Page 1 of Prettiest Little Thief
Chapter One
Monroe
The sound of tools dismantling the BMW echoed throughout the warehouse. Metal clanged and whirring sounded as the men worked quickly in the chop shop. Fluorescent lights flickered overhead, illuminating the dull atmosphere, with various parts of cars stacked, strewn, and thrown about the workshop.
The chill of the night was biting at my skin, even underneath the thick, black, puffer jacket, tight fitted jeans, and black boots I wore. A shiver worked its way down my spine. “Here,” Frankie said. He removed his jacket and handed it to me. I shook my head and wrapped my arms around myself.
“It’s too cold for you not to wear it.”
Frankie stepped closer and swathed me in his jacket anyway. The heat from his body still lingered in the fabric as I relented and pulled it tighter around me, the familiar smell of his cologne enveloping me. He went back to scrolling through his phone, his blond hair falling over his forehead, and I leaned against the rusted car shell that was once a muscle car as we watched and waited for the head honcho to come out of his office. “How long is this going to take?” I asked under my breath.
Normally, when I supplied the chop shop with their cars, I was in and out within minutes. Tonight, Rafael was taking his sweet time. And while I didn’t typically mind waiting, I was freezing my butt off.
The office door creaked open, and I straightened as I watched the muscled form of Rafael stalk toward us, his stridespurposeful. He was a good-looking man with olive skin, a head full of inky strands and dark, seductive eyes. A permanent scowl was pasted on his face. Rafael was what me and my best friend Evie would call a beefcake daddy.
Once he stopped in front of us, Frankie nodded his greeting.
“Hi, Raf. What took so long?” I asked and stepped in to give the brute a hug. His thick, corded arms came around me.
“Sorry, Roe. I was tied up with some business. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting, sweetheart.” Rafael may look like an evil guy, but he was a softie at heart. At least to me. He didn’t like Frankie all that much.
I pulled away, and Rafael glanced back at the car that his team was disassembling. “I don’t think you’re going to like the offer for tonight’s ride.”
My face scrunched in confusion. Raf always tried to give me a little more than what the cars were worth. He made a pretty penny on the vehicles I stole and brought in for him, plus, he knew about the insane amount of debt I was in with the loan shark I stupidly borrowed money from.
“How much?” I asked.
“The best I can do is five grand.” A pained expression passed over his face.
“That’s not enough.” I shook my head.
“We risk our asses stealing these cars for you to resell for a shit ton more. Five grand? That’s chump change for you,” Frankie said. Rafael’s dark stare slid to Frankie as he clenched his jaw.
“I don’t remember asking you, Frank. Keep talking, and we’ll have a problem. Roe is the brains behind your theftandthe driver. You’re just the lookout.” Raf cracked his knuckles, and Igripped his huge hands, trying to pull the attention away from Frankie.
“Can you give me anything more?” I squeezed his warm hand in mine. His eyes softened as soon as his gaze came back to me.
He sighed. “Six grand. That’s it.”
“Okay. I appreciate it, Raf. Thank you.” I slipped my hands from his. Six grand wasn’t going to pay off my debt, but at least it was a little more than what we started with. I had to pay out Frankie, too.
“I’ll be right back.” Rafael walked toward his office and disappeared inside.
Spinning to face Frankie, I hissed, “I told you not to rile him. He’s good for the cash.”
“I just think you getting lowballed is bull. We could go to jail for stealing these cars, and then what? The clan would end up finding someone from the inside to kill you.” My stomach twisted and nausea swam in my gut. Frankie was right. They’d find me in or out of jail, and I’d be a dead woman.
Rafael came back about five minutes later with a bag in hand. He unzipped it and pulled out stacks of cash, bound by paper bill straps, then counted out the cash and handed it over to me. I quickly recounted the amount and gave two of the stacks to Frankie.
Just as I was about to bid farewell to Raf for the night, he gripped my arm. Frankie stalled and a frown marred his face, his gaze locked on Rafael’s hand on my bicep. “I’ll be out in a minute,” I told Frankie, knowing Raf wanted to speak with me in private.
Frankie’s nostrils flared, but he turned and strode toward the exit, boots slapping against the concrete floor.
“You should lose the asshole.” Rafael jerked his head in Frankie’s direction as he released his hand from me.
“I can’t. I don’t trust anyone else to help me with this. I can’t just go around and casually ask people if they’d be willing to steal cars with me. I’ve known Frankie since we were kids.” I shrugged. It was true. I didn’t have anyone else I could depend on in my line of work. He knew the ins and outs of my thought process, and it made it so much easier. We were a good team.
“I may have some other people in mind if you ever decide to leave him in the dust.”
