Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ben

Fifteen Years Earlier…

I’m sick to death of my life. I don’t trust Dirk and his cronies as far as I can throw any of them. But the convenience store? Really?

They’re dumber than I thought.

Rob a place that never closes, that has security cameras everywhere? Not too bright.

A couple weeks ago, Dad sent me on an errand to a warehouse to pick up supplies. While I was there, I made a discovery.

Cash.

About fifty Gs total.

I found it stashed behind a piece of plywood covering the drywall on the far side of the warehouse where the two-by-fours are located.

I wasn’t looking for it. The guy at the front desk knows me and lets me grab what I need if it’s a small order. I wasn’t in any hurry to get back on the job, so I took my time…and I found the cash.

Whether it belongs to the guy who owns the warehouse or one of the employees, I have no idea.

But it’s there. I know it’s there. And I know how to get into the warehouse.

I saw the clerk enter the lockbox code once when he was closing at the same time I left. I memorized the code. Not on purpose or anything. I have one of those brains. I remember things.

No one will be at the warehouse at night. We won’t have to hold anyone up.

And I can sure use my share of fifty grand. The first thing I’m buying is a fucking case of beef jerky.

“Keep talking, Black,” Dirk says.

“It’s a warehouse in the industrial district. There’s cash there, and I can get in.”

“How?” Carlos asks.

“Does it matter?”

Dirk shakes his head. “Not in the slightest.”

“We won’t need weapons or anything,” I say. “I’d say we should probably still wear ski masks, just in case, but I’m pretty sure there aren’t any security cameras anywhere. It’s a small warehouse where my father gets some of his supplies cheap. I’ve heard they might be black market.”

“Stolen?”

“Maybe,” I say. “I don’t know. But they’re cheaper than anywhere else.” I lean in. “But here’s the thing. If they are black market, no way will they call the cops if there’s a theft.”

“Sounds interesting,” Jerry says.

“Interesting?” I scoff. “We score fifty times the cash with no chance of getting caught and you call that interesting?”

“I’m in,” Dirk says. “When do we do it?”

I take another cigarette when he offers me his pack. He holds his lighter up, and I take a drag, lighting it. “Tonight,” I say, blowing the smoke out. “We do it tonight.”

…

Present Day…

Tessa headed straight to her suite after our cold plunge. The look on her face after we were talking about her grandmother…

It still haunts me, and I wanted to do something special for her, so I called the resort planner.

After a quick lunch with Braden and the other guys, after which they set out to play nine holes, I knock on Tessa’s door.

She opens it, wearing a green T-shirt and gray sweatpants. Man, she makes anything look good.

“Hi, Ben.”

“Did you bring any jeans with you?” I ask.

“Why?”

“Because I need you to put them on, along with the sneakers you wore on the plane.”

She cocks her head. “What’s this about?”

I beam at her. “It’s a surprise. I’ll wait here while you change.”

“Ben, I kind of want to…” She sighs. “You know what? Yeah. Okay. Give me a minute.” She closes the door.

I can’t help smiling. She’s going to love what’s coming.