Page 18 of Forever a Thief

He chuckles. “Perfect. Absolutely idéal.”

“I don’t follow. Wouldn’t you be better off asking Addie and her crew to help you? What good would I be on a heist? I’ve watched Ocean’s Eleven three times, and I still don’t understand how they manage to do it. And don’t even get me started on Inception.”

Laurent throws his head back and laughs. “I promise, it’s nothing as complicated as that plot. And I am going to get Addie and her people to help with the technical aspects. She owes me. Hell, they all do. But you’re going to be the star of the entire show, chérie.”

I still don’t understand, and he’s not telling me what it is he wants me to do. But the temptation to help get the book in return for him cutting me a check is too good to dismiss. “If I help you get this book back—”

“You hand me the book and I hand you the check,” he states, then makes a little X over his heart. “I promise.”

“And all I have to do is—”

“Fly with me to Denver, meet Addie’s crew and retrieve the book from a man named Adam Voss.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

“Because it is easy.” His green eyes glint in a ray of sunshine. So alluring, and brimming with roguishness. “All you’ll have to do is walk through his front door and take the book. C'est simple comme bonjour!”

I tilt my head and scrunch my nose. A reminder I don’t speak French.

“It’s as simple as hello,” he translates with a sly grin.

Riiiight. You know, as nice as that sounds, I’m not entirely convinced.

Chapter Seven: Laurent

The moment Savannah agrees to my plan—er, offer to help her—we briefly part ways, agreeing to meet at the airport in an hour. We both need to pack and take quick showers to rinse the smoke and soot off. Once I’m organized and checked out, I head straight to the private airport. I always make sure to fly privately and prefer a specific charter service who cater to their passengers. The idea of stepping onto a commercial flight makes my skin crawl. Being crammed into a small seat surrounded by grumpy passengers and their screaming, germ-infested kids is enough to give me nightmares. Non merci.

Luckily, I have enough money and charming persuasion to make sure we don’t have to wait long and can board the moment the charter jet is ready. It’s not a large jet, but comfortable enough for the short flight to Denver. I make sure Savannah is comfortably seated and then settle in next to her. Once we’re securely buckled in the roomy leather seats, I make the call to Addie.

“Laurent, you’re alive,” she greets me. Hmm, she doesn’t sound quite as jubilant as I’d hoped.

“Thanks to you, Tootsie Pop,” I say easily. My wound is healing nicely and the painkiller I took earlier is keeping my discomfort at a manageable dull ache.

“You’re welcome.”

“If you recall,” I continue smoothly, “I walked away from a ruby and diamond necklace not too long ago. For you. Because I’m a self-sacrificing kind of guy when I want to be.” I ignore her snort of disbelief. “What was it called again?”

“The Phoenix Kiss.” From her dry tone, she knows I’m about to milk this favor she promised for everything she can give me.

“Yes, that’s right. You begged me to let you keep the necklace. And, correct me if I’m wrong, but you also promised to make it worth my sacrifice. Said you’d give me everything you had on a certain sapphire.”

Silence. Then, “I wouldn’t say I begged.” After another drawn-out moment of silence, she reluctantly adds, “But, yes, I did mention the sapphire.”

Beside me, Savannah is listening to our exchange closely, but she can only hear my end of the conversation because it’s not on speaker. “Time to pay me back in spades, Addie-Baddie.”

She sighs. “What do you want me to do, Laurent?”

“I’m going to make this really easy—I’m coming to you. On my way as we speak, actually. How about you and your team meet me and the lovely Savannah in, oh say, two and a half hours? Give or take with traffic.”

“Savannah is with you?”

I glance over at my traveling partner, a smile curving my mouth. “Yes. And looking lovelier than ever, I might add.” Savannah does that adorable scrunch thing with her nose, and I restrain myself from leaning in and nipping at those delectable freckles.

Another sigh. “Fine. I’ll call my team in, but I can’t guarantee their help. Especially Ryder. He’s probably going to want to stab you again after what happened in Austria with Delaney.”

“Who?” Confusion makes me squint. I had a run-in with Ryder and Bella Diamond at that castle, but who the hell is Delaney?

“Nevermind. You’ll find out soon enough.”