Page 59 of Steal My Heart

Having enough of my theatrics, Nola hops off the bed and scratches on the door.

“Fine. Go getyourheart broken.” I open it, and she strolls out, unbothered.

I, on the other hand, am very muchbothered, even after a bath with my espresso, acting all fancy.

Entering the kitchen, I find Alessandra in her school uniform, finishing her breakfast. “Do I even want to know why there’s a creepy mannequin wearing a suit and covered in jingle bells?”

I clap my hands excitedly, running over to the living area to check it out. “I’ve never lifted a phone from a clipped belt, and I wanted to practice.”

“What are the bells for?” Alessandra wonders.

“Keeps me honest. If I hear a bell, that means the mark heard me.”

“An honest thief. Now there’s an oxymoron.” Maks appears.

Having never had an actual conversation with this man, I’m curious about him. “Can I read your palms?”

“My what?” he says, looking at me like I’ve sprouted three heads.

“You’re a palm reader? I have no idea how you got hooked up with my brother, but you are like the coolest chick ever,” Alessandra tells me.

“Aww, you’re sweet.” I smile at her, turning to Maks. “May I see your hands? Palms up.”

“No,” he says flatly.

“Afraid to learn your fate?” I taunt.

“He is!” Alessandra exclaims.

Maks sighs heavily before turning over both hands.

I mosey over to take a look. “Which is your dominant hand?”

“Right.”

To get a bit of history, I first examine his large left palm. “You survived a major injury that required hospitalization,” I muse, tracing the circle on his life line called an island. The bigger the island, the more serious the injury; his is a pretty big one. “Related to your former career. Military or police?” The last part is an educated guess; Maks gives former man in uniform vibes.

He jerks his hands away from me. “Save your grift for the mayor’s party. Alessandra, I’m driving you to school. Let’s go.”

“Lucky me.” It’s her turn for an eye roll as she grabs her backpack. “I’ll see you later, Remi.”

“Bye,” I tell her.

Alessandra scowls at Maks’ back as she follows him out.

I sidle up the mannequin, smiling at its featureless face and placing my left hand on its wrist. My right goes to unclip the phone, but the melodicjinglehumbles me.

“Oh, it’s on, Mr. Mannequin.”

Angelo

Not only is Remi the most optimistic woman I’ve ever met, she might be the most determined; she’s been practicing with the mannequin all day. I close out the security feed on my phone as I call my broker. “Mr. Calvani.” She answers promptly.

“I want to buy Hotel D’Amico.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize it was on the market.”

“Everything’s on the market for the right price.” Sienna will have no qualms parting ways with her husband’s legacy, given enough zeros.