Page 70 of Prettiest Little Thief
Glancing at the bathroom, I realized there was no way I would be able to get back out the tiny window. Rolling my lips in thought, I would have to sneak downstairs and pray to sweet baby Jesus that I wouldn’t get caught.
A thought came to mind before I made for the door to leave, and I strode over to one of the open cardboard boxes to examine the contents until I found what I wanted, tucking it into my pocket.
Heavy footsteps thudded in the hall.
Crap. Crap. Crap!
Quickly, I ran into the closet and closed myself in with a soft click of the door.
“Mr. Knight, you have held me off long enough. I know I heard noise from my apartment. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make sure everything is okay.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Lucas
“I’m sure everything is perfectly fine, Davit. I would really like to get a look at a few more things behind the glass.” My legs ate up the distance between me and the pawnshop owner as he stomped up the stairs. He had been adamant he needed to check his apartment from the moment the floor shuddered, but I was able to hold him off for quite some time until he couldn’t stand it any longer.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dialed Jericho’s number, stuffing my cell phone back into my jacket.
Davit sighed. “I’m sure you’re right, but I have a lot of my inventory that needs to be put out that is stored in my apartment.” He shoved his key into the lock and pushed open the door to his studio.
My gaze tracked over everything in disarray in his room. Fuck. I hoped it wasn’t Monroe who left it like this. But Davit glanced around without a word.
“I swear I heard someone up here.” His balding head swiveled as he walked toward the bathroom.
Had Monroe left already?
The closet door cracked open, and immediately I knew my wife was hiding within.
“Go!” I mouthed to her and strode toward Davit in the bathroom, caging him in. “Have you checked behind the door?” I asked him.
“Good idea.”
I saw Monroe tiptoe toward the exit out of the corner of my eye. The floor creaked, but before Davit could turn to investigate, I slid my body in front of him and cleared my throat.
“Find anything?”
“There’s no one here. I could have sworn—”
“Maybe it was something from outside that shook the building. Wouldn’t be the first time.” I shrugged.
Once I was certain Monroe escaped, I allowed Davit to pass and guide me back down the steps.
“Now, what did you want to see?” he asked.
With my hands in my pockets, I walked to the glass case, browsing the jewelry section. Most of it wasn’t worth what it was priced at. “Actually, it’s getting kind of late. I need to get to my wife.”
“Oh. Are you sure there isn’t anything you would like to have a closer look at?” A frown marred the man’s face.
“Maybe another time.” With that, I stalked out of the shop in the direction of the car.
Avram and Jericho both stood outside the car, but no sign of my wife. “Is she okay?” I asked, picking up my pace.
“Yes, Mr. Knight. She’s in the back.” Avram nodded toward the car. “Jericho received your call and went into the shop to make sure she got out okay.”
There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation as I opened the door and slid in next to Monroe. She sat with her head back and eyes closed with the chest on her lap. “Do you know how hard it wasnot to gag from the smell of that closet?” One eye opened and she inspected me.
I chuckled. “That bad, huh?”
