Page 55 of Stealing Blinds

Zara peeks her head in through the cracked-open bedroom door. “You can’t hide out forever.”

“You can come in.” I glance up from my laptop screen—a new one since Cash took my old computer and personal phone, replacing them in case there were bugs or cloning apps on either—and I smile at her. “I’m not hiding.”

It’s the truth. Mostly. I’m doing recon. That I’ve already done. But it pays to be thorough. They all had work to do, so there was no reason to be in the way. And the past few days have been a lot. Something shifted last night. In Cash at least. I’m not sure where my head is at.

Bonding with his family was both comforting and scary. It’d been a long time since I’d let anyone in. I enjoyed being part of their chat and plotting to pull one over on Cash. I wholeheartedly believed that he’d done his share of taunting over the years, and it was clear that despite that, their scheming was all in good fun. How much they love him was apparent in how they respected me, allowing me to weigh in and make the call on everything they were doing.

Even the weird Venn diagram was left up to me. I thought it was hilarious, but I was also still convinced that Cash would lose interest in pursuing something more with me once we got here. How long can a guy like that hold out for a faint possibility with a city full of women ready to throw themselves at him?

But now I’m not so sure.

When he told me all bets were off, his eyes burned with steely determination. Maybe my best plan is to let him have me so he moves on. That’s probably not my sound judgment talking. It’s something much lower. His mouth has a way of turning everything upside down.

“No?” Zara challenges as she saunters inside. She’s elegant and regal, like an Old Hollywood actress with her thick mahogany hair and refined style, but there’s still a playful nature to her. “That’s good. Because we’re kidnapping you.”

“We’re?” I question.

In answer, Remy barrels through the door, bounces off every hard surface in sight, narrowly avoiding Cash’s vintage playing card collection, then leaps through the air and lands on the bed. He’s being chased by Bernard, a spunky bulldog. I’ve been told that’s also the grandfatherly concierge’s name. I’m not a hundred percent sure about that. Most of my arrival has been digesting their chaotic life and their luxurious space—they have a Picasso downstairs and countless other pristine pieces. I’m just gripping what I can.

“Hey, buddy.” I set my laptop on the bedside table and ruffle his hair. “You’re kidnapping me?”

“No.” He giggles into the mattress. “Mama, Aunt Tessa, and Aunt Zara are. I’m watching a movie with Daddy.”

“I guess that will do.” I pout my lips at him. “But only if you promise to hang with me another day.”

His hazel eyes twinkle with a hint of Noire mischief before he somersaults to the headboard. “Uncle Cash said you can fly.”

I scrunch my forehead, not sure what he’s referring to. “Well, I did fly here.”

“Aunt Zara can fly too. And flip.”

“He means tumbling,” Zara explains, but she doesn’t get a chance to elaborate.

“Sorry about that.” Mercy wanders in, holding her belly. “He’s faster than me these days.” She frowns, her lips nearly meeting her chin. “So is Bernard.”

“Both Bernards,” Tessa jokes behind her, which earns her a teasing backhand from her pregnant sister-in-law.

Mercy makes her way to the love seat near the wall of windows that offers a view of the city at sunset. And I stuff down the ache in my chest that seeing her so close to her due date evokes. It’s been about two years since I lost the baby, so the pain is duller than it used to be, but it’s still there. Not that I’m not happy for her. She’s so cute with Remy, clearly a wonderful mom.

She’s sweet too. Last night, she stopped by after I took my shower, just to be sure I didn’t need anything, and offered something I wouldn’t have requested. “They’ve never brought women back here. Any of them. Just in case you wondered. I’ve been around—on and off—since they first moved in here.” Her attention flitted to Cash’s bed. “That’s always been the rule.”

It was a concern I hadn’t permitted myself to fret over when I first settled in, but the relief that washed over me was hard to ignore.

None of that should matter. I’m here because I have a job to do, an association I’d like to disentangle from, a New York apartment that’s being watched, and a mother who’s pretending to travel. That’s it.

Staying alive and out of prison should be my only priorities.

Emphasizing that point, my burner buzzes from the bedside table with another attempt from E because I texted him about a change of plans, but I’m not ready to answer him. Just the thought has the room shrinking around me.

On that note, I keep my focus where it needs to be. “I’m not sure I can be kidnapped right now. Axel wanted to meet with me tonight, and it’s probably best that I see if he can help.”

“He’ll definitely be able to help.” Zara flops down on the maroon comforter. “But he’s had a terrible day, so he wants to reschedule for the morning. Which is perfect because we’re headed to the Underground.”

“It’s Big Top night,” Tessa supplies. “Also known as the Noires and their employees playing asinine circus games.”

I shake my head, still baffled at how this resort caters to the gritty underworld while celebrating life with such whimsical entertainment. “This is what you all do on a random weeknight?”

“It was actually scheduled for a week and a half from now, but Cash worked his ass off to move it up.” Mercy tries her damnedest to bite back a smile, unsuccessfully. “Someone might even jump to the conclusion that he was hoping to show off for you.”