“Ah, Lily, it’s what an all-access pass means.”
No, that was not what it meant.
“I’m going to break into Detective Benedict Swain’s house.”
Her jaw dropped.
“I want to make sure there is nothing there that can bite me in the ass.”
Okay.She forced her mouth to close.No sense continuing to gape at him.
“You don’t want to commit a B&E with me.”A half-smile.One dimple.“Go back to bed.Have sweet dreams.”
Not happening.“I told you before, I tend to have nightmares.”She crept down two steps.“Are you sure a B&E is wise?”It did not feel wise.
“Absolutely not.It’s probably very unwise.But don’t worry, I won’t get caught.Not like it’s my first time.”
No, she doubted that it was.“Then I’ll bow to your expertise.”She eased down a few more steps.
He climbed up to meet her.“Lily…”
Her chin notched up.“Did I ever tell you about the timeIkilled a man?”
Atlas stiffened.
“No?Oh, that’s right.I haven’t told anyone.Not a single soul.Though I am going to tell you.”She was.She was finally going to confess.To Atlas.But… “Afterwe commit a felony together.Crimes are the ties that bind, aren’t they?So let’s go break into Benedict’s house.”
ChapterSixteen
Outside The LastDrop Bar
Shreveport, Louisiana
Men were idiots.Tonya Johnson had learned that fact long ago.Flash plenty of leg at them, let them see the curve of a boob, and they’d be helpless.So it was an easy enough matter to convince the fancy businessman to step into the dark alley behind the bar with her.All she had to do was flirt a bit.Bat her eyes.Rub one finger down between her breasts and the V of her shirt…let him see just a little bit of side boob.
He was practically drooling.
So he eagerly rushed outside with her when she made the suggestion for them to go enjoy a quieter scene.He kissed her up against the dirty, exterior wall of the bar.His hands ran all over her.And her hands ran all over him, too.Into his coat pocket.To nimbly open his wallet so that she could slide out the cash he’d been flashing around while buying drinks.
While he was panting in her ear and telling her how beautiful she was, she slipped off his watch.Tucked it in her bag.Oh, and those shiny cufflinks?The ones that looked like real gold?She took them, too.
“You are gorgeous,” he was telling her, breath hot.
She rolled her eyes.What else could she snag from the guy?Tonya thought she’d gotten everything she needed.Time was ticking, and her partner needed to show his ass up.Not like she was going to actually screw this idiot even as his dick shoved against her.
“I have a hotel room,” he said.
Yeah, because she knew he was only in town for a few days.Important business.That was what he’d bragged to her about.
Like she gave a damn about his business.
“I’d really prefer to kill you there instead of here.”
Wait…
Tonya brought her hands between them.She started to shove the asshole away from her, then realized she must have misunderstood him.He’d probably said,“I’d really prefer to kiss you there instead of here.” Kiss.Not kill.But he was all panty and raspy, so she’d misunderstood.“Oh, sugar, you can do far more than kiss me.”
His head lifted.He stared down at her, his features mostly in shadow.There was barely any light in that alley.But she’d gotten a good look at him inside The Last Drop.A handsome man.She’d thought so when she first saw him enter the crowded bar.And he’d come straight to her as she tended bar.Hadn’t been interested in the women all around him.Women in their expensive clothes.Women with their own jewels dripping from their skin.Oh, no, he’d been focused on Tonya.
