Page 15 of Keep Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 2)
Stifler’s mom
Sloane
The nervous energy radiating from Blaine is off the charts and that’s so unusual for him that I immediately worry and step by his side, tucking myself against him.
“Thank you, I’ll take a few sips of what you’re drinking,” I say, worried that the ironclad control that Blaine displays in every situation seems to be all but gone. I admit that I’m trying to slow down his drinking by asking to share from his glass. I know it’s kind of a bullshit move because I should tell him clearly I think that meeting his mom stinking drunk isn’t a good idea. But I don’t want to make him feel uncomfortable in front of the others, so I opt for a diversion technique instead.
If Blaine can see through my ploy, he doesn’t show it when he offers me his glass. If he’s pissed off about it, he can always punish me later. Yup, I loved being spanked in that boutique’s dressing room, so sue me if I want more. I even fucking surprised myself because I didn’t think I could ever be into this kind of shit, but the tension between Blaine and I resulted in some of the hottest sex I’ve ever had in my entire life. The memory of it alone makes my center throb in need and makes me want to be a very, very bad girl, if you get my drift.
I know, I know, this isn’t the time or place for these kinds of thoughts but have you ever wondered what would happen if you gave into your innermost thoughts or instincts whenever they actually spring into your mind? Like if you started screaming your head off while in line at the post office? That kind of thing. So in my typical dorky fashion, I think what would happen if I took an ice cube in my mouth, dropped down on my knees and started sucking Blaine’s cock in front of the others? Would they get mad? Or would they join in, shedding their expensive suits and worshipping my body all at once, acting like the well-oiled machine like they did during their heists?
Yeah I know, I’m not normal. Let’s blame it on the jet-lag.
For a second everyone is quiet and we all sip on our drinks in the lavishly luxurious penthouse.
We’ve been invited to stay here in the new casino resort that Blaine’s mom’s fiancé opened in Monte Carlo. Apparently the wedding will take place here and it’s rumored that the crown prince might be in attendance.
Kaden still rented a room at a different hotel and he gave us all key cards to it. That’s to be considered a safe room and a meeting point if the shit hits the fan. The guys swiped the penthouse for bugs as soon as we got here and they’ll do it daily. They think that at this moment Van Der Beck should have no reason to suspect that we’re here for anything other than the wedding but after the way Pierce was tracking me through my watch, we must assume that we’re being watched while in enemy territory.
Kaden clears his voice and begins to explain that the guy the FBI suspect of being involved in a huge money laundering scheme with Van Der Beck is a Russian billionaire called Evgeny Kronin.
“On the outside, he’s a legit businessman who seems to have made his fortune with steel. He builds ships, from super oil tankers to cruise liners to luxury yachts. However, the FBI suspects that this is just a front to a much more lucrative and very illegal nuclear weapons trafficking ring. He uses the casino to launder the money from his nuclear weapons deals.”
I have to be honest; I don’t understand what this has to do with Royce and Blaine’s father and I tell Kaden as much. “Ok, sure. This guy seems like a real asshole but I’m missing the connection with Royce and Blaine, and the robberies.”
Royce intervenes and explains the situation. “Van Der Beck used the money he embezzled from our father’s company to build this whole resort but he buried his tracks real well. We were planning to frame him by planting part of the cash in his private quarters and then using some of it to gamble in the casino. We would’ve been real sloppy with it too. Most of that money is marked, that’s how Kaden got assigned to UCLA under cover when a small amount of that cash was found circulating on campus.”
That’s even more confusing. “Who spent that money?”
Blaine blushes and explains that when their father was arrested at first, the feds froze every single asset the family owned. “My mother had money before marrying Royce’s dad, from her two previous rich husbands. But after she left him when he was arrested, we weren’t exactly on speaking terms. Well, we were totally fucking broke and we had to pay rent, tuition, everything. I made the huge mistake of getting a money order from one of the credit unions on campus. Using money from our first heist. The rest is history.”
River chuckles. “And then you three gave me so much stick for keeping the cash in my room. Well done, dipshit, for getting the feds on your trail from the get go.”
Blaine clenches his fists, ready to show River how much he doesn’t appreciate his taunts but Kaden puts an end to their squabble.
“Guys, focus for fuck’s sake. Going back to Van Der Beck and his involvement in all this: at first we thought that this was just a totally legit activity, since we had no idea that he was responsible for the embezzlement. We thought we had our guy when we arrested Mr. Barrington. We were simply watching Van Der Beck closely because Monte Carlo is a tax haven and we suspected tax evasion. But the numbers don’t add up. The influx of money in the casino is totally disproportionate to the volume of business, so we started watching the high rollers and we started to suspect that Kronin is paying Van Der Beck to recycle the money he got with his illicit trade. However, the money is still too much, so we think that Van Der Beck is very much part of the operation and if we need to put everyone away, we need proof of what kind involvement he has in this whole thing.”
Holy shit. This guy sounds like one of those mega villains in the James Bond movies. And he’s marrying Blaine’s mom? I don’t fucking blame Blaine for needing a drink, I would too. I do need one too.
“So, what do we do?” I ask, unsure of what our role in this whole situation is.
Kaden explains that for now we just observe. “The wedding gives us the perfect opportunity to snoop around from the inside, thanks to Royce and Blaine’s soon to be family connection to our suspect. Kronin is on the list of the guests for the wedding of the year, he’s due to arrive any day. So we’ll watch them closely. The two men don’t seem to hang out on a personal level, so we’re pretty sure that the wedding is being used as a diversion for something big. The only thing I ask you guys, is to act normal and keep your eyes and ears open. I’ll give you more instructions as we know more.”
I can’t resist a dig at Kaden and give him a small military salute and a ‘yes sir’. The light I see in his dark blue eyes is something that makes my core clench and my center throb: there’s heat, anger and understanding and also something else. He knows I’m challenging him and he’s telling me that he won’t back down. He’s telling me that he meant it when he said that he wouldn’t apologize anymore. That we can play this game but if I step out of line, there’ll be consequences. Fuck at this rate, he might spank me too. This is totally becoming a thing.
“Another thing, before we go into the lion’s den and meet Mommy Dearest for dinner.” Royce intervenes, interrupting my staring contest with Kaden. “Sloane, we thought that it’s better to introduce you as Blaine’s girlfriend. We don’t think that we should advertise our current … ménage with these people. And it’s not because we’re ashamed of it or anything. It’s just that the less attention we draw to us, the more chance we have to be free to do our job.” I nod, tightening my hold on Blaine.
“What about River and Kaden?” I ask.
Royce offers me a small smirk, enjoying the situation way too much. “River is your brother and as for Kaden, he’s your bodyguard, it makes sense that we’d hire you one after we’ve been stalked by your ex.”
Kaden’s shit eating grin makes me want to slap him when he chuckles. “I take my job very seriously, Sloane. I’ll ‘guard your body’ very carefully.”
Huh? Really? Dick! I’m about to retort something scathing, when River protests. “Hey! Why can’t I be the bodyguard? I don’t wanna be her fucking brother! At least can I be the stepbrother who’s secretly fucking his hot step sister?”
Kaden shakes his blond head. “No, you can’t. And you watch way too much porn if the first thing that comes to your mind is to ‘fuck your stepsister.’ Look, we thought that this would be the best way to explain me being armed and your wounds. We’ll say that we were spending winter break in Seattle and that Sloane’s ex showed up and … we don’t have to lie about what happened in that boathouse.”
River mumbles something about Kaden being a killjoy but he stops objecting as we all pile into the elevator that takes us up to the hotel’s exclusive terrace restaurant and sky bar. This was sure as hell going to be interesting.
