Page 47 of The San Marco Heist

Scarlett’s brow creased, the barest hint of a reaction. Surprise? Confusion? “Yvonne handles logistics.”

Evelyn’s expression hardened, her words clipped. “Yvonne might handle logistics, but you’re the leader of this team and will eventually take over for me. I expect you to handle any issues that arise, and if that means learning something outside your comfort zone, so much the better.”

Scarlett nodded obediently, and I could have shaken her. It was like watching myself standing in front of my father, absorbing one of his shitstorms instead of calling him out on abandoning me.

I couldn’t help myself. “Sorry, ma’am, but…”

Evelyn’s eyebrow hit me, the full level of her dominance weighing on me.

“Scarlett’s doing an amazing job.” I shouldn’t have cared. But I did. She’d agreed to bring me and gave me the chance to help, despite her initial doubts and despite the constraints she put on me. Watching this strong woman wilt under her mother’s criticism was just pissing me off. “Maybe we should focus on the mission at hand instead of—”

“Malcolm.” Scarlett’s eyes didn’t leave her mother. “It’s fine. She’s right.”

It wasn’t fine, and Evelyn wasn’t right. And neither was the way my stomach and jaw had tightened. I opened my mouth to continue, but Scarlett cut me off with a raised hand.

She pinned me in place with her big brown eyes. They weren’t impassive and unemotional. They were intense and commanding. “We can talk later.”

Later. Fuck that. I bet if I confessed about my attempt to get the Codex, everything would stop.

But then everythingwouldstop.

We wouldn’t talk about Emmett anymore, I’d be out on my tail, and then what? I didn’t even know who I’d been working for, so the information would be as useless as I’d been at the architect’s office when Scarlett needed me.

Declan’s hand landed on my arm, and he tipped his head at me, the message clear:Back off, buddy.

I clamped my mouth shut. Declan was right, but the anger was still boiling inside of me, and I wasn’t sure how to calm it down. Scarlett deserved better than this. She was a strong woman, pushing herself to the limit to save her brother, and she didn’t deserve to be belittled by her mother. Certainly not right now.

Calm down, man. Evelyn isn’t your father. Don’t provoke her.“Fine. Later.”

For half a breath, Scarlett’s gaze lingered on me, her lips trembling, like she was holding back a smile.

“Relax.” Evelyn clapped twice. “And back to your planning, everyone.”

Scarlett’s pose eased and she returned her attention to the model. Jesus Christ, she just moved on as if the conversation hadn’t happened. No wonder she was the ice princess—she’d had a lifetime of dealing with an emotionally shut-off mother. “Our biggest variable Saturday night is the location of the—”

A deep voice sounded downstairs, along with the crinkling of a plastic bag. Rav had arrived. “Which would you like, Mrs. Reaney?”

“What’s this one?”

“Pain au chocolat.”

“You’re such a good boy, Rav.” Boy. Did that mean Rav was another member of the team who’d been with Scarlett since they were kids? Were all of their mothers aware of what they did for a living?

“Merci, madame.” A moment later, the big man arrived.

Jayce ran to greet him. “Please tell me they’re for everyone?”

“They are.” He handed the bag to Jayce and scanned the room, stopping at the big screen. “Good morning, Evelyn.”

“Rav,” said Scarlett, not moving from her place. “Don’t forget you’re staying with me tomorrow night.”

An unwelcome heat flashed through me. They were sharing a hotel room? They were sleeping together? Obviously, the entire team knew, otherwise she wouldn’t have said it so clearly in front of them.

And why did this bother me? I had no claim on her. The two of us were as likely to claw each other’s eyes out as share pleasant words. My fuse was short after the moment with Evelyn. That’s all it was.

Rav shook his head as he neared the table.

“We’ll be posing as guests, and I don’t want our cover blown because someone sees us coming in and out of different rooms.”

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