“That’s right,” Gage says since he and Liam can see what I’m holding through my body cam, clipped onto the zipper of my jacket. “Start with that, the way we showed you.”
“On another note,” Liam breaks in, “your man was a full three seconds behind you in the climb. Fucking pansy-ass slacker.”
“Shut your suck, Graves,” Ty volleys with a huffed chuckle. “You’re doing great, baby girl.”
Because of the peaked metal roof, I can’t see him, but his husky voice alone is soothing.
“We can’t all be nimble and spry, old man,” I jeer with far more aloofness than I possess, which wins me a reception of laughter that acts as another salve.
The lock takes a bit longer than I’d prefer—far too many failed attempts—but after a deep, cleansing inhale-exhale cycle, I steady my hands, heighten the tension, and use the finger-sized hook pick to click it open.
“It freaking worked,” I wheeze.
“Of course it did,” Ty coos. “You’ve got this. When you’re ready, pop and lift.”
My throat dries as I place my gloved hands at the window seam. There’s no turning back now. “Ready.”
“I’ve got movement in the office,” Gage interrupts with an elevated anxiousness. “Hold your position.”
“What kind of fucking movement?” Ty snaps, the worry in his tone ringing through the comm loud and clear.
“Not discernable,” Gage explains. “Lights off, but it’s occupied.”
“Let’s have her stick her camera down there and see if we can get a clearer view,” Liam suggests.
“I can do that,” I assure them as I pop and lift the window. It’s on a hinge so it rotates open, and I place a small wedge from my bag at the apex to be certain it doesn’t close. Then, I unpin the camera from my zipper and dangle it through the opening in the direction of the office.
“There’s definitely someone in there,” Liam confirms. “I’ve got a silhouette.”
“Fuck,” Ty hisses. “What the hell are they doing in the dark?”
“Rummaging maybe? Hard to tell. Doesn’t look like legit work,” Liam surmises. “We might be catching a shady employee.”
Gage’s gruff tenor bellows through the comm. “Better than a manager.”
“Do not even fucking suggest that she go down there with someone in that goddamn office.” Ty’s anxiety is so palpable that, somehow, it calms me, my longing to cradle his demons trumping my rickety valor.
“It’s okay,” I warble, wishing so much I could wrap myself around him. “Let’s give it a minute. If it’s someone who shouldn’t be there, they’ll be quick about it.”
“That’s valid,” Liam agrees. “We’ll take five. Sit tight.”
That’s how I find myself perched on a roof in the artsy warehouse district of Las Vegas, adorned as a bandit, and wondering what my mother would say about how my life turned out. Although shewas a woman in love with and scorned by two criminals, so maybe she’d applaud the fact that I’m willing to be one myself instead of merely burying my seeds of hope in one.
Blueberry fields and rain failed her.
Maybe desert skies and duplicity will be a more felicitous destination.
It’s with those thoughts tromping through my mind that Gage’s stoic order startles me. “Cock your weapon, Moonshine.”
The switch to my original call name has my chest tightening as much as his command. No more joking.
“What do you have, Big Guy?” Ty snarls as I flip open the folding brace on my CZ Scorpion Micro with no idea where to aim, my pulse assaulting my temples.
“Don’t know yet. He swung up to the ceiling and fucking disappeared,” Gage barks.
“I’ve got fucking nothing,” Liam hurls right as I sense the presence.
A pitter-patter of light-as-a-feather footwork has me lining up the sights on my pistol.
