The Bandit (The Stolen Duet 1)

I pinned her with my cold gaze. “Look, I know what you’re aiming for, and I’m not fucking interested.”

She had the decency to look embarrassed and mumbled an apology as she faced forward once again. I could have laughed at the irony. I was thinking about getting laid only moments before the opportunity presented itself but lost interest when I realized it wouldn’t be some doe-eyed kid I shouldn’t even be thinking about.

When the elevator arrived at the lobby, the woman practically ran out with her tail between her legs. I stepped out after her and took in my surroundings. I had enemies that would take any opportunity to kill me, even in a crowded hotel.

“Mr. Knight, good evening. I hope you enjoyed your stay,” the front desk attendant greeted. I checked out and found a car waiting for me when I stepped outside. With a nod to the driver, I hopped in the back, but as soon as my ass touched the seat, my phone rang.

“Z, what’s up?”

“Someone’s in your house.”Chapter FiveFair exchange is no robbery.

MIANThe cylinder turned.The sound of the lock disengaging was music to my ears. Smiling, I pocketed the tension wrench I had borrowed from Joey.

The double doors stood at least seven feet tall and were made of dark wood with several rows of panels from top to bottom. The elegant knobs looked as if they were dipped in a pot of gold. I pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.

Whoa.

The vast entrance alone was a statement of Arturo Knight’s wealth. Above hung two candle chandeliers with dangling crystals to dazzle. The tiled floor was made of marble, and the two staircases flanked the entrance leading up the second-floor balcony. A black metal railing made of intricate designs protected it. The Knights were loaded in an obvious way.

The sudden and frantic beeping of the watch I also borrowed from Joey interrupted my inspection.

Seven minutes.

I reset the timer and made my way up the curved stairs to my right. It was just two days before the fourth. If I were lucky, Bea would be on vacation. So, for the last sixteen hours I watched.

No one came. No one went.

It wasn’t until night had fallen that I made my move.

My father berated me for not planning and called me an amateur for taking too many risks. But our survival was threatened by time I didn’t have. How could he judge me anyway? My father had defied odds on a regular basis, and because of him, following in his footsteps became inevitable. Even though he expected more of me, it never stopped him from sharing his secrets when I was a kid. But it was always about the job. Never about his marks.

It was the same each time.

He’d teach me the trade and then would warn me not to get any ideas.

“You’re going to college, baby girl. One day you’ll be an accountant. You’ll be a square, unlike your old man, but what’s important is that you’ll be better than me. Promise me, Mian.”

“I promise, Daddy.”

This job had been different because it was personal. When the police questioned why he killed his best friend, he said Art had taken something from him. That night, he was only supposed to take back what was his, but instead, my godfather was murdered.

Now it was up to me to finish what he had started.

He never explained what it was, but I assumed it was money. Why else would he go along with my plan to finish the job?

My father was a good man.

He loved us.

He’d want Caylen to have all that he deserved and so I exploited that to break through his reservations.

The greatest challenge was believing the money my father was after was even still there.

But that was what plan B was for.

Down a short hall off the east wing, I found a small balcony at the end and two doors. Taking the one on the left first, I pushed inside and found a guest room. Across the hall was the same deal.

I moved back down the short hall and turned left down another hall—this one shorter but wider. At the very end were double doors. I walked through them and found another bedroom. This one was at least twice the size of the others and dominating the center was an enormous bed. The headboard was painted black and reached high over the wide mattress. The silk sheets were also black, adding to the intimidation. It wasn’t exactly a woman’s touch.

A shiver passed through me, but then something caught my eye.

Against my better judgment, I moved to the foot of the bed for a closer look and found a dark gray tie curled on the bedding. I picked it up before I could rethink and wondered about the man it belonged to.