Page 80 of The San Marco Heist

His gaze grew darker, reminding me of my screw-up at the architect’s office. “He wasn’t just a team member. He was her fiancé.”

How did that relate to her reaction during our escape from the party?

“We’d recovered some diamonds which were stolen from a museum, but the thieves heard him on the way out.” His gaze unfocused, no doubt going back to the moment. “We had two cars for the getaway. I was driving one. Zac—our regular driver—had the other. The thieves came out firing and…”

“They shot him?”

“Our comms were down, so I acted based on what I could see, and that was men with guns coming after Scarlett. I jumped out of my car, lay down covering fire, and got her into Zac’s car.” He shook his head. “Noah was only a few minutes behind her, so he took the second car and caught up with us.”

It came as no surprise he would have jumped in front of a bullet for her. They obviously had history that went beyond normal friendship.

“They shot out his tires while we were crossing a bridge and he went over the side.”

“And she saw it?”

He unwound one arm from across his chest to point at me, refolded it, and gave a slow blink. “I held that woman down in the back of Zac’s car while she screamed at us to go back for him. Not only have I seen her grief, but I’ve caused it to keep her safe. I’ve seen true terror in her eyes, and been there when she’s dealt with all of it. So, you listen to me—when I tell you she’s fine, I mean she’s not the kind of woman who needs a white knight to save her.”

She probably hadn’t been fine in a long time.

Rav leaned forward on the small table between the two chairs. “And in case this is about your dick, she’s kissed me on an op too, so don’t think that meant anything but saving her brother.”

I leaned forward to match him, so he’d understand my honest reply. “That’s not why I was going to see her.”

Maybe not so honest.

“And Declan.” He pointed over my shoulder. “And Zac and several of her marks.”

I didn’t clench my jaw. At least, not too tightly.

“And sometimes our contractors.” His serious expression didn’t falter. “They always have the worst time with it, because they think Scarlett on the job is a real person. But she’s an act.”

I nodded, as though none of this was a surprise to me. My biggest question was, where did Scarletton the jobend? Was Scarlett in the car after the architect’s officeon the job? Was Scarlett in the pubon the job? And was her bowed back and hungry moan all part of the job?

No matter what, I needed to know. I needed to hear it from her, not from one of her guard dogs, for once.

“I understand.” All too well. Despite our vastly different upbringings, Scarlett and I ended up too similar. Put on the mask, shut people out, and get your job done. “But I still want to talk to her.”

Rav sucked his tongue against his teeth, driving his intense gaze into me.

I wasn’t backing down.

He stood and rapped on the door before sliding it open. “Malcolm wants to talk to you.”

Scarlett’s voice was quiet from the other cabin. “So, why are you standing there instead of him?”

“Because you need your rest more than he needs to talk to you.”

“I’m a grown woman.”

“Who sometimes needs a reminder she’s not invincible.”

She chuckled. That was a good sign. “Make sure you never say that around my mother. She’d fire your ass so fast.”

Rav stepped back from the door and waved me in. “She’s all yours.”

Fifteen minutes ago, I thought that was true. In the hotel, she’d started to say something about when this was over, and I’d assumed, or maybe hoped, it was personal. Now? I was pretty sure I was about to fall flat on my face.

Chapter 31

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