Page 6 of Little Sunshine

It wasn’t like they were the kind of tourists who had scrimped and saved to do a budget Vegas vacation. The kind who stayed at The Roulette because it was better than nothing.

My mark clearly had money. Hell, he had money to literally throw away.

Plus, I wasn’t going to take all his cash. Just enough to grab a fast-food burger. No side. No drink. Not even the tiny upcharge for cheese. Just a cheap, plain burger.

Even as I tried to justify my actions, I hated them. I hated my mother for putting me in the position—and not for the first or hundredth time.

I hated myself for being more like her than I ever wanted to be.

But a girl had to eat.

After a few tense seconds with my heart pounding in my throat… nothing happened.

Relief flowed through me.

Phew.

I did it.

But I should’ve known better than to think fate or luck or the universe would be on my side.

“Return it.”

At the rough order spoken from right behind me, a chill shot down my spine. My stomach bottomed out as bile rose to burn my throat.

No.

He’s not talking to me.

Just a coincidence.

But, again, I should’ve known better.

A hand snagged my wrist, halting my steps. I was whipped around until I was face to torso with a mountain of a man.

At barely five-one, I was used to being shorter than pretty much everyone. But between his towering height and muscular build, I felt infinitesimal as the suited man eclipsed me.

I craned my neck to look up at the behemoth with buzzed hair and a full blond beard. His hazel eyes were far too sharp as he stared down at me and repeated, “Return it.”

“Return what?” I tried.

He arched a brow, not buying my innocent bullshit. “The wallet.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now let me go before I scream.” I tried to tug out of his viselike grip, but it was impossible.

“Good idea. I’m sure security can help get to the bottom of this.”

I swallowed hard. “Security?”

He tilted his head toward where a handsome Black man stood against the wall, an authoritative air about him as he surveyed the expansive room. I didn’t need to see the details on the ID badge clipped to his suit jacket to know he was in a position of power.

The bearded man gestured again, that time to where three men were converged, all wearing the typical security guard uniforms.

His focus returned to me. “Go ahead and scream, little girl.”

As insulted as I was by the condescending name, I was more terrified at the threat of getting busted. If getting fired had screwed me over, getting arrested would fuck up my entire life.

“I’ll return it,” I said quietly.

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