Page 40 of Scarlett Thief (Criminal Underground 2)

As ready as we were ever going to be. It was time to get this diamond and get my life back.

* * *

Runninga hand over the satiny material of my dress, I took a deep breath. We needed to get in, schmooze, pretend like we belonged, snatch the necklace, and get the fuck out of the hotel as fast as possible.

No fucking problem,I thought as Wolf and I stepped up to the security guard at the entrance to the party. I flashed him a seductive smile as Wolf handed over our invitations. The man blinked but didn’t say anything as he scanned the cards. He glanced up and narrowed his eyes on Wolf. It wasn’t a shocker, no matter how pretty he dressed up, he still looked like an American James Bond with more muscle and a darker countenance.

I smiled brightly at the burly security guard regardless of his look and leaned forward, flashing a healthy view of my cleavage. Almost immediately, I felt a responding squeeze around my waist as Wolf slid a hand around my side. After a long, tense moment, the guard finally allowed us to pass with a murmured ‘enjoy the party’ as he handed back the invitations and we moved aside for the next guests in line.

Wolf leaned down in my ear. “Was that really necessary?” he asked gruffly.

“Distraction is the name of the thieving game,” I replied lightly. We cleared the door easily enough, moving into the ballroom and weaving between the party goers and couples. He didn’t respond, but the irritation rolled off of him in waves. There was no reason for it. It wasn’t like we were in a relationship, but at the same time, the thought of making him jealous lit something within me. I liked the thought of Wolf being protective and possessive.

Sighing, I scanned the room. The party was an elaborate affair, the classic Italian architecture of the Grand Hotel Palace contrasting with the modern and sleek party decoration. Cocktail tables littered the space, waiters and waitresses carried trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres, and the multitude of attendees milled about. There were so many jewels and so much money spread throughout the space, it would be easy to take a few extra pieces, but I pushed away the thought, knowing our job was already risky enough.

The jazz music was soft, the live band dressed in all white suits sat in the far corner on the small stage. The Prince and his wife were easy to spot, dressed in the finest clothes and surrounded by attendees who showered them with endless congratulations and well wishes. I didn’t stare at them for long, not wanting to bring attention to myself, but I kept them in my periphery. It was a beautiful party, and I could have enjoyed myself if I hadn’t been forced to be here.

“Lighten up,” I murmured, leaning into his arm and trailing my forefinger down his chest. “We’re supposed to be having fun.”

“You do all the talking,” he whispered, eyeing the rich and powerful people with a shrewd gaze.

“Deal. Now smile. You’re on display.”

His signature growl rumbled deep in his throat and the sound shot straight to my pussy.That sound is enough to bring a girl to her knees.

Arm in arm, we walked the room, greeting and interacting with guests. Here, I wasn’t Scarlett Thief. Here I was Mrs. Claudette Riddins, wife to rich oil tycoon, Marcus Riddins. Once we’d made a few rounds, I turned my attention to our main focus: the diamond currently around Mrs. Emanuele’s neck.

Her husband hadn’t left her side the entire hour I’d watched them.

“Hadrian,” I murmured, angling myself to make it look like I was talking to Wolf. “We need to get her alone, can you get him pulled away?”

“Do I need to work up a distraction?” Wolf asked.

I shook my head. “No, I’d rather have you watching the room for trouble,” I replied before turning my words to our third partner. “Hadrian?”

“What do you need?” was his immediate response.

“Is there a way for you to get the Prince away from his wife?” I asked.

“Give me thirty seconds.” The clicking of keys filled my ear after he finished talking.

Wolf cleared his throat and adjusted his jacket slightly before leaning down to whisper in my ear. “She’s wearing it,” he murmured. “Won’t that be difficult to lift?”

“Difficult,” I replied, “but not impossible. I wasn’t lying when I said distraction was the name of the game.” I eyed him out of my periphery. “My job’s all about directing people’s attention where I want it so that when I take what I need, they neither feel it nor see it.”

“Be careful,” he said in response. “Don’t get caught.”

I forced back an eyeroll. “I’m a professional. I know what I’m doing.”

He was silent for a long moment, his jaw tensing rhythmically before finally nodding.

Hadrian’s voice came across the comm unit. “And your girl should be free from her husband in … three … two…” When he finally hit one, my eyes landed on the Prince as a security guard moved up and leaned over, whispering in his ear, a phone clutched in his hand. The Prince nodded and leaned down to kiss his wife on the cheek before stepping away to follow the security guard out of the room. “Go get ‘em, Princess.”

“Don’t call me princess,” I muttered, hating that—like with Wolf’s growling—the sound of Hadrian calling me that sent a bolt of heat through me. “Keep an eye out for anyone watching me,” I directed Wolf before giving him a kiss on the cheek and stepping back. His gaze sparked dangerously as I smirked up at him but he didn’t say anything as I turned and made my way through the crowd.

Without knowing how long Hadrian would be able to keep the Prince occupied, I made a direct line for his wife and our prize. I was almost there when I felt eyes on me. It sent a ripple of unease through me, enough that I slowed my walk and looked up to scan the room. The sensation was unusual; it made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. It only took one sweep to find the source and once I did, I nearly stopped right where I was. Only by the grace of years of training did I manage to keep moving despite the fact that a very familiar set of eyes was watching my every movement.

Jaxson fucking Norrison.

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