“Just don’t get cocky and do something stupid, that’s all I’m asking.I know what you’re like when you’re bored on a job.”
“Nah, is fine.I have vodka riding on this.”
There was a gusty sigh.“At least you’re focused.If for the wrong reasons.Okay, fine.Go.”
Ivan chortled and put the phone in his pocket.
Ross’s evil thought from earlier popped back up and he came in closer to ask in a low tone, “Eidolon.There’s a little favor I want to ask.”
“Sure.”Ivan’s head canted in question.
“This whole debacle started because a certain man wrote a love letter that hereallydoesn’t want his crush to find out about.And he almost broke into the building in broad daylight to get it back.”
Ivan reeled as if being slapped across the face.“That hurts my soul.So stupid!”
“I know.And the backlash would have hit us.I’d really love to have a picture of that letter to maybe use for a little comeuppance.When you find the letter written by Séverin, take a quick pic and text it to me?”
Ivan put a warm hand on his shoulder.“My friend, you are evil.I appreciate this quality in you.I’ll do it.”
Ross grinned back at him, his expression rather reminiscent of Maleficent.“Thanks ever so much.”
Ivan chortled before reaching back into the car for both bedsheet and folder.He gave Glenn and Ross a wave.“Be back out shortly.Glenn, stay near door, da?That way I can hand things over to you.”
“Of course,” Glenn assured him.He did cast Ross a look.“You’re not really going to do that, are you?”
“I really, really am.”
Glenn just shook his head and went for the door.
Ross stayed planted near the car.He’d have to intercept the other vampires when they got here and fill them in on what was happening.As he waited, he tried to mentally unpack what he’d just overheard.And somewhat failed.But the upside to it all was, apparently there was another man who had noticed what was going on here and was overseeing it.And he sounded more responsible than the two currently on the job.Which was a relief to Ross, really.
Ivan opened the back door and then ghosted in.There was no other word for it.The man went from being a bouncing Tigger on a sugar high, to this quiet man who didn’t make a whisper of sound as he walked.He slid right in, bedsheet held at the ready like a stage magician ready to throw it over the table for his next trick.
Wait.Wait, he really was using the bedsheet to defeat the motion sensors?No way.Ross kept expecting the alarm to trigger, but dead silence reigned.Ross waited, heartbeat pounding, but the man was back out again in minutes with a box of things he handed over to Glenn.
Wow, he was fast.Ross hadn’t expected that kind of efficiency, but maybe he should have.Thieves couldn’t afford to lollygag.
Glenn sped the box over to the SUV, sat it in the back of the open trunk, then headed for the door again.As he did, Jarek and his two minions pulled up.
Ross waved them over.“Eidolon’s already pulled a few things out.Come over, double-check this is all yours.”
“Already?”Jarek responded in some surprise.He obediently came closer, but he cast a glance at the open door as he moved.“That’s impressive.You’ve only been here, what?Five minutes?”
“About that.The man’s apparently as good as Glenn proclaimed.”
Séverin promptly dug into the box, exclaiming happily, “My journal!”
So Eidolon had grabbed at least some of the right things, good.Ross hoped this was an auspicious beginning and meant they could extract what they needed to and be long gone before the cops showed up.
And yes, he did knock on wood and cross his fingers when just even thinking that.Because Fate routinely liked to fuck him over, and tonight especially, he wanted to take no chances.
His phone pinged and he checked it for a text.Ivan had sent him three images, all clearly the letter Séverin was worried about.
And addressed to Jarek.
Oh-hoooo.No wonder Séverin was so uptight about the letter not being shown to anyone.Ross mentally cackled.Oh, what he could do with this.
Without any compunction whatsoever, he immediately forwarded the images on to Jarek.The other clan leader paused in overseeing his two vampires, pulling out his phone and checking it.Ross watched as his eyebrows steadily rose, reading through the letter.Then his eyes shot to Séverin in stunned realization.
