Page 87 of Pack of Crooks

She bristles. “Why are you asking me?”

“Because today is your day,” he says with a shrug. “If you were queen for a day, where would we go?”

“Monte Carlo Steakhouse,” Lottie says without hesitating.

My jaw practically unhinges. That place is crazy expensive and super exclusive. There’s no way we can walk in and get a table, but even if we can, that’s too much. “Lottie,” I begin, but Ezra cuts in.

“Deal. Our pack has a standing reservation,” he tells me, grinning at Lottie. “I’ve been craving their crab legs. Ever had them?”

She fidgets with her hair, studying him carefully. “No. Milly’s coming too.”

“Of course she is,” he says, smirking at her. “Anything else?”

Lottie glances at me. I bite my tongue and let it play out. Ezra effectively stopped the tears when I was desperately failing, and if the pack is paying, she can’t say no to going out to celebrate because it’s not our money. That’s what she was worried about in the first place.

“Uh, no,” she says softly. “That’s it.”

“Well, let me know if you change your mind. I heard there’s a new gelato place near Monte Carlo that’s to die for.” Ezra’s gaze skips to mine. “Ready?”

“Can we meet you there?” And maybe I can talk Lottie out of taking her frustration out on their wallet.

“We have enough room for all of you,” he says. “We’ll bring you back for Milly’s car after.”

One might ask how they know Milly drove me, but this is what happens when you have stalkers. They know everything. Before I can protest, Lottie calls shotgun and rushes over to grab Milly, who is patiently waiting by the exit.

Once my sister is out of earshot, I step into Ezra’s space. “What are you guys doing?”

“Taking care of our girls,” he says simply.

“A little warning would have been nice,” I tell him.

He tucks a stray strand of my hair behind my ear, brushing his thumb along my cheek and marking me. His scent soothes that ache in my chest. “Where’s the fun in that, pretty thief?”

“I can’t be mad at you when you scent mark me,” I mumble.

“I know.” He grins and swipes his thumb over my cheek again. “I really want to kiss you right now, but I think your sister is contemplating castration.”

“She has a hard time trusting people, especially men I date.”

Ezra squints. “And why is that?”

Because they’ve all been terrible. “No reason,” I lie, smiling up at him and batting my eyelashes. “Maybe a quick peck?”

Humming, he draws me closer. “You drive a hard bargain.” He presses a chaste kiss to my lips, but he may as well have ripped my clothes off. Heat shoots from my head to my toes, zooming back up and settling in my core. The scent of strawberries explodes around us. “Easy, tiger, your sister is already annoyed.”

Breathing in, I nod and step back, forcing the desire down. “You’re right.” Clearing my throat, I glance at Lottie. She’s still watching us, but the anger from before has faded. I sigh. “Thank you for intervening.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” he says with a wry grin. “We still have to win her over.”

And that may be easier said than done. For Pack Lennox’s sake, I hope she goes easy on them.

twenty-four

HAZEL

Hello? 9-1-1? I’d like to report a possession. My sister isn’t herself.

Lottie is giggling so hard she snorts, and when she slaps her hand over her face, it only makes her laugh harder. My eyes practically bug from my head, and I stare at Kill who is in the middle of a story about being chased by murderous pigeons and how he fell straight into a filthy pond and had to walk home in only his boxers.