Page 45 of Nest of Thieves
To see if they’d chase me?
To see what they’d do once they captured me?
My core throbs, and I swallow, wetting my lips.You can’t sleep with the enemy, Jo.Try as I might, I can’t quite convince myself to believe the voice of reason. Who says you can’t sleep with your enemies? Wouldn’t it be more exciting? No. That’s the type of thinking that causes mistakes.
Mistakes like—
Creak.
I whirl around on the last step of the stairs, but no one is behind me. Frowning, I step onto the landing and keep the second level in my line of sight until I reach the library. I scurry down the cold, marble floors. Passing through the lamp-lit library, I stop in front of the closed office door. I try the knob. Locked. Should have known. There’s a keypad on the outside as well. I won’t be able to pick this lock.
“Hey, mami.” Vette’s throaty and sleep tired voice does sinful things to my insides.
I whirl around, pressing my back into the door. “Vette. Where am I?” I pretend to look around in surprise, hoping he’ll believe I was sleepwalking.
He watches me, clearly not believing the show I’m putting on.
Right, time for a different tactic. “I was looking for the kitchen.”
Stepping closer, he places his arms behind his back and gazes down at me. The height difference is annoyingly apparent in the dim lighting.
I tip my head back. “If you could show me where the kitchen is...” I trail off when he smiles.
“What are you doing, Jo?”
Dropping the innocent act, I narrow my eyes. “Exactly what you would do if you were in my situation.” I lift an eyebrow. “What else did you expect me to do?”
“I didn’t think it would take you so long.” His gaze drops to my shirt.
“I was tired.” I tug my bottom lip into my mouth.
Is he going to punish me for snooping?
“What are you trying to find?” he asks, studying my face.
“Who your boss is. Where the Sunrise Ruby is. Everything and anything about you so I can destroy your lives like you did mine.”
He releases a soft laugh. “We didn’t ruin your life.”
Maybe not the one I had, but they ruined the one I had planned. My future was tarnished the moment they tried to steal my money. The guys taking the ring compromised everything. There will be no safety with Laurence hunting me. And there’s no question about whether he will. Laurence doesn’t mess around. I give it three days until he finds me.
“You did.” I shake my head.
“What’s an omega doing in the business, anyway? Aren’t you supposed to be waiting for a pack to take you in?”
Oh, now we’re addressing me being an omega? We’ve been conveniently avoiding that conversation since they found me at OU.
“I wouldn’t expect you to understand.” I try to walk past him, but he presses in close, pushing me back against the door.
“Try me.” Vette’s citrus scent invades my nostrils, making me long for a thick stack of pancakes and bacon.
My stomach growls.
“When was the last time you ate?” Do I detect a hint of grouchy alphame must protect omegain his tone?
Be still my simple omega heart.
I shrug. “Sometime. I’m fine.”
