“I appreciate the confidence in my abilities, but you really don’t need someone of my caliber for jobs of this nature.”
Mr. Jones’s smile turned harder and formed a thin slash across his face. “This was just a test, although I do wish it had been slightly more arduous.”
Shea lifted a brow, but it barely shifted the fake nose and forehead he wore despite how form-fitting they were. Still, Jones noted his displeasure as he said, “I suppose you don’t consider scaling a twenty foot cliff to reach their home arduous?”
With a smooth bob of his silvery-grey head, Jones apologized. “Of course, Mr. Smith. It’s just that the security systems at the location were rather barbaric.”
“And I suppose the next job --”
“Jobs,” Jones quickly corrected.
Shea nodded. “Jobs? I suppose they’re more of a challenge?”
Jones smiled, but it failed to reach his eyes which remained a clear, steady blue beneath bushy grey eyebrows. “Quite. Especially the last one. We’re talking high end security, armed guards, the rich and famous, including some royalty. Pull it off and the papers will have a field day with your achievement.”
Shea tapped his finger against his mouth, considering the other man and the big heist he described. Definitely a challenge worthy of his talents and if the payoff was anything like what he was receiving for the job he had just completed, he might even be able to retire.
“Let’s just say you’ve piqued my interest, Mr. Jones. You know how to reach me with details of the other jobs.”
Jones nodded and smiled, but there was a look about that smile Shea didn’t really like. Something deadly and decidedly dangerous. Mr. Jones was obviously keeping a great deal to himself about his future plans. “We’ll send you information on each job when appropriate. When we’re satisfied that you’re the man for our last assignment, we’ll let you know the details.”
Before Shea could utter another word, Jones bolted from the pub bench, amazingly speedy for a man his age.
Although maybe Jones was likewise in disguise, Shea considered. The warning bells that had served him so well in the past were ringing, but were silenced by the imaginary sound of coins dropping into his bank account. Lots and lots of coins, he thought.
With that much money, he could find himself a quaint home along the Italian coast. Settle down and start a family. He was still young after all, barely in his thirties.
Plenty of time to have the kind of life his profession hadn’t allowed him.
Until now.
With that in mind, he called over the waitress and as she shot him a welcoming smile and slipped him the bill, he noted her phone number on the paper.
Pleased that she had found him attractive despite the disguise, he left her the payment and a generous tip, regretting he wouldn’t be able to take her up on her offer.
If there was one thing he had learned in all his time as a thief, it was never to let anyone get too close. This waitress definitely seemed like the type who would eventually want more than a one night stand.
With a regretful sigh, he pushed away from the bench and strolled out of the pub, but as he did so, he caught sight of Jones half a block ahead, hurrying away.
As Jones approached, the driver side door opened and the uniformed driver walked around and opened the door for him.
Shea wasn’t close enough to hear, but he could read the driver’s lips as he gave a practiced bow and said, “Good evening, Prince Sergei.”
A prince, huh? Shea thought as “Jones” slipped into the back seat of the Rolls Royce.
He waited until the Rolls pulled away and headed to the underground to reach his home.
He never did business too close to it. You didn’t shit where you lived, he thought, and passed through the turnstiles of the underground with his doctored Oyster payment card, his mind already looking forward to the big job Jones had mentioned.
No, not Jones, he reminded himself. Prince Sergei. Another royal. He hated the fucking royals with all their money and airs.
Stealing from them would definitely be a job he would enjoy, especially if he could find a way to deal with the uppity Prince Sergei as well. Nothing like a double-cross because even thieves had standards, but he would like to see the man taken down a peg or two.
In time, he thought, and hurried to his empty home, dreaming of the possibility that he could finally leave his thieving ways and settle down.
About the Author
Charity Pineiro is the pseudonym for New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and RITA® Finalist Caridad Pineiro. Charity/Caridad wrote her first novel in the fifth grade when her teacher assigned a project – to write a book for a class lending library. Bitten by the writing bug, Caridad continued with her passion for the written word and in 1999, Caridad’s first novel was released. Over a decade later, Caridad is the author of nearly 40 published novels and novellas. When not writing, Caridad is a wife, and mother to an aspiring writer and fashionista. For more information, please visit www.caridad.com or www.charitypineiro.com.
Additional Books by Charity Pineiro
NOW AND ALWAYS June 2012 ISBN Coming Soon
Additional Books by the Author Writing as Caridad Pineiro
Books in The Sin Hunter Series
THE CLAIMED May 2012 ISBN 978-0446584609 Forever Grand Central Publishing
THE LOST August 2011 ISBN 978-0446584616 Forever Grand Central Publishing
Books in The Sins Series
STRONGER THAN SIN November 2010 ISBN 0446543845 Forever Grand Central Publishing
SINS OF THE FLESH November 2009 ISBN 0446543837 Forever Grand Central Publishing
THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE November 2012 ISBN 978-1-62266-800-7 Entangled Publishing
THE FIFTH KINDOM July 2011 ISBN 9781426891885 Carina Press
SOLDIER’S SECRET CHILD Dec 2008 ISBN 0373276109 Silhouette Romantic Suspense
Novellas
GHOST OF A CHANCE, paranormal short story November 2012 ISBN B00AUGV89G Caridad Pineiro Publishing
HER VAMPIRE LOVER October 2012 ISBN 9781459242289 Nocturne Cravings Novella
NIGHT OF THE COUGAR June 2012 ISBN 9781459231153 Nocturne Cravings Novella
THE VAMPIRE’S CONSORT April 2012 ISBN 9781459222731 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
NOCTURNAL WHISPERS February 2012 ISBN 9781459221437 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
AMAZON AWAKENING December 2011 ISBN 9781459282766 Available Harlequin Nocturne Cravings Novella
WHEN HERALD ANGELS SING novella in A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS October 2011 ISBN 0373776446 HQN
AZTEC GOLD January 2011 ISBN 9781426891045 Carina Press Novella
Crazy for the Cat in MOON FEVER Oct 2007 ISBN 1416514902 Pocket Books
Books in THE CALLING/THE REBORN Vampire Novel Series
BORN TO SERVE, October 2013, ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing
BORN TO LOVE, November 2013, ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing
BORN TO DIE, December 2013, ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing
BORN TO VENGEANCE (formerly VENGEANCE CALLS) August 2013 ISBN Not Available Entangled Publishing
KISSED BY A VAMPIRE (formerly ARDOR CALLS) October 2012 ISBN 9780373885589 Harlequin Nocturne
FURY CALLS March 2009 ISBN 0373618077 Silhouette Nocturne
HONOR CALLS February 2009 ISBN 9781426828362 Nocturne Bite
HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE December 2007 ISBN 0373617763 Silhouette Nocturne
THE CALLING COMPLETE COLLECTION October 2008 ISBN 9781426807657 Silhouette Includes Darkness Calls, Danger Calls, Temptation Calls, Death Calls, Devotion Calls, and Blood Calls–as
well as a the online read Desire Calls.
BLOOD CALLS May 2007 ISBN 0373617631 Silhouette Nocturne
DEVOTION CALLS January 2007 ISBN 0373617550 Silhouette Nocturne
DEATH CALLS Dec 2006 ISBN 0373617534 Silhouette Nocturne
TEMPTATION CALLS Oct 2005 ISBN 0373274602 Silhouette Intimate Moments
DANGER CALLS June 2005 ISBN 0373274416 Silhouette Intimate Moments
DARKNESS CALLS Mar 2004 ISBN 0373273533 Silhouette Intimate Moments
Romantic Suspense Series
SECRET AGENT REUNION Aug 2007 ISBN 0373275463 Silhouette Romantic Suspense
MORE THAN A MISSION Aug 2006 ISBN 037327498X Silhouette Intimate Moments