“Who’s He?”
“No one knows,” she answered. “He’s a mystery, but He holds these heists every year. It’s by invitation only, soonly thieves with a reputation receive one.”
“So, you’re like a big deal?” Cash asked, staring at her with shock and a hint of appreciation.
“This was my first year being invited, but I’m good.”
“Would I know who you are?” he asked. “Or is that another one of your secrets?”
“I didn’t want to lie to you. I was trying to protect you, and I’m sorry I messed everything up.”
“So you say… Would I recognize you?”
“Have you heard of The Rabbit’s Foot?”
“Maybe? Is that you?”
“It is… it was… I don’t know anymore.”
“Okay, so The Rabbit’s Foot gets you inside, but what about me?” Cash asked. “Because I’m not waiting out here by myself.”
“I have an idea for that,” Sable said. “But you’re not going to like it.”
“Name?” the burly guard barked a few minutes later when Sable led the handcuffed Cash to the mansion’s front door.
“The Rabbit’s Foot.” She extended her phone so he could see her invitation.
“You aren’t registered as a team,” the man said. “This invite is for you alone.”
“Yes, but this is The Merveille De L’art’s head of security,” Sable said. “The Ombra put a bounty on him, and I’m here to collect.”
“Very well.” The guard opened the door, and Sable noticed Cash gawk at her. So far, so good.
“Is The Ombra here?”she asked, knowing it was a long shot, but the guardsimplystared at her with a blank expression.“Okay, thanks.” She nodded as she shoved Cash into the grand foyer.
“This place is huge,” Cash whispered. “How are we going to find them?”
“We don’t find them.” Sable gestured to the man in an impeccably tailored suit approaching them. “They find us.”
“The Rabbit’s Foot?” the man asked with a British accent.
“Yes.”
“Follow me.” The man turned and led them through the maze of hallways and up multiple flights of steps until they came to a private waiting room. “Stay here, and The Ombra’s representative will be with you shortly.”
“Thank you.” Sable shoved Cash inside, but once they were alone, she relaxed her hold and unlocked his cuffs. “Even though The Ombra is here delivering the egg under a false name, she’ll send an associate to deal with us.Probablyone who has no idea who shereallyis. They won’t know where Clover is either, so we’ll have to be… convincing.”
“Don’t worry.” Cash stretched his neck and jumped back and forth on the balls of his feet to warm up, and Sable felt guilty for finding the movement unreasonably sexy at such a devastating time. “I’ll be convincing.”
A knock sounded ten minutes later, and unlike the British gentleman who escorted them upstairs with finesse and class, this stranger was a dangerous predator in a suit.
“Our host informed me that you brought The Merveille De L’art head of security in for the bounty.” The man glanced at Cash,who wassitting with his hands behind his back.
“That’s correct,” Sable said.
“I regret to inform you that the prize is no longer available,” the man said. “The bounty was only valid while the heist competition was in play, but since The Ombra has won, there’s no longer a need to eliminate the guard.”
“Really?” Sable stuck out her bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. “That’s too bad. Oh well.” She shrugged. “We aren’t here for the money, anyway.”
