Read Online Thief: The Scarab Beetle Series: #1 (The Academy) by C. L. Stone - Free Book Online

fountains? Or at least a brick front office with a sign out front that told people what it was?
    “Go Detective Kaylie,” Raven said. He opened the door, unfolding himself to step out. I followed. He grabbed the gold box that was on the floor. “What’s this?”
    Before I could answer, he had the box open and picked out a piece of truffle. He sniffed it, and took a bite. “Not bad,” he said, licking his lips.
    “Hey,” I said. “Save me one.”
    “ Kto ne uspel - tot opozdal ,” he said.
    “Huh?”
    “You snooze, you lose,” Marc said. “Give her the box, Raven.”
    “Don’t worry. I’m just carrying it for her. It’s not my type. I prefer a steak.” He smirked as he passed by me. “Or a nice bite of a good-looking bird.”
    I waited until he had turned around before I gulped.
    I let the guys walk ahead of me. I could smell the ocean breeze from where we were. Part of the bridge that crossed the Ashley River and headed to John’s Island stuck out in the horizon. I guessed that people on the upper floors could possibly see more of the bay and a good portion of the water. I sensed the water was just beyond where I could see.
    I’d have given up my left eyeball to live in such a place. This close to the islands and downtown? With a view of the water? Sign me up.
    I followed the guys to the lobby, where a security guard was perched at a desk. She glanced up, nodded quickly, smiled at the two boys, and shared the same smile with me. I pretended to be dazzled by a painting on the wall and avoided eye contact. Felt bad about it after. It was an instinctual reaction to anyone wearing a security uniform.
    At the elevator, Raven smacked the buttons and the boys loaded in. I stepped in beside them. Raven held open the door as a couple of guys I didn’t recognize hurried down the hallway and got in.
    “What floor?” Marc asked.
    “Eleven,” one of the guys said. Marc punched the button, but the guy kept his head turned, looking at me. “Haven’t seen you before. You new?”
    I felt an arm sliding around my shoulders. Marc leaned in on me, tilting his head toward mine. His hand squeezed my arm, tucking me into his body. “She’s just visiting.”
    Disappointment crept across the guy’s face, but he nodded and turned to stare at the doors.
    What a jerk! He didn’t give me a chance to talk myself. As if I needed help letting a guy down. I elbowed Marc in the gut. Marc made a noise that sounded like a smothered groan and eased his arm from around me, but still hung on loosely around my shoulders.
    We got off on floor seven. When the elevator doors closed behind us, I pulled away from Marc and got some distance between us. “What was that for?” I asked.
    “Don’t flatter yourself,” he said, starting down the hallway. “I just didn’t want you distracted.”
    “I can tell a guy no. Or not. Maybe I wanted his phone number.”
    “You wouldn’t have asked.”
    “How do you know?”
    “He’s not your type.”
    “How would you know my type?”
    Raven pressed his palm against his forehead. “God. You guys sound like you’re already married. This is going to be a disaster.”
    “Shut up,” Marc and I said in unison. I glared at him. And he had the audacity to stare right back, smiling like he was enjoying this!
    Marc paused in front of Apartment 737. The door was unlocked and he and Raven walked in.
    There was a small living area, with a hallway on the left and right The dining nook had several desks around the wall and a couple of computers on top of each. There was a tiny kitchen, with a dingy electric stove, and a worn fridge. For the rest of the apartment, the walls were a hideous off-white and the floors were wall-to-wall with an old beige carpet that was maybe white once. There was a large brown faux leather couch that took up most of the living room, facing a large flat-screen television.
    The space also had a heavy smell of coffee and sweetness. I could have mistaken the place for a coffee