Series: Werewolves of Wall Street Series by Renee Rose
Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78974 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
She crouches down, pretending to pet me, and slips a collar around my neck.
When I look up, she’s holding a bright pink leash. For the disguise, she signs, tucking the leash under her arm. She and her family already used a series of hand signals for the heists and scams they run, so when we became friends, she asked me to teach her some ASL. For the next forty-five minutes, you’re Bubbles.
Bubbles? I cock my ears, giving her a wolfish scowl.
She grins and keeps signing, All part of the plan. My friend Ciara is going to walk you past the museum, and then you know what to do. I left your clothes in the second stall of the men’s bathroom on the first floor. It has an ‘out of order’ sign on it.
I woof to let her know I got it.
Awesome. See you tonight at the usual spot. You ready?
I rise to my feet. I put a little stiffness into my hips, so I’m moving like an older dog and let her lead me up the path. Because of her upbringing, she’s used to shifters. She’s fully human although I can scent a little extra about her. Underneath the scent of light roast coffee, there’s an undertone of Old World incense that makes me want to sneeze but also something more that reminds me of the extra dimensions of Aster’s scent. Maybe she has extra abilities, like Aster. That would explain why she’s such a good thief.
A gorgeous brunette with brown skin a little darker than Esme’s is waiting for us on the path. This must be Ciara. Esme greets her and hands her the leash. I read their lips as Esme explains that I’m Bubbles, and all Ciara needs to do is walk me through the park. “He’s trained to do the rest.”
Ciara cocks an eyebrow, looking skeptical, but nods. She’s wearing a stylish camel-colored coat and cloying perfume that makes my nose twitch, but I get that she’s dolled up to look expensive. She and I are going to be the distraction.
“Have fun.” Esme backs up and pulls a cap over her head. She’s going to get the jewel–she’s done this before.
I never thought I’d have a jewel thief for a friend, but she’s come in handy. I wonder if Ciara helps her with other jobs, too. This is my first time assisting with a heist, but I intend to pull my part off perfectly.
Esme heads off on her own. We wait until she disappears behind the art museum, and then Ciara and I stroll down the wide path through the park. I trot alongside Ciara, letting her camel coat brush against my fur. I let my tongue loll out like I’m a good boy.
When she stops on the path to check her purse, it’s showtime.
I dart past the end of my leash, ripping it from Ciara’s hand. She’s wearing gloves, so it won’t hurt, and this needs to look convincing. Ciara’s supposed to wander around the park, pretending to look for me and then disappear.
Meanwhile, I race through the park and across the road, dodging cars, running like I’m chasing a squirrel. I reach the steps of the museum and tear up them, a wolf on a mission. There’s a man in front of me about to enter the museum. I time things perfectly, so I charge through the door behind him and push him off balance enough to send him and his umbrella flying.
I take a moment to check on the guy I knocked over. He’s red-faced but fine. Just to make sure, I leap onto him and start licking his face.
His mouth opens in a shout as he thrashes and tries to push me off. I’m too heavy.
It gives me a moment to case the space. There’s a metal detector set up in front of me. There’s no line, just three security guards who are whirling around, reacting to the chaos.
Two of them rush over to help pull me off the guy. I wait until they’re almost on me, then whirl, bounding to the gate on the right side of the metal detector. It’s meant to keep humans in, not dogs, so it’s easy enough to leap over it.
And just like that, I’m in. I tear through the museum rooms, startling patrons and knocking over every able-bodied security guard I can find. They’re armed with badges and flashlights, not guns, so it’s perfectly safe. Just good clean fun.
Esme needs about fifteen minutes to get in, get the tiara, and get out. It’s my job to keep all the attention focused on the front of the museum until then. I loop back towards the check-in counter and dive behind the cafe counter, grabbing a croissant as I go. I pause to wolf it down right in front of an entire class of sixth graders who are recording me on their phones. Then my entourage shows up–an assortment of security guards and heroic bystanders who are chasing me. I let them try to corral me, jumping up and down like it’s a game.