Page 8 of The San Marco Heist

He shrugged. “Better for US customs to see me arrive, isn’t it?”

The company jet didn’t always fly with official authorization. We used a network of private airstrips around the world when needed and knew precisely where to cross any border. He was right—there was no record of him being in the States in the last few weeks, so flying legally was one more step in concealing our activities.

I rolled my eyes. “Just don’t get arrested, Em.”

“He’ll be fine, darling.” Evelyn waved him out the door and brought up a case file on the screen. She was too easy on him. “First up, we have someone looking to retrieve this ring from an estate outside London. It’s a fifteenth century English relic known as the Chalcis Ring, stolen from a museum in Oxford ten years ago.”

On screen was a thick gold ring with soft edges and letters inscribed into it between crosses. It was far from modern and as old as the manuscript we’d just returned with.

As recovery experts, we handled all sorts of items. Often as not, our target was information, but it could be artwork, jewelry, cars, identities. Anything someone could steal from someone else, we could steal it back.

We found some jobs anonymously on the dark web, never sure who our clients were. As long as the target wasn’t a government, a legitimate owner, or involved in organized crime, our team of analysts would consider it and present it to us. With one exception.

“It’s a rush job,” continued Evelyn. “Payment is commensurate, but they need it done within the next week.”

And that was my exception. “Not nearly enough time.”

“Wait for the details, Scar,” said Jayce. She and Emmett were the daredevils, always needing to be reined in. But what could you expect from a former cat burglar whose signature was leaping off a roof and swinging through an open window?

“No.” I stood, pushing back my chair. It was too early for this argument, and I hadn’t had enough sleep. “Mum—”

Evelyn cut me off with a frown and one elegantly arched eyebrow.

“But, Scar, we haven’t been to London in like a year!” Jayce put her hands on the table as though she was going to stand, too, but Rav put a firm hand on her shoulder.

I blew out a sharp breath. “My job is to keep you all safe.”

Silence.

Jayce’s gaze hardened, as did Rav’s jaw.

Everyone’s brains no doubt clicked back to the time I’d failed them all. When I hadn’t protected them. And I wasn’t ever going to let that happen again.

“One week isn’t sufficient time to plan properly.” An itch prickled the back of my eyes. I needed a good sleep and a glass or two of something strong enough to push the past into the forgotten recesses of my brain where it belonged. “And I think we should focus on above-board jobs for at least a few weeks to be sure the Maguire thing doesn’t earn any blowback.”

“The jet doesn’t run on fairy dust, darling.”

So get a smaller one. “I’m sending everyone home. We’ll pick this up on Monday.”

“Sweet!” Brie was out of her seat and halfway to the door before I moved. Her sense of self-preservation was far stronger than Jayce’s and my mother’s. But odds were she hadn’t even been to sleep yet and was just heading back up to her lab anyway.

“Good idea.” Rav stood, and Jayce followed his lead. They left while Evelyn and I continued eyeing each other.

“Mum, you know how I feel about—”

Her tight face brightened without warning. “Coming for dinner tonight, darling?”

“It’s not like we’re hurting for money and need to grab every crap project the analysts find.”

“So, no to dinner?” Her fake smile and the repeated invite were the closest she’d ever come to an apology.

I rolled my chair in against the conference table and leaned on the top. “Why didn’t you say anything about Em talking to that guy?”

“Being point means you get all the glory and all the blame. You know that.” Her unsaid words were just as loud. ‘Toughen up. Stop whining.’

Deep breath, Scar.“I’m heading home. I need to shower that creep off me and take a nap. And the girls are coming over tonight, so no dinner.”

“Say hello for me.” She turned a cheek for me to kiss, which I dutifully did.

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