Pop! Pop! Pop!
The sound of gunshots within feet of me was so unexpected that I momentarily froze, until I realized I couldn't stand still if I wanted to get out of there before I got shot.
With hurried fingers, I flung open the safe and dumped all the contents into my backpack before shrugging the straps over my shoulders. I didn't have time to sort through the contents of the safe for the Eye. I had to get out of there now.
I wasted no time in shutting the safe, leaving it as if it had never been touched, and rushed toward the porthole I'd just slipped through.
Footsteps sounded behind me then, and I chanced a quick glance between the window and the door. There wasn't enough time to get out of the room without getting caught. Scrambling to the floor, I crouched beneath Depardieu's desk just before the door crashed open.
My heart thumped wildly in my chest and sweat coated my palms. With silent movements, I slid my hand down my thigh and closed my fingers around the cool metal grip of the gun. I won't lie and say that I've never shot anyone before, because I have. But they were thieves who were trying to shoot me. I wasn't a killer, and with my laundry list of sins I wasn't looking to add murder to it. But I would defend myself if I had to--as long as it wasn't Depardieu or the cops. In that case I would be in the wrong and I was headed to jail. But if another thief thought he could bag me without a fight, well then, that was another story altogether.
I curled myself into a tighter ball and kept my breathing hushed. Whoever had fired those shots was now unlocking the safe. I knew the exact moment he opened it because a string of curses lit up the air. I'd cleaned it out. Later, I would wonder how many damned people had the code to the safe, but for right now all I cared about was getting out of there alive.
I peeked around the desk to catch a quick glimpse of the person trying to mess up my heist. As soon as my gaze landed on him, I froze. What the hell was he doing here? I ducked back behind the desk and held myself still. Shit! He'd seen me. When the steady sound of footsteps drew closer, I flipped the safety to the off position on my gun. If he caught me here, I was dead.
With gun in hand, I readied myself for his attack. All I could do now was hold my breath and wait.
One more step and he would find me crouched beneath the desk. I held my finger on the trigger and steadied my hand, preparing to shoot off a warning shot to distract him long enough for me to run past him, but then I heard the last words a thief ever wants to hear.
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