Page 3 of Nest of Thieves
“Now the combo.” He steps around me, brushing his hard-on over my ass.
I curl my fingers around the badge, key, and needle to keep from junk punching him. That wouldn’t be quiet at all, and I need him to do his part. I’ll stab him with the tranq once we’re inside. He’ll be out for about an hour, more than enough time for me to get away.
There are cameras that I don’t know how to disable, but that’s what the blonde wig, green contacts, and fake nose are for. By the time I’m gone and the police watch the security footage, Jackie Morgan won’t exist. The whole of her fake identity will be promptly tossed into a dumpster.
He turns the dial, and I hold my breath.
Click.
Click.
Click.
Nelson reaches for the handle with one hand and adjusts his junk with the other.
Come on, baby, so close.Adrenaline floods my system and I take a slow breath to steady myself.
Focus, Jo. You’re almost there.
“Everyone down!” A booming voice, full of alpha authority, fills the air. I grind my teeth and glare down the hallway. There’s no suppressant for an alpha bark, but since I’m not in the same room, the command doesn’t force me to the ground like it would with everyone else in the lobby.
I hear one of the tellers whimper.
“You, open the drawer,” another alpha barks.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Nelson makes a small noise.
I face him and raise my eyebrows. “I think we’re being robbed.”
He gives me a funny look, likely noticing how annoyed I sound. “What do we do?”
Time to stop playing pretend. This job is shot. “Oh, I don’t know, Nelson, maybe you should hit the fucking panic button inside the vault,” I whisper shout at him.
Recoiling from the venom in my voice, he blubbers and wrenches the door open. The metal hinges groan loudly and Nelson gasps, scrambling to the wall where the panic button lies. I stuff the needle into my bra, knowing, at any second, someone will venture down here. I can’t be seen as anything other than an employee to the robbers.
As a general rule, thieves don’t like competition.
“Stop,” a third alpha barks from the end of the short hall.
Called it.
Nelson’s pitiful beta hand hovers in front of the red button.
I pinch my eyes shut and curse under my breath. Time to pretend some more. Maybe if my career as a thief goes bust I can become an actress. I drop the key and badge. I won’t be needing those after today. Raising my hands into the air, I make a show of trembling and even whimper a little.
“Please, don’t hurt us.”
The alpha stops next to me. “Shh,” he says softly, running the tip of a blade up my arm. “I’d never hurt a pretty lady.” Stepping closer, he breathes in and sighs. “Especially not a pretty beta whose fear smells like cake.” His hard chest presses into my arm and a shiver races down my spine.
The alpha’s scent is so strong I almost choke on it. He smells like fire and gasoline. Like bad decisions and filthy sex. I’m really glad I took two scent suppressors this morning. My omega scent would be rank with need right about now. Probably not the most appropriate reaction given the situation, but we all have our vices.
I happen to love bad men and knives.
Keeping my eyes on the ground, I pretend to whimper again. “Take whatever you want.” I gesture to where Nelson is still frozen in the vault.
“So generous of you, love,” the alpha whispers, tracing the knife down my arm again.
