Page 62 of It Takes a Thief
What I’m not ready for is the panicked voice that yells my name.
“Linc!”
Merritt!
My heart sinks as I whip around and see her run up to the side of the cage. Her fingers tangle through the chain link, avoiding the barbed wire. What in God’s name is she doing here?
Before I can figure it out, Bonecrusher plows into me with the strength of ten men, and we both go down hard. The impact of his mountainous body is absolutely crushing, and all the air is knocked from my lungs.Motherfucker.For a stunned moment, I can’t move. Flashbacks from my final UFC fight come back with a vengeance.
And then Bonecrusher begins pummeling me mercilessly with his fists.
Chapter Twenty-Three: Merritt
Three Hours Earlier
Enroute to LaGuardia, I know I need to come up with a plan. I don’t know what Jeffrey is up to, but he has the man I’m falling in love with in handcuffs. He must’ve forced him on that flight to New York, and I need to know why.
I’m not sure if she can help, but I call Addison Mills, Linc’s boss at A-Squared Enterprises. She gave me her personal number at our first meeting and told me to call if I ever needed anything. Something about the way Addie spoke and presented herself—so confident and in control—makes me believe she can accomplish anything. And, right now, I need a miracle.
She answers right away, sounding as calm and collected as I remember. “Princess Merritt, is everything okay?”
“No!” I launch into an explanation of everything that has happened—from Linc leaving without saying goodbye to him breaking in later and stealing my crown to the promptly suspicious arrival of the police. I tell her how they carted him off to the station and how Jeffrey gave a cop money then took Linc, still in handcuffs, straight to the airport.
“And now they’re heading for New York,” I say, trying not to sound frazzled.
“You’re sure that’s their final destination?”
“Yes, their flight manifest said LaGuardia.” I suck in a breath, trying not to cry. Doing my damnedest not to fall apart. “I don’t know what’s happening, but I think Linc is in trouble.”
“Okay, I’m going to have someone waiting on the ground. The moment they land, I’ll have them followed. We’ll get Linc. Don’t worry.”
“Who can help?” I know her team lives in Denver which means there is no way they could make it to New York in time. And, if they’re flying commercial, then forget it.
“I’m calling in a favor,” she tells me. “Hang on, I’m adding someone to the call.”
A moment later, a deep voice lazily drawls, “Heyyy, tootsie pop. Please tell me this is a booty call.”
“You’re incorrigible, Laurent. And, for the record, I’ve never made a booty call in my life.”
“That’s a shame. Way to dash a guy’s dreams.”
“We need your help,” she says, cutting straight to the chase. “Please tell me you’re still in New York, scouting out potential jobs.”
“We?” he echoes warily. “You know I’m not much of a team player.”
“You’re on the phone with Princess Merritt Fontaine of Arcadia. Princess, this is Laurent, a friend of mine. Linc is in trouble, cuffed on a plane, and they’re heading for LaGuardia as we speak.”
“Hello, Princess,” Laurent greets me smoothly. “Lucky for you, Addie-Baddie, I’m still currently holed up in the fabulous Towers at the Lotte Palace. Although being waited on hand and foot is getting a little tedious.”
The famed luxury hotel is not unfamiliar to me. My parents stayed there and they raved about it being first class all the way. It’s a spectacular place and caters to important guests, specifically those staying in the Towers, a glamorous collection of bespoke suites on the hotel’s top fourteen floors.
“I’m sure,” Addie states dryly. “Can you get to the airport and follow them?” She gives him the landing time and plane information.
He sighs. “Of course, Ican. Do I want to? No.”
“You owe me for helping you pull off that museum heist.”
Heist?Pieces begin to connect in my head—pieces I don’t want to connect. Like how their team is so good at challenging, defeating and then upgrading security systems. How Linc broke into the vault twice and would’ve gotten away with my crown—and whatever else he could fit in that bag—if I hadn’t caught him. Hell, if he’d really wanted to escape, he could’ve plowed right through me. We both knew I was no match and powerless to stop him.
