Page 100 of Stealing Blinds

Ryker taps his glass. “It’s a strong possibility.”

Zara smiles, attempting to quell my anxiety. “Has E questioned you about anyone else knowing what you’re doing?”

“Yes.” I grab Cash’s bicep. “That’s what had him so on edge the night in Boston. He kept asking me whether someone else was going after the keys or knew I was. I told him there was no one who seemed to.”

Aside from Cash’s outburst, he’s masking his stance on this well. He moves my hand from his arm to his leg, pulling me closer. “And you haven’t spoken to him since?”

“No.”

“That’s good,” Axel commends, drawing us back to him. “I’d like you to tell him you’re dating Cash and it’s serious, so you want to finish this job and get out of the business.”

“He’ll probably question you more about what Cash knows,” Zara interjects, “but you can assure him it’s nothing.”

Jax nods along. “That should make E dismiss any concerns he might have about Noire involvement. If he’s been following you, the way Cash chased you all over the country aligns with you two dating.”

“Agreed.” Maddox gestures to Cash. “Mention your time at the Underground or something similar. It will play up his reputation of not taking things seriously.”

“It won’t diminish concerns completely.” Cash shakes his head. “Surely, he’s heard the rumors about Axel’s involvement with KORT.”

“Yes.” Axel leans back in his chair, lifting his glass for another swig. “But Sylvie hasn’t even been given his identity, let alone the cabal he’s part of. He’d have no reason to suspect I had any more interest in this than I would any other scheme someone in my establishment was working.”

No one argues with that.

“I’ll have to mention the note to explain why I’m staying here. Plus, if he sent it, he’s probably wondering why I haven’t told him about it.” I scan the room, landing on Axel. “You said you have ideas about how I should approach this.”

“Yes,” Axel confirms, distress cloaking him when he clocks Cash’s jaw locking. “I get invited to this retreat every year, and I’m permitted to bring the family. We’re not just your team. We’re your ticket inside.”

“I’m not sure how E will receive that, but it does provide me a much larger window, so he might like it.” I blow out a breath and push my chair back, preparing to leave. “Thank you for being honest about everything. I need to think about it. I’m worried about my mom and sister.”

Axel stands, buttoning his suit jacket. “We’ve already got security on their way to them.”

That makes me laugh. “My mother will spot them and think they’re the Feds.”

His eyes crease with a hint of levity. “I plan to reach out to her personally.”

“She’ll like that.” I smile as I rise, like I’m not intent on rushing back to Cash’s room to call her myself and tell her to make Flora stay with her.

Cash readies to leave with me, but his fingers curl over my hip, holding me in place. “There’s also the matter of Danny Gordon visiting this week.”

“He’s coming here?” My tone is steady, but lined with ice, and that’s before I catch the insinuation. “You think he’s involved with this?”

Axel raises his hand, urging me not to go there. “No, actually. But we do think Peter Fairfax is sending him here.”

“Peter?” Acid sloshes in my stomach. “For …”

“Possibly under the guise of something else, to drive a wedge between you and Cash. From what I heard, he’s been intent on that.” Axel pockets his glasses and gathers the pictures, as if this isn’t a bomb detonating in my world. “There’s no reason to believe that Peter has caught on to what you were doing at his party, but he may have.”

I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. “The only way he’d know for sure if I switched the key is to try it. And he can’t do that without the other two.”

Axel’s sapphires sear into me, intense and concerned. “Another reason completing this is imperative. You will be suspected by him eventually. So, we might as well obtain the information. And use E to help us.”

I stride toward the door with Cash’s hand on the small of my back, turning when I make it to the threshold. “Is there anything else I should know?”

Zara slants her head at Axel, and upon a nod from him, she walks toward me. “Only that the men in Rena’s family were all Navy SEALs. Their training is unmatched. In addition to having us with you for the heist, all four of them can stand by—”

“You’ve already cleared this with them?” Cash barks at Axel, not faulting Zara for delivering the message, and I’m not sure why it matters so much.

“I have not,” Axel clips.