Page 77 of The San Marco Heist

“Good.” I leaned more heavily on Malcolm’s arm. Every time I put any weight on my right leg, searing pain flooded my system, like knives flaying skin. I needed to get off my feet and have Rav take care of this. “Is Brian ready with the jet?”

Rav said, “He is.”

Malcolm hunched over enough to pull my right arm around his shoulders and gripped me by the waist. “We’re far enough away from the crowd. You don’t need to pretend you’re alright. If you won’t let me carry you, at least let me do this.”

I tried to smile at him, but the best I could do was a grimace. “For a single operator, you treat your team members pretty well.”

He chuckled as we rounded the corner. Not a person in sight. “When I’m not pissing them off?”

“Something like that.”

“How are Jayce and Declan?”

I’d almost forgotten he lost his earpiece and couldn’t hear any of our conversations. Whether it was perfect timing, or they heard him from my earpiece, two taps came across the comms. “One of them wants you to know that everything’s alright.”

“Only one of them?”

“Probably your drinking buddy.”

“I didn’t think you were supposed to know about that.” He gripped me tighter, practically lifting me off my feet. If I wasn’t going to listen to him, he was going to force me.

“It’s my team, Malcolm.” We passed the library windows, heading to the turret where the piano was inside. I did my best not to groan with each step, but it was useless. The farther we walked, the quieter we became. Gradually fading away until we could sneak into the woods without anyone noticing. The house was empty, and the eastern end of the house was bare of people. “They’re my family.”

“We can move faster if I carry you.”

“Not a chance.” Nothing that would draw attention to us, in case somebody was watching. We’d fallen into a rhythm, with me hopping on my good foot while he supported me. His strong arms and the delicious scent wafting off him and his oversized jacket helped contain some of my nerves.

“Always in control, right?”

“Always.” I inclined my head toward the tall hedge around the tennis court and he nodded. A hundred and fifty feet in the shadow of the bushes, across the secondary driveway which was only used for deliveries, and we’d be in the neighbor’s yard. Another hundred feet beyond that, and we’d be at the driveway and Rav’s car. I whispered, “At the corner of the tennis court.”

The pain was growing worse. The hem of my dress clung to my right leg, blood soaking it. I stopped and braced my hand against a nearby tree, nudging Malcolm away from me. The issue wasn’t that I had a big ego. It was that my mother had taught me not to show weakness. I was the team lead and had to remain in control. Being carried around like a damsel in distress ruined that image.

But sometimes I had to accept help. Even if that was as humiliating as being carried to the car. Everyone needed help sometimes.

“Are you going to let me carry—” Malcolm stumbled backward suddenly.

A dark-suited arm latched around his throat and a gun appeared at his neck. The man holding him growled in the darkness, “Give me the ring or he’s dead.”

The air rushed out of me and my knees buckled. Therewasanother team here for this job, after all.

“Scarlett!” hissed Rav. “What’s going on? I couldn’t hear.”

Malcolm’s hands rose to the sides, his gaze not leaving mine. “Eloise, honey, take off your rings and give them to the nice man.”

“Not the ones she’s wearing, you idiot.” The man pulled Malcolm farther away from me, tightening the arm around his throat. The house lights were all behind him, but a glint of moonlight cut through the trees enough that I saw his face. The security guard with the cheek scar. Hehadbeen after us. “We both know your little stunt inside was to recover the Chalcis Ring. Give it to me.”

What was I going to do? Hand it over and lose my brother? Or keep it and lose Malcolm? I had to choose Emmett. Had to. That was the right decision.

How could I save both of them?

How was I losing someone else on a mission?

“I… I don’t know…” I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t risk my team. Malcolm was part of my team. For two years, every time we were on a job, I barely breathed for fear of it ending the way the diamond recovery had ended with Noah. And here I was, on the job I knew we shouldn’t do, about to lose someone else.

I took in a shaky breath, goose bumps prickling my arms and legs. My shins throbbed with pain.

I couldn’t do it. I could give the ring to the thug, but what would I do with the kidnappers? They wouldn’t give me a third job. They’d kill my brother.

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