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“But you had to give up everything you are.”

“So what?” she says. “I reinvented myself.”

“But you shouldn’t change for someone else—“ I say. “It’s—you once said you won’t change for anyone—and now?—“

“Shaw,” she says sternly. “I changed because I wanted to change.”

“But—“

“It was my decision.”

“But—“ I begin, but she interrupts me again.

“I want to be here, end of discussion. Stop guilt-tripping yourself for my decision.”

“But I made you?—”

“Shaw, respectfully, I am Avery Zayne. No one makes me do anything I don’t want.”

I have to laugh.

She has to laugh.

“Also,” she says with a chuckle as she sits back on her seat, “it’s quite refreshing being on the other side of the law here and there. Now, drive, we have laws to break.”

I give her one last look before I start the motor.

Our eyes meet.

And I know this will be forever.

Even if she drives me nuts every day.

Avery

Playlist: Ooh Ahh (My Life Be Like) – Grits, TobyMac

“What the hell are you doing?” Shaw asks as I sniff the painting.

“Checking if it’s fake,” I say.

“You can smell that?”

“Yes, because I am that good,” I say, and she rolls her eyes.

“Smells real,” I say.

I can’t tell if I have felt any more alive than right now, as I cover the most valuable canvas in the world and slip it into its transportation bag with the woman I love by my side. The woman I thought would never do this heist with me, but apparently, I had the best possible influence on her.

“Here,” I say and throw it at her.

“Will you stop throwing that thing around!”

“Relax, babe,” I say, knowing she won’t.

“Relax!” she shouts and walks up and down as I fumble in my pocket. “We broke into a fucking penthouse and are stealing the most notable painting there is!”

“Yes, and?” I ask her, solely for the purpose of teasing her.