Thief of Mine by Amarinda Jones

pissing off any one in the Middle
East was not a smart thing to do at the moment.
    “I had several buyers who had heard of the theft and wanted
the real idol. I managed to track down the most likely thief.” Kit had known
Camille for a very long time. He knew what she liked to acquire for her own.
And yes, he had seduced her, but Camille had been more than willing. They both
had known what was going on.
    “So it is true it takes a thief to know a thief.”
    “Exactly.”
    It was not a normal conversation between two people who
barely knew each other but there it was—evidence that Stella wasn’t normal.
    “So what’s with this idol that so many people want it?”
    Kit felt the same tingling sensation on the back of his
neck. He was a man who lived on his wits. Something did not feel right. Kit
looked around him. He could not see anyone overly suspicious but he intuitively
knew they were being watched. It had to be Camille’s followers. Like everyone,
Kit had a long list of enemies but he knew of no one else that was pissed off
enough to follow him.
    “The idol a fertility statue,” Kit explained as he hurried
Stella along to the lockers. “It’s supposed to make men extra virile and women
more fertile. It’s supposed to have some magical aphrodisiac qualities similar
to all those strange herbs and ground up animal horns that people pay money
for.”
    “So this essentially all comes down to sex.” And sex sold
and people did dumb things for it. She was living proof of that, idol or no
idol.
    “Sex and money and both make the world go round. Some people
would kill for this idol.” Kit felt Stella start to pull away from him.
    “Well, this has been fascinating but if you would be kind
enough to lend me train fare, I’d like to go home.” It had been a long day and
she was sure the thief could handle the whole idol in the locker thing without
her.
    Kit could not have Stella leaving now. It had something to
do with protecting her but more to do with the fact he could not allow Stella
Rowallan to walk out of his life. What Kit felt for her was strong and true,
and he needed to investigate what he was feeling further. It was just more than
the usual thrill of sex. She could not leave him now. Not when they had only
just met.
    “I need you.”
    Stella looked up at him in surprise. Kit sounded like he
meant it. But then he was a thief and ergo a liar, so what could she
believe?
    “What for?” She had never had anyone needing her before. How
did she go about being needed?
    “What if I return the idol?” He was surprised at the words
that came out of his mouth. Kit had up until a moment ago had every intention
of selling it.
    Well, this was a surprise, thought Stella, her bullshit
detector on alert knowing there had to be more going on. A man who one moment
was out for profit and the next throwing it out the window. That did not
compute.
    “What about the other two fakes?” Stella asked skeptically.
    “I could give one to Camille to get her off my back.”
    “Do you think she’s that dumb?” From what little she saw of
the redhead she didn’t strike Stella as the gullible tell me anything type and
I’ll believe it. Surely she would know if she were handed a fake.
    “Damn!” Kit swore suddenly and pushed Stella into the nearby
automatic photo booth.

Chapter Four
     
    “We’re being followed.” Kit quickly pulled the ugly grey
curtain across the door and looked at Stella. It was a cramped and crowded with
both of them standing, though Kit didn’t mind being crowded by Stella. She
could crowd him any time. He opened the curtain slightly and spotted a couple
of Camille’s people heading in the opposite direction to them. Kit knew they
just had to sit it for ten or so minutes until the coast for clear. Camille’s
people weren’t smart. They wouldn’t look for too long. They were the type of
people who needed a flashing neon sign saying “hiding place” or they would move
on. Kit counted on their