“I have other side projects,” I answer the question without really answering. She doesn’t mean to be intrusive, she’s just curious. I want to be fair to her, but the less she knows the better.
She considers me for a moment. “Like what you have me doing.”
“Yeah, little thief.”
She grimaces at the nickname. “If I asked what it was exactly that I’m doing, would you tell me?” She questions hesitantly. Her blue eyes are locked onto mine.
I’ve been careful not to tell her what the Pearce job is, and I’ve made sure my men have done the same. The best way to make sure there are no leaks is to make sure no one has the full plan.
But that was before last night.
Now, I want to tell her, but I’m thinking with my dick. I know better than to be reckless.
It’s Annie though.
Sweet, innocent, Annie. Would she really betray me?
“Not yet.” I settle on. “But I promise I will soon, okay?”
She accepts the answer with a simple nod. “Okay.”
I just hope I’m not lying.
Robert Pearce.
I’ve read everything ever written about the guy, including all the notes from the men I have watching him. I know what time Robert gets up, when he leaves for work, what time he gets home, what slut he’s fucking, and even when he takes a piss. Lucky for me, the guy has a consistent routine.
He’s one of the richest men in New England, and he liked people to know it.
From the Cartier wristwatch to the Armani suits, Robert Pearce screamed wealth. I also have a taste for expensive things, but I like to think the difference between the two of us is that I’m not an asshole, and Robert Pearce most definitely is.
This is the distinction I like to make.
If someone is a good man, I won’t touch him.
But a bad man? An asshole?
He’s fair game.
To some this distinction doesn’t mean a thing, but it helps me sleep at night if I know I’m only taking from men who deserve it.
“Tony’s making progress.” Charlie shares as he enters my office at The Alibi with two to-go cups of coffee.
I graciously accept the coffee, taking a long chug before acknowledging the man.
“Yeah?”
“Yep. He has the girl wrapped around his finger, plans on finishing the deal tonight and then she’ll be ours.”
The girl in question is an employee of Pearce & Co., Liza Smith. She’s a cute, petite girl with long blonde hair who had been working at the store for the past year. Tony is the schmoozer of the crew. He goes in and gets close with one of the girls, finds some dirt on them and then blackmails them into assistance.
Blackmail is always the way to go. Money can only keep people quiet for so long, but if you have something good on them, they’ll never talk. That’s the way I like it.
The only person in my crew who knows all the details of a job, other than me, is Charlie. I like to keep my crew small and the information limited. Even the most trusted men will turn if the Fed’s get their hands on them. They can’t share what they don’t know, so I find it safer to keep everyone at an arm’s reach.
Charlie is the one and only exception. Even Gian doesn’t know the full plan at any given moment. Charlie is just too bright to keep in the dark, plus most of the plans are his.
I’m smart, I can case a joint and find all the weak spots, but it’s Charlie who can put all the pieces together. With only two other men on the crew, made men who I trust, we’re a tight-knit, unbreakable crew. Tony is the sweet talker who breaks into safes as a hobby and Frank is the big guy who enjoys smashing knee caps.