Page 26 of Keep Me (Rebel Hearts Heists 2)
Spy
Sloane
“No! Absolutely not!”
So, you know how I’ve seen the guys arguing among themselves so many times that I wondered how they could ever pull off several heists without stopping mid-robbery to have a good ole fight?
Yeah, I guess when they want to be, they’re on the same fucking page. Like right now: they were discussing Kronin’s proposal that I model for whatever art he’s thinking to create—as long as it doesn’t involve shit, that is—and I chose that moment to tell them that not only should I pose for the Russian but that I have a way of getting into Van Der Beck’s suite and snooping around, if I accept his disgusting proposal.
I probably should have expected the reaction I’d gotten.
And now I’m looking at their reaction: they’re standing in a line, with matching scowls—the fact that they look so deliciously brooding and sexy that my panties are soaked is completely beside the point—powerful arms folded over ripped chests and they’re in total agreement that they don’t want my help. Royce actually growled his resounding no and while I’m positive that he would never lay a finger on me to inflict pain, he looks scary as fuck.
“Ok, when you four are done with your alpha male act, maybe you can see that I have the opportunity to gain some really good intel. So if you all calm the fuck down, maybe we could at least talk about it?”
Blaine looks positively scary with a hard light in his steely grey eyes and an unmovable determination in his low voice. “You’re not spending fucking alone time with dangerous, international criminals that are not only wanted by the FB-fucking-I but are also into some really freaky shit, Honey Bunny. And I’ll keep you safe, even if to do that I have to tie you to my bed.”
I don’t bow down. “Is that a threat or a promise, Blaine?”
Please tell me that’s a promise and that you’ll spank me if I defy you …Oh fuck, I’ve completely lost it, it’s official. These four men screwed with my head so thoroughly that all I can think about is how I’d like for all of them to shed their clothes and show me their dominance in a totally different way than just being unreasonable. But I shake off my lust induced haze and prepare to argue my point because I know I’m right and their need to protect me is making them blind to the stark reality of the situation.
“Look, I’m not saying that I’ll go into the lion’s den completely unprotected. We can make a plan and make sure that I’m safe. But can I remind you that I came here to help? That I’m not just along for the ride but I’m a part of this just as much as each of you? That our freedom at the end of this is at stake?” I look pointedly at Kaden, who shakes his blond head and lowers himself heavily onto the couch.
He doesn’t look at me when he says, “Your freedom isn’t at stake. It never was—” I don’t understand.
“But Agent Walker said—”
Kaden lifts his dark blue gaze, pinning me to him with one look. “I know what he said. And I know you lost your trust in me and that I completely deserved it. But believe me, Sloane, I’ve been working on a plan to get us all away when this is over. Together. Ideally, we’ll succeed and the Bureau will drop the charges against all of you, but I’ve planned for the eventuality that things won’t go our way. I’ve been planning this since Seattle, since before I had to handcuff you, baby.”
His gaze softens and I feel a little bit of that ice that is left in my heart at the memory of his betrayal melt away as I get lost in the dark blue of his irises and let the warmth in his voice heal the rift between us like a warm balm. Kaden looks so stoic and perfect, like a Norse god and I realize that this is his attempt at letting me in. Since he took me during that failed robbery, he’s protected me and soothed me but he’s always kept an important part of himself hidden for obvious reasons. Now his gaze is open, telling me that the only games left to play, we’ll play together.
“The shit hit the fan in Seattle and I was caught unprepared. The truth is that before we started running, I wasn’t completely comfortable with the guys going to jail because a huge part of me couldn’t believe that the bank robberies were just motivated by greed. The bill didn’t fit for any of them, even Rivs.”
River smirks and chuckles. “Why, thank you motherfucker. I love you too and all that warm and fuzzy shit.”
Kaden ignores the provocation, despite his lip tilting up slightly, and continues, “I didn’t believe it but for as much as I tried, none of these assholes would open up about what made them do those heists. My dad was a security guard at a bank and was killed during a robbery gone wrong. I vowed to dedicate my life to putting away guys like the ones who killed him. So as long as y’all looked like a bunch of callous, greedy thugs, I had no choice but put aside my personal feelings of friendship for you. Then you came along, Sloane, and you cracked the code I couldn’t for almost two years. The minute I knew why each of you had gotten mixed up in that mess, I started looking for a way out for all of us. You took our friendship and cemented it into something indestructible because being tied to you, also ties us all to each other. So, I’m still working out some of the details and at this stage the less you know about our escape plan, the better. But trust me, baby, we’re not going to jail and we’re gonna be together, if that’s what we all want. This is why I want to catch the bad guys but your safety comes first.”
My first instinct is to fly into his arms and tell him that I knew, I knew he wasn’t a liar and a traitor and that I love him. But I stand my ground because I’ve spent a lot of time hiding and running and I don’t want that for any of us. River still has his niece and his sister to think about and we need to clear Royce’s dad’s name, which is why this whole mess started to begin with. So I decide to tell them all this and something shifts in the room. The guys are now listening to what I’m saying, reflecting on the fact that there’s more at stake here than just our freedom.
“We need to find proof of Van Der Beck’s responsibility for the embezzlement before he sells his company and runs away where he can’t get arrested and brought back home to pay for his crimes. The Maldives don’t have extradition to the United States. We need to know if Alicia is involved in this or not. And we need to catch Kronin if it’s true that he’s selling nuclear weapons and understand why Van Der Beck is involved in all this. Is it greed or does Kronin have something on him? Because the situation doesn’t make sense. Van Der Beck built this resort to launder the embezzlement money and he obviously succeeded, so why get involved with a crazy, dangerous Russian criminal and risk it all? I don’t know about you but I noticed that Kronin scares our host. He got really nervous the second Kronin arrived. Plus, nuclear weapons? Regardless of why Van Der Beck is involved, do we really want nuclear weapons to fall into the wrong hands?”
My little speech has the guys looking at me in a different way and I have to admit I’m proud. Pierce had never viewed me as anything but something pretty to have on his arm. Well, that and someone to bully. I’m not saying that this is the first time my guys have seen me as smart or as capable but my words cause a tone change and I think … I’ve motivated them. I would be a fantastic team captain in sports, just saying.
River is the first one to react. “Fuck Kitten, I thought what made me hard for you was that tight little body and your perfect tits but that fucking brain of yours is just as goddamn sexy.”I swear to Christ, how the man could make me want to scold him for being so blunt and fuck him is beyond me.
Royce sighs, swiping his huge hand through his dark hair, deep in thought. “You know Princess, I hate it when you’re right. But there’s no way you’re going to pose for Kronin or spend any time with Stepfather Dearest unless we can keep you safe.”
Blaine nods. “You’re damn right skippy. What do you think, Kades? You’re in charge of this shit show, right?”
Kaden nods and muses, “The only way I would feel comfortable with you being in Van Der Beck’s room is if we could listen and possibly watch in ... and be nearby. I’d also prefer it if we could make the asshole a little less adept at overpowering you. I mean, I have bugs in the equipment I took with me but I don’t know how we could plant them without getting caught. But as for making the guy a little mellower, I don’t know what to do. This is an undercover op, without the backing of Interpol, so I wasn’t allowed to bring any, uhm … chemical aids.”
Blaine intervenes. “Planting the bugs shouldn’t be a problem. Van Der Asshole has gone to Paris for business and won’t be back until tomorrow night. Mom asked me and Royce to have a private dinner, just the three of us tonight in her suite. So Royce and I could easily do it. Once she drinks enough champagne, she’ll be distracted enough. I can’t help you about roofying him though.”This is where I have the solution to all of our problems.
“Eye drops.”
The guys all turn to look at me. “What?” They all look perplexed and I explain.
“Just a few eye drops in his drink will give Van Der Beck explosive diarrhea in a matter of minutes. They’re odorless and flavorless and work like a charm. Unfortunately they won’t kill him, but sure as hell, I’ll give your stepfather a night he’ll never forget.”
