Page 48 of All’s Fair In Love & War (The Bulgari Cartel #2)

The Heist That Wasn’t

Sophia

From the moment I received his text, I knew I wouldn’t be attending the engagement dinner. There was no location, no explanation, just a time and a simple instruction.

Wear all black. Trust me.

And because I was me, and because he was Dallas, I did exactly that.

Less than an hour later, I slid into the passenger seat of one of his many vehicles, and the first thing he asked me was, “Have you ever robbed a museum before?”

He didn’t bother with a hello or ask how my day had gone. He just looked over at me with a crooked grin and dropped the question like it was nothing serious.

I turned toward him, arching a brow. “No, I haven’t robbed a museum, and I have no intention of ever doing it."

He gave a nonchalant shrug and faced forward again. “I know you like chicken, but I didn’t know you were one.”

My head snapped in his direction, and I narrowed my eyes at him. “Excuse me?”

“I said, I know you like chicken, but I didn’t know you were one,” he repeated, his tone still infuriatingly casual.

“I’m not a fucking chicken,” I snapped.

He tilted his head, clearly unconvinced. “Could’ve fooled me.” Then, as if he hadn’t already pushed every button I had, he folded his arms at his sides and started flapping them like wings. “Bawk, bawk, bawk,” he added, making exaggerated chicken noises without a trace of shame.

I stared at him, unimpressed. “Are you seriously mocking me right now?”

He didn’t stop. If anything, he leaned into it.

“Just say you’re scared, and I’ll turn the car around without judgment. I’ll even stop to get you some nuggets on the way.”

“Who on earth would be dumb enough to break into a museum?”

He shot me a look that was pure gasoline. “Someone who’s fun. Someone with the balls to do what everyone else only jokes about.”

I scoffed. “I’m pretty sure everyone in your phone has more balls than brains.”

He grinned wider. “And yet you dressed the part.” He flicked his eyes up and down, taking in my black on black outfit.

“I hated every second of it,” I lied.

Dallas caught the lie and let it hang in the space between us. “Are you going to ask me why I asked about breaking into a museum?”

“I assume you want to have an airtight alibi when you get arrested for grand larceny.”

His foot pressed down on the gas, and the car surged, rumbling at a velocity that was at least a misdemeanor. “You don’t get arrested when you do it right, sweetheart. So, are you down, or do I need to take you back home so you can change into your pajamas and pretend to be a good little Bulgari?”

I leaned back in the seat, folding my arms across my chest, wanting to be offended, but I couldn’t stop the small smirk threatening to betray me.

“I’m too much of a bad bitch to ever fit the mold of a good little Bulgari.”

“Then prove it,” he said, his voice smooth and entirely too confident.

“You’re out of your mind,” I found myself saying to him for the millionth time.

“I’ve been told that more than once,” he replied. “But we’re already halfway there, so if you’re going to back out, now’s your only chance.”

I glanced out the window, and sure enough, the skyline had changed. The quiet residential streets were gone, replaced by downtown buildings lit in gold and blue against the night sky.

Twenty minutes later, we pulled into a shadowed alley behind the city’s historical museum. The structure towered above us in all its old-world glory. Its tall columns, arched windows, and thick iron gates made it look more like a fortress than a destination for school field trips.

Dallas parked, popped the trunk, and got out without another word. I followed him, watching as he pulled a black duffel from the back of the car like he’d done this kind of thing before.

“You’re really serious about this?” I asked, my voice steady despite my nervousness.

He turned to glance at me over his shoulder. “Dead serious.”

“And we’re just breaking in?”

“That’s exactly what we’re doing,” he said, handing me a pair of black gloves and what looked like a two-way radio.

I stared at the items in my hands before meeting his gaze again. “You realize this is insane, right?”

“That’s what makes what we’re doing even more fun,” he replied before taking off.

We moved quickly but quietly across the back lot.

The museum grounds were deserted, and the only sounds came from the distant hum of traffic and the soft crunch of gravel beneath our feet.

Dallas led the way with a confidence that suggested he had studied the building in advance, which only made me more suspicious.

A few minutes later, we stopped in front of an unmarked side door with a keypad just beneath the handle. He crouched low, pulled a device from his bag, and pressed it to the pad. A red light flashed, and he muttered something under his breath as he began typing in codes.

“Keep watch,” he said without looking up.

I rolled my eyes and turned away, scanning the alley behind us. There was nothing but shadows and silence, but still, my pulse was picking up speed. What we were doing and the fact that I hadn’t even tried to stop him had me wanting to kick my own ass.

A soft beep pulled my attention back. The light on the keypad flashed green, and the door clicked open.

“Ladies first,” Dallas said, stepping aside with a mock bow.

I walked past him slowly, pausing long enough to glare. “If I end up in handcuffs, I swear I’m dragging you down with me.”

His smile deepened, and he followed behind me. “You say that like I wouldn’t enjoy it.”

I rolled my eyes and stepped just inside the door, refusing to move any further until Dallas caught up.

When the door shut quietly behind us, I noticed we were standing in a dim, silent hallway lined with motion sensors and low, buzzing lights.

For a place that was supposed to be shut down for the night, the temperature inside felt oddly comfortable, and the air lacked the stale, untouched quality I had expected.

Something felt off.

The keypad outside had unlocked too quickly. His reaction to the red light had been too calm, and the moment it turned green, he didn’t hesitate, nor look around to see if anyone was coming.

I kept walking, but my thoughts stuck with me like static.

Either he was better at this than I thought, or he had permission to be here.

This wasn’t a random thrill ride or a heat-of-the-moment crime.

Dallas had arranged this. Had planned every detail, from the route we took to the exact door that would open without resistance.

And the worst part? Now that I was here, I didn’t want to leave.

The hallway led us into a long corridor lined with glass display cases and towering marble columns.

Spotlights illuminated artifacts behind thick glass.

There were ancient tools, coins, and pottery frozen in time and arranged by importance.

Everything felt sacred, and still, the kind of silence that demanded respect.

Of course, Dallas didn’t give a damn about reverence. He walked casually ahead of me, hands in his pockets like we were touring a gallery during business hours instead of trespassing when it was closed to the public.

“How did you even get access to this place?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

He glanced at me over his shoulder with a lazy smirk. “Let’s just say I made a few friends in low-lit places.”

“So, bribery.”

“I call it networking.”

“I thought we were breaking in,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “You faked all of it, didn’t you? The keypad, the codes, all that dramatic tapping.”

Dallas grinned unapologetically. “I never said it was real. I just wanted you to think it was. You look like you needed a little thrill in your life.”

I shook my head and kept walking. The heels I wore were quiet, but I still felt like every step echoed down the hallway. The air was cool, nearly cold, but I didn’t reach for my jacket. I was too focused on the way his body moved ahead of me, all confident, controlled, and downright sexy.

He was one handsome muthafucka dressed in all-black.

His build was clean and solid, with broad shoulders that pulled against the seams of his shirt and a back that moved with strength in every step.

His T-shirt fit him just right, his cargo joggers were perfectly tailored, sitting low on his waist, and the black designer sneakers on his feet were spotless.

His skin was a warm, smooth brown that picked up the low lighting, and the tattoos covering his arms were a work of art.

His watch gleamed beneath his sleeve, a dark-faced Rolex with a diamond bezel that caught light every time his wrist shifted.

A thinner bracelet sat stacked beside it, understated yet expensive, the kind of detail only someone with real money would wear without flaunting it.

His beautiful face was made up of angular cheekbones, a sculpted jawline, and full lips that curved into the sexiest smile.

His goatee was sharp and well-kept, the line-up clean enough to show he didn’t let just anyone touch his face.

His nose was straight and perfect, but his eyes were his sexiest feature.

They were dark, intense, slightly arrogant, and always watching me.

I knew I shouldn’t have been looking that hard, but I couldn’t stop myself. Watching him from behind was its own kind of problem, and for reasons I didn’t want to name, I wasn’t in a rush to solve it.

We entered the next room, and the floor changed from tile to polished wood. The scent of varnish mixed with dust. The lighting here was dimmer and warmer. Gold-framed oil paintings lined the walls, each one staring back with hollow eyes and solemn expressions.

“This is where I wanted to bring you,” he said, his pace finally slowing.