Page 39 of Their Reckless Thief
And then she was gone.
The door clicked shut behind her, but the silence she left in her wake screamed louder than anything.
I stood in the shadows,my eyes locked on Celeste’s form as she made her way through the dimly lit streets of The Below. The rhythmic click of her boots echoed off the buildings, stirring something deep in my chest. I told myself it was habit, watching over what’s mine, protecting my territory.
She was nothing to me. Just a human. A job. A complication.
And yet… I was watching her every move as she made her way toward the Veil.
Every eye followed her like she was a moth fluttering too close to a flame. She moved through The Below like she belonged here, like she was part of this dangerous world. But she wasn’t. She was fragile. Too fragile. And anyone with the wrong intentions could figure that out.
It took every ounce of self-control not to rip apart the creatures who dared to look too long. They weren’t stupid. They didn’t know who she was, but they knew enough to sense when something precious was in their midst. Something they’d like to devour. Especially something that looked and smelled the way she did.
But that wouldn’t happen today. Not while I was lurking in the shadows.
I stopped at the edge of my territory when the tear in the Veil came into view, my feet unwilling to move any farther. The human realm was not my concern. What happened beyond this line didn’t involve me. I had no reason to care.
So why did it feel like she’d carved her way into my very fucking soul?
Celeste bypassed the long line waiting to cross into the human realm. She flashed Carl that disarming smile of hers. Thebastard gave her a grin in return and nodded at her to pass. I could hear the low protests of the others in line, a mix of hisses and snarls, but Carl didn’t give them a second glance. She winked at him, and his face flamed.
Damn it, Celeste was too godsdamned beautiful for her own good.
Once she slipped through the tear, Carl turned back, his smug expression vanishing the moment he spotted me. He straightened, all color draining from his face as I stepped toward him.
“Mr. Moretti, sir,” Carl stammered, his voice a bit too high. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”
According to the treaty every mafia lord of The Below had signed long ago, we were only allowed to cross into the human realm in the middle of the night. We were to stay in the shadows and stay unnoticed. It was less messy that way and kept the majority of the humans in the dark.
But I didn’t give a flying fuck. I would do as I pleased. Besides, I had the chief of police under my thumb.
I leveled my glare on him, letting the tension hang between us. He shifted nervously, glancing at the shimmering tear behind him. Good. He knew who I was and what I could do.
“I need to follow her through,” I finally said, my voice low, deadly calm. I smirked just enough to give Carl a glimpse of my fangs for extra effect.
Carl blinked. “Follow her? Sir, you know the rules. It’s daylight on the other side, not to mention?—”
“I know the fucking rules. But she’s not safe. I need to make sure she gets home safely.”
Carl hesitated, torn between his duty and the fact that his life was currently in my hands. “But… but she’s already gone through, sir. She’s beyond your territory now.”
I stepped closer, my face hardening. “I’m not asking for permission,Carl.”
His face paled further, but to his credit, he didn’t crumble. “With respect, sir… my job is to protect those who pass through. Even from people like you.”
I blinked, momentarily stunned by his defiance. He wasn’t on my payroll. He owed me nothing. But he had guts, I’d give him that. And guts were worth more than half the cowards I employed.
I let out a low chuckle, a rare sound from me. “Carl, I like you. I’ll tell you what… I’m going to give you a raise, even though you don’t work for me.”
His eyes widened, confusion dancing across his face. “Sir?”
“Keep doing your job. Protect people like her. We need more of that around here.” I allowed a beat of silence before adding, “And I swear on my life, I’m only following her to make sure she gets home safely. Then I’ll be out of your way.”
Carl swallowed hard, glancing back at the tear. I wondered if he’d refuse me again, but then he sighed and nodded. “All right, go ahead. But make it quick, sir. And don’t let anyone know I let you through.”
I stepped past him, pausing only for a moment. “You did the right thing, Carl.”
With that, I slipped through the Veil, stepping into the bright light of the human world. It hit me like a jolt—too warm, too clean, too… real. I didn’t belong here. But Celeste did.
