Page 68 of The Worst of Them
A few moments later, Frederick turned to the group at large and held up a hand for silence. “The governor leaves for the continent in three weeks,” he said. “We’ll go in then, but before we plan too far, shall we debate the rules?”
“Let’s,” Maria said.
“First!” he said, holding up a finger. “I propose we have four teams. We go in for one hour, all at once, and whoever comes out with the object of highest value…” he waved his hand toward the mansion with a flourish, “wins.”
“What’ll the prize be?” Greyson asked. “Glory? Like every year?”
“A chest full of diamonds,” Maria crowed.
Jack snorted. “And where, dear Maria, do you suppose we get a chest of diamonds?”
“Surely your father has one somewhere.”
“Surely he’d notice it missing,” Jack said. “But if he can get Robin’s treasure—”
“Bah!” said Frederick. “Won’t happen. Doesn’t exist. And don’t give me that look, Jack. Robin’s old and stupid, but he won’t do a damn thing to help your father.”
Jack shook his head, his expression tight. “Don’t let the captain hear that.”
“Don’t tell him I said it,” Frederick said with a shit-eating grin, “and he won’t have to know.”
“Glory then,” Killian said, steering the conversation back to the rules of their heist. “And how shall we split the teams?” He looked at Fay. “Couples? One man, one lady each.”
There were mutterings of assent. Cecily assumed that with three other couples, Jack was her only prospect for a partner. She doubted they could spend ten minutes alone without throttling each other, let alone a whole hour. And with three weeks until the heist, how much further could the two of them destroy themselves before then?
At the thought of how long their animosity might last and how deeply it would burn, a horribly fun idea began to form.
“Have you ever robbed the mansion with them?” Cecily asked Hein.
His eyes were already on her before the question had even begun to leave her lips. “I’ve never been invited.”
“Ah, Hector,” Maria said. “It’s nothing personal. You know we love you.”
Both nerves and anticipation wound through Cecily’s ribs and squeezed. She didn’t let it show as she asked, “Would you be my partner?”
“Oh hell,” Frederick said, brows high in surprise. The others looked at each other—and stole furtive glances at Jack.
She wouldn’t let herself be stuck with him, even if it put a snag in planning for the heist. She didn’t have to do the heist at all, in that case. In fact, Jack might be more agreeable to letting her stay back.
The officer’s smile widened. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Cecily swung her attention to Frederick. “Would it be any trouble?” she asked. She could feel Jack’s stare practically tearing into her flesh. “I apologize if it’s not my place, but I only assumed when you said couples…”
She and Jack were not a couple, nor would she let their status default to that. Not when Jack had such a convenient and alluring rival.
Friends the two men may be, but there was a preexisting competition between them, thriving just under the surface of their friendship.
Frederick glanced at the others. When no one objected, he shook his head. “No trouble if you want to join us, Hein.” A slow grin spread. “It might make things more interesting with you along.”
Hein faced Jack. “You don’t mind, do you, Jack? I’d assumed she’d be your partner.”
The first mate’s expression was far too neutral. Though he watched Hein with enough intensity to make her uneasy, the officer didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.
Jack hesitated for only a breath, then asked casually, “Why would I mind?” A wicked grin appeared, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’ll be more fun this way. And I’ll still out-steal every one of you.”
Jack didn’t speak to her again until that night.
After leaving the outcropping at dusk, Cecily made her way down the hill next to Hein, who lightly held her elbow or placed his fingers on the small of her back as she navigated the uneven ground. She didn’t mind the touches, answering his harmless questions and snickering at the stories he told to entertain her.
