Page 4 of Nest of Thieves
Gooseflesh chases after the contact. I flick my eyes to meet his, but the alpha isn’t watching me. His masked face is turned toward Nelson. Tossing the big duffel bag at his side into the vault, the alpha points at the bank manager.
“Fill it,” he barks, eliciting another shiver.
This time, he notices. Icy blue eyes dancing with mirth stare at me through the holes of the mask. He steps a little closer and tugs on a lock of my hair. The pins holding the wig strain to stay in place.
Nelson’s breaths are heavy as he scoops bundles of cash into the bag.
That’s my money.
I seethe a little but try to keep my rage from showing. I’m supposed to be terrified. Not pissed. There are countless other banks in Philadelphia. Hell, they could have robbed a Wawa instead. God knows those convenience stores are loaded up with cash. But no, they had to robmybank.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Jackie,” I lie, flicking my gaze around to seem distressed. “I won’t tell anyone anything.”
Drop, drop, drop, goes more of my cash into the bag.
“Oh, Jackie, Jackie, Jackie. Did you think I was lying about hurting you? I don’t hurt women.”
“I have kids,” I lie.
“They all do,” he says, studying my face.
I force tears into my eyes.
Nelson has grown suspiciously quiet. Before I can look over, the alpha lifts his hand and throws his knife. I track the blade, flipping end over end until it embeds in Nelson’s thigh.
Nelson screams.
God, that was hot. The bastard deserved it, and the knife throw? Ten out of ten.
The alpha rolls his eyes. “I thought it was obvious not to try and hit the panic button, didn’t you?”
I nod and suck in a sharp breath, hiding my fascination from the alpha. “I won’t tell anyone,” I repeat.
Maybe if I make it out unscathed, I could rob a Wawa. At least they have food.
“Hmm, I know you won’t because you’re coming with me. Grab the bag.”
My heart skips. “What?”
“The bag. Grab it.” He stares at me but doesn’t use his alpha bark. Strange, but I don’t need his command to do what he said. Helping him get the cash helps me get the cash, so long as I can find a way to abscond with it.
“Good girl,” he purrs. Unlike when Nelson said it, a visceral response zings through my body. As if sensing the effect of his words, the alpha chuckles. The deep, throaty sound carries through the mask. “Time to retrieve my knife.”
Nelson is whimpering on the ground, clutching his bleeding leg. He scrambles back as the alpha and I step into the vault. My fingers inch toward my chest. I could use the tranq on the alpha, but he has friends in the lobby and I’d never make it past them with only his knife. I didn’t bring a gun to work. I didn’t think I’d need it. The alpha glances at me and I scurry to do as he asked.
I check the weight of the bag. It’s nearly full. Between this bag and whatever they stole from the registers, there’s plenty of cash. Once I get the money back from these assholes, I can pay off my stipend, leave Philly, and buy a new identity wherever I land.
All I need to figure out is how to rob the robbers.
Easy as pie, right?
two
MAC
Staying focused on the job is hard with the drop dead gorgeous beta. Too bad Jackie’s submissive. I like my women a little more crazy and domineering. A little more omega. She hoists the bag up like it weighs nothing. Arching an eyebrow, I release an impressed whistle and smirk at her beneath the mask.
