Page 68 of Prettiest Little Thief
I nodded with understanding. The same feeling was once how I was indebted to the Crimsons.
Lucas instructed Jericho to take care of the money portion. However, the transfer would not be released until we verified the chest was indeed where Alina claimed.
My husband leaned forward, bringing his forearms to rest on his knees. “Now, which pawn shop?”
***
The pawn shop was in a shady part of town. The building itself was decaying on the outside. Chunks of the façade were missing, and the sign on the outside had missing letters. Lucas decided to let Jericho and Avram feel out how Davit felt about relinquishing the chest, with or without payment.
If that didn’t work out, we would go in and take it without asking. The latter, also known as stealing.
Lucas and I sat in the back of the car and watched the front of the building.
“Want to bet Davit will refuse to admit to having the chest?” I asked.
Lucas turned to me and arched an eyebrow. “What are we betting for?”
I tapped my lips with my fingers and thought about it. “If I win, you have to take me to The International UFO Museum and Research Center.”
“Of course you would choose aliens.” He chuckled and shook his head.
“What about you?”
“If I win, you have to put on an ice-skating show for me and all of our friends.”
My mouth popped open. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am serious. Fox, Evie, Raf.” He ticked off the names on his fingers. “Everyone. Even Jericho and Avram.”
“Avram lives in Romania. You would have him fly out just for my show?”
Lucas shrugged. “We can always have it televised.”
“Ha! Televised? Now I know you’re joking.” I laughed. “Besides, why wouldn’t you just FaceTime him or record it?”
“Because I want everyone to know how talented my wife is.” Lucas gripped my hand. I just stared at him in surprise as he brought my fingers to his lips.
“I’m rusty.” My cheeks felt hot from his confidence in me. “But you have a deal, Mr. Knight.”
The doors to the car opened, and both men slid into their seats in the front.
“Davit pretended he had no knowledge of the chest, and we didn’t see it on the main floor. I’m thinking he has an apartment upstairs. It might be there,” Avram said.
I peered up the building, trying to determine if one of us would be able to scale the side. “Anyone got a ladder?”
Jericho and Avram both turned to look at me.
“I just thought I’d ask.”
“Did you get a chance to do a walk around the perimeter?” Lucas asked.
Jericho nodded. “Yes, Mr. Knight, there’s a small window on the backside just out of view. It’s just big enough for Mrs. Knight to squeeze through… if she wished.”
I placed my hand on my throat. “Muah?”
He gave me a pained look. “Sorry.”
“And how do you suppose I get up to the second story window? Fly?”
