Read Dance with the Devil for Free Online

the left, then the right, then left again. “Too bad I don’t have my—”
    He laid a small black velvet pouch on the credenza in front of her. Her custom-made tools.
    Mia shot him a frowning glance. “How’d you ge—”
    â€œLeft them on your desk your last day.”
    The day she’d walked away from both the job she’d loved—and him.
    Jack straightened as someone rattled the door handle. Mia reached for her loaded handbag and Jack touched the butt of his own weapon hidden beneath his jacket. He held his breath, and after a few seconds, heard them move off down the corridor.
    Mia returned to the safe. They each had their job to do.
    â€œDamn.”
    â€œWhat?”
    She frowned. “Got any C4 on you?”
    â€œOh, Jesus. It’s not going to open?”
    Mia grinned. “Hell, yeah. It’s only a TRTL-30.” A burglary performance rating of thirty minutes max to open it by common hand tools or mechanical tools—such as a grinder or drill. Mia had the best tool of all. Excellent hearing and perfect pitch. She could hear the internal tumblers as they fell into place. She stepped aside and the door swung open a few inches. “Just kidding, Jack. Geez, where’s your sense of humor?”
    He wasn’t amused, didn’t appreciate her moment of levity. “Grab the disk and let’s book.” Other than seeing Mia tonight, he had a bad feeling about this too simple job. Something didn’t feel right, hadn’t right from the beginning. Something felt…off.
    â€œNo disk in here,” Mia said softly, after she riffled through the contents of the safe.
    â€œBe sure.” He didn’t leave his post at the door. He kept one ear tuned to the party outside the thick doors, the music, the ebb and flow of voices, footsteps moving down the carpeted corridor outside.
    She was efficient and methodical. After a few more seconds, she said quietly. “Definitely not here. Upstairs safe?”
    â€œMust be.”
    â€œHow long have we been in here?” They’d been in some tight spots together in their partnership. They may have redefined passion together, and had an eight-month lapse, but as thieves their association was still magical.
    â€œLong enough,” he told her grimly, as she replaced the contents of the safe and shut the door.
    He didn’t budge as she moved to avoid the swing of the painting, stepping back into him. Her silky dark hair brushed his chin. The smell of her skin made him dizzy with longing.
    As soon as the picture was back in place, Mia took a step forward, away from him. “Open the door, Jack. You conned me here to help you do a job. Let’s just do it, okay?”
    He unlocked the door. This was neither the time nor the place. “I’m going to have to kiss you again.”
    She sighed and tilted up her face. “Fine. Get it over with.”
    He bracketed her face, then ran his fingers through her hair to muss it up. She stood still beneath his hands, her eyes hard, her soft mouth grim. When they’d done this before it had been part of the fun of the game. Now it was purely business.
    â€œNot even a spark?” Jack asked, keeping his hands on either side of her face.
    â€œNot a glimmer.”
    â€œLiar.”
    She snorted. “I’m not the one carrying a rifle in my pocket.”
    He grinned. “Wanna see if it’s loaded?”
    She kept her expression impassive and shrugged. “Open the door and let’s wrap this up.”
    He opened the door. The noise of the party washed over them, an assault to his senses after being alone in the library with her. They weren’t going to be able to emerge from the library and immediately go upstairs. People probably assumed they’d just had wild monkey sex on good old Johannes’s desk.
    â€œDance?” Jack suggested when they reached the reception room.
    It would get them across the large space and