Page 37 of Scarlett Thief (Criminal Underground 2)

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Hadrian

The van that we would be using for the job was cramped in the front, but now that we were parked a little ways from the hotel, I had climbed into the back to work. As I watched Scarlett approach the front of the building for recon, I stretched a bit, settling in for a long period of work.

Scar’s demeanor was confident, no one looking at her twice except the front desk staff who gave friendly smiles and ‘good afternoons.’ All of which Scarlett returned before striding through to one of the hallways.

“The laundry facilities and storage rooms should be in the basement,” I relayed, glancing at the blueprints I had pulled up on the second laptop. As if she forgot I was there, her eyes darted to the nearest camera. A smirk twitched my lips, excited to play the little game I’d concocted on our way over. “Yes, that’s right, doll, I can see you just fine. Smile for me, pretty girl.”

A sassy smile appeared, followed quickly by her middle finger and I felt the excitement for the challenge grow.

“Oof, someone’s feeling bratty today,” I noted. I watched and prodded, goading her further as she searched, knowing if I pushed just enough, she’d accept.

And accept she did, though I could tell she was thrown slightly about having someone’s voice in her ear.Let’s throw the infamous thief off her game, I thought, watching her enter the laundry room.

“Hmmm, no cameras in the laundry room,” I taunted, “that’s fine, you can’t hide in there. You’ve got to finish your review of the layout.”

Her irritation was blatant in her response, and I couldn’t stop my laugh at how riled up she was getting.

“Ahhh there you are, sweetheart.” As soon as I said that though, she reached up and dug out the comm. “Cheater,” I muttered, feeling competitive. “But no matter, I can still keep an eye on you.”

I kept my eyes peeled, watching her move from room to room with ease. A bit over twenty minutes and I would win. Except she did something unexpected.

“What are you doing, Scar?” I murmured despite knowing she couldn’t hear me. A woman’s jacket was clutched in her hand and she headed back toward the hallway with the elevator. I felt my eyes narrow when her hand came out and she rushed to a quickly closing door.

Bile crept up my throat and rage burned as I watched her flirt with the man in the elevator. The urge to punch the man in the balls was exceedingly intense as his hands roved over Scarlett’s curves. I knew she’d used her body and her seductiveness to get what she wanted, but since Wolf and I had come to our agreement that morning, I found myself growing possessive. I might be okay training her with Wolf but no others.

“Don’t you fucking do it…” I hissed, glaring at the camera as they stumbled down the hall. My knuckles cracked with how tight my fists were and I had to hold back from leaving the van as she disappeared inside the man’s hotel room. Typing furiously, I scanned all the cameras surrounding the room, focusing on the exterior and while it would be good for our heist, the hotel only focused on the entrances and exits instead of anywhere else.

Meaning she’d gotten away from me.

Unless she’d decided to give you the biggest ‘fuck you’ by sleeping with a fucking stranger. I shoved the stomach turning thought away and focused.

“You fucking … goddammit…” I couldn’t get out the rest of my thoughts. I knew she was good, but I had to admit, I’d underestimated her skills. And Idefinitelyfucking underestimated her willingness to do whatever necessary to win. There was no sign of her on any of the cameras despite my best attempts to locate her. Finally, after five minutes had long passed, she laughed in the comm.

I growled at the triumphant sound. “You little … I’m going to … you’re a brat.”

“I know,” she spouted smugly. Before I could respond, she was talking to someone I couldn’t see. Checking the lobby, I concluded she must have been on the phone. “Hello! I would like to book a two-night stay for my husband and I. Yes, tonight and tomorrow.”

Slamming the two laptops shut, I flopped back against the interior and waited. The metal was cold against my back through my shirt, and I didn’t even flinch when I heard the back of the van open. I looked over with a flat expression, waiting for her to rub it in.

“I win,” she stated happily, climbing in and shutting the doors behind her. I didn’t say anything, just watching her as she got situated. Her lipstick was still intact, not that it made much of a difference, and her clothing wasn’t rumpled enough to have gone past the trick she used to get into his room.

“How’d you get away from him?” I finally asked.

Her brow arched. “Knocked him out with the ice bucket,” she explained. “Why? Worried I fucked him?”

Shifting, I leaned into her, towering over her petite stature even sitting down. The side of her neck pulsed, showing me the uptick in her heart rate, and her lips parted slightly. I itched with the urge to punish, but knew I couldn’t—wouldn’t—do that to an unwilling sub, yet I couldn’t let it go either.

“Yes,” I whispered, tilting my head down until her minty breath washed over my face and our noses touched.

“I didn’t peg you for a jealous type.” Her normally confident and sassy tone was thin and breathy, her chest brushing against mine with each inhale. I was glad to see her react to me.

“You don’t know much about me, Princess.” I captured her chin between my thumb and forefinger. She swallowed hard, her pupils dilating as I talked. “Wolf isn’t the only one who enjoys your brattiness. Where he is ice, I am fire. We don’t trust each other yet, and you probably won’t give a shit once this job is done tomorrow night, but until then, you are still our partner, and seeing you waltz into a room with an unknown man makes me question what you’re willing to risk.”

Her gaze narrowed, and she hissed between clenched teeth. “I wouldn’t put the job or myself at risk if I thought I couldn’t handle it,Hadrian.”

“Good, because otherwise you’ll find outexactlywhat I’m capable of and how much my fire burns.” Taking the risk, I pressed my lips against hers. Half of me expected her to stab me like she’d threatened before, but when she kissed me back just as passionately, all bets were off.

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