Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Her breath hitches. She tightens her bite on my skin. It hurts, but I like it. My other hand slides against the small of her back, holding her against me.
She releases her teeth and sucks before pulling back. “You think this will work?”
“I think it’s our best chance.”
“And you need those tunnels in the walls.”
“I need a way in.”
She nods like that makes sense. “What are the chances you get us both killed?”
“Medium.” I lean in and kiss her lower lip. “Medium high. Sixty percent?”
“Close to fifty-fifty chance we make it.”
“I guess you could see it that way.”
“Not bad odds.” She kisses me quickly. “You ever gamble with your life before?”
“All the time.” My hand moves down to cup her ass. “But never with yours. If you want to back out, I won’t blame you.”
She chews her lip then kisses mine. “I’ve always wanted to be someone else. I mean… I could go anywhere, right? I could become French.”
“You’d make some cheating, filthy Frenchman very happy.”
Her nose wrinkles with laughter. “Okay, maybe somewhere else. I’ll work on that.”
“In the meantime…” I kiss her harder, holding her tightly. I’m not sure why I do it, what I want, where I’m going with this, only that it’s complicated and fucked. “You’re all mine, aren’t you?”
“We should get back to the party.” She slips out of my grasp. Fuck, I wish she’d come back. I’m aching to push her against the wall and slide between her legs. “I’m sure Annie’s show is over. They’ll notice we’re missing if they haven’t already.”
She’s right, as much as I hate it.
Before we leave, I cast one final look back at the locker covering the hatch. That’s my way in. That’s the secret I’ve been searching for all this time. If I can get in there—if I can follow where it takes me—
There’s a narrow lane through a dark forest, but there’s light on the other side. It’ll take courage and luck to reach it.
But I won’t have to get there alone.
CHAPTER 17
TALIN
Ireally hate to admit it, but I liked sneaking around with Brenden.
Setting aside the terror, it was kind of fun.
I felt proud thinking of using Annie as a distraction. It wasn’t even hard to convince her. She immediately grabbed the microphone like of course this party needed her singing to liven it up, why hadn’t she been asked sooner?
And there was the look on Brenden’s face when he found out that I had what he wanted the whole time.
Pure freaking poetry.
The only problem is, now I want more. He gave me a taste of what it’s like to be him, and I keep thinking about it. The sneaking, the risk, that’s never been me. I follow rules. I’m always watched. I’ve never been able to disappear in my life, not really. While he’s the total opposite: he lives like he’s entirely wrapped in shadow.
I ambush him two days later when he comes back from one of his random trips away from the house. He never says where he’s going and I know better than to ask. I’ll only get that hard glare in return like I’m crazy for even opening my mouth. But this time, I’m patient; I linger near the steps until I hear the front door open, and then I pounce. It’s past ten at night.
“I’m ready for another lesson,” I announce once he’s inside and I’m between him and escape.
He looks around in a mild panic like he might find a waiting open door ready to embrace him. “Must be nice,” he grunts, quickly gathering himself and heading to pour a glass of bourbon. “But it’s late now.”
“It’s always either too late or too early with you. I think now’s a great time.” I stand with hands on hips. If I give him an inch, he’ll pry himself a mile and fade into the distance. I have to corner him, and I can’t back down. “Remember how working together got you what you wanted?”
He takes a long sip. “I recall something like that.”
“You need me.”
“Your job is over.”
“Brenden. I want to learn.” A tickle of desperation forces its way up my throat. “If this works… and I’m on my own… I’ll need something, you know? To fall back on?”
His face gives me nothing and it’s infuriating. “You won’t want to fall back on stealing. Trust me, it’s not a great life.”
“Then show me something else. Damn it, I barely see you. Give me something.”
I don’t know why that seems to work. He lowers his glass down to the island, shoulders hunched briefly, before letting out a frustrated sigh. “Lock picking.”
“Really?” I perk up instantly, grinning massively. “You will?”
“I’ll show you the basics, okay? It’s actually not that hard once you understand.”
“Fantastic! Amazing! What should I do? Do I need to get changed?”
He rubs his nose and gestures with his head. “Come here.” He takes me to the back door and slips out a small black leather satchel. Inside is a series of small, thin, metal objects, each with a differently-shaped end. “These are the picks.” He takes one out and a long metal tool that looks like a miniature crowbar. “This is a tension rod. The goal is to use the pick and the tension rod to move the little tumblers back into position so you can turn the lock and open it.” He opens the back door, locks it, and gets to work with a single pick and a rod under it. His tongue pokes out the side of his mouth as he concentrates, and about thirty seconds later, the lock clunks open.