Josie was bare foot, and had changed into blue jeans and a cream-colored tee, she was surrounded by boxes and crates filled with stuff the Warwicks had purchased but didn’t use anymore. They had literally forgotten how much expensive crap they owned.
The carton of drunken noodles, as Pad Kee Mao translated, was long since empty, and she was busy listing all of the desks and tables the Warwicks had in the house. There were a lot. Some would cost as much as a weekend gateway to Mexico.
The Warwicks weren’t rich.
They redefined wealth twenty times over.
Her phone rang, and half expecting the call to be from Gammy, Josie didn’t even bother looking at the screen. Instead of hearing the sweet voice of her grandmother, the slithering tones of Milo Steiner made her shudder. The noodles turned to rocks in the pit of her stomach.
“Look at your phone,” he ordered by way of greeting.
Even through the distance, his voice was all slithery against her ears. Josie looked down at her phone screen, and she shivered, nearly dropping the device.
There, clear as a day, she had received two pictures from Milo. The first was of Mia. Her best friend was in the process of crossing the street in the photograph. It had clearly been taken without her friend’s knowledge as she walked in their hometown of Buffalo. The second image was even more terrifying. Gammy was fast asleep in her bed in the care home.
The message was pretty clear: Milo could get to Mia and Gammy with minimal effort.
“Listen to me, dick breath. You are not to harm them. I’m doing what you wanted me to.”
Milo chuckled. “Are you? Wave, Josie. You’re being watched. From what my guys have told me, you’ve met with Johanna Warwick, and you’ve been allowed into the bank vaults. How come I don’t have my vase yet?”
Josie inhaled, trying to calm herself. It was no use. This mother fucker was playing with fire, and he didn’t know it. “I have a life to keep, you prick. You might want me to rush through this, but I’m not going to blow up my life. Or else, what’s the point of not just going to the cops?”
“Be careful,” he hissed.
“No, you listen to me. I’m not going to do this the dumb way. I’m the pro, right? You came to me because your cronies are too stupid to pull this job. You have to trust me on this. If I blaze in there and steal the vase at the first chance I get, don’t you think they’ll look at me? I’ll be the prime suspect. And if I’m caught? You can bet your slithering ass that I am going to sing like a chipper canary. You’ll be fucked.”
Milo was quiet on the other end of the line. Josie closed her eyes, hoping that the evil pencil dick wasn’t going to press the matters. She was having a hell of a time already, trying to make sure that her two identities didn’t converge to absolutely set fire to her life.
“I’m watching you, little witch.”
The line went dead.
Chapter Six
York
Every single time York went for a run, he vowed to himself that he would remember just how good it felt to be out and about. There was no city like New York. It was always bustling, always full of people, always alive and awake. It felt good to be part of it, even if it was just for a run around the neighborhood. His muscles, happy to be in use, pleaded with him to keep going. He obeyed, even promising his dragon a flight soon if the beast stopped going on about Josie Essa and mates.
York was drenched in sweat and about six miles away from his apartment when his phone rang, rudely interrupting his flow and a good song. He pressed the answer button on his smartwatch, and the frantic sound of Jordyn’s voice filled the cordless earbuds stuffed into his ears.
“There’s an emergency.” She was on the verge of tears. “Lewis Nolan is here, and he says you had an appointment. I know you didn’t, and I checked your calendar and spoke with Marissa.”
“Who?” he asked as he took his pulse.
“Your assistant. Mr. Nolan is adamant that he see you right away.”
York swore under his breath. Lewis was an asshole, who liked to play the powerful little man by making York bend to his every whim.
“There is no doubt in my mind that we didn’t have a meeting. He’s doing that