Con-Artist Page 2

  I glance at his closed office door and wonder when he’ll be done with his meeting. Wondering what he wants from me has been bugging me almost as much as the man I ran into yesterday. Why was he on my mind all last night? I’ve been beating myself up about the stupid attraction I feel. He was kind of a jerk, and to be honest, I resented who he was.

  Unable to help myself, I’d googled him after I got home last night. He isn't just a rich guy like I first thought, he’s a level of wealthy that I would never be able to comprehend. I spent so long looking over his life that was filled with privilege. Though I only spent a moment in his company, it seems my first impression was accurate. Everyone thinks he’s an asshole.

  It should be against the law to be that handsome, that rich and an asshole. There should be a bigger flaw than only being an asshole. That’s something a person could fix if they wanted, though with the kind of money he has, I guess he doesn't have to.

  I reach under my hoodie and into the zipper pocket on the inside. I left his wallet at home under my pillow. It’s got his credit cards inside, but I kept his license in my pocket. I don’t want to think on it too much as to why I did it, but when I run my finger along the edge I feel a connection to him. Normally I feel guilty after lifting someone’s wallet, but with him the guilt never came. I was actually a little pissed it only had a grand inside of it once I figured out who he was.

  I jump to my feet as Bradford’s office door opens and I slide the license back into my hoodie. I pretend to be casual as I lean up against the wall and watch Josh leave his office. I give him a bright smile knowing he can’t say shit to me so close to Bradford’s office. All he does is glare at me before he passes and then reaches out and tugs a strand of my hair. I grit my teeth, wanting to stick my foot out and trip him, but instead I ignore him. I was hoping that if I didn't play into his stupid games he’d leave me alone. It doesn't look like that’s happening.

  “J,” Bradford calls.

  “I’m coming,” I say as I walk into his office.

  He nods to the door for me to close it and I do before taking a seat in one of the old leather chairs. They’ve been here for as long as I can remember, but even when I was a little girl they looked old then, too. Bradford never has anything flashy, but I think he’s one of those people who stuffs money into his mattresses or buries it out in a field. At least that’s how I picture it.

  “Everything go okay yesterday? We didn't get time to talk.” I sit up a little straighter at his question.

  “Yeah. Everything was fine. Did something happen?” Yesterday was easy. I had to slide by a list of places and collect some money owed to him. Then I had to stop at the store for his mom and grab some groceries. I left the money I collected with her and I didn’t run into problems. I never have any issues when I collect dues, either because I’m lucky or Bradford gives me people he knows won't be an issue.

  “Ma said you had dinner with her.”

  I nod because I often do whenever I stop by. She’s always trying to feed me and telling me I’m too small. I helped her cook dinner and she asked me to stay because I always enjoy spending time with her. I don’t know how old she is, but I guess she has to be in her late eighties. She sure doesn’t look like it, or act it for that matter.

  “You look like you have something you want to talk to me about.” He raises an eyebrow. “Are you sure nothing else happened yesterday?”

  The man I’d lifted the wallet from comes to mind. I never try and do that shit so close to where I live and work. I’d only done it because I knew he wasn't from around here. Besides, he had it coming with all that manhandling. Maybe next time he won’t underestimate someone because they’re smaller than him. And have a vagina.

  “No, all my pickups went good, I’ve just got a lot on my mind.” I try not to fidget in my seat. I trust Bradford, but I’ve always hated that his office is at the end of a long narrow hallway and there are no windows. His office door is the only way in or out and it makes me feel trapped. I think it gives Bradford the opposite feeling because he faces the door and god knows what kind of guns he’s got stuck to the underside of his desk.

  “Out with it, Jelly Bean.”

  The name he used to call me when I was a little girl puts me more at ease. I lean back in my chair. He hasn't called me that in a long time. Maybe he can see how anxious I’m feeling. The tingling that lingers isn't helping though. Nor does the suited man who keeps sliding into my thoughts.

  “I want bigger jobs. Something that will make me more money,” I say, and he raises both his graying eyebrows at me. “Not that I’m not thankful for what you give me or anything, I—”

  He lifts his hand to silence me. “I don’t think you’re not appreciative, I know you are. I know when I ask you to do something you’ll get it done. I never have to worry about the things I ask you to do.”

  “Thanks.” I smile, not caring that I’m being given praise for doing things that might be wrong in the eyes of the law. It still feels good to be acknowledged for hard work, even if it isn't on the up and up.

  “It’s actually why I wanted to talk to you; I think it’s time for you to take on bigger jobs. In fact, I think you could make us both a lot of money.” I perk up at that and move closer to the edge of my seat. “I know you want out of here, and I also know that I have a soft spot for you. I want what’s best for you, and if that’s away from here then so be it.”

  My chest warms at his words. I have to fight back tears. It’s silly, I know, but I’m not used to someone caring about me even in the smallest of ways and it feels nice.

  “You weren't meant for this kind of life, Jelly Bean, but it’s the hand you were dealt. You’re good at it, though. You could pick my pocket without me noticing.” he laughs, sounding proud.

  It’s not something I thought I’d be good at, but I am. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do, but hearing Bradford’s praise takes the sting out of some of the petty crimes I’ve done. It doesn't take away all the guilt, but it sure helps.

  “This could get you out of here,” he tells me as he leans forward and taps a folder on his desk.

  “And you?” I ask, wondering why he still does this.

  “I’ll never be out of here. Unlike you it’s in my blood. Besides, I’d go stir crazy sitting at home and this keeps me busy.” He shrugs.

  “There are other things you could do,” I offer.

  “Maybe,” he says, but we both know he isn't going anywhere.

  He opens the folder and I lean into his desk as he turns it towards me. I can feel the blood drain from my face as I look down at a picture of the same man I haven't been able to get out of my mind. The one I tried to knee in the balls and then stole his wallet. Those blue eyes are as blue as I remember and it sends a warm shiver down my body.

  “Bennett Hughes,” Bradford says, but I’m more than aware of who he is. “He has something I want and you’re going to get it for me.”

  Chapter 4

  Bennett

  I take a drink of my wine as I stare at the glass case against the wall. Inside is a single object that James is coming for. It’s an interesting name for a girl, and when I asked Bradford about it he said that she was named after her grandfather. He didn’t give up much information beyond that, and though he didn't act like she was important to him, his silence spoke volumes.

  When I got to his office last night I told him who I was looking for. I was surprised to see his eyes light up right away when I gave him the description and the location of the incident. Bradford doesn’t normally play his cards so close to his chest with me, and I could tell that she meant something to him. I can’t help but wonder why he gave her up at all if she was important to him. It doesn’t matter either way, because money is the most important thing to him and I’ve got as much as he wants. I would have drained my trust fund to find her and he knew it.

  The priceless Fabergé egg lies nestled in a pillow of velvet with lights on around it. It’s been in my family a century
, but I’ve never really looked at it like this before. It’s always been here in its case and I walk by it almost every day without noticing it. But now I see it with new eyes because this is what’s going to bring her to me.

  It’s late, but I can’t exactly sleep out here in front of it to see when she decides to pay me a visit, so I drain the last of my glass and go into the kitchen. I place the glass by the sink and then walk through the house once more before I go upstairs. There is plenty of security on the property and I offered to remove them if Bradford would let me know what night James was going to come. He just laughed and shook his head saying she would get around them. I didn’t want to insult him or her, but if my security lets her slip through then I’ve got more problems than her stealing an egg I could give two shits about.

  I have a housekeeper that lives here full time, but she goes out of town to her sister’s house on the weekends. I also employ a butler who manages the property, but he’s vacationing this weekend with grandchildren in Disney.

  I don’t have many people over to my house, but it feels as though someone is always here. I guess with the both of them gone at the same time the house is truly empty. The security guards stay outside and around the estate so it’s just me roaming the dark halls of my home.

  When I get to my bedroom I take off my clothes down to my boxer briefs and get in bed. I lie there without the lights on and let my eyes adjust. Every minor sound grabs my attention and I know that I won’t get a bit of sleep. What if she’s able to break in and take the egg without me noticing?

  The fantasies I’ve had about her have been beyond indecent. Everything filthy thing I can think of doing to her has been on a loop in my head. I’ve never been one to jerk off, but I can’t seem to stop when it comes to thoughts of her. Even now my hand slides down over my stomach and down the dark patch of hair to my cock. It’s hard and lying against me as I wrap my hands around it. I don’t need to jerk off because I’ve done it three times today already, but no matter how many times I spurt into my hand it’s never enough.

  I groan as I cup my balls and think about her soft hands there. Pre-cum leaks into my boxer briefs and smears against my skin. I’m sticky with need for her and I groan as I slide my hand up and down. The image of her on the ground with me on top of her fills my mind. I move my hand faster as I think about rutting her into the floor. I’ve never needed anything more.

  The sharp sound of glass breaking rings out in my ears and I still my hand as I sit up in bed. My heart is pounding in my ears because I’m so close to cumming, but then my adrenaline spikes because this might be the moment I’ve been waiting for.

  I’m sweaty and hard as a goddamn hammer as I jump out of bed as quietly as I can and slip down the hall. When I reach the edge of the stairs I can make out the light from the case down below. I see a shadow move and I know I won’t have long.

  Slowly I edge down the stairs and when I reach the bottom she comes into view. She’s facing the case and her back is to me, but I’d know that shape anywhere. I may have only had her in my arms for a few seconds, but it’s burned into me like a brand.

  There is some broken glass on the floor below her and I see that she’s cut around the lock. She was probably unable to pick it because I glued it shut so she’d be forced to break the glass. At least this part of my plan is working out to my advantage.

  I move closer and watch as she opens the case and reaches for the egg. Her fingers wrap around it and she lifts it from its stand, and I pause just a few feet from her and clench my fists at my side to keep from reaching for her.

  She places the egg inside a case then slips it into her bag. She’s done her job and as much as I want to go to her, to hold her once again, I take a step back and slip into the shadows of the hall. She doesn’t turn around as she looks on either side of her, making sure she didn’t get caught. I have to give her credit, she must be good at what she does if she was able to slip past my guards.

  Seeing her isn’t enough though. I want to grab her and hold her against me. My cock is hard and throbbing as I slip my hand down into my boxers and go back to what I was doing upstairs. I thought she would leave right away, but she’s still standing there looking around.

  It takes all I have to control my breathing as my cock swells and leaks onto my hand. I’ve been on edge all night and now I’m close. The proximity to her and the sight of her in my home is enough and a warm stream of cum releases from me and rolls down my hand.

  As if she can sense that I’m finished she licks her lips and then walks away and out of the house. I’m standing there a sticky mess covered in my own desire. The only thing I can think of is how to get her back and how to give her everything. If she wants to steal everything I have I’ll give her a key and open my arms. Everything I have is hers for the taking and maybe that’s what she wants. The thrill of the chase?

  If she wants to be hunted, she’s in for a treat. I’m all too willing to become the beast she desires.

  Chapter 5

  James

  The Fabergé egg is heavier than I’d thought it was going to be. I try to not focus on its weight as I wonder what the fuck is wrong with me. I completely froze after I took it and I still don’t understand why. It was like part of me wanted to get caught. This was the third time I’d done something stupid when it came to this man.

  The first was lifting his wallet, the second keeping it, and then I stood there like I was waiting for him to grab me. When nothing happened disappointment sparked me back into action. I realized what I was doing—playing a game I shouldn't. Fear of being caught rules my life.

  This time when I take off through his estate I’m not as hesitant as I was coming in. I slip into the shadows and make sure I stayed unnoticed. The great thing about being as small and as quick as I am, most of the sensors that line the home track me as an animal.

  I move quickly to get off the property as fast as possible, but I keep looking over my shoulder the whole time. I listen for the sounds of dogs, but they don’t come and instead alarms go off and I swear I can feel a beast tracking me. Even if I don’t hear one, I feel it lurking not far behind.

  Shouts ring out from the same men I slipped past on the way in because I’m not hiding now. I already made myself known when I shattered the glass. I didn’t try to do it quietly either and that was stupid. For some reason I wanted him to know it was me.

  I take a deep breath as I push harder and move towards the wall. That’s the most challenging part of getting in and out of here. I flex my fingers in my glove-covered hands, making sure they’re still snug as I leap with all my force onto the wall. I use my right foot to push myself up and then my left. With a loud grunt I raise myself up while I grip the top of the wall. Lights flood the estate grounds and light everything up. I stand there looking back at the giant home that was more of a museum than anything as the guards run towards me. I fight a smug smile because I’ve gotten one over on this guy again. I relish it for a moment knowing they can’t catch me now.

  All of the security guards are too big to be able to scale the wall like I did. Sometimes strength can actually be a weakness. I pull my hood over my head as I turn and jump. I brace myself for the fall, bending my knees and using my left hand to hit the ground with my feet to spread the hard shock of the blow my body will take. I suck in a breath to give my body the second it needs to let the impact roll through it before I push off the ground and race down the along rock wall that surrounds the castle-like home.

  When I was inside the mansion I itched to explore it. I wanted to see what other goodies were nestled inside. I probably wouldn’t be good at knowing what was worth the most money because I had to google what Bradford told me. I had no clue what a Fabergé egg was. They were strangely pretty but my eyes almost bugged out of my head when I saw the range of prices they could go for. Who pays that for an egg you can’t even eat? People with more money than god is my only guess. When you have so much money you don’t know what to do with it you buy stu
pid shit, I guess.

  The price on this egg could change my life. I wonder how long it would have taken for someone to notice it was missing if I hadn’t had to shatter the glass to get to it.

  I pull my gloves off and stuff them into my pocket. When I glance at my watch I see my heart rate and it’s higher than it should be. It will start to slow me down soon if it doesn't level out, and I’ve still got a ways to go.

  I keep running as I pull out my burner phone and log into the Lyft app I signed up for with a gift card and fake information. I type in that I want the car to pick me up a mile from where I am as I keep running. The six minutes it takes me to get to the pickup spot feels longer than it should, but the car pulls up at the same time as me and I hop in. I already have my destination keyed in. I drop my head back and close my eyes as I try and even out my breathing. Shit, this guy is fucking with me.

  The job is finished but somehow I know this isn’t over; I can feel it. The car pulls up two miles from my place, and when I get out I give the driver the rest of the money left on the gift card for a tip before I throw the burner phone in a trash can. It’s late at night and I’m done running so I pull off my hoodie and let my hair down. Someone in all black this time of night moving too quickly would only draw attention.

  I slip in the back door of the bar and hear the music playing softly. I head up the stairs and unlock my door then close it quickly behind me. I flip the lock and when it clicks into place relief falls over me. I stand there, letting out a long.

  That is until a hand comes down over mine and I start to scream. But just as I do, a hand clamps over my mouth and I still. There is nowhere to go and he’s all around me. His chest is to my back and he’s caging me in. Just from his hands alone I can tell the man is big, but when his scent hits me as his mouth comes to my ear I know instantly who he is. My fear shouldn’t calm, but for some crazy reason it does and I lean back into him. I gasp behind his hand covering my mouth when I feel every hard inch of him.