Unsure exactly what the guy meant, and not really caring, Jay squeezed Ellie’s shoulders. “Come on.”
“We can go out this way,” she said quietly, motioning toward the end of the hall in the opposite direction of the pulsing beat of the club.
After checking the alleyway, they all spilled out into the bright sunlight. The glare was jarring after being in the darker atmosphere, but Jay didn’t release his grip on Ellie.
“Wyatt, Brannon.” He nodded at them, indicating they should walk ahead. He wanted them gone so he could talk to Ellie alone.
She still wouldn’t look at him, was looking anywhere but him in fact. Currently her gaze was on her shoes, three-inch heels that she’d worn once before while they’d made love on the counter in their kitchen. He quickly shoved that thought away.
As the other two men moved toward the parking lot, Jay turned Ellie so that she had to face him. Now that she was safe and he was able to touch her, the anger burning inside him pushed toward the surface. “We talk here or at home. Your choice.”
“Jay…”
“No,” he said savagely. “I come home on a break to find a bullshit note from you, throwing away our relationship like it meant nothing, then I find out from Wyatt that you quit with no notice. You’re going to talk about whatever the hell scared you enough to run. So you get a choice. Here. Or home.”
Shifting from one foot to the other and still not looking at him, she finally whispered, “Home.”
* * * * *
“So your girl is in?” Carlo De Luca spoke in that soft, almost monotone voice, his hawk-like gaze pinned on Kevin.
De Luca wore a three piece suit with a vest, everything no doubt custom made. The man ran one of the biggest criminal enterprises in Vegas and clearly accepted only the best of everything. The property Kevin stood in now was proof enough of that. He actually hadn’t been allowed inside the mansion, but had been escorted around the side of De Luca’s home until they reached a massive, glistening pool and patio area. A couple half naked women were sunbathing, but no one paid them any attention.
Kevin tried not to squirm under that stare. He was in this mess because of his own big mouth and now he’d have to come through. When he’d heard Eleanor was working for one of the richest men in Vegas—hell, probably the country—he’d thought she’d have no problem helping him out.
In his experience people didn’t change who they were. She might not have gone in on any heists with him, but she’d driven the getaway car once. Of course, she hadn’t known about it until afterward, but still, the bitch had known what type of man he was and she’d been fine with it. He just needed to see Ellie in person and convince her to help him—and give him his money. Technically it was De Luca’s and if the man had any inkling that Kevin had stolen from him, he’d be wrapped up in tires right now and burning in the middle of the desert. Fortunately De Luca had no clue that the man who’d stolen his five hundred Gs was sitting on his spotless patio.
Kevin cleared his throat and nodded. “Yeah, she’ll be in.”
“She will be or she is in?” That gaze narrowed again and his voice took on just the slightest inflection. De Luca still spoke low, but something about that tone put Kevin on edge.
Damn, he needed to keep it together. It was just nerves, that was all. He’d been in prison for almost eight years and everything was an adjustment now. Meeting one of De Luca’s men on the inside had been stupid luck. Unlike some dumbasses who bragged about their crimes, Kevin kept his business to himself. All these years he’d never told a soul he’d stolen from De Luca. The others who’d helped him pull off the heist were all dead—because he’d put a bullet in each of their heads. Something Ellie had no clue about. She’d started to pull away from him right before he got pinched that third time so he’d started keeping stuff from her. Not because he’d worried she’d narc on him, but because he hadn’t wanted to scare her off. He was actually surprised she’d kept it—most of it—especially since she’d never come to see him. She’d taken a couple of his collect calls, but that was it. Then she’d gone to college and cut contact completely. “Yeah, she’s in. No doubt. We go way back, she won’t let me down.” He wouldn’t let her. If he had to force her to help, he’d do it.
De Luca flicked a glance over Kevin’s shoulder and made a subtle gesture with his hand. A moment later, Kevin felt a strong hand on his shoulder. Looking up he found one of De Luca’s nameless men staring at him. He jerked his chin toward the side of the house. “Time to go.”
Nodding, Kevin stood. “Thanks for meeting with me, Mr. De Luca.” The mobster wasn’t even paying attention to him as one of the half naked women who’d been swimming in his pool now perched on his lap.
Gritting his teeth, struggling not to show his annoyance, Kevin followed the thug around the side of the house. One day he’d own something exactly like this. Hell, maybe he’d own this very property. De Luca’s man escorted Kevin to his car without a word. Seconds after he’d driven off the property, the iron gate blocking off the driveway shut behind him. A moment after that, his phone rang.
When he saw Tadeo’s number on the screen, he frowned. Tadeo was one of De Luca’s guys. They’d met on the inside and while Kevin hadn’t exactly trusted anyone, he and Tadeo had looked out for each other. Kevin had never been officially accepted as part of the other man’s crew, but those guys had been all right with him at least. But his friend hadn’t been allowed to the meeting with De Luca today. The boss had said he wanted to speak to Kevin alone.
He picked up on the second ring. “Hey.”
“You’re in for the job,” Tadeo said.
Kevin didn’t bother to hide his surprise with his friend. “You sure? He barely said two words to me.”
“I’m sure. If he hadn’t liked you, you’d be dead. One of his guards texted me that the job is a go. He’s giving you two days to get a plan together then he wants another sit down. A real one. You’ll go over the infiltration step by step, leaving nothing to chance. And…you know he’ll kill the girl when the job’s over.”
Kevin frowned. “You never said anything about that.”
There was a long moment of silence before Tadeo spoke again. “The inside person always dies. It has to happen this way.”
He didn’t like it, but didn’t push it. “Fine, whatever. The crew will be small and I want you on it for the break-in.”
“I’m in,” Tadeo said without hesitation.
“Talk to you in a few.” Now he had to get serious about pulling this off. And that meant he had to get Ellie’s cooperation. This could be his in with De Luca and given time, he planned to take over the man’s entire operation. He’d already stolen from him once. The only piece missing now was Ellie.
In the end, he’d get her to cooperate. He always had before. This time he might have to use a little violent persuasion.
Chapter 5
Ellie felt as if she was going to her execution as she stepped inside their home. Jay had followed her very closely the entire drive back, not that she blamed him. It had taken all her convincing just to let her drive. But in the end, he hadn’t wanted her car left at Teaser’s so he’d relented.
She’d acted stupid and rash this morning, but she still didn’t regret her decision. She didn’t want to bring Jay into this mess. It was too dangerous. She didn’t care how well trained he was, the man wasn’t bulletproof. Unfortunately she knew she didn’t have a choice now.
As he stepped inside behind her, he shut the door with more force than necessary before locking it and setting the alarm. When he turned to her, his expression was fierce, his green eyes glittering with anger. “Take off Wyatt’s jacket,” he growled.
“What?” That was the last thing she’d expected him to say.
“I don’t like seeing you in another man’s clothing.” His words were as raw and real as the pain etched on his face.
Jay had always been a little dominant, something she found she enjoyed, but this was different. It didn’t s
care her, but this possessive streak was new. She slid the jacket off, hiding a wince of pain as she moved her arms. The action reminded her of her tender ribs.
Of course Jay didn’t miss it. His expression immediately softened as he took the jacket and hung it on the pegged rack next to the door. “Let’s go to the kitchen.”
His concern made her feel even worse for what she’d done. She hated this void she’d created between them and knew there wouldn’t be an easy fix. Or a fix at all. She’d made her choice and she expected Jay would want to help her because that’s simply the kind of man he was, but now that she’d run out on him he wouldn’t want her in his life anymore. Even if he could somehow get past her running, he wouldn’t want her after she told him about her past. This was another reason she’d wanted to leave. She couldn’t face rejection and worse, disgust, from the only man she’d ever loved.