Wanted(106)

“And there’s an even a bigger reason to agree to let me help,” I pressed.

“What’s that?”

“Because if this really is the last thing keeping you from being fully legitimate—from getting out of that damned FBI spotlight—then I want to help. It matters to me, Evan. It matters a lot. Please. Please don’t say no.”

“Baby,” he said, lifting my fingertips to his lips. “Could I ever say no to you?”

“No fucking way,” Cole said. “I mean, no offense, baby girl, but no fucking way.”

I was sitting beside Evan on the leather couch. Now, I took his hand, searching for solidarity, and was rewarded when he squeezed back. We were back in my condo, Evan and I having spent the morning having breakfast with Ivy and then playing four rounds of Candy Land. Evan had called the others from the road and told them to meet us. That we had a lot to talk about.

“Yes, fucking way,” I said, making Cole roll his eyes. “And guess what? I moved the manuscript to a safe deposit box at HJH&A this morning. So unless I’m part of this, there isn’t going to be any this. Get it?”

Tyler looked at Evan. “What the fuck?”

“What are you looking at me for? Jahn left her the manuscript, not me. Unless you expect me to tie her down, I can’t really keep her from moving it.” He turned to me with a devious grin. “Then again, that wouldn’t have been such a bad plan.”

I smacked him even as Tyler groaned.

“Jesus, Evan. She’s like my little sister. Can we not go there?”

Evan and I both laughed, but Evan nodded with gentlemanly agreement. “We can not go there,” he agreed, looking firmly at Tyler and Cole. Then he cocked his head deliberately toward me. “Whether we go there is another question altogether.”

Tyler rolled his eyes, but Cole just laughed.

“Come on, guys,” I said, feeling a bit like they’d reverted back to their formative high school years. “This isn’t negotiable. Evan’s already tried to talk me out of it and he failed. He and I are doing this thing. The only reason you two are here with us is to decide if you’re going to be in on it, as well.” I flashed a sweet smile. “Get it?”

Tyler shot a glance toward Evan. “You sure you want her? She’s a downright pain in the ass.”

I bit back a grin. Tyler, at least, had come over to my way of thinking.

“I want her,” Evan said. “On this job, and after.”

“Big one-eighty for you, my man,” Cole said. “Weren’t you the one trying to stay the hell away so you wouldn’t sully her with your tainted soul?”

Evan shot him the finger.

“Maybe he likes me sullied,” I said, and they all three burst out laughing. “Look,” I added, before Tyler and Cole could add anything to the mix, “I know you’re just looking out for me, but nothing is going to go wrong. I’m going to do whatever it takes to pull this off. So don’t look at me like I’m a liability. I’m not. I’m your best goddamn asset, because I can get around your biggest problem. I can get you access to the forgery.”

I glanced over at Evan who was looking at me with pride, then back to Cole and Tyler. After a second, Tyler folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair with his legs out in front of him. “I’m not saying yes, but I’ll listen to what you have to say.”

As far as I was concerned, that really was a yes. I had no intention of giving them the notebook if I wasn’t in on the job. But I wanted them on board with having me on the team. If they were afraid I’d screw it up, then they’d be sloppy. We all would. And then it wouldn’t be a rush I’d be feeling, but full-fledged fear.

“Okay,” I said, standing up and feeling as nervous as if I was auditioning for the lead in the school play. “Evan ran me through what you guys already talked about this morning. I know that Neely keeps the manuscript in a case in the private gallery on the top floor of his Winnetka house. I know that the case is locked with a regular, old-fashioned key so that we can’t rely on hacking an electronic lock. And I know that other than the lock, the case doesn’t have any additional security. So if we can get it open and switch the manuscripts, we’re golden.”

I looked at them all to see if I’d forgotten anything. Cole nodded at me to continue.

“It’s the gallery itself that’s the problem. The Creature Notebook is only one of dozens of valuable artifacts that Neely owns, and he keeps them all locked up tight in a nearly impenetrable gallery.”

“It wouldn’t be impenetrable if we had more time,” Tyler said. “I’ve got the blueprints and technical specs. I know I could figure a way past his security system.”