Page 85 of Princess of Thieves

“Oh, and you have a better plan, tough guy?” Will says. “You want me to just shift and firebomb the hell out of the sheriff’s office? Not all of us shoot first and ask questions later.”

“I’m not saying we—”

“LJ’s right,” Tuck interjects. “I mean, partially. Maybe a good offense is the best—”

“A good offense?” Will rolls his eyes. “Please. If we could just—”

And with that, the guys are off like a shot, voices overlapping as they each scramble to come up with a plan. Rob gets up and paces, Will’s muttering something about laying low, while LJ’s scoffing and talking about hitting where it hurts, and Tuck, ever the strategist, is already deep into some convoluted idea about cyber sabotage. The patio turns into a mess of chaotic thinking, everyone talking over each other, nobody getting anywhere.

I stand there, taking it all in, feeling that familiar pulse of energy rising in my chest, that urge to do something.

“Hey!” I shout, trying to make my voice heard above the din. “What can I do?”

No one answers. It’s like I’m invisible in the swirl of testosterone and problem-solving.

Only Zayn catches my eye and smiles ruefully, his voice cutting through the noise. “Don’t you have some kinda crazy cash now? If I were you, I’d be out of here. Take that nice care of yours and hit the road. Kinda thought that was your plan all along.”

The words hit me sideways. He says it so casually, like it’s a foregone conclusion that I’ll bail. Around us, everyone quiets.

Slowly, I shake my head. “No. No. I’m...staying.” I swallow. “Whatever that even means.”

I guess I needed to say it out loud. Guess everyone needed to hear it.

But Rob shakes his head.

“No,” he says. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

I’m so surprised my mouth literally falls open.

“What?”

“You heard me,” he says. “You’re too vulnerable. If they come for us—”

“Come for us?” I repeat. “Then they’re coming for me, too. I’m...I’m part of us.” I shake my head, because that sounds stupid out loud, and Will smirks a little. “You know what I mean,” I say, a bit softer. “If you’re here, then I want—”

“I can’t let you get hurt again!” Rob roars.

Silence. Barely the rustle of leaves in the wind.

“I can’t,” he says, after a long, long moment. “I just...I can’t, Maren.” He looks into my eyes. “I fucked up your life once, and I’m not willing to do it again. You don’t...you deserve better.” He glances at Zayn. “We’ll get you somewhere safe. Somewhere far away—”

“No!” I cry, and pull away from him when he reaches for me. “No. No.” My heart’s pounding in my ears, the world starting to fizz and spin around me.

“She needs to focus her powers,” Will says. “She won’t be able to figure it out alone, Rob.”

“She won’t figure out if she’sdead, either, Scarlet!” Rob shouts. “Jesus, how hard is it for you all to understand? She can’t stay. We never should’ve taken her back.”

“Rob, please.” My chin is trembling now, like I’m seconds away from being an embarrassing mess. From begging him.

He doesn’t look at me. Just at the other three. “There’s a reason it was only ever us,” he goes on. “Because we chose this life and knew what we were getting into. Took the risks ourselves. Only put our own asses on the line. And she—”

“I chose it too,” I interrupt.

Everyone stares at me.

“I chose it too,” I repeat. “I took a risk. A big one. Literally just today.”

I glance at Zayn. “No evictions this month.”

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