Page 67 of Prettiest Little Thief
I cleared my throat, and her eyes drifted to me. “Ma’am, we wouldn’t be on your doorstep if it weren’t a matter of potential life or death. We won’t take much of your time.” I offered her a weak smile, hoping any semblance of the importance of the situation would convince her to allow us her time.
There was a pause for a moment as Mrs. Gregorian seemed to be thinking about it. Eventually, she stepped back and opened the door a little more, motioning for us to enter.
Jericho and Avram went in before us. Lucas gripped my arm gently just as I was going to cross the threshold. I peeked up at him, and what looked like pride was etched on his face. He leaned down and swiftly placed a kiss on my lips.
“I don’t have all day,” Mrs. Gregorian chided.
“Sorry,” I replied. Lucas allowed me to go in ahead of him.
Unlike the villa, Mrs. Gregorian’s home was quaint and heavily decorated with colorful décor. Woven tapestries lined the walls, ceramic vases sat on the side tables that hugged the patterned couches. Varying shades of oranges, reds, and blues exploded across the living room.
Our host hobbled to a couch and took a seat. Jericho and Avram stood against one of the walls, leaving the love seat available for me and Lucas to sit shoulder to shoulder.
“Let me guess, you’re also looking for Anastasia’s chest?” she said before we had a moment to break the ice.
“How did you know?” My eyebrows were downturned into a frown, confused as all heck.
“I had some gentlemen stop by about a week or two ago asking about it. Real nasty type. I pretended I didn’t know what they were talking about.”
Must have been Charles’s men.
“Then why are you telling us?” Lucas asked. His long fingers wrapped around my knee, his thumb stroking the sensitive spot through the fabric of my pants.
Mrs. Gregorian shrugged, her small frame sinking back into the cushions of her chair. “You don’t seem as screwy as them. My brother gave it to a friend at a pawn shop before he died. Idiot needed to pay off a debt.” She shook her head. “I tried to get it back when I found out what he’d done with it after he died, but I can’t afford to pay Davit for it.”
“Mrs. Gregorian—” I started.
“Call me Alina. I don’t want to be reminded of my mother-in-law.” She held up a knobby hand.
“Alina, we really need to find the chest. I’m sure you loved your brother.” I glanced over at Lucas. His eyes were fixed on the old woman, but tension started to seep into his grip on my leg. My eyes slid back to Alina. If I had to bring up Sarah to get her to agree, then so be it. Not that I wanted to play on an elderly person’s heartstrings, but it was the only card I had to play.
“I did, but he was a bastard at times,” she replied with a sigh.
“Lucas, my husband, is desperately trying to get his sister out of an arranged marriage. The only way to do that is to bargain with the chest.”
“And what would I get out of this? My family heirloom?” Her gray brow arched.
“Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee we can bring it back to you. Since that is what her husband is looking for.” I didn’t want to lie to her or make empty promises.
Alina scoffed. “What could you possibly offer me in return for something so sentimental?”
This time, when I looked at Lucas, he turned to lock eyes with me. I nudged him with my shoulder.
“What can you offer in exchange for your sister’s freedom?” I asked.
“Name your price, Alina,” Lucas replied without breaking his stare, swallowing me up with his oceanic gaze.
“Two million,” she deadpanned without missing a beat.
I broke our intense staring contest and viewed the woman across from us.
“Done,” Lucas said.
She clapped her hands together and rubbed them with glee. A giggle snuck from her; the first sign of emotion other than annoyance to show through. Her short legs swung with excitement, the bottom of her dress waving with her movements.
“Don’t you think that’s a little much? No negotiation?” I whispered to Lucas.
“I would pay anything to get my sister back.”
