Page 15 of Easy Steal

For me, it had always been Larissa.

And I wouldn’t let another girl get in the way of winning her over. I knew it was inevitable. I knew that she could grow to love me, if only I could show her that I was the man she needed.

And I was not one to give up easily.

5

Chapter 5

Livie

“Sorry I’m late,” I sighed, walking into Rome’s office in the back of Lilith’s.

Things had changed a lot since Rome had taken over the club, but one thing that hadn’t, was our operation. It was something we were both very passionate about. Though it started out small, we were now busier than ever.

“Has Harriet been by yet?” I asked, plopping down my computer bag on the desk.

Rome shook her head, still absorbed in whatever she was deeply focused on. I went around to the back of the desk to see what she was doing, she was tinkering with the placement of the watermark on a brand new drivers’ licence for Harriet.

Though what we did was highly illegal, immoral, and wrong - we comforted ourselves in knowing that we were helping people. We were still highly selective about who we took on as customers, and made sure that these people knew what they were getting into.

Fake identities had always been a lucrative business in the shady part of society in which we hid. But Rome had figured out a way to use this practice to help other women - it was our north star, our purpose for doing what we did.

Rome had lost not one, but two, mothers in her young age. One biological, and one adopted. Both of them lost to unnecessary violence.

I had a similar experience.

The only difference was, I knew in my heart that my mother wasn’t actually dead.

It was just a matter of finding her.

Rome had a talent for graphic design and art, and I handled the technical parts that were required. It was an operation that had sailed smoothly for both of us, and we worked well together. Sometimes, things got messy - but we always dealt with it, together.

Rome printed the draft for Harriet’s new licence and inspected it closely.

Like me, Harriet was an immigrant.

These false identities not only helped people wanting an escape, but also people who just needed a fresh start. Without these documents, Harriet would not easily be able to obtain bank accounts, a home, a job - anything without being under scrutiny from others and the government. With this new name, new life, it would be as if she always existed here.

We attached a past, a history, to each name we created - which is why we were the best in the business. Ours were the most believable identities you would ever come across, and our clients had never run into any issues. We had a strict and thorough screening process, and an even more thorough creation workflow.

It helped that Rome and I were both perfectionists.

“I can’t work tonight,” I said slowly, sitting in my chair and slipping on my glasses.

“Why?” Rome asked, squinting at the printed document through a magnifying glass.

“I have to help Samuel.”

“Santino?” her head snapped up, “as in, my brother-in-law?”

“Yes,” I said, not looking at her.

“With what?”

“They need help with the Redliners, and I may or may not owe him a favour.”

Rome’s eyebrow shot up, and she put everything in her hands down and scooted her chair close to mine.

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