An amateur's guide to conning a conman

Chapter 29

I knew my father wasn't a good person but he did what he did and he provided for me. My father never pressured me to be one despite him being one of the best in the country. But my grandparents were a different story. The second they laid their eyes on me I became Salina Dark, future prodigy and successor of my father.

They were sweetliars, my father was too, and so was my birth mother, I was to carry out tradition. My father really tried to keep my sheltered from it all but my grandmother started training me at five, ten years before the average child was recruited.

I began conning people at age eight. It was easy, most people wouldn't suspect an eight year old to be smart, quick, or cruel.

But my grandparents also forgot, I was a kid and kids make mistake. My mistake happen to be failing at one of my missions, I had been stupid enough to fail stealing a nobel's bangle. The guards chased me into a corner, it wasn't until they realized who I was did they let me go.

My life for my father's. He shouldn't have taken it. But he did, they cuffed him and sentenced him for all his crimes. He died in prison a few months later. They tried to tell us that it was a freak incident.

I never believed them.

My grandparents trained me harder, colder, and used Adan as my partner.

Dante was right, sweetliars got their tattoos at eighteen, I got mine at eight. I still remember my grandparents' rough hands on me as they held me down for the ink artist.That was when I finally broke, I hated training, I hated not having a normal childhood.

I hated being a sweetliar.

Titus's hand was warm against my skin and I wished we were under different circumstances so that I could lean up and just kiss him and everything would be okay.

" Yeah. I am." I said pathetically.

It was quiet for a little bit.

" Why didn't you say anything?"

" I left this life years ago, I never wanted to be a sweetliar Titus."

He spun me, my dress picked up with the motion and for a second I allowed myself pretend that we were just dancing.

" I'm sorry." He said softly, " I knew that Cesar was the man we were looking for. I tried to find him at the auction, I didn't want both of you to get hurt. And then you both did get hurt and I don't know what else to say to you then I'm sorry."

I glanced past him and watched Adan stand up, his hand held out to the women and she took it. Then they disappeared into the crowd

We stopped dancing and again I was left staring at his crimson eyes. The same eyes that I saw every damn night I closed my eyes.

I was about to say something when I noticed that both the fortune teller and Cesar were now gone. Fuck.

" I-"

There was a scream and my head whipped around to see what had happened. Cesar had somehow intercepted Adan and the women and now they were fighting over the necklace.

The women was screaming, begging them both to stop. Adan hit the ground and then Cesar darted to the nearest exit.

The crowd erupted into concerned whispers and even a few nervous laughter.

Titus shot a glance towards Dante and Jacy and then they were off.

" I need you to be safe. Please just stay here." He held my face and I was so tempted to say okay.

He ran after them and I sighed. I'm sorry Titus. I would have done anything else you asked. Just not this.

I rushed over to help Adan to his feet.
" Sorry, turns out there's a reason he's the best in his generation."

I would have laughed if I wasn't high on adrenaline. " We got to find him before the fortune teller does."

" Sia usually I've seen everything but honestly what the hell have you gotten yourself into?"

We took off and it was a pain to carry the train of silk in my arms but I pushed on.

The first exit led to a dead end and we circled back to a back entrance. My hair had fallen out of its tight pinned up and whipped across my face.

It was another dead end and I stared at the wall. Damnit. Where did they go?

" This whole building, how many rooms are there?"

" There's two hallways, give or take twenty rooms."

" You take one hallway and I'll take the other."

" Is that really a good idea? You've been out of training for almost a decade."

" Well we don't have a choice do we? There are three different groups after the necklace. I can't have the chance of it falling into the wrong hands again. I can't do this anymore."

Adan nodded, " Okay, let's go."

We split off at the hallways and I took the right one. I opened the first door but it was empty. It wasn't until I pushed open the fourth door that I heard voices coming from the end of the hall.

I could hear Titus's voice and the fortune teller's.

I should have come up with a better plan, but I couldn't find another opening or door. I could always run back and try to find Adan but so much could happen in that time.

I placed my hand on the knob and pushed the door open.

It took everything in me not to show emotion. I kept my face blank and cool.

The first thing I noticed was that Jacy was on the ground, unmoving. The fortune teller's guards had both Titus and Dante to the ground, their heel pressed against each of their heads.

Titus's eyes widened when he noticed me, surprise flashing through his eyes.

Cesar was also on the ground a little away from them and the fortune teller had the necklace in her hand, and a small dagger in her free hand.

Oh gods.

" I'm sorry. I think I'm lost." I let out a laugh and leaned my shoulder against the doorframe.

" Oh well. This seems way more interesting than what's going on on the dance floor. I would like to stay, is that all right with you?"