Page 26 of Prettiest Little Thief
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“Fuck, it’s freezing.” Evie chattered her teeth as she wrapped her arms around herself. It was a clear but chilly night. Stars dotted the dark backdrop of sky, our breath clouding in front of us as we exhaled. The museum was illuminated by large spotlights, and the flags attached to the building moved lightly in the frigid breeze. Fox had dropped us both off in front of the museum, and Raf was on the way. We were waiting for the confirmation that the plan was ready to be set into action.
“We’ll be inside soon,” I promised, adjusting the short blonde wig I had stuffed my dark locks under. Evie had decided on a deep violet wig that was braided and hung over her shoulder.
I shifted on my feet. “How is it going with the jerk?” Evie asked, her gaze sliding from the building in front of us to me.
“Fine. I mean, okay, I guess. Nothing special. He’s just so hot and cold all the time. Before he left, he randomly gave me a cute little alien bracelet.” Rolling back my sleeve, I showed thedelicate bracelet that Lucas had gifted me. It was gold with a few alien charms dangling from the chain.
Evie’s eyes widened and her mouth opened. “Gifts, Roe? You’re taking a gift from the asshole making you do this tonight?” She was right. While I had thought about refusing the bracelet because… well, because Lucas wasn’t exactly the nicest person, he left it on my nightstand with a note saying he’d be back the next day. There had to be a motive behind the small kindness. But really, what could it be? I was already doing this job for him to make up for the accident. Tit for tat. After this was completed, I would walk away and finish what I needed to do before hopefully moving far, far away from this town.
Shrugging my shoulders, I glanced down at the present on my wrist and toyed with one of the charms. It glinted beautifully in the soft lighting of the streetlights that lined the road. “It’s aliens. How could I say no?”
“Like this… No.” Evie arched a perfectly manicured brow at me.
I inhaled deeply before releasing it, condensation rolling into the space in front of me. “He’s complicated, but at least he’s giving me a chance. If it weren’t for him, I’d be behind bars, fighting over the last dinner roll. If he wants to give me a small gift, what’s the harm in accepting it?”
“Oh. Oh no. It’s worse than I thought.”
“What?” My spine straightened and I pulled my sleeve back down to cover my new piece of jewelry.
“Youlikehim,” Evie accused. She pointed a gloved finger at me.
A laugh that held no humor left me. “You’re nuts. I do not.”
“You do, mija. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t have taken it. Or worn it.” She crossed her arms over her chest. The death glareshe gave me would melt most people but not me. We were like sisters. She was the closest person to family I had. Especially now that Frankie had ditched me in my moment of need without a word since.
“Okay.” I threw up my hands. “He’s really hot. And when he isn’t being a total jerk, he’s decent.”
“You’re too good for him, Roe.” Evie clasped both of my shoulders and searched my face.
“Too good for him? How? I’m a college dropout, a car thief, and I’m just adding to my criminal record if we get caught tonight.” I swallowed back the tears that were coming to the surface. I wasn’ttoo goodfor anyone, let alone Lucas Knight. Rich, handsome, and smart. I was just a crook. The villain in Lucas’s story.
Evie’s scowl softened. “You didn’t do any of this because you wanted to. Youhadto. You’re a good person.” A tear snuck past my lashes and rolled down my cheek. “Roe, don’t cry.” Evie wiped away the wetness from my face and wrapped me in a hug.
“Am I, though? A good person? I don’t even know who I am anymore.” I hiccupped and returned Evie’s hug; my face planted in her fake hair. She pulled back, her brown eyes sad as she tucked a piece of my platinum wig behind my ear.
“You’re Roe Whitlock. The kindest and baddest bitch I’ve ever known. Any man would be lucky to have you as their woman.” I giggled and sniffled, wiping a tear from my face. “Seriously. I admire your good heart. This is all temporary, and one day, when your debt is paid, you’ll get on a real career path. These last couple of years will be just a memory.”
I nodded as I sniffled. “You’re right. It’s all temporary.
“And if you want to have sex with Lucas, go for it. Who am I to tell you not to?”
“I never said I wanted to have sex with him.” I frowned.
“Don’t give me that. We both know you’re going to get in between the sheets with him eventually.” Just as I was about to deny it again, my phone vibrated in my jacket pocket. When I pulled it from my parka, a group message with Raf, Fox, and Evie lit up the screen.
Raf: We are a go.
Fox: Ready.
“Let’s go,” I said, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. Evie and I took off toward the front of the museum.
When we reached the front doors two guards were leading people out. Neither of the men were the one I had spoken to the other day. “Sorry, ladies. The museum is closing right now. We open back up tomorrow at ten.”
“I’m so sorry. I left my purse in the exhibit with the mummy and Egyptian artifacts,” I lied and glanced between the two guards.
“I can go look for you,” one of the men said.
