The Heist (6 page)

“Soon,” he murmured then left.

“Damn it, Sasha! You and your big mouth!” she huffed.

Chapter Four

Kumar rocked back in his chair before Lee. Abahti stood behind his boss, glowering as usual. He had been summoned without explanation. All night, Kumar had worked his ass off to penetrate the security of a topnotch high-tech museum with pen cameras, and then hack into an impenetrable security system. Now he would finally hear why.

The door opened behind him. He felt her arrival without turning. He’d seen her with Pops on several occasions, but always from afar. When she appeared to his left, his eyes slipped over. Sasha was pretty but Michelle ‘
Chocolat
’ Dixon was beautiful. Though, for Kumar, her hard edge and kick-ass aura made her less appetizing. Yes, he preferred Sasha’s soft innocence.

Michelle carried a long tube tucked under her arm.

“Lee,” Michelle greeted.

“You’ve made a decision?”

“We’ll do it. I’ll do it, but it’s my show, I go alone.”

“And?” Lee asked.

“I want our agreed amount and your word that you will never come near me and my sister again.”

“And?”

“If we’re going for it, then it has to be tomorrow. The stones are being moved to the vaults, according to my contact.”

Lee smiled. “I’m pleased.”

“What’s in the tube?” Kumar interjected. Michelle cut him down with a curious look. Kumar immediately regretted drawing attention to himself.

“Who are you?”

“This is Kumar. He’s your partner. Your way in and out,” Lee explained.

Michelle sighed at his youth. “How old are you? Twenty? Twenty-one?”

“I’m twenty-seven.”

“Right.” Michelle looked back to Lee. “This is the layout for the museum. The most recent.”

“Where’d you get them?” Lee asked.

“Library.” She turned to Kumar. “Come on, we have work to do!”

***

Sasha wrung out the washcloth. Kumar had brought her toothpaste, a toothbrush, and some other toiletries. She was actually looking forward to his trips and little gifts. She felt less and less like a hostage, and more and more like a woman with a crush. A new crush. Kumar returned late to check up on her. She was up, re-watching his horror movies.

Yesterday they sat and talked. She learned a lot about his life in India. For instance, he took care of damn near an entire village with the money he was making from Lee. He was so smart too, and mysterious. He told her all about the moon she was born under and her zodiac sign. He talked about the negative stereotypes of brown people in the world, namely Muslims, and shared his dreams of someday returning home. She found him to be a different, unique kind of guy that she wouldn’t have looked at twice if it weren’t for their circumstances.

When she asked him if he ever dated a black girl, he blushed. He admitted he hadn’t. He would never be able to take one home. Their marriages were arranged at birth. She found that odd.

That was yesterday, she hadn't seen Kumar since.

Sasha reclined against the wall. Folding her legs in front of her, she glanced to the door each time she heard a noise. She had finished the brainteaser book he left her with; now she was bored. So all she could do was sit and think on the small moments they’d shared. She heard the door open and stood. She stepped forward, then back as she took account of who had entered. Lee was there with the big black guy who tagged along wherever he went.

“What’s going on?” she asked, with a hand to her chest.

“Have a seat, Sasha. We need to talk.” Lee spoke to her as if they were about to conduct a business meeting. It was almost hysterical how he ignored the fact she was shackled and trapped in a warehouse.

Dragging her chain, she scampered over to the bunk and plopped down on it. Her hair was now limp and listless, tied in a single braid down her back. The only part she hated was she was still wearing the dress she’d worn to Lee’s that fateful day. “What is it you want now?” she asked.

“I have news. Your sister will go for the Jesus Stones tomorrow night, and as promised, I will let you go.”

“I can’t believe you kidnapped me for real. What kind of psycho are you?”

Lee pulled a chair over and sat down. “There are some lessons for you in this, Sasha. You’d be wise to pay attention.”

She glared at him but said nothing.

“Never tease a man like me if you aren’t prepared to go the distance.
Chocolat
isn’t stupid. If you were returned to her from days at the spa, she would have seen through you.”

“So you wanted me tortured to be authentic? What about my necklace and bracelet? Was that an illusion, too?”

“Those diamonds have to be earned. Sucking my dick is no way to earn them with me.”

“Then what?”

Lee removed an envelope from the inside pocket of his jacket. He passed it to her. “Your first job. Three weeks from now, you need to be ready.”

She reached for the padded envelope with care. Opening it, she frowned at the contents. “Are you kidding? Even if I could do this, Michelle will never agree to it.” She read the name of the mark; vaguely she remembered Pops mentioning a guy named Rawhead. Who would forget a name like that? “No way, man, my sister would be on to us. I can’t do it.”

“I’ll take care of your sister. Kumar will work with you on the details. You will meet with him for the next three weeks, and then it’s on.”

Sasha panicked; she tried to rise when he did, to grab his arm. “Wait, wait a minute? Are you saying I work for you now? It’s official?”

He winked. “I suggest we keep that bit of information a secret for now.”

“Lee!”

He paused at the open door.

“What’s my cut? What are the terms?”

“We’ll discuss it another time.”

“No!” she shouted. Lee turned and she crossed her arms in defiance. “We talk now. You’ve treated me like crap. No respect. I don’t deserve that. My sister is going to make you rich, I will make you rich, I want respect. Besides, what would Pops think of how you are treating us? I remember him talking about you. You two were friends.”

“You remember wrong,” Lee said and left. Sasha remained rooted to the spot, stunned. She was getting way in over her head. She removed the contents and the description of the locking system he wanted her to get past. Suddenly, getting in the business didn’t seem so appealing.

***

Sasha woke.

She heard voices outside her door. The two apes had taken less and less of an interest in her as Kumar’s visits increased in frequency. She heard them now and feared that with Kumar gone, they would act on their threat. When the door opened, she grabbed the plastic knife from the dinner they had given her. It wasn’t much, but a stick in the eye could work.

Her fears eased once her Indian prince walked through the door.

Relieved, she dropped the knife and rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his neck as best as she could with the chains on her wrists. “Where have you been?”

Kumar seemed surprised by the affection. Letting her go, he gave a nervous smile. “Work. You okay? They didn’t bother you, did they?”

“I’m fine, but Lee was here.”

He nodded that he heard.

“He wants me to do a job, Kumar. He wants me to steal for him.”

“I’m sorry, Sasha. I got the orders, too. He thinks you can crack safes. Can you?”

“I….” She stepped back. Turning, she looked at him with a sly smile. “What does my aura say?”

“Your aura says you’re meant for greater things than being Lee’s jewel thief. If you want me to help you find a way out of it, I can. We’ve just got to convince him you can’t do it.”

“That’s sweet,” she murmured softly.

“I saw your sister. She’s going to rob a museum. He’s forcing her to do it.”

“Oh, he is?” Sasha asked with an innocent blink.

“Yes, but get this…I think she can. She has a solid plan. She’s really good, just like Pops.”

Sasha sighed. “Yeah I know.
Chocolat
is perfect. She’s a gem, all right.”

Kumar took her hand. “But you’re the diamond. The rare, special one. I see that, too. So does Lee, to give you a job like this.”

Sasha melted from his touch and squeezed his hand in response. She averted her gaze. Kumar leaned in closer, her eyes lowered to his mouth just as they brushed hers. She parted her lips and welcomed the tender kiss. He slipped his tongue in, shyly at first, so she lifted her chained hands between them to hold his face. Sasha inhaled a deep breath, seeking to bring him deeper into the moist cavern of her mouth.

Before Sasha could draw in a second breath from the passionate uniting of their tongues, he swept her up in his arms. Her chains clanked, but they both ignored them as he carried her to her cot. He came down upon it with her, never breaking their kiss.

Sasha fell under his spell—the one that soothed the wounds of her insecure heart. His tongue speared deeper into her mouth; with a loving swirl, he offered her a taste of passion she had never known. Her only regret was her inability to wrap her arms around his neck. Instead, she clawed at his shirt, forcing him to pull it over his head, as he used greater care in opening hers. Bra-less and wearing no panties, she was undressed swiftly. Her nipples rubbed against the hair on his chest, causing delicious shivers that started and ended in her core.

And they kept kissing.

Sasha brought her arms up then dropped her chain behind his back so she could run her hands across his hard muscles and trace them back up into his hair. She was grateful for the amount of slack the chain between her shackled ankles gave. She was able to part her thighs and welcome him in.

Kumar was in no hurry. He was different than Charlie, the only boy she’d been with. He was a patient lover. When his lips left hers, burning for more, he became even more attentive to her sensitive spots, in particular the oversized nipples of her small breasts. The slow licks and flicks of his tongue made her vaginal walls clench. He stopped to blow his sweet warm breath over her skin and admire her in the dark. She moaned for release when his knuckles grazed downward, and she parted her thighs a fraction to let his touch slip to her center. Pleasure surfaced like a warm wave washing over her quivering clit. A sudden current of desire sent shockwaves through her pelvis. He continued to rub the silken sex-button until her entire body shook out her release. Creaming his fingers with her essence as his tongue snaked downward, Sasha tilted her head back all the way as a deep soulful moan of pleasure escaped her.

When he applied kisses there and then sucked her intensely, she grabbed his thick locks and pressed her thighs together to keep him going. Shoving her sex up into his face, she came in such a wondrous volcanic eruption of sensations that she was actually tearing.

“You’re so beautiful Sasha, so special,” Kumar whispered, lifting his head up for air. She looked down at him and within the darkness, she saw herself the way he saw her reflected in his eyes. It sent a surge of humility through her.

“I’m not,” she whimpered.

“Yes, you are, let me show you,” Kumar replied. A condom appeared in his hand. He must have retrieved it from his pocket when she was caught up in the throes of passionate kiss between her thighs. No matter, he rolled down his shaft quickly and Sasha felt herself moisten even more. The head of his cock angled for the best position between the swollen, moist lips of her sex. He entered her with ease. Sasha gripped his arms, unable to lock her legs around him the way she wanted. But their lovemaking continued. He pumped his hips, his cock tunneling deeply. She wound her hips then bucked in response as his balls smacked her ass.

Sasha arched under him like a cat seeking her master’s caress. If this wasn’t making love, she didn’t know what was. Soft adoring kisses rained over her face as he worked his hips to make her feel every inch of him. She turned her face away. The deception she tried to pull over her sister that landed her in captivity made her feel inadequate under such praise.

“I’ll protect you, I promise.” He released his seed as he made his vow. Sasha held on to that promise and surrendered to their passion. Lee may have kidnapped her, but it was Kumar who stole her heart.

***

“So you want to do the job?” Kumar asked, and she heard the disappointment in his voice. They lay on the cot under a thin sheet. She rested on top of him, between his legs. Kumar ran his finger down her spine, tracing each vertebra.

“I can do the job. Lee knows it.”

“But
Chocolat
—”

“This isn’t about my sister. It’s me. I can do it if you help me.” She pleaded with her eyes. “Will you help me?”

He smiled sadly. “Yes, we’ll do it together, if that’s what you really want.”

Sasha settled on his answer. Her face pressed against his chest as she listened to the rhythmic harmony of his heartbeat. Was this what she truly wanted? No. The time for indecision and regrets were over. Her actions sealed her fate. Michelle would never forgive this betrayal, and Sasha had little doubt that Lee would expose her lies to her sister if she refused. Being on Lee’s leash was not the way she envisioned her re-entry to the jewel smuggling business. The reality was this deal would be her only choice.

Chapter Five

Lee paced. One hand behind his back, he moved slowly but watchfully, silently contemplating the risks and the rewards if they pulled this heist off. He stood before flat-screen monitors. The video feed looped a prerecorded broadcast, a camouflage to what really held his interest. The screen blinked, then focus returned.

Chocolat
appeared.

Tracking her would be hard, he’d been told. She wore an all-black full bodysuit that fit like another skin; she moved with the darkness, her slim ponytail swaying. He stared at the screen as her shadowy figure became clearer. The moon from the ceiling skylights gave him enough of a preview. Her skin, like powdered cinnamon, was beautiful beyond comprehension. A slow secretive smile formed on her lips. She was beautiful. Years ago he refused to admit how desirable Michelle Dixon was. After all, she was a kid, and even if she matured early, Lee was not that bastard. But he had the pleasure of watching her bloom into a woman. And though he never approached her, crossed any lines, he never denied himself the pleasure of imagining what the feel of her skin, or the sweet smell of her sweat would be if he had her in his arms.