Page 67 of Playing with Trouble

The three of them headed into the main exhibit room.The driver stayed posted outside, while the two men inside went straight for the crown case.With the security system disabled, cracking it open wasn’t hard, but they still needed tools.The museum didn’t exactly design the display cases for easy access, with or without security protocols in place.

Christopher stayed out of their way, doing nothing but watching them.Exactly like I told him to so they wouldn’t suspect that he knew what was coming next.He needed to look as though he was cooperating, and nothing else.

Once the two men were fully committed to the heist—tools out, glass open, hands on the crown—I made the call.

“All right, sir.They’re in position.”

“Much obliged,” the police chief said, and hung up.

Outside, the police cars that had been waiting in strategic positions around the area moved in and blocked every exit.The street was sealed off in seconds.Once the perimeter was secure and traffic controlled, the specialized robbery unit rolled up to the building to take over.

I kept my eyes on the live feed.The two inside had the crown free and were grabbing smaller pieces of jewelry and other artifacts, too.They were just about to head out when the first officers apprehended the driver, and it gave me a deep sense of satisfaction to watch the other two assholes walk out only to have the police waiting for them.

“Hands up!”the officers ordered, guns drawn.

The two men froze, but knowing there was no way out, they did as they were told.

Christopher hung back as the two men were put into cuffs, and gave them a one fingerfuck yousalute as they were led off.I couldn’t help it, I smirked at his attitude, just like his sister.

Violet was right.He wasn’t a bad kid.He just needed guidance and direction.

As I watched those three lowlifes get read their rights and shoved into squad cars, the pressure that had been sitting on my chest for weeks finally eased.

It was over.Violet was truly safe now.And I was going to make damn sure no one ever hurt her again.

CHAPTER26

Violet

Trusting Ford and Christopher was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Neither of them told me anything.They couldn’t.The fewer people who knew the plan, the safer it was.And I was the most obvious person to watch.If Christopher backed out, they’d use me to force him back in.So, I stayed in Ford’s condo, completely in the dark about the situation, trying not to go insane.

Andrea offered to come over to stay with me, but I said no.I was too wound up.I would’ve just snapped at her and taken my frustration and fear out on the wrong person.So I paced Ford’s condo over and over, my nerves stretched like a wire ready to snap.

The contrast of these two men in my life wasn’t lost on me.

Christopher had given me every reasonnotto trust him.I had defended him to everyone who doubted him, protected him when no one else would, and believed in him even when I shouldn’t have…and he still let me walk blind into danger without warning me.He hadn’t just made a mistake, he’d broken something in me.An unconditional belief in him that he’d always have my back, like I had his.

Ford was the opposite.He’d done nothing but prove himself over and over again.He showed up.He listened.He protected me and made me feel safe and secure.He respected me.He never made me feel small.He’d given me every reason to trust him.

And I was the one who kept pushing him away.I’d held him at arm’s length, rebuilt walls every time he got close.I’d tested him, waiting for him to fail…waiting for him to become like everyone else in my past.

But he didn’t.

And now it was my turn to trust them both, in very different ways.To be brave enough to let Ford past those walls I’d built.To admit that…oh, god, I’d fallen in love with him despite being terrified of what loving someone could cost me.And to see if my brother could do the hardest thing a person could do…earn back trust after breaking it.

I knew that wouldn’t magically fix everything between my brother and me.This wasn’t some neat, tied-up ending.Christopher and I had real, difficult conversations ahead of us.He’d have to prove that he meant what he said, that he truly wanted to change once the pressure of those men were out of his life.But it would at least be a start.

My cellphone rang and I nearly jumped out of my skin.It was Ford.My heart raced and my hands shook as I answered.“Hey, how’d it go?”I aimed for a casual tone and completely failed.

“Come outside,” Ford said, an unmistakable smile in his voice.“It’s over.I’m taking you and your brother out for a celebratory dinner.”

My knees almost buckled.I hung up and practically flew out the door.I took the elevator down and rushed out the main doors to find Ford parked there.Christopher sat in the passenger seat, safe and sound.Ford was behind the wheel, and I didn’t miss the cocky smile on his face.

“What happened?”I demanded the second I got into the car, needing to hear all the details.“How did it go?”

Christopher and Ford took turns explaining as we drove to one of the steakhouses on the Strip.Christopher admitted he’d nearly thrown up escorting those men into the museum, fully aware that if they suspected anything, they’d kill him first then come for me.The thought made my stomach twist.But Ford had been close by and watching him the entire time, and just like he’d promised, the police had stayed quiet and strategic until it was time to apprehend the men.