Thief (A Bad Boy Romance)(65)

“Dec, I can only say no so many fucking times.”

He looks at me silently, nodding.

“Alright,” he mutters, his eyes narrowing at me. “Fine, you want to play that game?”

“I don’t want to play games, Declan, I just-”

“You’re doing it.”

I sigh. “I don’t think you’re hearing me-”

“Did you know car accidents are the number four killer in this country? Number four, kid.” He shakes his head as he takes a drink. “You know, it’d be a damn shame if that family had another crash disrupt their lives.”

I go still.

“Accidents happen all the time, kid.” He chuckles, sipping his whiskey. “But shit, you already knew that, didn’t you?”

“You wouldn’t,” I growl, my muscles tightening and my hands clenching into solid fists.

“Wouldn’t I?” He grins. “It’s twenty mil, you prick. There ain’t a whole lot I wouldn’t do for that.”

I bare my teeth as I take a step towards him, fists raised. “You don’t go near that family,” I growl.

“And I won’t.” He shrugs. “If you do the job.”

“I could kill you right here instead.”

He laughs. “No, you couldn’t.” He chuckles through another drink. “Trust me, kid, I know killers, and you ain’t one.”

“I’m warning you, Dec.” I grab his shirt, my fists raise.

He grins.

“You gonna hit me, kid? Go ahead, hit me.”

I can feel the punch. I can imagine my fist knocking that smug, sleepy grin off his face right here in his own house.

But I don’t.

He shrugs, like he knew I wouldn’t.

“Or don’t, your call. But I swear to God you’ll do this job, or my threat holds.”

He knocks my hand from his shirt and straightens it before stumbling into the other room with his drink.

I turn back to Steph, who’s on her feet now in the far corner of the room staring at me with big, wide, tear-stained eyes.

“We should go.”

She blinks. “Go?”

I step across the room and take her arm. “Yes, go. I’m taking you out of here, Steph.”

She frowns. “But I live here, Silas.”

I stare at her. “Stephanie, he hit you.”

“I- I know,” she says quietly.

She looks down at her feet, picking at her cuticles.

“He’s just drunk, Silas. He didn’t mean nothing.”

I blink. “Stephanie-”

“Thank you, Silas.” She looks up, smiling crookedly. “For coming over, I mean.”

She reaches out and squeezes my arm. “You’re one of the good ones, you know.”

“Steph, I can’t just leave you-”

“I’m fine, Silas.” She smiles again, blinking as she’s reaches up and brushes a tear from her eyes. “I’m really fine.”

I’m starting the truck up in the driveway when Declan comes stumbling out of his house. He leans against the door of my truck, pointing at me through the open window.

“Family first, kid. I need you for this job, and you will fucking do it.”

“The hell I am.” I start to put the truck into reverse, but he grabs my shirt.

“Tell me I won’t’ do it, kid,” he growls, his whiskey breath sour as he leers close to me.

“Tell me I won’t and see how wrong you are.” His brows knit. “Five million, kid. One last job. Shit, you don’t even have to tell her.”

His lips curl into that evil smile.

“Think about it. You could start that little side business I know you’ve been sniffing around about, and you could give that Hammond girl everything she’s always wanted. You could have it all, Silas - live the fucking dream. And all it takes is one easy job. Shit, we’re not even bringing guns on it, it’s that easy.”

I stare straight ahead, pretending like I’m ignoring him.

But I’m not.

Slowly, my hand moves the gearshift into park before I even know what I’m doing.

I grew up taking what I wanted, and what I needed. Consequences and morals be damned, the lure of the take that high you get from the rush of it was like a drug to me even back then. And now? Now it’s like I’ve gone straight and someone’s offering me one last hit. I’m sober, and someone’s dragging the edge of a needle across my skin, or letting me smell the sweet acrid aroma of alcohol.

I’m a junky, and this is what falling off that horse feels like.

I suck in a breath of air, staring straight ahead, but unable to ignore the devil on my shoulder - Declan, offering me the promise of finally going legit in this world. He’s offering me the life I want for one last sliver of my soul.