Page 4 of Devlin

Nostalgia hit her after she nimbly climbed over the gate. She landed softly, her feet barely making a sound on the well-manicured lawn. With careful, measured movements, she avoided the nearby security cameras. Each step was calculated, her path mapped out in her mind like a well-rehearsed dance.

As she made her way into the house, old memories assaulted her. In her mind’s eye, she saw a frightened yet brave boy, pushing her forward, yelling at her to run. Devlin, desperate and determined, making himself a target so she could get away. Krista shivered. Now wasn’t the time to grow sentimental. Besides, that boy had now grown up to be a monster, and the girl she’d been had grown up to be a thief. She crept through the garden, her senses heightened.

The scent of roses and freshly cut grass mingled with the crisp night air. Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of wind made her pause, listen, and then move on. The house loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the night sky, its windows glinting ominously.

Krista reached the side entrance, a small door near the kitchen that was rarely used. A hacker she hired had disabled the alarm system remotely, but she knew she had only minutes before the backup system kicked in.

With nimble fingers, she picked the lock, the tumblers falling into place with a satisfying click. She slipped inside, the door closing silently behind her.

Inside, the house was dimly lit, shadows pooling in the corners. Krista moved swiftly, her steps soundless on the marble floor.

She had one objective tonight: retrieve the confidential documents her client wanted. She didn’t know what they contained and didn’t care—probably information that would expose the Arrow Brothers’ latest criminal enterprise.

She navigated through the halls, the blueprints guiding her. She passed by rooms that were once familiar to her. Her father sometimes took her along to meetings or gatherings when he couldn’t find a babysitter to watch her.

She’d sometimes catch Devlin or one of his brothers loitering in the background. Her heart ached briefly as she thought of Devlin and the promise she couldn’t keep, but she pushed the feelings aside.

If one of Devlin’s men caught her and brought her to him, how would he deal with her? Krista shuddered at the thought as she continued navigating the corridors of the estate. The Devlin she remembered—the brave, selfless boy who had sacrificed his own safety for hers—was a distant memory. Now, he was a mirror image of his father.

Would he even recognize her? Probably not. It had been years since that fateful night when their lives had diverged so drastically. She had never been the same after escaping this house. In the end, they had gotten her father. She heard he hadn’t been given a quick death and some part of her had also broken. Krista turned to thieving to survive.

No, Devlin wouldn’t recognize her. He’d simply see her as a thief, a pest he needed to get rid of. Krista could already imagine the cold indifference in his eyes as he assessed her. He’d order his men to deal with her, another threat eliminated in the blink of an eye. She couldn’t afford to be caught. She had to stay one step ahead, to use every ounce of her cunning and skill to evade capture.

Reaching the study, she paused, listening for any signs of life. The house was quiet, the guards outside still unaware of her presence. She entered the study, closing the door behind her.

The safe was hidden behind a painting, according to her research. Krista pulled on a pair of gloves and went to work. Her ears were tuned to any sounds beyond the door, her fingers working quickly and efficiently.

The safe opened with a soft click, revealing its contents. Krista rifled through the documents, her fingers moving quickly and efficiently. She found what her client needed.

Folding the documents carefully, she placed them in her bag, a triumphant smile tugging at her lips. But just as she was about to close the safe, a faint noise caught her attention—a beeping sound. Her heart skipped a beat as the beeping grew louder and more insistent. The alarms had been triggered! Panic surged through her veins.

Devlin and his brothers were feared in the underworld for a reason. Those who crossed them suffered before dying, and Krista had no intention of becoming their next victim.

She bit her lower lip, forcing herself to stay calm. Standing here would only lead to her capture. She peeked out of the room, her eyes scanning the hallway.

Two men in suits were running around, probably trying to figure out the source of the commotion. Krista gently closed the door and leaned against it, her mind racing. She needed a Plan B.

Her eyes darted around the room, finally landing on the window. She walked over and pushed it open, the cool night air hitting her face. She was on the second floor. If she could slide down the pipe outside, she’d be right on the first floor. It was dangerous, but she could make it.

Krista took a deep breath and climbed onto the windowsill. She glanced down, gauging the distance. It wasn’t too far, but a fall could still be disastrous. Steeling herself, she grabbed the pipe and began to slide down. The metal was cold and slick under her hands, and her heart pounded with every inch she descended.

Halfway down, the pipe creaked ominously, but Krista ignored it, focusing on her grip. She reached the first floor, dropping silently onto the ground. Her landing was less graceful than she had hoped, and she stumbled slightly but quickly regained her balance.

The alarms were still blaring, and she knew she had only moments before the guards would be everywhere. She darted toward the back of the house, moving quickly and quietly.

The garden gate was just ahead, her planned exit point. But as she approached, she heard voices—guards converging on her location. Her heart raced as she ducked behind a hedge, her mind scrambling for an alternative escape route.

The fence to her left was tall, but climbable. She could hear the guards’ footsteps getting closer, their voices urgent. She couldn’t wait any longer.

Krista sprinted to the fence, jumping, and grabbing the top. Her muscles strained as she hauled herself up and over, landing with a thud on the other side. She paused for a moment, catching her breath, then took off running. The street was dark and deserted, the perfect cover for her escape. She zigzagged through alleyways, making her way back to her car. She had to stay ahead of them, had to disappear before they realized which way she had gone.

Her car came into view, parked inconspicuously where she had left it. Krista fumbled with the keys, her hands shaking from adrenaline. She finally managed to unlock the door and slid inside, starting the engine with a quick turn of the key.

The car roared to life, but before Krista could shift it into gear, she heard a click. Something cold and metallic pressed against her temple. Her heart pounded, a wild, frantic beat that echoed in her ears.

“You’re not going anywhere, thief. The boss wants to have a word with you,” the gunman said.

Krista couldn’t see the gunman from her position. She tensed when he pressed the gun closer to her skull, the barrel digging into her skin.

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