Page 39 of Scarlett Thief (Criminal Underground 2)

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Scarlett

Igazed out over the ancient city of Rome. At nighttime, it was lit from within by glorious lights that seemed to throw the whole city into a hazy, otherworldly glow. It was easy to picture people traveling from all over to visit such a place hundreds of years ago. It was beautiful. Through the glass of the hotel room we'd rented for the evening, I looked on with my reflection staring back at me.

In the last several years, I had been all over the world. From Tokyo to Havana to New York City, but there was always something about an older city that made me slow down, stop, and look around. Something about knowing that people had built this place without the help of current technology. Knowing that they had quite literally slaved to build a place that would not be taken down easily—almost as if the city, itself, was a monument. Rome had stood dominant in Italy before the country itself had become what it was today. It was humbling to think of, and how small and insignificant the rest of us were.

"Scarlett?" Wolf's voice was gruff and it reminded me that I didn't have time to stand here and muse about cities and history. I had a job to do. We both did.

Turning away from the window, I blinked as I realized that as I'd been standing there, he'd been getting ready. He looked handsome and sophisticated in his Ralph Lauren tux even though his white dress shirt was only half buttoned, showing off the bronze skin of his chest. Beneath the fabric, his muscles bulged. The tux was top quality—handpicked by me while Scar and Hadrian had been doing recon—tailored to fit his frame to make sure he blended in at the party tonight.

Without thinking, my tongue came out and swept over my lower lip. His eyes followed the movement right before he jerked his gaze to my eyes and frowned. "Don't do that," he growled.

"Don't do what?"

"You know what," Wolf argued.

I rolled my eyes. "You need to chill. Is this how you usually are before an op?"

"I'm not usually in a room full of foreign dignitaries pretending to know exactly what they're saying," he replied. “Let’s go over the plan one more time.”

I forced myself not to roll my eyes. We’d solidified the plan the day before and then gone over it several times since because there were continued questions and mistrust on its efficacy. I sighed and started from the top. If it would calm him, I’d go over it once more.

“We got the invite and we’re on the guest list courtesy of Hadrian under our aliases for the job. We’re married. We go in, we mingle, and we determine if she’s wearing it or not. If not, then we’ll locate it and get it from wherever it’s being kept. If she’s wearing it, you let me handle it. I know this isn’t your usual gig, but this is what I’m good at, you need to trust me to do my job. All you have to do is look pretty and be the muscle if things go wrong.”

“I do trust you,” he bit out.

It was clear we were both tense. His eyes practically spit fire as he tried to button the tiny clasps. I should have tried to be more reassuring, but I knew I could do this, they just needed to let me do it and the three of us could walk away scot free. I was a good thief, I needed to be a good thief because bad thieves went to prison. If I failed this job, that's exactly where I'd be heading.

Pushing away my irritation, I moved across the room to where he stood and lifted my fingers to finish buttoning the front of his shirt. If I didn't, his chest was going to keep distracting me. It was all hard, masculine lines and glimpses of it reminded me of the night at Incatenato. He'd been so masterful in leathers—he’d commanded my attention. The thought of seeing him like that again made my mouth water.

In all my sexual encounters, I'd done what my partners wanted. I'd conformed myself to their desires. Given to get what I wanted. In the end, I'd always been the one in control, but I'd never been myself. Thieves were, first and foremost, liars. And I was so fucking tired of lying. To others, but mostly to myself. Maybe after this, I'd take a step back. The payout from this was big, giving me a chance to walk away if I wanted.

But first, I needed to suck it the fuck up and do my job.

As I finished buttoning Wolf's shirt, I reached down to the jacket hanging on the end of the bed. I lifted it and held it open. He stared at me as if those cool, midnight eyes were trying to get into my head. I sighed and hefted the jacket higher, meaning for him to hurry. He turned, allowing me to help him slip the tuxedo jacket up his arms and onto his shoulders. There was no hiding or denying the span of his back. I let my palm settle on his spine, my breath coming in short rapid bursts as my heart rate sped up.

"Scarlett?"

I licked my lips because my mouth felt so fucking dry. Since the club and the kiss with Hadrian, I found that I wanted to tell Wolf the truth—that I liked what he had tempted me with. That I was turned on by all that he and Hadrian were—Doms, caretakers, sexual predators. I wanted to be their prey, but I didn't trust myself or them. Not yet.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine," I said quickly, letting my hand fall away as I backed up. "Are we ready?"

Wolf examined me. "Not just yet," he said before reaching for a small satchel he'd laid on the dresser when we'd first come into the room. He pulled out flesh colored comm units, first handing me one before placing his into his ear. I sighed and wiggled it into place, tilting my head as I did so.

I pressed the button and after a soft beep, a deep voice came over the line. "Testing, testing," Hadrian said.

"We're here," Wolf replied.

"Ah, good, and our little thief?"

"Right here." I turned away from Wolf and strode across the room to stop in front of the mirror and make sure my hair covered the ear I'd placed the comm into.

"Are we ready then?" he asked.

I arched a brow. "Yes," I answered. "We're ready."

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