Page 22 of Prettiest Little Thief (Band of Thieves #1)

For the next two weeks, Lucas waited on me while I healed from my injuries. The change in his behavior led me to the moment I was in. I decided I was going to accept his offer for marriage in return for protection and the payoff to the Crimsons. And I would assist in the retrieval of the chest.

He still had not disclosed why he needed it so badly, but maybe if I put that as a stipulation, I could understand why.

I shimmied myself into a pair of jeans and a casual T-shirt with an alien on it, having done my makeup for the first time in what felt like forever. Then I made my trek through the house to find Lucas.

Voices flowed through the downstairs as I descended the steps. Lucas and… and a woman.

With soft footsteps, I crept closer to the office and strained my hearing.

“You cannot possibly think marrying a stranger will make things better, Lucas.”

“I don’t remember asking for your input. Since when have I given a fuck about what you or anyone else thinks?” he responded.

She laughed humorlessly. “You’ll care when the business takes a shit because you married a criminal. ”

“Half of my clientele are felons, Gianna.”

“And the other half? Fucking cops. You’re setting yourself up for failure,” Gianna replied, frustration evident.

This was not what I had expected to hear today. My heart skipped a beat at the realization that I could be the downfall of Knight Technologies by Lucas marrying me.

I snuck a peek around the corner with a lump in my throat and fell back into my hiding spot. A tall brunette paced in front of Lucas’s desk, all legs and sex appeal. Her flared hips and cinched waist sent my stomach into somersaults and bile rising.

Is she trying to convince him to marry her ?

No, that wouldn’t make sense. Would it?

“Gianna, calm the fuck down. You don’t know a damn thing about business. Too busy rolling in your father’s money to work a day in your life.”

“Hey, I was lucky to be born into such a rich family. What the fuck do you even know about Monroe Whitlock?” she scoffed, her footfalls across the floor stalling.

But Lucas didn’t speak. He stayed silent, and it only caused me to want to hurl.

Instead of staying to listen in embarrassment, I ran back to the room, stuffed a few things in a bag, and left out the back door.