Page 1 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

CELESTE

The only thing sharper than the shadows around the dimly lit poker table was the tension in the air.

Stale cigar smoke mingled with the faint odor of sweat.

I sat back, crossing one leg over the other, feeling the heat of too many eyes on me.

As the dealer shuffled the cards, I leaned forward, giving them all the view they expected from a woman who didn’t belong here.

I let my honey-blonde hair cascade over one shoulder because I knew it distracted men just enough.

Just enough to make them careless.

The underground casino teemed with creatures from The Below.

Vampires lounged in darkened corners, shifters prowled the edges of the room, and the fae with their luminous eyes watched everything with silent intent.

It was a den of supernatural beings and illicit dealings, and despite being human, I fit right in.

My sleek, black dress hugged my curves like a second skin.

The slit up my thigh and plunging neckline drew every gaze to me.

Leather straps crossed delicately over my back, leaving my skin bare, and I knew the softness of the material would attract attention when I moved.

My leather jacket was folded neatly on my lap, practically begging me to slip it on and block the view of all the fucking perverts at the table. But that wasn’t an option, yet.

I wasn’t only playing cards tonight—I was playing them . Every single one of them. The red lipstick I wore was designed to make them follow the movement of my lips with every word I spoke. I had made myself the perfect temptation, wrapped in leather, silk, and danger.

“Keep your head in the game, Celeste,” Vivian’s voice buzzed in my ear, barely above a whisper. “Eyes on the prize.”

The shifter across from me, a mountain of muscle with a face that screamed enforcer , smirked like he had me. He didn’t. They never did. I smiled back, biting the corner of my lip playfully as I tapped my cards against the felt. Behind him, a fae dealer’s luminescent eyes caught the light.

“You sure you want to go all in, sweetheart?” His voice was heavy with the kind of confidence that came from too many wins and too few losses.

I glanced at the pile of chips in front of him, then back at mine. He thought I was out of my league. Most of them did. They always underestimated me until it was too late.

“I don’t know,” I purred, tapping my lower lip with a fingertip, pretending to consider his question. “Maybe I like the idea of taking everything you’ve got.”

I placed my cards face down on the table and discreetly picked up my phone on my lap and pressed send on the text I’d composed to Vivian before the game began.

What’s the count on the cameras?

Her voice came through the small earpiece. “You’re clear on two, but the third one’s being a bitch. I’m working on it.”

I shifted in my chair, keeping my expression light and flirtatious. The lights in the underground casino flickered, and for a second, I thought someone was onto me. But no one reacted. The enforcer still had that stupid grin plastered on his face. He thought I was bluffing. Cute.

“So?” he prompted, leaning back, confident as ever. “You folding?”

I pushed the rest of my chips into the center of the table, letting my fingertips trail over the velvet long enough for him to notice. His eyes tracked the movement. Men were so fucking predictable. “I’m not folding. I’m doubling down.”

A ripple of surprise moved around the table, but I kept my smile in place. Vivian’s voice crackled in my ear. “Camera three’s down. You’ve got five minutes. Make it count.”

I only needed three.

The dealer dealt the final card, and the enforcer’s face tightened ever so slightly. His hand twitched—just for a second—but it was enough. He had nothing. His confidence faltered, and that was all I needed.

“Guess this is where the game ends, huh?” I said, raising my glass to my lips and taking a slow sip. The burn of the whiskey was a welcome distraction from the adrenaline pumping through me.

He grunted and slammed his cards down. A busted flush. “Lucky bitch.”

I smiled sweetly, laying my cards down with the kind of satisfaction that came from years of practice. “Not luck. Skill.”

A full house.

The room seemed to hold its breath as the dealer confirmed my win and pushed the pile of chips toward me.

The enforcer cursed quietly. He was already half out of his seat, but he wouldn’t leave without giving me one last parting look.

I stared him down, a challenge glinting in my eyes, and he finally turned away, muttering accusations of cheating.

I hadn’t, of course. Not technically.

“Four minutes,” Vivian warned.

Gathering my winnings, I stood from the table. Time to finish the real job. Hips swaying, I made my way toward the bar, my focus on the man standing there. He was older, his silver hair slicked back, his gaze dark and calculating. That was my mark.

Roberto’s instructions were simple: win the game, distract the mark, and get the intel. All in a night’s work.

I made my way through the casino, weaving between vampires in darkened booths, shifters prowling near the bar, and fae with shimmering skin.

My heels clicked against the floor, each step measured, deliberate.

I could sense the power, the hum of magic, the pulse of danger thick in the air.

The scent of lavender and fire-tinged magic wafted past as a fae flirted with a demon at the bar, their whispered conversation sparking small bursts of flame that fizzled out on the counter.

My mark was a regular in the underground, and tonight, the man was standing between me and what Roberto needed. His scent hit me like a wave—cologne, sharp like cedar and smoke, with a trace of something darker. Power.

“Time to play,” I muttered under my breath.

I slid onto the barstool beside him, crossing my legs. He didn’t even pretend not to notice.

“You alone?” His low, gravelly voice was imbued with curiosity and desire. He was already hooked.

I smirked, brushing my fingers down the side of my dress. I didn’t miss the way his eyes followed the movement. “For now.” I leaned in slightly, so he could catch the scent of my perfume—spicy and floral, like jasmine at midnight. “You offering to change that?”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Depends on what you’re after.”

Oh, honey, if you only knew .

I laughed lightly and leaned against the bar, trailing my fingers over the rim of his glass. “Funny thing about poker…” I said, twirling the glass around, “you can learn a lot about a person by watching how they play.”

“Is that right? And what have you learned about me?”

I leaned closer, lowering my voice to a sultry whisper. “That you’re a man who likes to take risks… but only when you’re sure you’ll win.”

“Two minutes,” Vivian warned. “Move your ass.”

He smirked, clearly enjoying the game. I rested my hand on his, letting my touch warm his skin. His breathing hitched a little, and I knew I had him.

I subtly tugged on my left earlobe, a visual cue Vivian would be watching for.

“In his pocket,” she replied smoothly. “Left side.”

Perfect.

I let my fingers drift to his chest as I leaned in, pretending to brush something off his suit. “You’ve got a little something right… here,” I murmured, sliding my hand down and snatching the small keycard from his pocket in one smooth motion.

He didn’t notice a thing. Too busy staring at my lips.

“Thanks for the drink,” I whispered, brushing past him and slipping the keycard into my bra.

As I walked away, I could feel his eyes on me, but he’d never know what he’d lost.

“Got it,” I murmured.

“Good girl,” Vivian purred in my ear. “Now get the fuck out of there before anyone else gets any bright ideas.”

Smirking, I collected my winnings and strolled out of the casino, every step calculated, every look purposeful. It was simply another night, another job. And as the cool air hit my face, I couldn’t help but smile.

They always underestimated me.

Too bad for them.

The night swallowed me whole. The underground streets of The Below were alive with magic, danger, and creatures far too eager to prey on anyone foolish enough to wander these parts alone.

Shadows danced along the cracked cobblestones, twisting and bending unnaturally in the faint glow of the streetlights, each corner more threatening than the last.

I pulled my leather jacket tighter around me, its familiar weight a comfort against the cool air, though the heat from the crowded casino still clung to my skin. A cacophony of voices, snarls, and whispers surrounded me.

Supernaturals moved through the city around me, each more intimidating than the last—vampires with glowing eyes lingering in the darkened alleyways, fae with their ethereal glow passing by like living ghosts, and shifters with their restless energy stalking the streets like predators on the hunt. It was a parade of nightmares.

As I passed a restaurant, the sound of drunken merriment echoed down the street.

A group of Veil Guard officers sat outside, probably just off duty.

They were in uniform and drinking beer, no doubt discussing their miserable lives working for the government with mediocre pay.

Everyone knew the big bucks came from working in one of the mafia lords’ territories.

I loved it here.

The bittersweet tang of magic seeped into my lungs with every breath. It was intoxicating, this power that simmered beneath the surface of The Below—the hidden underworld where the rules were as twisted as the creatures that lived here.

“Vivian, you still with me?” I asked softly, keeping my voice low as I navigated through the crowd.

Her voice buzzed through the earpiece, clear despite the distance between us. “Always. Looks like you made a clean exit. I’m successfully out of the system.”