Page 22 of Pack of Crooks
Thanks.
My fingers hover over the screen. I want to send more, to apologize for sucking, but I don’t want to ruin her day. Locking my device, I push into the shop, biting my lip and softening my eyes as I glance around. My mouth parts as if everything overwhelms me. This shop specializes in gold, but there are guitars hung on the wall, cases of other types of jewelry, and some electronics.
“Hey there,” a man with graying hair and a gold plated name tag greets me. “First time in a shop?”
“Uh, yeah,” I say with a nervous chuckle. “There’s so much stuff.” I slowly walk to the counter thatRonis standing behind.
He peers at me, eyes dropping to my cleavage. “Well, you came to the right place.” His gaze travels down my body and I fight a scowl and a shudder of disgust, but if he’s distracted by the tits and legs, maybe he won’t think too hard about how I came across what I want to pawn.
When his eyes finally hit my face again, I bite my lip and pull out the goodies I stole from Pack Lennox. “I, um, I wanted to pawn these?” I titter, kind of hating that I sound so believably naive. “Sorry, I have no idea what I’m doing.” The metal of the watch clacks against the glass counter when I set the items down.
The bell above the door dings. Ron’s gaze shoots to his next customers, eyes narrowing. A disappointed sigh rushes out. “Guess we have company,” he mutters under his breath.
Like you had a chance.
Neck prickling with awareness, I glance over my shoulder, gaze clashing with familiar dark brown irises. Hawk nods at me and turns to look at a case of jewelry. Oxygen trembles in mylungs.He doesn’t recognize me, I had a wig and fake nose last night.
With that fragile truth, I turn back to Ron and change the tone of my voice. “I think I changed my mind,” I tell him in a baby voice, reaching for the watch and band.
His hand snakes out and grabs mine, thumb stroking the inside of my wrist. “Hey, relax, sweetheart. Let me at least take a look and give you a quote.”
A shudder runs through me and this time there’s nothing I can do to suppress it. My scent sours, but Ron doesn’t seem to notice. Fuck. I could make a scene about wanting to leave, but that would only draw Hawk’s attention. The gig is up once he catches my scent and recognizes his watch and Killian’s jewelry.
“It won’t take long,” Ron assures me, stroking my wrist again.
I pull my arm away, forcing him to release me, and take a step back. “Thanks, Ron,” I say with a soft voice so my retreat doesn’t insult him. Tucking my arms behind my back, pushing my boobs out, I wander to the case right next to him, bending over a bit. His attention lingers on me for a good minute, but I pretend not to notice him or Hawk, whose gaze burns against the back of my thighs.
Good to know the dress is working.
Every time I sense Hawk edging closer, I move a few cases down, making a show of being absorbed in whatever case is in front of me, avoiding eye contact at all costs. If he’s smart, he’ll recognize my scent and eyes, but there are other omegas who smell like strawberries. Last night’s disguise might still save me. Not to mention, the disgust that came with Ron’s touch still taints my perfume. It’s different enough to not be suspicious.
At least I fucking hope.
Ron gets off the stool he’s been sitting on, walks around the cases, and meets me where I’m standing in one of the cornersof the room, four cases away from Hawk. Ron stops in front of me. He’s a big guy, more soft than solid, but all I can focus on is how his body is blocking off the rest of the room. My heart rate speeds up, as it did last night when the Bear closed in.
He doesn’t even seem to notice the distress coating my scent. “This is a nice ring,” Ron begins, stepping even closer, dropping his hand to my waist to guide me to the case.
I fight the urge to shove him away.Think about the money. Lottie needs cash.I wrinkle my nose at Ron’s oily scent, trying to pay attention to what he’s saying.
“There are a few dings on the band, so I can only give you a hundred for it.” His thumb strokes against my hip bone.
My forehead wrinkles. “A hundred? What about the diamonds?”
“They’re fake.”
Fucking liar. “No, they’re not,” I say as sweetly as I can. Men like Ron don’t take kindly to a woman with a strong voice. “They’re real.”
He shakes his head. “They’re not, but I’ll give you a good deal regardless. As for the watch,” he steps even closer and my spine stiffens, “let me deal with this guy and we can talk about how to make the most out of your pawn.”
My eyes narrow. I think the fuck not, Ronnie. “I think I’ll take my things and go.”
“Stay here and we can discuss the pawn once this guy is gone.” Ron’s alpha bark is soft, but the pressure of the command still rolls over me. Luckily, it doesn’t have the intended impact. Ron has little alpha energy.
Thanks for the exposure therapy, Mom.
His grip tightens, as if to keep me in place, and I decide it’s time to drop the demure act, but before I can, a hand lands on Ron’s shoulder, yanking him back.
Hawk pushes him away from me and steps between us. “She said no.”
