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As beautiful as it is here, I can’t enjoy it. Not really.
I’m constantly checking over my shoulder for cops. An even more paranoid part of my brain is on the lookout for Favreaux’s men. Who knows if that son of a bitch is having us tailed? He said himself he has friends in high places. There’s no telling how far he’s able to reach.
“Gabriel, look!”
My heart shoots up into my throat when I hear Raquel call for me. When I see her by a stall, giggling at the toys the vendor has on display, I quickly relax.
False alarm. We’re safe.
She’s safe.
“Isn’t it adorable?” Raquel asks, picking up a hand-carved ballerina. It sits atop a wide music box, spinning around on a single pointe shoe. “I bet Odette would love this.”
I swallow. “Yes, I bet she would.”
She forks over a handful of Swiss francs and the vendor packs the toy carefully in a box full of tissue paper. He even goes so far as to tie it off with a lovely red ribbon. Once it’s in Raquel’s possession, she hands it to me with a big smile. “Here. Tell her it’s from Santa.”
“You really didn’t have to do that,” I protest.
“Oh, stop it. It’s the least I can do for all your help.” She turns, already skipping off to the next vendor.
This all feels very… domestic. Like we aren’t about to embark on one of the most complicated heists of the century. There’s so much at stake, yet here we are, shopping for Christmas gifts. I almost can’t stand it. I can’t bear to look at her knowing what I have to do.
A tiny voice in the back of my head screams at me to tell her the truth.
A louder voice promptly tells the first to shut the fuck up.
It’s a problem, I realize, how attached I’ve allowed myself to become. I’ve grown to love Raquel’s can-do attitude, her sass, her considerate heart. She’s too good of a person to be a thief, to be caught up in this mess. She’s too sweet and kind for me to hurt.
But I don’t have a choice.
“I think Dad might like this one,” she says, pointing to a watch with a blue enamel face. “He used to have one just like it when I was a little girl. Sometimes I’d sneak into his room, break into his watch box, and pretend it was some massive treasure I could loot.”
“You started young, huh?” I comment, amused.
“Dad was never shy about what he did for a living. He swore me to secrecy, of course, but I always knew he was a thief.”
“Did Chet train you to follow in his footsteps?”
Raquel shakes her head, laughing softly. “Believe me, that was the last thing Dad wanted. I was sixteen when I first asked if I could join the Red Ravens.”
“I’m guessing he didn’t take it very well?”
“God, no. He just about had an embolism. He told me I was too young and irresponsible.I can’t have a kid on my team. That’s just bad parenting.I spent the whole day pestering him, and he brushed me off and told me to ask him later.”
“And I guess you did?”
Raquel smirks. “The second I turned eighteen, I asked him again. He tried to argue, but I pointed out that I wasn’t a kid anymore. He could either let me be a part of his crew, or I’d go off and go it alone.”
I chuckle. “You strong-armed your father into letting you join?”
“Damn straight.”
“You know, normal kids want to grow up to be actors or presidents.”
“Yeah, but what good can actors and presidents do?I’mmaking an actual difference.” She smiles wistfully. “I used to be upset with Dad when I learned he stole from others, but that was before I knew all the good he did. He only takes from those who don’t deserve it and gives the money to those who do. Dad actually puts his money where his mouth is. Hedoessomething about it.”
“You sound like you really admire him.”
