“Ground rules? I thought we needed to be so in tune with each other we know what the other person is going to do before they do it. That comes with honesty, full disclosure.”

He folds his arms over his chest. “That’s what I mean. I tried ‘full disclosure’ yesterday, and you didn’t believe me. This is never going to work if you think I’m lying to you. We need to agree that we’ll be honest with each other.”

I wish I could tell him everything, but there’s no way. Having no intention of letting my secrets slip, I’ve been rehearsing my backstory all morning. “Fine.” I raise my right hand. “I solemnly swear to believe everything you say is the truth.”

“Great. Me, too.” He stands. “Let’s go inside.”

Clasping my hand, he tugs me toward his parents’ house. Irked that his touch sends shivers up my arm, I untangle my fingers. “You didn’t answer my question,” I say, taking two steps to his one.

“I don’t owe Chloe any explanations, but if she asked, I’d tell her the truth. My parents made me do it.” He delivers the line without looking at me. “They were afraid you would tank the whole heist without the right person to guide you.”

“And why did you really do it?”

“Don’t you have any new questions?” We arrive at the back door, and he takes out his lock-picking kit. “I just told you.”

“But that can’t be the truth.”

“Can’t it?” Kneeling, he makes quick work of the door.

I frown. Unable to prove it isn’t the truth, I change the subject. “Don’t you have a key to your own house?”

“I don’t live here. I live in the dorms like everyone else.”

“But you grew up here.”

“Yes, but I told you, I don’t get special treatment. No one has the keys to a master thief’s cottage except a master thief.” Opening the door, he pushes me forward. “Now get inside before someone sees us.”

He closes the door behind us, and my vision slowly adjusts to the dark. We’re standing in a mud room where the walls are lined with glass cases filled with glittering gems. “Before I forget, I have a present for you.” He flicks on a light and hands me something from his pocket. “Your AMPs.”

I almost drop the contraband item. “Aren’t these against Keystone Code?”

“Yes, but you should practice wearing them so you don’t look awkward when Betsy needs to use them. Plus, they’ll disguise your eyes so they read as Betsy’s.”

My fingers close around the contacts I so detested in my former life.