Page 14 of Prettiest Little Thief (Band of Thieves #1)

Even in disguise, I couldn’t hide from the Crimsons.

“Roe, the boss wants to see you,” the taller one of the men said. I thought his name was Evan, but I often referred to him as Tweedle Dee and the shorter one as Tweedle Dum.

“Now isn’t the best time. Raincheck?” My voice surprisingly didn’t crack. My palms started to sweat in my gloves.

“You’re late on your payment,” he replied.

“I know, things haven’t been good. I was arrested—”

“Charles doesn’t give a fuck about what has been going on in your personal life. Get in the car.” His calm demeanor shifted, his teeth baring as he snarled at me.

Evie tensed beside me. “You did not just talk to my friend that way. You better watch how you speak to her, cabrón.” Tweedle Dum stalked closer to Evie. She clenched her fists tightly at her sides, ready to fight.

“No one was talking to you, bitch. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your fucking mouth shut.”

Before Evie could think to start taking off her earrings, I jumped in and said, “I’ll go. But she stays.” I placed myself between them. This was my battle. My fault. I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her because of my problems.

“Roe— ”

“Evie.” I spun to face her. “I love you to death, but please, for the love of God, shut the heck up. I’ll meet you back at Lucas’s.” I whispered.

“What if you don’t come back?” Her face contorted into a sorrowful expression. No answer came from me. I didn’t know if I would come back, but I knew if I didn’t leave now, then she could fall victim to the Crimson Brotherhood. There was no living with that if something happened to her.

So, I turned and put one foot in front of the other and trudged toward the car.

Evan pulled the blonde wig from my head, along with the net that kept my hair tucked away.

He playfully spun the hairpiece around his finger.

My dark locks fell around my shoulders as he shoved me into the backseat of the car, getting in behind me and shutting the door.

The car took off down the street, and I watched as Evie’s form gradually grew smaller and smaller.

My guts twisted and my pulse raced with uncertainty.

How was I going to get out of this? Would anyone know where I was?

Would I ever see the light of day again?

***

The entire car ride to meet with Charles was silent. Both Tweedles sat on their phones while the chauffeur took us to the compound. My brain was on overdrive, and I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t brave enough to try the door handle. Besides, chances were, it would be locked.

Even if I managed to open the door, how would that kind of escape go? Either be shot on the spot before leaping out or be met with pavement to the face, being unsuccessful in my breakout attempt.

When we pulled up at the property, several men with guns stood outside the gate.

I swallowed thickly. They waved us through once they recognized the driver, and my breathing became more erratic with every moment that passed.

Every inch we got closer to the main house, the more my stomach churned.

The more my hands began to tremble. The more my body decided to break out in a cold sweat, urging me to tug my gloves off and stuff them in my pocket.

I bit into my bottom lip, trying to mentally talk myself down from the anxiety attack that was gaining speed within me.

The car slowed and stopped in front of the sleek, modern home.

The house was illuminated from within, a warm glow contrasting against the dark backdrop of night.

A cleanly manicured lawn surrounded the house, with crisscrossing pathways, one of which ended at an outdoor fireplace.

Normally, I would stare a little longer at the amazing structures I came across, but not now.

My fear was taking hold of my mind like a vice.

My gaze dropped down to my fidgeting fingers as both men in the back seat with me exited the vehicle.

Tweedle Dum glanced back at me after he got out, annoyance plain on his face.

Before I even had the opportunity to slide out of the car completely, he reached into the backseat, gripped me by the back of my neck, and shoved me out.

Hard. My knees cracked off the concrete, and a gasp left me.

Bruising pain radiated through my legs as I caught myself with my hands, scraping them on the rough ground.

“For fuck’s sake, Rocco,” Evan said as he grabbed me under both of my arms and hauled me to my feet. “You all right, Roe?” I hadn’t expected any of them to come to my aid .

“Fine.” I shrugged off his hands. My skin crawled from his touch as I straightened out my jacket, my hands stinging.

“She was taking too fucking long,” Rocco said with a chuckle.

“Unless Charles tells you to, you aren’t allowed to touch her. Understood?”

“Yeah. Whatever.” Rocco rolled his eyes.

They led me into the house and straight to an office.

Several chairs sat in front of the smooth black desk.

“Sit,” Evan said as he nodded toward the chair in the middle, while he and Rocco took their own seats, positioned on either side of my chair.

I sat without a word, my leg bouncing nervously as I waited for Charles to come in.

Evan and Rocco spoke to each other softly. Laughing and joking around, like my life wasn’t on the line. Like it was nothing more than another freaking Thursday night. And I guess for them, it was. This was what they did for a living.

The sound of shoes squeaking across the marble floor grew louder, but I didn’t dare turn my head in the direction of my executioner. The Tweedles stopped their chattering long enough to get to their feet and greet their boss.

“Hey, boys. I see you finally found her.” Charles came to stand behind his desk.

His dark hair was slicked back, showing off the salt and pepper at his temples.

He was clean shaven, with a crisp, white dress shirt tucked into dark slacks.

The smug grin beneath his hooked nose widened when his dark gaze landed on me.

“Roe, so nice to see you again.” He took a seat in his chair, the hinges protesting under his weight.

I rolled my lips, not sure what I should say.

That I had been arrested? That didn’t even seem to work with his henchmen.

That I would promise to get him the money as soon as I finished up the other job I was on?

The necklace was still sitting heavily between my breasts, warm metal against my clammy skin.

Charles would deem our arrangement as more important.

Which it likely was, considering I didn’t think Lucas had it in him to murder me.

Whereas… Charles and his goons would do it in a heartbeat.

“You going to tell me where the money is, Roe?” Charles asked, cocking his head to the side and lacing his fingers together on the table in front of him.

I swallowed hard, trying to stop my body’s persistent tremors “I… I can get it to you soon. I just need an extension.” Charles’s face didn’t change.

He still glared at me with as much intensity as a panther stalking its prey.

I felt the urge to ramble to fill the silence creeping up my throat.

“I just… I got arrested and could go back to jail if I don’t finish what I need to do first. But I promise if you give me a chance, I will get the money to you as soon as I can. ”

Charles slapped his hand on the table. I jumped at the sound and curled in on myself.

A low chuckle came from him. “An extension?” Licking my lips, I hesitated but nodded.

“Well why didn’t you say so?” His laugh became louder.

More forced as his movements stiffened. He swiveled back and forth in his chair a few times before coming to a stop again.

“Please,” I croaked out. My throat as dry as a desert.

Charles stopped laughing. He took me in with his hard gaze. “Sweetheart, you could have just asked me.” The tension in my body relaxed a tad. “And I would have told you, that the Crimson Brotherhood doesn’t give extensions.”

Without a word of instruction, Evan and Rocco grabbed me by my arms and pulled me to my feet.

I struggled, trying to pull myself free from their firm grip.

“No! Please, Charles,” I begged. Tears swam in my eyes, and I was in flight or fight mode.

“ Please!” My screams went unanswered as the two men dragged me from the room.

I kicked my feet and whipped my body back and forth violently.

“No! Charles!” My shouts fell on deaf ears.

“Calm the fuck down and quit your damn screaming. Or I’ll make you fucking stop,” Rocco said. He grabbed a fistful of my hair, and I shrieked at the sharp burn that emanated through my scalp.

Tears of fear and anguish trickled their way down my cheeks, scalding against my skin.

The fight was draining me, but I kept squirming with the hope I could break free.

But then what? Even if I did manage to get away from Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, how the heck would I get off of the property without being thoroughly hunted?

I couldn’t. The answer was plain as day.

I was going to end up tortured and murdered because of my own stupid deals. Who was dumb enough to get involved with the Crimsons? Me. That’s who. I had practically dug my own grave when I agreed to the loan with Charles.

My muscles burned from kicking and tugging, trying to free myself.

I finally gave up, breathing heavily, with my hair sticking to my cheeks from the wetness, and my feet dragged along the floor.

A sob came from me as the men pulled me into a luxurious glass elevator and pressed the button to the basement.

Dread coursed through me all over again.

They were going to lock me away where I would never be found.

“If you’re going to kill me, can you just get it over with now?” I asked. Being held captive and beaten bloody was so much worse than a quick death. At least, then, I could be with my mom.

The elevator moved down at a snail’s pace.

“No can do, princess. Charles wants you to learn your lesson,” Rocco purred with excitement .

“You know, we don’t typically have women in the chamber,” Evan said. “I think I can count on one hand how many we’ve had since I’ve been working with Charles.”

“I can’t wait,” Rocco said. I glanced up at him, and his grin was downright wicked. My stomach twisted.

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened into a darkened hallway. There was a small amount of red light that penetrated the space from a few sconces on the wall. The men released my arms and shoved me forward, ripping my parka from my torso. I almost lost my balance.

“Move it,” Rocco barked.

I trudged through the hall with my arms wrapped tightly around me.

The Tweedles followed closely behind, nearly stepping on the heels of my Converse.

We came to a locked door, and Evan pulled a key from his pocket and opened it.

Light filtered into the hall, and it took a moment for me to really understand what was in front of me.

When my brain caught up with what I was taking in, I swallowed hard.

A room with brick walls and no windows. Cages hung from the ceiling, a variety of knives were on display, rusty saws, iron chains bolted to the wall. Dried blood was splattered along the floor.

I stepped back, ready to run for my life. Damn the Tweedles, I would kill them if I had to. But a bruising grip clutched around my bicep. “No. No!” I screamed. And screamed. Begged and begged. The two of them forced me forward and closed the door behind us with a slam.

Evan and Rocco worked together to restrain me, utilizing the chains linked to the wall to keep me prisoner. The chill of the onyx metal was icy against my wrists. The fight left me, and more tears cascaded down my face.

I wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long while.