attack.
“Go back to your room and lock the door,” he orders in a low voice.
“No.” My attention dips to the backpack he’s clutching. “What’s in there?”
He lets out a frustrated sigh and seems to be searching for an answer he can give me. Or maybe a lie I might believe.
“Tell me what’s going on, Linc,” I demand, crossing my arms. “Was this the plan all along? Update the security so you could break in later?”
Suddenly, I feel like such a fool. Utterly betrayed by a man I thought I was falling in love with.God.I want to slap a hand against my forehead and curse his lying ass all the way back to Denver.
Yet, a part of me wants to try to understand. To make sense of what’s happening. The Linc I’ve come to know wouldn’t do this to me.
Would he?
“I’m doing this to save you. To protect you,” he grits out, sounding strained.
I want to trust him more than anything. But I need answers.
“How am I supposed to believe you?” I ask, feeling at a complete loss.
