Page 42 of Tempting Little Thief

Up I go until I’m fifty feet high.

My chest tightens in warning, but I push forward.

I step up to the edge, spin, and curve my torso backward, dropping so fast toward the water the air whistles past my ears. It’s only seconds, less than really, but my mind doesn’t compute the limited time, my lungs opening up, and for just a moment,everythingdisappears. There’s no noise. No worries. No betrayal.

No plans or schemes or enemies. No work to be done, good or bad.

There’s just me in the air, hurdling toward the water at rapid speed.

My body is slightly arched, arms locked straight, my left palm positioned over my right, palm facing the water, ready to create a break in the surface to allow my body to pass through without a splash.

A perfect ripple.

My body shoots back for the surface, but after a quick breath, I drop my head back, floating a moment, and then curl into a ball, sinking myself.

I think of nothing as I lower toward the pool’s bottom, my mind and limbs blissfully numb.

Weightless.

Only once my lungs begin to shrivel, and the pounding in my chest issues its final warning, do I rocket to the surface.

Diving meets no longer fill up my free days. There’s no concert tonight that requires Delta’s pristine performance. No art exhibit Bronx is required to reveal. No scheme to run or ruin that isn’t already in motion.

So once I’m showered and perfectly presentable, the girls, Calvin, and I load up in Cal’s car, and his driver takes us to the outskirts ofour territory for dinner. Mid-drive, I have the urge to look behind us, even though I know if I do, Sai won’t be tailing close behind.

What would he even do on a “leave”?

I bet my father has him doing a job or something, but if that’s the case, why him? He’s my guardian for a reason, and with the threats we could be facing, it’s an odd time for Sai to be away.

Calvin chooses a quiet restaurant without a dress code or need for reservations, so we wait for the far corner booth to become available.

I knew going into this there were no obvious resolutions for my sister’s stupidity other than shipping her ass right back and waiting to see what happened next, but I guess I was pathetically optimistic the four of us together could suggest, at the very least, an idea of some sort on what to do.

Sighing, I drop back in my chair. “This is fucking pointless,” I complain. “She fucked us. Plain and simple.”

Bronx scoffs her agreement while Delta offers a soft smile.

“I think your father is right, Rocklin,” Calvin says, glaring at Bronx from across the table.

She dips her finger straight into the fondue kit the waitress dropped off a little over fifteen minutes ago, the group of us two hours into a meeting that has got us nowhere. She sucks it from her skin, seeming completely oblivious we’re watching, but Delta and I know better.

She is fully aware.

Calvin drags his attention back to me. “You’re going to have to talk to your sister, get the full story straight.”

Delta nods her agreement. “There isn’t much we can say without it.”

Groaning, I press my middle fingers into the corners of my eyes. “I know. We need her side so we can tear it apart and determine if it’s utter bullshit or not. Just so you guys know … I’m betting on bullshit.”

The table laughs lightly, and I let my hands fall, releasing a long, harsh breath as I look around. “And the last item on the menu for tonight?”

Calvin sits back, tossing a few bills on the table as he raises a brow in my direction. “You already know.”

He’s right. I do, and it might be the most annoying part.

As per usual, my father will be getting exactly what he wanted.

“Then it’s settled.” I set the cloth napkin down, pushing to my feet. “Boston is officially moving back into Greyson Manor.”

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