Rock Hard: A Stepbrother Romance Page 0,73

Marla need her to go into the safe? Actually, why would she be given the code to it at all? As far as I knew, Lindsey wasn’t in management, and there was no way they’d trust a regular staff member with the code to their safe.

And then there was the way she got angry when I asked questions. She seemed defensive, like I had caught her doing something wrong. Plus, she seemed to have bought my weak story about the schedule. Everyone knew the schedule was posted at exactly five in the morning on Sundays.

I didn’t have time to reflect too hard, though, as I remembered my mission. Quickly I shuffled across the office, located the spare key hanging on a hook, and grabbed it. I slipped it into my pocket and then got out of there, shutting the door behind me.

I froze for a second. Lindsey had seen me going in there. What if she put two and two together? But no, there was no way she would suspect me of anything. I was the goody two-shoes. Besides, Lindsey was my closest friend in Ridgewood. I couldn’t imagine her turning me in for anything, especially based on a wild hunch.

I felt so hopped up on adrenaline that I didn’t bother to think it through any more. Instead, I clocked in, grabbed my apron, and hit the floor.

As the night wore on and nobody said anything about the missing key, I knew I had done it. I knew I had pulled it off.

I knew how far I was willing to go to save the people that I cared about.

Chapter Twenty-Two: Reid

I pulled into the abandoned parking lot at exactly two in the morning, sweating slightly already.

Becca had come home earlier that night completely excited with triumph. She had stolen the key, just like we had planned.

Part of me couldn’t believe that she had done it. The girl that first came home to Ridgewood from college would never have taken a risk like that. But she was changing, shifting from the good girl who did nothing to a person that would take a chance to save the lives of the people she cared about.

I couldn’t say I was proud of her, because I had put her in danger. Frankly, I fucking hated myself for doing that. But it was necessary in the long run.

And she had stepped up. She did something she wasn’t comfortable with. For that, I was impressed.

The parking lot was empty as I killed my engine and stepped out. Thom was on his way with another guy he knew. That was unavoidable; neither of us knew how to crack safes, so we had to hire someone.

This whole operation was hinging on there being a lot of cash stashed in that safe. If I was wrong, and the Blue was just a normal diner, then I was screwed.

But I didn’t think I was wrong.

Almost on cue, another pair of headlights pulled into the lot. I leaned against the hood of my car, my dark shirt and dark jean blending in with the black paint. Thom’s car pulled up next to me.

Thom was wearing all black, military style. He looked serious and almost badass, if I didn’t know how much of a goober he was.

The guy that was with him, however, was the nerdiest person I had ever seen.

“This the guy?” I asked as Thom came over.

“Reid, this is Tim.”

“Good to meet you,” Tim said, smiling.

I shook his hand. “You too.”

Tim was about five foot six, maybe a bit taller, and had thinning brown hair. I guessed he was in his late thirties, or maybe his forties. His glasses were thick and black and he wore a button-down oxford shirt tucked into khaki slacks and brown loafers. He was carrying a briefcase in one hand, and he looked like he was on his way to an office IT job, not about to go crack a safe.

I looked at Thom. “He doesn’t look like a thief.”

Tim laughed. “I assure you, I’m the best there is in Ridgewood.”

“He’s solid, Reid.”

I looked him over one more time and nodded. “Okay, fine.”

“So what’s the plan?” Thom asked.

I pulled the key from my pocket. “Plan is, we walk right in the back door, into the office, crack the safe, steal their cash, and leave before anyone even notices.”

“Is that the key to the place?” Thom asked.

“Sure is.”

“Where’d you get it?”

“Don’t worry about that,” I said, slipping it back into my pocket. I looked at Tim.