Page 11 of Prettiest Little Thief
“This just prolongs the entire job.”
“Are you dense?” I asked. Lucas’s head jerked back in disbelief. “I was in a car wreck. You think there wouldn’t be any damage done to my body from it? It’s called whiplash.” Irritation burned through my body, and I was ready to throw something… anything… at his handsome face. “Besides, didn’t you say there was time?” Fox snorted next to me. He covered his mouth and cleared his throat, trying to cover up his amusement.
“I know exactly how bad the accident was. I was the one who had to go and identify my crumpled mess of a car. You totaled it, you thief.” Lucas sat back against his seat as he continued to glare daggers in my direction. “And as far as saying there is time, I meant for you to sleep.”
I threw my napkin down on the table, pushing my chair back and placing my hands flat on the table as I leaned forward. “You think I don’t know what I did? If I had stuck to my plan in the first place, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I wouldn’t have to owe you anything. There are a thousand other places I’d rather be than here with an ass like you.”
“You expect me to be civil when the woman who stole and destroyed my very expensive vehicle is staying in my home? Should I be some charming schmuck who instantly forgives you because you’re pretty?”
“I don’t expect anything from you!” I seethed and stormed off in the direction of my room. Rage pulsed through me, and even though every step I took was painful, I needed to get as far away from Lucas as possible before I completely lost my cool.
The sound of a chair scraping the floor sounded, but I didn’t turn back. Fox and Lucas’s voices echoed and trailed behind me,but I refused to listen to any of the words between the two of them. I went to my room and slammed the door, taking a deep, cleansing breath.
I needed to get out of this house. Needed space.
Kneeling on the floor, I began rummaging through my bag for my cell phone. It was at the bottom, along with my charger. I plugged it in and waited for it to turn on. Text messages lit up the screen, but I didn’t have the patience to go through them all right now.
I dialed my bestie, and it rang twice before her voice came through the line. “Where the hell have you been, Roe? Do you know how crazy I’ve been going, not knowing what the hell happened to you? I thought the Crimsons got ahold of you. And Frankie isn’t answering. I thought both of you were dead.”
“Calm down, Evie. I’m okay. Sort of.” I bit into my bottom lip.
“Girl, you did not just tell me to calm down,” she replied, “when you have been missing for days.”
“I did, and I need you to listen to me.” I explained everything that had happened in the last couple of days. From the car debacle to the wreck and subsequent arrest to being at Lucas’s mansion.
“So, he wants you to do a job for him to basically make up for wrecking his expensive ass car?” Evie asked after I finished my story.
“Yes,” I said with a sigh. “And he’s a huge dick.”
“What do you expect? Him to be nice about it?” She clicked her tongue. Never one to sugarcoat anything.
“No, but I mean, if I have to work closely with him, he could at least benicer.” I didn’t expect him to be my BFF but a littlemore level-headed. We had to work together if he wanted his precious key.
“Monroe Whitlock, you fucked up. Big time. The fact that he even offered you this in exchange for your freedom is a Godsend. You should be kissing his damn loafers for that kindness.” Leave it to Evie to put me in my place and tell me to stop expecting the best in people.
I giggled. “Fine. You’re right. But I don’t think he’s the type to wear loafers.”
“Whatever. Just do the job and get your ass back home. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. Maybe we can meet for drinks. That is, if I’m allowed to leave my prison.” I glanced around the girlie room I was holed up in. It wasn’t bad, but it still wasn’t home.
“Shoot me a text if you can. I get off at three. We can meet at Marty’s Bar.”
After we hung up, I laid back onto the carpet with my arms spread wide, staring at the ceiling in thought. There was no choice but to stick this out. I was lucky. Even if it was hard to see. Anxiety wasn’t holding me in a chokehold anymore. However, there wasn’t true relief either. Just another bump in the road in the life of Roe.
The door swung open, and I turned my head to see Fox in the doorway. “Do you ever knock?” I asked as I sat up. My pain had lessened drastically.
“Sorry. I thought maybe you’d try to escape after the whole showdown.”
“I just don’t understand what the big deal is. I can do it, even in pain.” I got my feet under me, making my way to sit on the edge of the mattress. My feet hung a few inches off the floor.
Fox shook his head. “He isn’t going to let you go into the snake’s den unless you’re feeling one hundred percent. Otherwise, it may screw everything up.”
“Fine.” Now was my chance to ask Fox if I could meet with Evie. “So, my friend wants me to meet up with her.”
“Is she cute?” he asked. A grin slowly spread across his face and his mahogany eyes twinkled.
“Very. Do you think you could take me later?” I batted my eyelashes.
