Read Thieves Till We Die for Free Online

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    An unfathomable look came into the old man’s eyes and he slowly shook his head. ‘It must be Cortes’s,’ he said quietly, and a faint chill ran down Jonah’s spine. Coldhardt specialised in the theft of artefacts, both ancient and arcane – fabled relics that were near priceless on their own, but which more often than not held the key to secret, spooky mysteries smothered by thecenturies. And Jonah got the feeling that
this
was the real treasure in Coldhardt’s eyes. Not just acquiring dark knowledge for its own sake, but because he knew of some way to use it. Though to what end Jonah didn’t like to think about.
    Abruptly Coldhardt chuckled out loud. ‘I shall enjoy going through your little haul,’ he told them, like an indulgent uncle, ‘and I believe it will prove most valuable to us.’
    Con’s eyes brightened. ‘You are going to sell the swords, yes?’
    â€˜No.’ That cryptic half-smile was back on his lips. ‘I am going to give them right back.’
    Jonah lay down on a sunlounger, cradling a beer. The job was done; typically that was the cue to relax and party. But there was an air of unease about the guys as they gathered by the hotel’s private pool.
Glad it’s not just me
, he thought.
    â€˜Thank God we’re out of there,’ said Tye quietly, angling a parasol to keep the sun out of her eyes.
    Patch nodded, rocking back in his chair. ‘We nearly got ourselves killed to get those swords, and now Coldhardt’s just gonna …’ He trailed off as Con undid her towelling robe to reveal a tiny blue bikini. ‘Hey. That’s new.’
    She glared at him. ‘Someone stole my red one.’
    Patch grinned. ‘Who would do a thing like that?’
    â€˜Someone who’s gonna go blind in his other eye if he don’t watch out,’ said Motti. As usual he was making no concession to the sunshine, lying on a lounger in black grungy gear and flicking through Manga.‘Told you before, Con, you wanna pay me to secure your pantie drawer, I’m open to offers.’
    â€˜I’ll pay you to take pictures while you’re in there, Mot,’ Patch suggested.
    Con walked slowly up to him, slipped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him to his feet. But his dreamy smile vanished as she pinched him hard. ‘Patch, why are you so disgusting?’
    â€˜Would you notice me if I wasn’t?’
    She twisted round and threw Patch into the pool. He made a splash like a depth charge. ‘Filthy little boy.’
    â€˜He’s got a point, though,’ said Jonah, earning him raised eyebrows from Con and Tye. ‘About the swords, I mean,’ he added hastily. ‘To find out that after all that, Coldhardt’s going to give the swords straight back to Kabacra …’
    â€˜What
is
that about?’ Con muttered.
    â€˜Guess we’ll know what’s going down when Coldhardt says, not before,’ said Motti.
    â€˜Interesting point of view, Mot,’ said Patch from the pool. ‘But me, I got a better one.
Butt
me – get it?’
    Con glanced behind her to find Patch staring up at her ass. She sighed wearily, trod on his head and used it as a springboard for a perfect dive that barely rippled the water.
    Motti laughed as Patch bobbed back up, spluttering. ‘Hey, can anyone have a go, cyclops?’
    Jonah smiled, while Tye shook her head in mock-weariness and lay back down on her sunbed. But as the hot sun climbed higher into the sky, the mood seemed a little lighter.
    * * *
    In the end, the summons to Coldhardt came at six that evening – for Tye and Jonah at least. It turned out they weren’t needed for the next stage of Coldhardt’s plan – a face-to-face meet with Kabacra. Tye shuddered, happy to leave that little pleasure to Motti, Patch and Con.
    An hour later,