Page 48 of Kings of Sherwood

“None taken,” I say. “I think.” I swig some coffee—I need more caffeine for this. “So, wait, like the actual stealing from the rich and giving to the poor stuff?”

LJ puts down his own mug. “Easy, Princess. You wanna just say everything in front of company, here?”

He glares to his side. Nick’s eyes go wide.

“I won’t tell,” he rushes out. “Promise, man. I’m good with secrets. Ask anyone. My sister’s been stealing the gin out of my old man’s liquor cabinet for years and I never even told him she’s putting water in there.”

A beat passes. Then Tuck and Will crack up. LJ doesn’t. Rob just smiles.

“Cute,” he says. “That’s why you’re still breathing. Anyway.” He straightens up. “It’s not rocket surgery. Just a divide and conquer sort of thing. Typically we’re gonna start by identification—”

“Data,” Tuck interrupts. “You know, tax records, foreclosure filings, eviction notices, that kind of thing. Whatever I can pull to suss out who’s hurting and who’s hoarding.”

“Right.” Rob nods. “We want to be methodical. Make sure we give to and take from the right people. So while that’s going on, we scout locations and case our options—”

LJ grunts. I suppose that’s his job—which makes sense. I wouldn’t really fuck with any of these guys if I came across them in a dark alleyway, but I’d fuck with LJ least of all.

“—and prepping the gear—”

Will does an elaborate salute. “You’re very welcome.” He grins at me. “I do love a good toy.”

I stick my tongue out at him. He runs his own tongue over his upper lip—annoyingly sexy, even if he’s making fun of me.

“—and then execution,” Rob says. “Two-man teams, usually. Get in, get assets—

“Cash,” Tuck says, “sometimes. Or cleanable valuables. Sometimes consumer goods, depending.”

“Right,” Rob says. “Then the redistribution part.” He waves a hand at Tuck, who nods.

“A little...laundering,” he says to me. “Dummy accounts, crypto shells, accounts we control basically.”

“And from there, it’s whatever,” Will finishes. “Pay taxes, wipe debts, send anonymous bank cards loaded with cash. Sky’s the limit. Make it rain.”

Rob nods. “Rinse and repeat.”

I can’t help it; I’m fascinated.

“You look surprised,” Tuck observes.

“Yeah,” I say. “I guess...it’s just way more systematic than I expected.”

“They do call it organized crime for a reason,” Will muses, looking at his fingernails.

“We’re not just a bunch of pretty faces, Maren,” Rob says. “We’reprofessionals.”

“Professionalwhats?” LJ mutters, but I can see a gleam in his eye. Like he’s excited, too. Like it’s been too long, and he’s finally stretching a long-dormant muscle.

They all are.

Rob looks to Tuck. “You’re on your...whatever you need?”

Tuck looks up from his phone. “Firing up the VPN as we speak.” He cracks his knuckles. “Hack the planet, baby.”

“Great.” Rob snaps his fingers at Nick. “You. Kid. You can read?”

“Uh...” Nick looks at me, of all people, for guidance. It’s sweet, actually, like he thinks I’m his big sister or something.

I raise my eyebrows at him. “Can you?”

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