“You knew we wouldn’t be caught.”
I shrug. “More like I don’t give a fuck if we are.”
“Ah,” she says softly, almost to herself. “Maybe I need more of that in my life.”
“Doesn’t everybody?”
I don’t tell her what I really think, that what I need more of isherin my life.
We have people to talk to, plans to lay, and information to find out.
We step back into the main foyer.
“It’s a small gathering tonight,” I tell her. “Tomorrow, we’ll have hundreds. So this works out well because it’ll be easy to talk to my cousin.”
“Hundreds?” she whispers. Maybe we’ve finally found something Nicolette is afraid of.
“Hundreds don’t matter,” I whisper to her. “All you need to do is focus on me and behave yourself.”
Her eyes sparkle at me. “You say that as if it’s so easy.”
CHAPTER TEN
Nicolette
I supposeI should be afraid, or scared, or at the very least,apprehensive.
But I’m not. I feel as if I’ve stepped into a glamor magazine. I still can hardly wrap my brain aroundtwo million dollars.
I’m not proud of the fact that there are alotof things I’d do for much less than that, but it’s true. I need this money, and it isn’t just about me, either.
Savannah needs me. She needs our money. If I only stay this course, and do what I promise, I can improve our futureforever.
Sleep with one of the sexiest guys I’ve ever met? Not too difficult.
Make his family believe we meet innocently and we’re a couple? Piece of cake.
Steal an artifact worth two hundred and fifty million euros as Fabien’s accomplice? Well, now we’re complicating things, butevery time I take a new client, I become whoever they want me to be.
I can do this.
The thought of actually being an accomplice in a crime that could send me to jail for years… nah, I won’t think about that.
Think of Savannah.My younger sister with the ready grin and softest heart, who depends on me for everything, deserves a home she can call her own. A safe car to drive. Clothes that don’t have holes, that weren’t bought at a thrift store or donated to a shelter.
Savannah likely hides much of what she does to survive—as do I—but I know she needs this money.
I imagine I’ve been hired to play a role. No more, no less.
He doesn’t love me, but we canpretendto be lovers.
I don’t love him, but I can feign affection and fondness, even passion.
I’m not a thief, but I can pretend to be savvy and professional.
I repeat to myself,I can do a lot for two million dollars.
His family home takes my breath away. It isn’t just the fastidious attention to detail from the thick, plush carpet beneath our feet to the decadent bouquets of flowers on every surface, the abundance of staff inside and on the grounds, or the exquisite artwork everywhere I look. There’s a certainairabout the place that speaks of comfort and luxury.
