Page 117 of A Real Good Bad Thing

Hmm. Fair point. Shiny was key. “How about one that holds more—”

“Got it!” She pumped a fist.

I did the same, and we headed to the counter.

“And you’re going to have to be quiet as a deer,” she told me. It was cute that she thought I needed a reminder to be stealthy. So damn cute.

I scoffed. “Sweetheart, you and me. We’ve got this.” I squared my shoulders, filled with confidence that came from the two of us together. “We do it like our greatest hits. This one-two punch we’ve got going is the perfect ploy.”

“But what if he hears you? Or what if I can’t distract them?”

“Then we improvise,” I said as we left the store. “That’s what we’ve always done.”

“And you’re sure you still want to do this?”

It was sweet that she’d asked. But I was always game. “Ruby, I promise you this. When it comes to adventure, it’s pretty much impossible to twist my arm. I was born to take risks,” I said, patting my backpack, then pointing to the fiery orange ball dipping toward the horizon. “Now let’s do it. The sun is setting, and the clock is ticking.”

59

TROJAN MERMAID

Ruby

The last time I’d walked through the orchids and palm trees of Eli’s home in this tropical paradise, I’d been contrite and apologetic. I’d let his car and his diamonds be stolen out from under me.

And by “let” I meant that I’d played right into his hands.

Now we’d see who played whom. Time to reclaim everything Eli had taken that didn’t belong to him.

I rang the doorbell and checked the time. In ten minutes, Eli would be leaving for the event at Willow’s gallery—the one to raise money for their favorite charity. I would have sneaked in while he and his fiancée were away at the party, but he had an alarm, and I didn’t know the code. So I needed to be invited inside.

I ignored the flurry of nerves in my chest as I waited on the doorstep and steadied myself for this last mission.

Eli answered the doorbell, looking surprised for a moment. Then he beamed. “Good evening, Ruby.”

I beamed back like nothing unusual had happened the last time I was there. “I’m headed home soon, and I didn’t want to leave the island without saying goodbye.”

“Aren’t you sweet?” He opened the door wide, sweeping his arm to invite me inside.

Step one—enter the home.

My stepfather dropped a quick kiss onto one cheek, then the other.

“You look handsome,” I said, gesturing to his tailored suit and crisp button-down shirt.

Step two—butter him up.

“Why, thank you.” He smoothed his shirtfront. “Wait until you see Willow. She’s stunning as always.”

“I have a gift for her,” I told him, holding up the small gift box I carried. Then I looked around and leaned in, lowering my voice. “I think everyone in the house will get enjoyment out of it, actually.”

Eli’s eyes lit up in excitement. The man did love gifts. “Oh, now I’m intrigued.”

His fingers twitched like he wanted to grab it and see, but I pulled the box toward me. “Wait until Willow comes down.”

“Willow, my love,” he called out. “Ruby is here to say goodbye. And she has a gift for you.”

“Be right there.” Willow’s cheery voice came from upstairs.

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