Page 10 of Their Reckless Thief
“I’ve got this, Viv. Trust me,” I whispered, scanning the perimeter with sharp eyes. “No guards, no alarms. Exactly like in my vision.”
“Yeah, but visions can change. And this place gives me the creeps.”
I rolled my eyes. “Relax. I’ve got it under control. A quick in-and-out, then we’re set.”
Taking this big a risk based on my visions was dicey. The future was never set in stone. Creatures were fickle and could change their minds, which resulted in new realities. But I wanted to trust the flashes, the visions I received. They were like a puzzle that always came together just in time. I had seen the vault with the multitude of treasures inside. And most importantly, I had seen that it would be mine before the night was over.
But now that I stood in the shadow of Vincenzo Moretti’s empire, something cold slithered up my spine. Even in the dead silence of the estate, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was walking into something dangerous. Even though it was a risk, every mission I went on for Roberto had the potential for significant danger, so I might as well take the risk for myself and Vivian and Will.
I took a deep breath and put my hand on the gate, ready to push it open.
“Time to see if the visions were right,” I muttered and stepped into the lion’s den.
3
CELESTE
As I pushed openthe side gate, my heart skipped a beat when I spotted something I hadn’t expected. Guards.
My breath caught in my throat, pulse quickening as I pressed myself against the cold stone wall. There were two of them—shifters, heavily armed, their sharp eyes scanning the perimeter. But this was what I was trained for.
“Vivian,” I whispered. “Why the fuck are there guards here? That wasn’t in my visions.”
Her voice crackled back in my ear, irritated and wary. “I was about to ask you the same thing. I’ve got eyes on them through the cameras, and they look serious. You sure your vision didn’t miss something?”
My mind flashed back to my visions. The corridors had been empty, the mansion wide open, begging for me to slip inside and take what I wanted. There had been no guards. No extra security.
“I know what I saw,” I hissed, my fingers grazing the twin blades strapped to my thighs. “Something must’ve changed.”
“Yeah, no shit,” Vivian snapped. “There are way too many guards out here. You need to pull back. Something’s off.”
“I’m already here, and who knows when I’ll get another chance,” I said, determination hardening my resolve. The payout on this heist was enormous. No way in hell was I walking away empty-handed.
Vivian sighed, and I heard her furiously tapping away on her keyboard. “Fine, but be smart. You’re not invincible, and you know your visions can change depending on... you know... everything.”
I peeked out from my hiding spot again, sizing up the situation. The guards weren’t asleep at the wheel, but they didn’t look like hardened professionals either. No way was I getting past them without being spotted.
I needed a better plan. Something that wouldn’t tip my hand but would clear the way.
“Vivian.” I lowered my voice. “Patch me into the mansion’s network. I’m going to create a little distraction.”
“You’re insane,” she said, though I could practically hear her smirk. “Give me a second. I’ll get into their system.”
While Vivian worked her magic, I reached into the small pouch at my hip and pulled out one of my favorite toys. It was a mini EMP emitter, the size of a marble but capable of shorting out electronics within a few feet. Not enough to cause a total blackout, but just enough to mess with security systems and nearby devices. It wouldn’t interfere with the frequency of our personal equipment.
“Okay, you’re in,” Vivian said after a moment. “I’ve got access to their comms and security feed. What’s the plan?”
I grinned. “Watch and learn.”
I rolled the EMP marble across the walkway, and it settled near the guards’ feet. The device hummed for a split second before it sent a pulse through the immediate area. The lights on the security cameras flickered, then blinked out, and the guards’ radios crackled with static.
“What the hell?” one of the guards muttered, tapping at his earpiece. “Do you hear that?”
“Yeah, I’m getting nothing.” The second guard frowned, looking up at the cameras. “Maybe it’s a power glitch?”
“Or maybe we’ve got a problem,” the first one said, his eyes narrowing. “Let’s check the control room. Make sure everything’s working right.”
And there it was. My opening.
