Free The Russian's Tenacious Lover by Nic Saint Page A

entrusted the organization of the job entirely to him, in spite of her suspicions.
    “Well, all right, honey,” he relented, not wanting to keep her in suspense any longer. “If Tom says he can use me on this job, I guess he must be right. The man clearly knows what he’s doing.”
    She caught the irony in his voice, for she directed a scrutinizing gaze at him. “Well, he does,” she said a little defensively. “He managed to stay out of prison all these years, so he must be doing something right, right?” She frowned, not happy with the way that came out.
    “Of course, darling,” he agreed good-naturedly. Then his face clouded. “The only thing that worries me a little bit… if we both get caught and thrown in jail, who’s going to look after Lydia?”
    She placed a hand on his shoulder. “We won’t get caught, Dad. I’ll make sure we don’t.”
    “Do you really think Thomas can pull this off? I thought he said it was impossible?”
    “He’s since changed his tune. Now he says it’s a cakewalk. In and out in no time. Easiest job in the world.”
    Odd, Hugh felt. Why would Thomas suddenly change his mind about the difficulties they were facing? For a thief, the man was charming, to be sure, but the fact that his elusive daughter, who had never shown any interest in men, suddenly started relying on him for a crucial endeavor worried him.
    He studied her closely. His exacting, demanding, efficient little girl, the consummate professional, was behaving like an amateur on this assignment, the most personal one she’d ever endeavored. He’d told her a million times not to risk her life and career for the retrieval of Mummy’s pearls, but she was unwavering in her resolve. It disconcerted him while simultaneously affecting him tremendously.
    “All right, then. Let’s trust Thomas to do what he does best. If the man says it can be done, we’ll just have to take his word for it.”
    “Don’t know about Jennifer Crocket, though,” spoke Glynis with a frown. “I don’t like the fact that Tom would allow an amateur to toddle along.”
    “I’m an amateur,” he pointed out, but she wasn’t listening.
    “The girl is simply a child. A big-bosomed child, granted, but still a child,” muttered Glynis as if speaking to herself rather than including him in her thoughts. She shook her head. “If her father knew about this, he’d be livid.”
    “Yes,” mused Hugh. He’d wondered about that. The unholy bond of the young socialite and the country’s most renowned jewel thief had quite surprised him when Glynis first brought it to his attention. Nothing good could come of it, he felt. Bored teenagers were a dime a dozen in the world of the upper classes, but very few took to burgling houses or cracking safes just to amuse themselves. Sooner or later she would get caught, and the scandal might well ruin Charles Crocket, one of his best friends.
    “Perhaps you should have a word with Charles?” suggested Glynis. “Tell him to keep his daughter on a shorter leash?”
    He arched an inquisitive eyebrow. “I thought you said we needed her on this job? That we couldn’t do without her?”
    “We could use her on this job, sure,” amended Glynis, “but the moment the pearls are in our possession, she should be stopped from going down the path of crime. I really don’t want to have to arrest her, Dad.”
    “You would arrest her?”
    “Of course! In a heartbeat!” she cried indignantly. “I’m still a cop, aren’t I? The moment we have Mummy’s pearls back, I’m arresting the both of them. Serves them right for stealing.” Then she reconsidered. “On second thoughts, perhaps I should give her another chance. She is only eighteen, after all. At that age, we are basically all blithering idiots.” She patted his arm. “The moment this thing is over, you better have that talk. Tell Charles his daughter is straying from the straight and narrow and associating with known criminals.” Then she grinned.