Page 7 of Third Crime’s A Charm (Princes Take New York #3)

“Thank you. There’s a path around the neighbor’s house that leads to the beach. I’ll show you after we’ve had some refreshments.”

Matteo glared suspiciously. “What’s the catch?” he asked and Truman pushed out a hard breath.

“Donna. Although, she’s more of a…an inconvenience. But a good one.”

“Who’s Donna?”

“My housekeeper,” Truman said, sighing with dread. “She’s a wonderful old girl and took better care of me than my mother but she’s nosy and she never stops talking. Be ready for her to ask about that eye and your lip.”

“That doesn’t sound so bad but are you sure it’s a good idea, her being here with us?”

Truman shook his head. “She lives here, Matteo. She used to take care of us in Chicago but she moved here after I went to college. Donna’s pretty much retired, except when I visit. This is where I always go when I want to get away and I’ve brought friends in the past.”

“Including flings and friends you’re blackmailing?” Matteo asked, making Truman roll his eyes.

“I don’t have flings and I don’t date but I have brought…

a few men. Donna gives me a hard time and tells everyone I’ll never settle down because I’m a workaholic,” he said, his nose wrinkling as he glanced over his shoulder at the house.

“She’ll be delighted if she thinks we’re serious and I think we can use this to our advantage. ”

“You don’t think it’s mean, playing with her emotions?” Matteo asked and Truman groaned as he scrubbed the back of his hair.

“It is but she’ll enjoy having you here and get a kick out of busting my balls.

I’ll tell her it was my fault when we split up and she can bust my balls about that too for the rest of my life.

I’m willing to live with that because bringing you makes sense and we can make serious waves if we act like a couple here. ”

Matteo realized why Truman was worried and shot him a hard glare. “Starting now with Donna? We have to pretend inside and all the time?” he verified, then swore when Truman nodded.

“She does turn in early and has her own suite overlooking the garden. It’s practically a separate house and she’s a very heavy sleeper.

You can be as hostile and distant as you want after dinner,” Truman suggested helpfully.

“We’re safe to talk in my room. We can do most of our planning at night and take long walks on the beach during the day.

No one can hear us out there and Donna won’t think anything’s up. ”

“I honestly think I hate you,” Matteo mused, rubbing his chin. “Is it too much to hope you sleep in a bunk bed?”

Truman blinked back at him. “I’m almost fifty. There are guest rooms but Donna would think it was weird if we’re here for a romantic getaway.”

“Fine.” Matteo seethed for a moment, then smiled. “You’re going to owe me. A legal favor,” he specified before getting out and whistling loudly. “Truman, it’s stunning!” he said as he shielded his eyes and scanned around him. “I can’t wait to see the beach.”

The front door opened and Truman’s largest henchman, Neville, hurried to the car to get “their” luggage.

Matteo had borrowed a white shirt, khakis, and a pair of leather flip flops.

He and Truman were close enough in size that Matteo could roll up the sleeves and cuff the bottom of the pants so they passed as his.

He looked casual and comfortable enough for a road trip or a walk on the beach but a stylist had been given his sizes and preferences and was delivering a week’s worth of clothes on Monday.

“Hey, boss,” Neville mumbled to Truman, then offered Matteo a half nod. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. von Hessen. Welcome to Southampton,” he said in his most polite grumble.

Matteo flashed him a bright smile. “Always a pleasure. Except when you’re wrecking my face,” he added under his breath, making Truman chuckle as he held out a hand to Matteo.

“Let’s get something cold to drink and I’ll give you a tour,” he announced before waving at a tall, older woman waiting inside the front door.

Her silver hair was pulled into a tidy bun and she was wearing a loose floral dress, immediately reminding Matteo of his grandmother and her sisters.

Matteo took Truman’s hand and followed him across a lush, green lawn.

“What a wonderful surprise!” she said as she kissed Truman’s cheek. “Who do we have here?”

A hand slid around Matteo’s hip and he was pulled against Truman’s side. “Donna, this is Prince Matteo von Hessen. His older brother is the Margrave of Hessen,” he informed her and her eyes were huge as she shook Matteo’s hand.

“Oh! Should I curtsy?” she asked and made an attempt but Matteo stopped her.

“Please don’t!” he insisted and pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek. “My family is not that important and the title is a gimmick for tourism.”

“Still! A prince!” She gave Truman an impressed look. “But what happened to his face?”

“This?” Matteo laughed and swatted dismissively. “I was jumped by some petty thugs but I got the better of them,” he said, smirking at Neville as he came in with the bags. “It had nothing to do with Truman.” Because it didn’t and Matteo would remind Truman every chance he could.

“You poor thing! Come through to the kitchen and I’ll get you a glass of iced tea and we’ll put a cold compress on it.”

“It’s fine now,” Matteo reassured her but allowed Donna to steal him from Truman. “He didn’t tell me you were an angel.”

“We’re hiding here until it heals,” Truman called after them. “Because he doesn’t want everyone making a fuss.”

Matteo hushed him, then smiled at Donna. “I don’t mind if you fuss a little. He keeps telling me it doesn’t look that bad but I feel like a clown when I go out.”

“It doesn’t look bad. You’re still as handsome as sin but now you look like you could be trouble,” she said, making Matteo laugh.

“That’s why I got myself an attorney.”

They were practically best friends by the time she poured him that glass of tea and Matteo understood why the beach house was Truman’s first choice for a getaway.

Donna was nosy and overbearing but she loved Truman like a son and was probably the sole source of warmth and affection in his world.

She was also a pleasure to behold because she wasn’t in awe of Truman or afraid of him but Matteo was anxious to learn who his target was and to begin planning.

“You promised me a walk on the beach,” Matteo said to Truman and gestured at the patio doors. “It’s been ages since I’ve felt the sand between my toes.”

As expected, Truman’s gaze flicked to Matteo’s feet and he nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure you’re ready.” He was probably referring to the heist but a red rash spread up his neck.

“Oh, I’m ready,” Matteo purred as he offered his arm.

Once outside, Truman led Matteo down the deck’s steps and past the pool.

“Is this heated?” Matteo asked, turning and walking backwards to scout for other safe places to conspire.

“It is.”

“That looks cozy!” Matteo nodded at the double hammock on the other side of the pool.

There was plenty of shade and they wouldn’t be overheard unless they shouted.

The property sat on almost two perfectly manicured acres, surrounded by tall cypress and pine trees.

They wandered down a grassy path and past another palatial “cottage,” then came out on a pristine, abandoned beach.

Matteo could see two more houses in the distance, but they had the beach to themselves at the moment.

Matteo left his flip flops in the grass and gasped happily as his feet sank into the cool sand. “You were right: this is much better than hiding in the city.”

“I’m glad you think so.” Truman took Matteo’s hand again as he set off.

That would take some getting used to and Matteo wondered if they were also there to practice away from far more perceptive eyes.

“Donna is a complication but I can work around her.” Matteo wasn’t as upset about their arrangements and would put up with Truman’s presence to keep her happy.

“Who’s the target and how long do I have to prepare? ” he asked, cutting to the chase.

“You have to be sure you’re in.” Truman halted them and reached for Matteo’s cheek.

He flinched and started to pull back but Truman clicked his teeth.

“A lot of people would kill for this information and I can’t let you back out once I tell you.

I’ve kept this secret to myself for weeks.

Neville knows who we’re hitting but I haven’t told him what we’re taking and I tell Neville everything.

” He held Matteo’s gaze, waiting to make sure he understood.

“You don’t trust him with this?”

“I trust Neville with my life but I could put him in a lot of danger if anyone even suspected that I know where that star is. I wouldn’t have brought you here and gone to this much trouble if the stakes weren’t so high.

There’s a million euro reward and you can get away with damn near anything if you’ve got that star in your pocket. ”

“Fine. I’m in,” Matteo said, then stepped into Truman. “A handshake would look strange, ja?”

Truman nodded, lowering his head so Matteo could press their lips together.

He didn’t open his mouth and kept the contact brief but remained close so Truman could reveal the name.

“Martin Lonsdale has it.” Truman’s head tilted as his hand curved around Matteo’s neck.

“I can take you home to Chicago to meet my mother and we can hit him at his place. Or we can wait and do it here in three weeks. He rarely leaves his house but he’s coming to New York—to Manhattan—to negotiate a plea deal.

There’s going to be a birthday party for him at the St. Regis the Saturday before we meet with the Justice Department.

He’s turning seventy-five and wants a big send off. ”

“A birthday party? That’s brave for a man as hated as Martin Lonsdale. Especially if he’s about to cut a deal.”

“I suggested it. I can’t work in Chicago right now so we needed a good excuse for him to come to New York.

But Marty will be safe at the party. He’ll have extra security and the guest list is all aging gangsters, geriatric celebrities, and crooked politicians.

The hotel will be swarming with federal agents. ”

“Only a fool would try something,” Matteo agreed.

“You’re sure he’ll have the star with him?

” he asked and Truman nodded, causing their lips to brush.

The urge to throw an arm around Truman and taste his lips and tongue was strong but Matteo remembered how mortified he was when Neville and Carmine caught him in the study and he realized he’d been betrayed.

The waves were loud and Matteo could feel the cold spray against his cheek but he heard Truman swallow hard and the hand around his neck shook.

Truman licked his lips and let out a hot, strained huff.

“He’s kept it secret and hidden in a vault in his basement but he won’t travel without it, in case he’s arrested. ”

“What kind of vault?” Matteo asked quickly. Getting into Lonsdale’s basement would be tricky and it would be a waste of Matteo’s time if he got down there and couldn’t open it.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen it but it’s an old bank vault. I can get you a model name and number and even pictures. I have men inside Lonsdale’s team and can get one of them down there, but it’ll take a few days,” Truman said, confirming Matteo’s suspicions.

“Here would be easier but we’ll be cutting it close if we only have a weekend to work with. Let me think and we’ll talk more about it later, when we’re alone.”

“Agreed,” Truman said as he raised his head. The muscle in his jaw twitched and his chest heaved but Truman quickly regrouped. He smiled as he took Matteo’s hand and was charming and playful as they made their way back to the house.

His ability to remain composed and mask his emotions boded well for their heist. Matteo worked alone because he couldn’t put his faith in another person’s talents or nerve.

He had too much to lose if his partner choked or cracked under pressure—during the job and after.

Heists weren’t hard to plan and the crime itself was just the beginning.

The weeks and months afterwards were the true challenge and when most criminals were caught.

Matteo didn’t carry his phone when he was doing anything illegal, he didn’t throw money around after a job, and he never discussed what he was doing with anyone.

Not even the people he handed his haul to.

Matteo had carefully selected individuals who could have jewelry taken apart and redesigned and serial numbers on gems and watches changed.

They could safely sell them and nothing could be traced back to Matteo because they never asked his name or where he was getting his goods.

None of those contacts had any reason to turn on Matteo but he wouldn’t risk getting anyone else into trouble.

Having a partner also meant trusting them to be as disciplined as Matteo was.

He was conspicuous about not having or caring about money and living off of friends and family.

Matteo spent his allowance on his wardrobe and his face.

But nothing too extravagant and only as expected for a minor royal.

Nothing about his lifestyle changed, no matter what Matteo took.

A flashy car, a trip, or mountains of cocaine would be a dead giveaway.

But there wasn’t much of a chance that Truman’s behavior would change and he had the most to lose if the secret got out. Matteo was reassured, but deep down, he didn’t like how easy it was for Truman to control his emotions. Or that he might be the better actor.

We’ll see about that.