“Sable, we don’t have time.”
“I drive fast, sowe can spare five minutes,” she said, settling before him to force him to meet her gaze. “But I need you to hear this. You’re allowed to hate me, and if you never want to see me again after tonight, I’ll understand, but you need to know that you were never part of the con. Yes, I am a thief, and yes, I planned to steal the egg. There’s an international competition happening right now, and the prize money is more than you can imagine. I came here to win, but then I met you and your son. Every moment with you both was real and true. You two make me happier thanI’ve ever been, and I love you.”
“Don’t say that,” Cash growled, his entire body caving forward as if he were breaking apart. “Don’t fucking say that.”
“Cash, I love you.” Sable stepped closer and cupped his jaw. “I love you so much that I think you might be my soulmate, and what’s more, I love your son.”
Cash tried to push Sable away. He couldn’t bear to hear her confession. It was too cruel, too tempting. When she said those three beautiful words, he wanted to believe her, but he’d loved a thief once before. He was still paying the price for the first woman’s sins. What damage would this second one inflict on him?
“There’s this tugging on my heart whenever you and Clover are around, and I love you both.” Sable fought his rejection and rested her forehead on his. “I’m not lying about my emotions. I want to be with you.”
“Then whythe hellwere you seconds away from stealing the egg?”
“Because The Ombra placed a bounty on your head.”
Cash jerked backward, pushing her hands away, and this time she relented and stepped back to give him space.
“I didn’t know she was Clover’s mother,” she continued. “The Ombra has always been a mystery, and we’reone ofthe few people who’ve seen her face and lived. She’s dangerous, and Iwas going toquitto competitionuntil I learned she was coming for the egg. Iactuallyhelped you catch a few of the thieves.”
“You what?” Cash’s memory flickered to the night when that thief had been arrested in front of his house. Sable had arrived shortly after the police left, and he assumed it was a coincidence, but now he wasn’t sure.
“I was the reason you caught quite a few thieves,” she said. “I didn’t want to get you fired. I wanted to stay with you, but then The Ombra put a price on your head. She offered a reward to anyone who took you out during the heist, so I did the only thing I could to save your life. I forced myself to steal the egg and end the game so the bounty would no longer be valid.”
“Convenient.” Cash scoffed. He longed to believe her, but history had taught him that he was awful at choosing partners. She looked on the verge of tears, and he wanted tobothhug her and turn his back on her. Why was this so hard? Why did he have to love her?
“I realize this sounds like a copout, and I understand if you hate me, but I needed to tell you the truth,” Sable said. “I care about you and Clover, and I didn’t know what else to do. Everything between us was real, though, and no matter what you think of me, you were never part of a con. I love you. So much so that I was ready to give up who I am to be with you because I think you’re my soulmate.”
“Humans and Fae can’t be soulmates,” he said, but he couldn’t meet her gaze because the words somehow felt like a lie. They were soulmates. He was just too pissed at her betrayal to admit it. She should have told him about the competition. Hecould’ve helped her. He would have forgiven her, but instead, she chose to lie.
“Actually, I’m—” Sable started.
“You said your piece,” Cash cut her off. He wasn’t sure he should forgive her. A lying thief shouldn’t be around his son, but if she didn’t stop talking, he would forget why he was livid and take her back on the spot. He couldn’t be foolish like that. Not after seeing what women in this business were capable of. It was bad enough that Clover had been kidnapped by hisownmother. The boy didn’t need his dad’s girlfriend living illegally, too.
“Let’s just go rescue Clover.” Cash stared at the bike with meaning. He couldn’t look at Sable anymore. She was too beautiful, and he wanted to trust she loved him. He wanted her to come home with him. To become a part of his family, but actions spoke louder than words, and so far, her actions had hurt him.
“Okay.” She slid onto the motorcycle and started the engine. “Ireallydo love you, though, and I’ll get your son back to prove it.”
Sable eased the motorcycle into the bushes and arranged the surrounding branches to hide it from view. They’d arrived at a sprawling and secluded mansion teaming with security, and seeing the firepower present, Sable felt the familiar tug of doubt in her gut. Suddenly, her plan seemed like a suicide mission.
“I don’t know if He’s in there, but this is where the winner has to deliver the egg,” she said. “It must be presented in person, and I can guarantee you that Clover here with The Ombra.”
“What if he isn’t?” Cash asked.
“He is. She’s a thief. Thieves don’t leave their stolen goods behind for others to confiscate. And if he isn’t here, I’ll beat the answer out of her.”
“You’re human, and she’s Fae,” Cash said. “She’ll kill you before you get in your first punch.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”
“Clearly.”
“Like I have older brothers,” she said, ignoring his comment. She couldn’t blame him. He’d learned his ex was a dangerous criminal. His son had been kidnapped. His girlfriend was a thief, and he’d been shot in the chest. This was not his night.
“I know how to throw a punch,” she continued. “Plus, The Ombra is a mystery, but she didn’t know I was in the exhibit. She thinks she has you by the balls because she has your son, but I’m a different story. She can’t control me with Clover… Okay, she can.” Sable held out a placating hand when Cash bristled at her dismissal of his son. “I just meant that she doesn’t realize the boy is important to me. That gives us an edge, especially since no one knows who she is. Her anonymity protects her, and thieves don’t entrust our stolen goods with others. Trust me, she’s here. She’s going to deliver the egg herself but under a guise. My guess is she’ll play The Ombra’s assistant or something, and she will shit herself when I reveal who she is. The Ombra is a legendary thief, but she is without honor. She’s pissed off a lot of people.”
“You can say that again,” Cash said. “So, how are we getting in there?”
“I have my invite.” Sable pulled out her phone and opened the invitation. “He’ll let me in.”
