Page 10 of Steal Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 1)
Kaden stands talking to someone, his smile upbeat but I can see that he’s as fed up as we are. I wonder briefly what will happen now that we’re done with jobs. I almost can’t imagine our friendship without that element to it. Yet, I’ve come to consider Kaden a friend in all this time. Not as close as I am with Blaine but still close.
After another half hour, I signal to Kaden that we’re heading out and he knows to meet us down at our car in about fifteen minutes. My brother and I easily part the swarm of people as we exit the sweaty, massive house. Instantly my mood picks up.
Blaine offers me an odd look as we start walking.“That sucked.”
I snort. “To be fair, I think we’re a tad distracted right now.”
“Last heist and it was a total fucking mess.” Blaine shakes his head.
“I don’t regret it though, I don’t regret any of them.” Neither do I. It’ll never fix what has been done but it was a necessary starting point.
“Should I have left her with River?” I ask, glad that Kaden isn’t around. It’s easy to talk to my brother but around the other two I always have to bark orders.
His eyes darken. “I think we should get back either way.” I run through today as we hop in the car and I turn on the engine of the BMW.
“Did you see the man holding her arm? The FBI agent?”
“Of course I saw him.” Blaine offers me an amused look.
I grunt. “Did he seem to know Sloane? Or am I crazy?”
My brother’s eyes dart away in thought and before he can answer, Kaden’s getting into the car. The closer we get to the hotel the more eager I am to see her. It’s messed up and I’ve no idea, for the first time in my life, how to handle this. I nearly glare up at the elevator numbers ticking by slowly and no one mentions my demeanor because I’m positive that they’re feeling the same. The idea of Kaden wanting to see Sloane annoys me but my own step brother doesn’t bother me in the least.
The two of us have shared girls before but never on a more serious level. I shake my head. Serious level? What the hell am I talking about? I barely know the woman and she’s not a date or a hookup, she’s our motherfucking hostage, for crying out loud. Instantly, I’m on edge because River is sitting on the couch with a bottle of whiskey in front of him and Sloane by his side. I can see that he drank a good amount and when he looks at us, he winces slightly.
Shit.This is going to be bad.
Sloane doesn’t meet any of our gazes and I find myself hoping to God that he hasn’t touched a hair on that girl or, for fuck’s sake, there will be a dead body to deal with, but it won’t be our hostage.
“River!” I snap. “What happened?”
“We just had dinner and watched a fucking movie.” He drawls. “I didn’t fucking do anything.”
Liar. I drop my gaze and look at her. Her lashes flutter slightly before she lifts up her jade green eyes. I see her freeze, her eyes flickering over my shoulder and narrowing.
“What?” I demand.
Those eyes harden into gemstones as she meets my gaze. “As River kindly pointed out to me, I am barely allowed to sit on the couch because I’m a hostage. I assumed that will apply as well when it comes to a bed?”
Anger surges through me and I inhale ready to say something, but then Kaden starts yelling at River as he attempts a weak defense. “What the fuck is wrong with you Rivs? You told the girl that she can’t sit on a God damn couch?”
“And that I’m a liability, that is going to end up dead,” she bites out, her eyes turning into emerald fires. River swears and leaves the room, his loud footsteps followed by Kaden who’s clearly not done with their conversation.
“I’m sorry about that.” Blaine states, his voice soft as she seems to realize that she’s alone with us and curls up hugging her knees with her arms. Instantly, I’m sitting back so that I’m not as intimidating. I don’t want to scare her. Christ. What’s going on with me? I can’t help it though, I feel protective over this woman.
She untucks her arms and pulls her hair into a messy knot, keeping her eyes on us. Instantly my eyes narrow in on the bruises on her skin. I grip her arm and she shivers.
“Who did this?” I demand softly.
Her eyes dart between mine. Her gaze tightens and she searches between us for a moment. I see her give in to whatever she wants to tell us, but then she stops cold. Her eyes track the lipstick marks on Blaine’s neck and the ones on my jersey, her expression blanking. I hate that.
“No one,” she states clearly with a small shake of her head. “No idea how that happened.” Little liar.
Blaine offers me a look and I hear Kaden raise his voice louder, I’ll have to break that up. I press a spontaneous kiss to the top of her head, before I can catch myself and stride away from the room. I need to know who put that fear in her eyes. Until then River and I are gonna have a fucking talk.
