but I was still taking the win. The Green Ranger would have been proud. I mean, not so much of all the stealing and shit, but I liked to think he'd understand my reasons for my criminal behaviour and would wanna be my bestie despite my flaws.
I glanced around the room, spotted a fancy looking necklace on the nightstand and quickly put it on before heading out onto the landing and continuing down the stairs.
One glance around showed me the hook full of car keys and I grinned as I snatched the one I was looking for, opened the front door and hurried over to claim my prize.
The engine purred beneath me as I started it up and I sighed as I leaned back into the leather and hit the gas, roaring out of the driveway and tearing through town to the chop shop in style with my blonde wig blowing in the wind from the open window.
Luther was waiting for me to arrive, sitting out back with a few of his men while they smoked and talked shit together. He got to his feet as I pulled in and I couldn't help but look smug as fuck as he let out a low whistle of appreciation for the car.
I climbed out with a swagger in my step, moving towards him and handing over the keys as he pulled a thick envelope filled with cash out of his pocket and handed it over.
"Nice work, wildcat," Luther commented.
"Don't sound so surprised, grandad, you tossed me out on the streets with nothing for ten years. I had to figure out how to survive somehow."
"Watch your mouth," Luther chastised in a low growl, but he didn't really mean it. Or maybe he did and I was just playing make believe with the idea that he thought my attitude was cute and I'd end up dead for it one of these days. Maybe I didn't really care about that anyway though.
I hopped up onto the hood of the car and folded my legs as a couple of the other Harlequins came to inspect my fresh steal and I began counting my money.
"Don't you trust me?" Luther asked.
"I only trust two things in this life," I replied. "Death and cash. And if I'm looking one in the eye then I'll make sure I get to know it properly before I make any deals with it."
I kept counting out the money, trying not to overthink the insane amount of it so that the temptation to keep it didn't eat at me. I didn't think I'd ever earned this much in one job, let alone held it in my hand and it was seriously tempting to go all squirrel over it and try to smuggle it away.
"What's up with you?" Luther asked, moving closer to me while I continued to count. "You don't seem as perky as usual."
I blew out a breath, trying to force all of the bad shit back down, down, down into that tiny box. But JJ had cracked it open and I could feel my hold on my emotions tearing apart. I was gonna break tonight and when I did it was always fucking messy. But not here. Not now.
"People aren't always as they seem on the outside, Luther," I said, glancing up at him. "Maybe I smile a lot and crack jokes and try to make the best of things, but that doesn't mean I'm not all fucked up inside. Damage isn't always that easy to see and mine runs thicker than blood in my veins. It's just showing a little more than usual because I've had a shitty day."
Luther glanced between me and the cash I was holding, swiping a hand down his face in a way which was reminiscent of his son while I went back to counting every last dollar.
"I feel you on that," he muttered. "But I’ve gotta know if this sudden need for all that money has anything to do with you and Fox. Because despite the ties I've placed on you by bringing you into my Crew being reason enough, you know I can't let you run if that's what you're thinking. For his sake. Sending you away broke something between me and him a long time ago. Hell, I think it broke him. And Maverick...let's just say they need you. And I think you need them too. It might be hard and you might wanna hate me for it for the rest of your days,