Chapter 1

***SUMMER'S POV***

"Summer Ellie Remmington, you can't be drinking when we have a business to do tonight. Give me that," Smokey says removing the bottle of whiskey from my hand and keeping it on the table.

"Leave me alone, I need liquid courage if I am going to steal from Sinclair Declan Sorvino, I need to do it with substance in my system," I mouth out standing.

At twenty-one, I am just above 5'2 making me shorter than my pals.

Before Smokey could respond, the door to our two apartments opens and Gunner walks in carrying snack bags.

"Food," I mouth out walking towards him. He hands me a bag and I dig my fingers in the bag, pulling out a greasy burger.

Biting into it, the flavor of rich cheese, meat, and tomato fills my taste buds.

I hear groaning sounds coming from my two best friends and glaring at them, they look away.

"Get some manners. You can't start your day with whiskey and fast food," Smokey blurts out his hand reaching into the bag and coming out with fries. He pops them into his mouth before walking towards the board.

The Board.

"At least, Gunner is feeding me. I don't have the luxury of a good meal every day," I say plopping down beside Gunner on the sofa as he makes room for me.

When I ran from my Uncle's house two years ago, after the incident, I had been stranded for one week, starved and malnourished. It was Gunner who had found me covered in dirt.

He had offered me a wrapped burger and a bottle of water. No strings. Just that and he left.

For two days, he fed me and left. On the third day when he came, he brought Smokey and that was how my two burly men adopted me. They gave me medicine and when I got better, I stayed in one of their bedrooms and together we became a family.

"Get your ass over here, Summer. We need to get over the plan one last time," Smokey says his eyes hooded with something.

Smokey is thirty-two, the alpha of our family. He has not got a real family, only Gunner. Well, and now me, I supposed. Dark hair, a goatee, and 6'2 m. He is tall, and so is Gunner.

I walk to the table facing the board and sit on it. Gunner hands me a bottle of water and takes my packet away.

Drinking, I watch the veil removed from the board and our plan is on it.

The Sorvino Plan.

"We have rehearsed this over thirty times in the last two days," I complain.

Gunner rumbles my red hair and I punch him playfully on the chest.

"You are putting grease in my hair, old man," I grumble.

Gunner is twenty-six years old, and unlike Smokey, he has long blonde hair he puts in a ponytail most of the time. I like his blue eyes that hide no secrets, except the darkest ones that don't stop peeking from the depths.

Gunner is 6'1m and has the body of a gym rat. He never stops working out.

A knock on the board with a stick stops our banter and I stare at a scornful-looking Smokey. His business face.

"We don't have room to make mistakes, Summer. One wrong move and we are put behind bars for at least fifteen years of our lives," Smokey states.

"That is if he doesn't put a bullet on each of our heads first," Gunner murmurs wrapping his hand on his chest.

"We should not push through with the Sorvino plan then," I state, my eyes on the board. I could sense the piercing eyes of the men on me.

"You little idiot. This is the gateway to the kind of life we deserve, Summer. You get to pick a college and attend, get the degree in what you want. Open that bakery you deserve," Smokey says.

He keeps using my dreams on me whenever we go for a break-in, but we don't break into houses, we rob gas station stores and little shops.

I bit my lower lips, dropping my head lowly, my hands shaking.

"We don't break into people's houses. This is bad," I state.

I don't know why, but I have gotten a bad feeling since Smokey walked into the house two nights ago, explaining this crazy Sorvino plan and how we could make five million dollars if we pulled through the plan.

"If you are scared you can stay. Gunner and I will do this," Smokey blurts out and pushes the teaching cane he has in his hand down.

"No. I am not scared, but what if..." I start but Gunner interrupts me.

"Nothing will happen to you, Summer. We just need you to get through the window and deactivate the alarm for us. Open the door and let us in. That is all. We get the bag filled with money and go," Gunner explains what we have been rehearsing again, trying to convince me.

"She should stay at home, Gunner," Smokey says.

I don't want to let my best friends down, but saying yes to this plan is a bad idea.

"Are we sure the money will be there?" I ask.

"It will be there, Summer. This guy is some big money man, he is coming in for some business, he will spend the night with the money, tonight is the only chance we have to pick it out from him, there is no room for mistake," Smokey mouths out.

I think for a moment and then say, "I am in,"

"Yes, Summer, I knew you wouldn't let us down," Gunner says rushing towards me, and lifting me in the air, swirling me around.

Giggling, I grab Gunner on his shoulder blade, laughing softly.

"Let's get back to the deal then," Smokey says.

Gunner sits and carries me on his thigh as we go through The Sorvino plan again.

"Go get some sleep, we leave at nightfall," Smokey says walking away with my bottle of whiskey in his hand.

"Yes, Boss," Gunner and I mouth laughing softly.

My men, the people who have always gotten my back. I love them and they love me too.