Page 38 of Prettiest Little Thief (Band of Thieves #1)

“I’m sure everything is perfectly fine, Davit.

I would really like to get a look at a few more things behind the glass.

” My legs ate up the distance between me and the pawnshop owner as he stomped up the stairs.

He had been adamant he needed to check his apartment from the moment the floor shuddered, but I was able to hold him off for quite some time until he couldn’t stand it any longer.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dialed Jericho’s number, stuffing my cell phone back into my jacket.

Davit sighed. “I’m sure you’re right, but I have a lot of my inventory that needs to be put out that is stored in my apartment.” He shoved his key into the lock and pushed open the door to his studio.

My gaze tracked over everything in disarray in his room. Fuck. I hoped it wasn’t Monroe who left it like this. But Davit glanced around without a word.

“I swear I heard someone up here.” His balding head swiveled as he walked toward the bathroom.

Had Monroe left already?

The closet door cracked open, and immediately I knew my wife was hiding within.

“Go!” I mouthed to her and strode toward Davit in the bathroom, caging him in. “Have you checked behind the door?” I asked him.

“Good idea.”

I saw Monroe tiptoe toward the exit out of the corner of my eye. The floor creaked, but before Davit could turn to investigate, I slid my body in front of him and cleared my throat.

“Find anything?”

“There’s no one here. I could have sworn—”

“Maybe it was something from outside that shook the building. Wouldn’t be the first time.” I shrugged.

Once I was certain Monroe escaped, I allowed Davit to pass and guide me back down the steps.

“Now, what did you want to see?” he asked.

With my hands in my pockets, I walked to the glass case, browsing the jewelry section. Most of it wasn’t worth what it was priced at. “Actually, it’s getting kind of late. I need to get to my wife.”

“Oh. Are you sure there isn’t anything you would like to have a closer look at?” A frown marred the man’s face.

“Maybe another time.” With that, I stalked out of the shop in the direction of the car.

Avram and Jericho both stood outside the car, but no sign of my wife. “Is she okay?” I asked, picking up my pace.

“Yes, Mr. Knight. She’s in the back.” Avram nodded toward the car. “Jericho received your call and went into the shop to make sure she got out okay.”

There wasn’t a moment’s hesitation as I opened the door and slid in next to Monroe. She sat with her head back and eyes closed with the chest on her lap. “Do you know how hard it was not to gag from the smell of that closet?” One eye opened and she inspected me.

I chuckled. “That bad, huh?”

“Oh my god. That man hasn’t done laundry in over a year.” Monroe sat up fully just as my men entered the front seats.

I leaned in and kissed her. “You did amazing, wife.”

“I think I need some snacks or cake for that one.”

“Anything you want.”

“Anything?” She arched an eyebrow.

“Anything.”

“Okay, but after we find out what’s inside this bad boy.” She knocked on the wooden chest in her lap.

***

Monroe

I chewed on my thumbnail as Fox, Lucas, and Evan stood around me. “What if I grabbed the wrong box? It didn’t seem like this would be something your sister’s husband would be willing to give his wife up for.”

“You put too much faith in my brother-in-law.” Lucas quirked a sandy brow at me.

“What if he got rid of Anastasia’s real chest? What will we do then?” I asked.

“Only one way to find out,” Fox chimed in as he pulled out the key necklace and handed it to Lucas.

When Lucas wrapped his fingers around the metal, he glanced down at me. “Do you want to do the honors?” He gestured to the key he held in his hand.

“Little ol’ me?” I fake gasped and pressed a hand to my chest, pretending to be flattered.

The grin on Lucas’s face was one of amusement as he passed off the priceless item to me. I strode to the desk, lifting the key to the lock. Only… I paused.

What if this was a fluke?

What if we had come all this way for Lucas’s mission to be a failure?

Then what?

I took a deep breath. This was the only way to find out and calm the demon of anxiety clawing and climbing inside of me.

I knew what would happen if this was a disaster.

We would get through it. Together. Because even though Lucas and I had this arrangement, and I could leave regardless of the outcome, I would stay by his side.

As his friend. His wife. If he would have me.

I notched the key into the lock, and with slight resistance, turned it.

Click. Click .

The three of them moved closer, the warmth of their bodies seeping into my back as we all leaned forward.

With a creak, I lifted the lid and peered inside.

Stacks of letters were neatly folded, a wax seal broken on each of them. A tanned, leather-bound journal sat next to them. I reached inside—surely, this couldn’t be everything. There must be more at the bottom.

With gentle hands, I pulled the items out and placed them on the table, the light from the window bathing the inside of the box in sunlight.

Glancing inside again, I reached in and withdrew a silver oval locket that was tucked inside a pocket of the velvet trim.

Opening the small latch on the side, a portrait of a man with long dark hair and a thick mustache, collar engulfed in thick furs, was painted on the inside.

“This must be a picture of her lover,” I said.

Fox and Evan, who were both currently sifting through the letters, stopped their inspection and peered over my shoulder.

“Was there anything else?” Evan asked.

I shook my head. “Nothing. This is what Sarah’s husband wants?” A frown creased my brow.

“Obviously, there isn’t much to this other than its stance as a historical object.

The stories of treasure were all fiction.

” Lucas tossed the journal on the desk, running a hand through his hair.

Lines of frustration appeared on his handsome face.

He strode to his wing backed chair and slumped heavily into it.

“Who gives a fuck why Christian wants it. We will take it to him and get my sister.”

A knock came at the closed door, and Jericho popped his head in through the gap. “Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Knight.”

But before he could utter another word, a very annoyed and accented voice rang out.

The door swung open, and Evie stormed into the office.

“Evie, what are you doing here?” I practically skipped in her direction.

We embraced for a moment. “I was bored in your husband’s huge mansion.”

I giggled. “Who wouldn’t be?” I wrinkled my nose and turned to glance at Lucas. His blue gaze was locked on me, a tilted smirk on his face. “So boujie.”

“You were bored in our mansion, Evie,” Lucas said.

She waved a hand. “I took some time off. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the fun stuff you guys are doing without me. And before you ask me how I managed to convince your security team to book me a plane ticket, I annoyed them to death,” Evie said to Lucas .

“They asked me last night if I was okay with you coming along,” he replied.

Evie scoffed. “Damn. I thought my charm had gotten to them. Along with my nagging and singing.”

“Ohhhh. You tortured those poor men with your voice?” I grimaced.

“I am not that terrible of a singer.”

“Do you remember the time you got us kicked out of the karaoke bar?” I asked.

“Don’t you dare tell them that story.” Evie scowled at me, brown eyes ablaze.

“Now I have to hear this story.” Fox crossed his arms over his chest.

“Abso-fucking-utely,” Evan said with a laugh.

Evie pointed a finger at Evan. “You aren’t off my shit list yet.” Then, she turned to me. “If you tell anyone that story, I will never forgive you.”

“But it’s the best story.” I giggled.

Everyone laughed and waited for me to continue. “I can’t break the friendship code. If she doesn’t want me to tell the story, then I’m not going to.” I shook my head.

“That’s fucking right, Roe. That’s why you’re my best friend.” She leaned against me.

“I bet if I get her drunk enough, we could get it out of her.” Fox fake whispered.

“Or she might just show you her singing skills.” My face scrunched up in a cringe.

Evie strode over to Fox and pressed up on her tiptoes, planting a kiss on his cheek. A smug grin crept across his face, and he wrapped her in his arms, not allowing her to remove herself from his embrace. He murmured in Evie’s ear, and she giggled.

I glanced at Lucas, and as our eyes met, there was a silent communication of happiness for our friends. Evie had never been so enraptured by a man before. And while I wasn’t certain about how Fox had been with his exes, there was a feeling that he was just as smitten as Evie.

My heart swelled, flooding perhaps with the same emotion Evie and Fox felt. Because I was pretty sure I was falling for Lucas Knight.