Page 103 of As Thick As Thieves

“I guess you two had a good bonding experience?” I asked, his eyes snapping to mine. His face hardened as he went to get defensive about it, but I waved it off. “I’m not giving you shit, bro. If she was sleeping on you, that means she trusts you, and you weren’t a raging asshole while we were gone.”

Zavier dropped down onto one of the couches, giving Stone a flat look. “I don’t know how you managed that. If I get one whiff of bullshit coming from you, I’ll gut you.”

Instead of arguing, Stone nodded. “Yeah, I know. Thanks for getting her out, Lopez.”

Zavier didn’t know how to respond to that, so he just nodded back.

I stumbled as Knox grabbed my hand and yanked me down beside him, a teasing smile tugging at my lips. “Aw, does my grumpy love muffin want a snuggle?”

“Shut up and take what I offer,” he muttered, but his arm snaked around me to keep me close. His mouth kept saying he hated every second of affection, but his actions proved he was enjoying it just as much as I was.

I had no idea how Penn had rewired his brain, but I wasn’t complaining.

Penn

“You’re a dumbass,” Beckett grumbled as she shut us in the office, but she didn’t look mad. “Getting between Skeet and a target is never a good idea.” I went to defend myself, but she put a hand up to stop me. “I’d have done the same thing for Jett or Maddox though.”

“I love what your family does. I’ve idolized you all for years, hoping that one day you’d take out all the men my father’s connected with. I know the skin trade isn’t just run through them, but it could save at least one person from being taken and sold.”

She eyed me silently for a second before tilting her head. “I could take out your father if that’s what you want. I can do it fast or drag it out. Ask your guys, I like to play with someone before killing them.”

“I want him dead, but I don’t know how I’d feel afterwards. I don’t want to resent anyone later, and I’m worried I will. I know Knox would tear him apart if I asked,” I cringed, surprised when she patted me on the shoulder.

“That’s not a bad thing. I can’t wallow in my emotions like that, but you’re allowed to. You’re human, Penn, and most people would be upset if their father was killed. If he becomes a problem for you later, we can go and threaten him. Once he knows you’re protected by the crews, he won’t do shit to you.”

“Why do you even want to protect me? You hate me,” I scoffed.

“I don’t hate you. Still don’t particularly like you, but I do respect you. Anyone who can stare down my dad like you did deserves that, at least. Stone’s only alive right now because of you, and I hope he knows that. Loyalty is hard to find, so he’d better not take it for granted again. You impressed Mom too,” she said as she dropped down into a chair, crossing her legs. “It takes a lot to impress her.”

“I’m really sorry about breaking into her house,” I said softly, sitting in a chair beside her. “I just wanted to belong somewhere, and I wanted so badly for that to be here. Stone’s approval meant everything to me, and I thought I’d gotten it, so I didn’t question it.”

“I saw the way he looked at you when I dragged you in here. I don’t think you have anything to worry about now.”

“They’re finally going to train me properly to be a thief,” I said with a grin, and she raised an eyebrow.

“Make sure they teach you which houses are off-limits while they’re at it,” she deadpanned. “I heard you got yourself a job at Harley’s.”

“I just helped out a few times,” I shrugged, but she let out a sigh of annoyance.

“Harley told the guys he’d put you on regularly. They didn’t tell you? If you want it, it’s there for you.”

“I got a job?” I asked with surprise, my excitement turning to anger when I realized what she said. “Wait, the guys knew?”

“Oops, maybe I wasn’t supposed to say anything,” she said with the face of pure innocence, and I got to my feet and stomped out of the office, hearing her snicker behind me. Stone frowned when I stormed into the living room, Zavier and Cruz seemed amused, Knox rolled his eyes, and Drake darted across the room to get away from me, letting out a fake squeal.

“I didn’t do it! Don’t hurt me!”

“Who was going to tell me Harley offered me a job?” I snapped, and Cruz winced.

“We were hoping to deal with the stalker first. He knows what’s going on, so there’s not a time limit on his offer.”

“You still could’ve told me,” I pouted, surprised when Stone stepped forward and slid an arm around my waist. Being touched by him was a whole different feeling from the others. It wasn’t better or worse, just different. It was like he needed to touch me all the time now, and I loved that.

“If you want to work, we can figure it out. I’ll come and keep an eye out if you need. Maybe after a few more driving lessons, you can go for your license and drive the car to and from work, too.”

Everyone looked at him like he’d grown two heads, but my anger melted. “You mean that?”

“Yeah, Princess. We know what your independence means to you. We were just talking about some of your training. How would you like to break into Daddy’s house?” he murmured, my eyes widening.

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