Page 14 of As Thick As Thieves

“Lavaro did.”

“You got her involved with him? Are you stupid?”

Ander seemed nice, but I also understood her concern. After all, he had just stumbled through the door covered in someone else’s blood.

“He helped me get her out.”

“Are you two attempting some vigilante justice bullshit?” she demanded, her smile fading. “Oh my God, you are, aren’t you?”

“I’m the son of the Devil, I think I have it handled,” he said dryly.

“Yeah, and look how the Devil fell when we got our hands on him,” she said flatly, but he turned to me and changed the subject.

“What do you want to eat?” I didn’t even have to think about it.

“Grilled cheese and some pancakes with coffee.”

He blinked at me for a moment but Beckett chuckled. “Yeah, you’re not getting nutrition into her. Let the girl eat what she wants, at least she’s eating.”

“Her stomach won't—”

“Just shut up and buy her the shit she wants. She’s an adult, she can handle an upset stomach,” Beckett snapped, and I jumped as someone spoke from beside us.

“Can you guys not fight in my bar? Who’s your friend, Lopez?”

I glanced up to find a middle-aged man looking at us with a dishtowel tossed over his shoulder. He seemed kind, but everyone could put a mask on when they wanted to.

“This is the princess that broke into Mom’s house,” Beckett said without missing a beat. “You know how Zav likes to pick up strays.”

“He’s only around because he was your stray,” the man answered and rolled his eyes, but his face had hardened. “Why’s she with you guys now?”

“Because Mr. Lopez over here bought her from her daddy.”

“Donovan,” Zavier whisper-yelled, earning a half-assed shrug from her.

“What? You just said you bought her.”

“Never mind,” he grunted, giving me the side-eye. “Tell everyone I’m not holding you against your will.”

I rolled my eyes, giving Beckett a small smile. “It’s not like I’m trapped in a cage. I mean, he let me eat today.”

“Whitlock!” he snapped, and the man grinned.

“I like her. I’m Harley Bates.” He reached out to shake my hand, my eyes going wide as I took it.

“You’re one of the Psychos?”

“Yep.” He didn’t elaborate. “What can I get for you guys?” His smile was warm but he had a hard edge to him that screamed danger.

“Grilled cheese, pancakes, and coffee for the princess,” Zavier said dryly. “Eggs and bacon with coffee for me, and—” He glanced at Beckett, motioning for her to speak.

“I’ll grab pancakes and coffee,” she said as she texted on her phone. “Extra syrup.” Harley said he’d be back soon and wandered off to organize the food, and Beckett pinned her gaze on me. “So, what do you know about the skin trade?”

“Well, it sucks to be on the product side of things,” I deadpanned. “And Zavier sucks at haggling. He paid five mill for me after Dad asked for three.”

“Well, aren’t you a big spender, Moneybags,” Beckett said with a raised eyebrow as she assessed Zavier. “Would you think she was worth that much if the money was real?”

Zavier leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “If I had that kind of money, then yes. What was I supposed to do? Leave her there? People were fighting over her, Beck. I wasn’t going home without her.”

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