Page 73 of Princess of Thieves

“Uh...” I shake my head slowly, feeling a hot flush creep up my neck. “No, it’s...it’s not like that.”

Fuck. How do I even begin to navigate this?

Zayn lifts an eyebrow. “It’s not? Don’t play with me. Y’all been giving each other the look this whole damn dinner.”

“It’s...” My cheeks burn. “Not exactly like that. It’s sort of that and...more.”

Zayn’s features draw tight with confusion, then relent. I see the moment it clicks for him, the way his eyes widen for just a second, then narrow with a slow, dawning understanding. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to, just glances at Will, LJ, Tuck, and then Rob.

“Okay,” he says. “Okay. So it’s like that. Huh.” He nods a few times, shrugs.

“That’s all you have to say?” Rob asks, a genuine edge of curiosity in his voice even as he sits back with his wine.

“I mean, I’m not gonna judge.” Zayn lifts his hands in mock surrender. “Let’s just say my, uh,lifestyle choicesaren’t exactly a hit with folks around here either. You ever try to use Grindr in Sherwood? Shit, man.”

Rob laughs. “No kidding? Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Just how God made me,” Zayn replies, then frowns. “Also, y’all can turn into dragons and bears and whatnot and you think I’m gonna lose my mind over whatever goes down in your bedroom? C’mon.”

Now Will laughs, too, and Tuck visibly relaxes. Even LJ lets out a chuckle. For my part, I just exhale, hard, and let relief rush over me.

“But like, seriously,” Zayn says. “Y’all keep a schedule, or—”

“Okay, okay,” Rob says, waving his hands. “Enough. Let’s try and focus here a little. You came to tell us something. So what?”

All the momentary ease disappears as Zayn’s expression hardens.

“Yeah,” he says, leaning forward, his voice low and serious now. “Listen. You guys need to watch your backs. They’re watching you. The house, the cars, your bank accounts—”

Will, who had been casually swirling the wine in his glass, freezes. “Offshore too?”

Zayn nods. “Yeah. They’re coming at you from every angle, man.”

Tuck’s fork clatters against his plate. “How, though? I’m pretty damn careful with our money. You’d need to be some kind of forensic accountant to—”

I bite my lip, a memory surfacing from earlier, back in Guy’s garden, at his fundraiser. “Gisbourne’s good with that stuff,” I say. “He mentioned something about it back when I was stuck with him. I didn’t think much of it, but...”

“Yeah,” Zayn nods, confirming. “I don’t pretend to understand it. All I know is Gisbourne’s got the sheriff by theballs, and he’s not going to stop until he finds something that sticks. I’d cut that shit out if I were you.”

Rob clenches a fist. “It’s not justthat shit,man. It’s how wehelppeople.” He glares at Zayn. “Those accounts keep people in their goddamn houses.”

Zayn shrugs, clearly unfazed. “I don’t know what to tell you, Rob. Find an alternate income stream.” His mouth quirks into a grin. “Or, you know, get a job. Ha ha ha.”

The joke falls flat, especially with Rob. He glowers, his sharp eyes piercing through Zayn. “There’s nothing else you can do? No other way to help?”

Zayn shakes his head. “Look, I wish I could, but I’m already risking my neck being here. I’m a rookie cop paid by the hour. You’re the one with magic powers.” He wiggles his fingers in the air, and I smile in spite of everything.

“You’re right.” Rob sucks his teeth. “Nah, man, I appreciate you being here. It’s good to see you.”

Will rubs his temples. “Maybe we can save the plotting and planning for tomorrow? Because pardon my French, but today’s been a fucking nightmare.”

“Hear, hear,” LJ says.

“Thanks, Zayn,” Tuck puts in. “We do appreciate your help.”

“Anytime,” Zayn says. “And seriously, if there’s something Icando, I will. Rescue a kitten from a tree, get out of a parking ticket—”

“Wait.” The idea hits me out of nowhere, and I interrupt before Zayn can finish. “Can you check on something else for us? A stolen Mustang, by any chance?”

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