Page 48 of Steal Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 1)
“Sorry beautiful, I didn’t mean to yell like that,” I whisper. She turns and offers me a soft smile, resting her head against my shoulder. I nod at Royce to begin.
“Alright …” Royce grunts “This was going to probably have to happen at some point anyway, so better now than later, I guess.”
There’s a pause.
“Blaine and I haven’t been robbing banks just for the thrill and the extra cash. There was always a purpose. My father married Blaine’s mom over a decade ago and it didn’t end well. I don’t think that our parents had a very happy marriage, considering that my dad caught Alicia cheating on numerous occasions but they stuck together for some reason. And to us two, them getting married was the best thing that could have happened because we found each other. We might not be related by blood, but Blaine is my brother.”
I nod. “True, I grew really fond of this surly, control freak motherfucker.” Royce gives me a toothy grin, we love some good natured ribbing, it’s our way of telling each otherI love youand all that mushy shit.
“Royce and his dad, my dad, are the only family I actually have,” I mumble as Sloane runs her nose over my neck. I’m trying to not get a hard on but as usual it’s almost impossible because she’s so damn irresistible.
Royce continues: “Shortly after my father, who was one of the executive officers for Schiller Corp., was fired without just cause. I can’t believe that she’s marrying the man who ruined our family. I could forgive her for looking for her next, rich husband, Blaine and I accepted the way Alicia is a long time ago. But marrying Casper Van Der Beck, the CEO who slandered my father’s name and blamed him for a huge fraud that the government audits had just found out about, just really is a new low, even for her. And the fraud was on a massive scale. So my dad was charged and got essentially blamed for everything. He got a twenty year jail sentence for fraud and money laundering while Van Der Beck came out completely unscathed, fucking squeaky clean. And now the asshole is getting everything, including the woman, while my father rots in jail? I won’t stop until the Schiller Corporation is nothing but a pile of smoking rubble.”
Sloane, unsurprisingly because she is brilliant, immediately makes the connection. “Schiller Corporation? Like the people who own the credit union I worked at?”
“The very one,” I grunt.
Kaden frowns “So this is why you have been doing this? Did your dad put you up to it?”
Royce shakes his head. “No, I don’t think he even knows about it because we sure as hell haven’t told him. But his bastard boss deserves to feel the same pain and loss that we did and since it seems like he doesn’t, or didn’t have anyone important in his life before the wedding announcement, this was the easiest way. Rob his banks and frame him for it, like he did my dad. That’s the second part of our plan. Find a way for Van Der Beck to go down for the robberies. We also found out that he was laundering money for some really shady people who deal in nuclear weapons. So we wouldn’t mind it if we could make it look like he tried to steal from his ‘business associates’ too, and make him suffer the consequences.”
“This CEO douche sounds like a first class asshole,” River states bluntly making me chuckle.
“He is.” I continue and I notice that Kaden is frowning as if he was having some internal debate. “Which is why this wedding invitation makes me fucking furious.”
“His mom is marrying the man who destroyed our dad in Monte Carlo in four weeks.”
“Oh shit …” Sloane mutters.
“We need to finish this. Once and for all,” I grunt and tighten my arms around Sloane. “I want to see this guy destroyed and hell, if my mom wants to go down with him, fine. But we need to finish this. Which means Royce and I are probably going there next …”
The silence is heavy with unanswered questions. It really is up to them if they want to join us.
“Well, hell,” Sloane mumbles and then turns around to face me after sliding off the marble island. “I’m in, if you want me.”
“Just like that?” Royce asks as I shake my head smiling.
“Just like that.” She confirms, setting an intense gaze on my brother. “Despite how all of this nonsense started, you kept me safe from my ex. So I am going to help you handle your problem. If you want me to of course.”
“Of course we want you around.” I state softly as she smiles.
“If kitten goes I go.” River groans putting his head down on the marble. “This is your fault, Sloane. I was ready for some R & R and after this is over, I’ll kidnap your sexy ass to a tropical beach.”
Royce, Kaden and I all scowl at River: what the fuck is wrong with him, mentioning the ‘k-word’ after all the reassurance it took to persuade Sloane that despite how this started, she’s not a hostage anymore?
The crazy motherfucker shrugs unapologetically: “What, too soon for the hostage jokes and for the leopard print, fuzzy handcuffs I bought for Sloane?”
She smiles, ignoring River’s provocation. “It’s sort of exciting, isn’t it? I’ve never been overseas before.” If Sloane’s goal was to make Royce and I feel better it’s working, my smile growing as Royce watches her with affection. I’m so fucked with this woman. Royce is too, if not worse than me. River is a lost cause. My eyes move over to Kaden who looks lost in thought.
“What about you, Kaden?” Sloane asks, her voice light despite the very slight tremble there. She’s afraid he’s going to say no.
Kaden looks up, his eyes focusing on my brother and I before Sloane. I am not sure what's going on in his head but I can see the decision and he nods. “Yeah, I’m in.”
“It’s like a family vacation!” She chimes.
“But with a healthy dose of kicking ass and getting revenge on that asshole.”
Sloane looks like she’s in far less pain, as she grabs River’s hand. I chuckle as she drags him towards the bay of windows, leaving the three of us. My hands keep running over the invitation and narrowing on my mothers name there.
“Family vacation …” Kaden mumbles and walks across the room, sitting on the couch. I tilt my head thinking about her words.
In a way we’re becoming somewhat of a family. A small unit of criminals, and while there’s still a lot to learn about each other we’ve been watching one another's backs. My eyes stray to Sloane and I know in part it is because of her.
In large part.
Sloane is what is bringing us together as a family.
