The Cocky Thief (Stolen Hearts #1)(53)

“So you know my clients. That doesn’t mean anything.”

“No. In the time it would take one hacker to get to do any harm to any of the people on that list, you could’ve moved all the money ten times over. But if we had an army of hackers all focused on your one client list, that would be a different story.”

The gun wavered in Stranger’s hand as though he was debating putting it down. “You don’t have an army of hackers,” he said in a quivering tone.

“But if an announcement along with that list goes out over the darknet, you can bet that there will be an army of other hackers and thieves just like me who want a crack at Austin Miles’s last big score.”

Jennifer’s jaw dropped. “Wait. Plan C is for you to die?”

He held a hand up to her. “A fake death. In name only. But Stranger over here might be facing much more literal consequences when his clients check their empty bank accounts.”

Stranger shook his head. “No. This isn’t possible. I have firewalls, passwords—”

“It’s the Internet. If I give people motive and a few breadcrumbs, that’s all it will take for your empire to crumble.”

“But I need the Dragon Heart! If I don’t get it back, Sterling is going to—”

“What do you think we’re going to do to you?” Scott walked into the office behind them. He crossed to stand between Jennifer and Austin, but Jennifer would’ve been much happier if he had a gun in his hand too. “You’re outnumbered and outmaneuvered. Give us the girl and you’ll live to deal with Sterling another day. This is your one and only offer.”

Stranger’s eyes darted all around the room, as though one of them was magically going to offer him a way out of the corner they’d backed him into.

And when Austin stepped forward the two steps needed to bridge the distance between them, Stranger handed over his gun without protest, took out his phone and sent a call.

“I recommend putting that on speakerphone,” said Scott.

He glared at Scott even as he hit the button to turn on the speakerphone function. As soon as the call connected, Stranger started without any greeting. “We’re done here. Go home.”

“We’re not going anywhere,” said the voice. “Did you get the exchange?”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m calling the whole thing off,” said Stranger, this time more forcefully.

“Sterling doesn’t care what you want. I don’t care how many more of these Murray women I need to kill.”

The call was over and Stranger stared at his phone in horror.

“Did he say any more of us?” asked Toni through the earpiece.

“Give me your security badge,” said Austin.

“I need to—”

Austin grabbed Stranger by the lapels and slammed him into the wall of windows. “Give me your fucking badge!” he screamed. Without waiting, he rummaged through Stranger’s pockets until he found his wallet and then pushed him against the glass once more for good measure.

“Weston, are you there?” said Jennifer. “Weston, I need to know if you see any bodies down there.”

When there was nothing but silence, Jennifer turned and ran out of the office, not stopping until she reached the elevator. She slammed her finger on the button and willed the damn thing to light up.

“Here,” said Austin from behind her as he ran the security card over the sensor that let the elevators work.

“You don’t think he meant anything, do you?”

Scott caught up with them right as the elevator arrived.

“And what do you mean you’re dead?” snapped Jennifer. “What kind of stupid plan is that and why didn’t anyone tell me?”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to do it,” said Austin bluntly. “It was a backup.”

“I should’ve been told about backup plans. And Weston, I swear you’d better answer me in the next two minutes or I’m going to kill you with one of your own guns.”

The elevator hit the lobby and Jennifer led the way out, glancing in each direction as she looked for Weston or Isobel or anything that could give her some inkling about what was going on. “Melody was here, right? This was where the GPS said she was.”

“It’s where her necklace ended up,” said Toni softly.

“Let’s get to the van and we can regroup.” Scott moved in front of Jennifer to lead the way.

Jennifer was torn between following him and running off to find...anyone. Then the gruff voice of Weston came over the comm. “I’m heading back to the van. Meet me there.”

“Weston, what happened? Did you find Mel? Where is Isobel?” He didn’t say anything and, as Austin turned to face her, his face said exactly what she was thinking. “No, Weston, tell me something. Please tell me you found them.”





“Please tell me you found them,” said Jennifer over the comm.

Toni didn’t move a muscle as she waited for Weston to respond. The old saying said no news was good news, but not now. Not in the middle of a job. If Weston wasn’t going to tell them anything until they were all clear of the building, that meant he didn’t want anyone’s emotions to get them in trouble.

What had he seen in that basement? What didn’t he want to tell them?