Reckless Thief

RECKLESS THIEF 82ND STREET VANDALS BOOK EIGHT HEATHER LONG Copyright © 2023 by Heather Long Photographer: Wander Aguiar Model: Zac Alphen Cover Design: Crimson Phoenix Designs Editing: Leavens Editing Lines & Proofreading by Lunar Rose Editing This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referred to in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Reckless Thief/Heather Long – 1st ed. CONTENTS Reckless Thief Series so Far Foreword The Vandals Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Fierce Dancer Afterword About Heather Long Also by Heather Long RECKLESS THIEF The mentor. The doctor. The Vandal. I grew up on the streets despite my older sister’s best efforts to keep my nose clean. I thought I knew better. I worked hard, and made money. Who cared if what I did was a little illegal? Then a little boy paid the price for my carelessness. A little boy and his baby sister. It was the wake-up call I needed, even if the cost came too high. Rough choices made for rough outcomes, and when I had the chance to join the military or go to jail to get straight, I went to the military. I paid for my thoughtless actions by becoming deliberate. I paid for my greed by offering service. I paid for my chance at a better life with blood, sweat, and fire. That service left me scarred but determined. Medical school and training taught me I could continue to serve. I walked away from the streets, from the blood, the violence, and the costs of doing business. Living a life I stole not once, but twice, I focused on helping, protecting, and healing. Until she came back into my life. I didn’t start this current war, but I will damn well end it. My name is Mickey James. Little Bit is everything. I fought to stay away, and I’ll fight to keep her. Our enemies are going to learn that my skill at healing broken bodies makes me damn talented at damaging them too. They drew blood, we’ll bury them. For every risk you were willing to take. Even the ones that didn’t work out. You’re worth it. SERIES SO FAR Savage Vandal Vicious Rebel Ruthless Traitor Dirty Devil Brutal Fighter Dangerous Renegade Merciless Spy Reckless Thief Fierce Dancer FOREWORD Dear Reader, Welcome to book eight of the 82nd Street Vandals series. If you have not read the first seven, stop. Do not pass Go. Grab book one: Savage Vandal, and start there. Seriously. This is a series that really must be read in order. Speaking of reading in order, let’s do a little previously in the 82nd Street Vandals. Merciless Spy opened following the revelation at the end of Dangerous Renegade from Bodhi that her mother was in a facility much like Pinetree. Aware of the threats from multiple sides, the Vandals sent Em on the road with Jasper to keep her a moving target, while they dealt with shoring up security at home. They were also investigating the rats because they know they have a spy somewhere. Bodhi has been hanging out, but the guys are also missing Em. In the meanwhile, Emersyn takes the time to read Jasper and Liam (separately) into the dark history of her relationship with Fuckbucket. For Em, it’s both cathartic and terrifying to tell them, but Liam and Jasper both rally in different ways to comfort and protect her. Freddie and Emersyn flirt closer to the edge of deepening their relationship, particularly since Freddie asked Em to push him. He has a moment that causes him to bolt, the PTSD of his own history coming back to sack him. Bodhi follows him as does Jasper. They help keep him grounded. Needing time to get his shit together, Freddie goes to stay with Doc and work in the clinic. It’s a challenge, cause he’s a little embarrassed about freaking out, but he wants to be what his Boo-Boo needs. Doc points out that maybe he already is and he should trust her. Em gives him time even if she’s missing him. They celebrate Ms. Stephanie’s birthday in and around getting Moira Sharpe, Emersyn’s mother, from the facility. She’s not all there when they bring her back. The level of drugs she was kept on doesn’t help her clarity. Doc steals a very hot kiss during the birthday and tells Em to make him work for it, he is all in. Freddie teases her after but they are all right. Em and Liam are also summoned to meet the king for the first time and that’s a revelation about his identity and the fact he’s no one that Em or Liam know. So that just adds to the confusion, especially when he makes it clear he considers Emersyn one of the Bay Ridge Royals now. Ezra backs their plays but it’s just adding to the tension Finally, we get to the opening night of Liam’s club that was