Page 110 of The San Marco Heist

“I don’t suppose you can reach a condom from where you are?” His fingers dipped in and out, not picking up any speed, but stringing me tight. Teeth raked my neck. Hot breath blew across my earlobe. “You’re so fucking wet for me.”

I was clean and had an IUD. He was clean. But we were waiting until we got home before making any big leaps. Our time together had been amazing, despite the danger and all the ups and downs, but the reality of my day-to-day world was very different. We’d been together every day for almost a month, but what if we didn’t—

“Stop scrunching your toes.” He nipped my shoulder. “Let the emotions out.”

Let them out? Like it was that easy. I’d spent most of my life learning to mask them. They became tools in my war chest, ready to be used against an opponent as needed. But this afternoon wasn’t a job, it wasn’t my girlfriends, and it wasn’t the team off-hours.

It was Malcolm.

It was different.

My laptop pinged from the desk, notifying me of an incoming call. “That’s my mother.”

“Shit.” His fingers were out of me in a flash, and he bounced off the bed like a guilty teenager. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes.” I joined him, throwing on clothes while the pinging continued. “I need to tell her eventually, right?”

“Easier to do it from Rome than face-to-face?”

I grabbed a fistful of his shirt and yanked him to me, feigned anger all over me. “Are you calling me a coward?”

He planted a kiss on my nose. “I’m calling you smart.”

Dressed and hair finger-combed, Malcolm and I sat at the desk and answered the call.

“Darling.” Mum’s professional facade dropped into place before she finished the second syllable. “I was about to give up on the call. You took so long to answer.”

Translation: Your top button is not done up properly, your hair is disheveled, and you are calling from your hotel bedroom.

“Sorry about that, Evelyn.” My gaze flicked to the note Malcolm had written next to the laptop, with reminders.Don’t over-explainwas at the top. Don’t give her ridiculous excuses like you were in the other room discussing couriers or logistics or anything else. Just leave it be. “We’ll be home tonight, and I wanted to give you a heads up on some staffing changes.”

“Oh?”

I scrunched my toes and Malcolm squeezed my leg. Iwasa coward. But he’d reassured me everything would turn out alright. What could she do? Fire me? “I’ve hired Malcolm.”

“No.” It was the simply monosyllabic command I was expecting, followed by her eyebrow lift.

Translation: Say more. I dare you.

Only I didn’t. Without looking at the list of reminders, I cocked my eyebrow right back at her.

Malcolm Sharpe was flying home with us, to be part of my team and my life. Emmett insisted Malcolm move in with him, so he had time to find his own place. I was pretty sure that was Emmett’s way of making sure Malcolm could escape if things didn’t work out or move in with me if they did. My brother was still looking out for me.

“Scarlett, he’s still an unknown commodity. We can take him on as a contractor, but we’re not hiring until he’s proven himself on more than a couple of jobs. He may be easy on the eyes, but you know there’s more to this job than a pretty face.”

“I do.” Here we go. “But like you said, I’m the leader of this team and I’ll take over the company someday. If I’m supposed to review the logistics activities, I can also step in and make an HR decision. He’s everything that made Noah an excellent second-in-command, except he’s also loyal.”

There was a long pause, and my heart rate steadily climbed. It was ultimately her decision, and I didn’t want to fight over it. I wanted her to agree.

Time slowed.

She wasn’t going to cave. She’d insist. We’d argue and I’d compromise.

I didn’t want to compromise.

I wanted something new.

The tiniest crack appeared in her veneer. The corner of her lips turned up, and the hint of her genuine smile appeared. “Good for you, darling. Consider it done.”

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