An amateur's guide to conning a conman

Chapter 30

No one answered me so I shrugged, and kept my blank facade as I closed the door behind me.

" Continue."

My heart was beating so quickly, I thought I would pass out, I barely could hear anything over the blood in my ears.

The men looked at Dante and Titus then at me as if considering if they should approach me.

" Salina Dark." The fortune teller said as if she was testing the way my name sounded in her mouth.

" You look beautiful tonight."

I smiled, " Thank you. My fiancé picked out the dress."

At the words fiancé, Titus stiffened and I had to glance away. She liked drama, she thrived off of it. If I could just get between her and Cesar, I would wrestle the dagger out of her hands.

" You have a fiancé? That's interesting. I thought you had feelings for Titus?"

I inched closer, " I prioritize my duties as a legacy over my feelings. You might know him, Adan Eeican. He's one of the best sweetliars in the country."

Her eyes seemed to shine a little brighter,
" Handsome boy, you're a lucky girl. I heard he orchestrated some of the best heists in history as a teenager."

I snuck a glance at Cesar, he still was unmoving. However Jacy was starting to move, her fingers twitched.

" He did, isn't he?" I smiled.

Come on Jacy, come on. Wake up.

I was now just a mere two feet away. I just needed to keep her talking and distracted.

Her eyes flicked to Cesar and I quickly started talking again, " You said I was lucky why?"

She smiled, " You've faced a lot of despair these past weeks didn't you? I said you were going to meet someone who was going to guide you through everything. I'm happy that you found that person for you. It's rare that in life we find the people to help us guide our way through it."

Then in a blink of eye, everything happened so fast. Jacy pounced on one of the guards and his eyes widened in surprise, he stumbled back, letting Dante escape.

Dante was on his feet and went after the second man. Titus rolled to his feet and rushed towards us.

The women grabbed me so fast, pushing me against her, her hand trembled as the knife touched my skin.

My heart picked up in speed.

Immediately Titus halted, " She hasn't done anything to you. If you want a hostage, you should take me." He said calmly.

She laughed, " She's a legacy. Her life is worth three times yours and a Dark at that."

The fortune teller moved us closer to the door and Titus took a few attentive steps forward, his hands raised as if to say he posed no threat.

" You're going to enter a room full of sweetliars who know who she is. You won't make it to the exit. It'll be smarter to take me." Titus reasoned.

Dante bent down to check on Cesar but by the way his chest rose and fell, I knew he was at least alive.

We shuffled to the door, her grip was becoming painful as the jewel scratched at my arm.

" I'm sorry." I said but it wasn't towards Titus, it was towards the fortune teller. I stepped out, back and then ducked, using the momentum to send her flying over my shoulder.

She screamed, hitting the floor with a thud that sent both the knife and necklace scattering across the floor.

I jumped for the necklace and Titus kicked the knife out of the way. The necklace was as beautiful as the rumors said. Just breathtaking, fit for a queen.

Jacy and Dante were okay, they had tied up the guards in a corner and currently were doing the same to the fortune teller.

" You stupid, stupid girl. What were you thinking?"

I didn't even answer before Titus pulled me into a full embrace. I could smell his familiar cologne and sweat but I didn't care. I didn't care anymore, I didn't care he was a sweetliar, I didn't care if I was going to regret this decision, all I cared was that he was here, I was okay, and that it finally was over.

When he pulled away, I leaned forward to close the gap between us. He tasted like wine and I was positive I was the same. Titus's arm wrapped around me to pull me closer.

I was laughing when we pulled away. It finally was over.

" Gross." Dante said.

My heart tugged a little but he smiled bitterly at me and waved a hand as if to say everything was okay.

" Well tonight has been a very interesting party." Jacy pulled off her mask. " Titus doesn't usually go around kissing random girls, so who are you?"

I removed my mask and she gasped, " Sia? You're Salina Dark?"

Titus broke into a laugh, his arm finding its way around my waist. I leaned into his warmth.

" We should find Adan." I said.

" Do we have to find your fiancé sweetheart? I'm fine with leaving him here to wander the halls for a few hours longer." He used his free hand to brush the hair out of my eyes.

I rolled my eyes.

" I'll stay here and call the bouncer." Dante said, " And probably a doctor."

We glanced at Cesar who was beginning to return to consciousness.

" Wait." Jacy suddenly reached forward to touch the necklace, she felt the jewels between her thumb and index when she looked up suddenly, her eyes frantic.

" These jewels aren't real."

" What?" Dante grabbed the necklace to inspect it himself.

" Trust me, I'm around jewels every day. I know a fake when I see one. And this has to be one of the best fakes I've seen in a while."

I made my way to Cesar who was now sitting up, a hand on his temple.

" The real necklace, where is it?"

He sent me a look that would have freeze hell,
" What are you talking about?"

" Do you remember me? You threw me against a wall and framed me. Sorry kid, you were in the wrong place wrong time. Does that sound familiar?"

Recognization flicked through his face,
" That was you?"