Stepbrother Thief(124)

Me, I still have no idea what's going on or why I'm dressed to the nines—quite literally. Underneath the flowing organza of my skirt, there's a nine millimeter strapped to my upper thigh.

I turn my face and look out the window, breath frosting against the cool glass. Surprisingly enough, the street is quiet now, and the police cars are gone. As promised, a phone call to the boss and a few quick words with the cops was enough to send them on their way. Gill's nosy neighbor was outside, standing at the end of her driveway, glaring at us. But after she—and the rest of the busybodies—on the street noticed the cops leaving, they went back inside and shut their lights off, one by one.

It feels like we're all alone out here.

That's not even remotely the case.

I can see Gill's … coworkers? Hell, I don't know what to call them. They're loading up a van, using the back door and the gate to avoid carrying their very large, very illegal parcels outside. I avert my gaze, knowing that eight—eight—people are dead tonight. As sad as that is, as wasteful as this all seems, I don't feel as sick as I should about it. They came after me, after my family. If Gill wasn't such a badass, it'd be me in the back of a van and not them.

I swallow hard and lean my head back against the leather seat of the SUV. I think it's the same one we fucked in, but I'm not sure. Could just be a different rental. I wonder if my panties are still in the glove compartment?

“I shouldn't have put you through this,” Gill says, voice rough and low. He's practically growling.

I glance back at him, at his handsome face covered in shadow. Tonight, only half of that is metaphorical. The rest … if we can get through this, it'll be over. That's it. We'll get our cut of the heist money, as promised, and Gill can retire.

If.

If. If. If.

I hate that word.

“Is Max really trustworthy?” I ask. Having never met the guy, I haven't the slightest clue.

Gill's mouth twitches.

“Not really. But, like I said, Karl and Max have a history.” He holds up his hands. “Again, I don't know much about it, but …” He sighs and that grin that was slowly forming, it fades away in an instant. “We all have our secrets, I guess.”

“At least ours are out in the open.” I turn to face him fully. I know why Gill left me, know the truth about my mother's death, and he knows about our daughter. “So let's keep it that way.” I reach up and run my fingers through my hair. It's freshly washed, blown out and tousled. For what reason Gill asked me to do that, I can't even hazard a guess. “Karl … he can't be that easy to kill, right? I mean, if you could just walk in there guns blazin' and take him out, you would've done that a long time ago, wouldn't you?”

Gill turns to face me, reaching out and touching his thumb to my lower lip. His chest expands with a tired sigh. The very same chest that just so happens to be covered in a black suit jacket; I'm not the only who's dressed up … or the only one wearing body armor under my clothes.

“Of course. Anything to get back to you, Regina.” Gilleon glances away for a moment and then turns his gaze back on me. “But Max … is willing to go out on a limb after tonight. This … what happened to Aveline, it's too much.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“Why would Max give a shit about Aveline?”

Gill licks his lips nervously and takes another deep breath.

“Regina,” he begins as I push his hand away from my mouth. It's hard to think when he's touching me like that.

“What?” I ask, fear trickling down my spine. “I know that voice. You're keeping another secret from me.”

“Some stories aren't mine to tell,” Gill says, raising both brows, like he's trying to get me to understand without speaking the words aloud. “Especially not when their owner is on her way to the hospital.” Something clicks into place in my brain.

“Aveline. You really do know her secret, don't you?” Gill sighs again and runs his hand over his face.

“If I tell you this, I tell you in complete confidence.” Gill leans in close to me and whispers hot against my ear. “If Max—or Aveline—ever found out I told you this, I'd have a lot more than just death threats from Karl to worry about.” He leans back again and glances casually out the window. I know better though, know that he's checking to make sure the coast is clear before he tells me whatever it is he needs to say. “I want to be truthful with you, like you asked.” Gill sighs and stares down at his lap for a moment, looking so much like the teenage version of himself that I have to tighten my fingers around the edge of the seat to keep myself from leaning over and pressing a gentle peck against his mouth.