Page 101 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)
There was no mocking amusement, no air of indifference.
Only raw determination, a desperation that ran so deep it made me uneasy.
This was a man whose territory’s survival depended on something beyond wealth or power—something far more precious and elusive.
And I found myself empathizing with the man.
Standing in the presence of the man who’d haunted my visions and mind felt like standing in the grip of a storm.
The room was thicker, darker, as if his very presence altered it.
I swallowed down the fear, forcing myself to straighten my spine and lock my gaze on him.
I would not show weakness here, not in front of the man who had torn into my psyche, who had loomed over me in my nightmares.
“The Mirror of Truths,” I said, my voice steadier than I expected, “might be the key to healing the sick women in your territory.”
The Shadow’s dark gaze fell on me. His eyes, a deep, bottomless blue, seemed to peel back every layer of my resolve. But instead of feeling intimidated, I held his gaze, determined not to let him see the fear in my bones.
There was a flash of something in his eyes—a consideration, a spark of calculation. Finally, he shifted his gaze back to Vincenzo, his face cool and unreadable.
“Very well,” he said, sitting back in his chair, though the tension never left his posture. “Lay out your terms, Vincenzo. Make them clear.”
Vincenzo’s expression was steel and fire as he took a single step forward, his voice low and unwavering.
“You’ll stop flooding the drug supply with your knockoffs.
You’ll hand over the women you took from my territory.
Offer them freedom to choose their future.
You’ll never use your illusions to push against me or attempt a takeover again.
You’ll remove your mark from Celeste. And Luca will be free to serve whomever he chooses without being bound by your fucking illusions.
In return, the Mirror of Truths will be yours.
We’ll stand as equals and respect each other’s territories. ”
The Shadow considered this, his calculating gaze flickering from Vincenzo to me and back again.
His face was hard, yet I saw a cautious understanding take hold in his eyes.
Slowly, he nodded, his face settling into a guarded acceptance.
“I need to see if the so-called Mirror of Truths reveals anything useful.”
He extended his hand, his long fingers reaching out, hungry to claim the mirror, and I held my breath as Vincenzo passed it over. The Mirror of Truths, now in the hands of The Shadow, seemed to hum with a quiet, unearthly power, as if the truths it held were waiting to spill out.
As he looked into it, the world around us stilled.
He remained motionless, absorbed in whatever revelations were unfolding before him.
When his gaze shifted from the mirror and locked onto me, I saw recognition, or perhaps revelation.
It was as if the mirror had shown him something vital, something I carried within myself.
Without a word, The Shadow took a step forward, his intense gaze assessing me.
He pointed at me, his voice shaky and apprehensive.
“You. Your blood has the potential to be the cure. The Mirror showed me how your genetic anomaly that allows you to see visions of the future, mixed with your past use of Phantomine have combined to create what could be the formula needed to heal the women of my territory.”
The weight of his realization dropped like a stone in my stomach, but I remembered my own truths displayed in the mirror. My destiny to be free, to choose my own path.
I could save these women’s lives.
I met his gaze firmly. “If my blood can help, you can have it. I’ll give samples. Whatever you need to make this right and find a cure. As long as you agree to Vincenzo’s terms.”
Gratitude, and something softer, flashed across his face before it settled back into his usual unreadable mask.
He nodded curtly, his gaze shifting to the others.
“Thank you,” he said, the words clipped but carrying a depth I hadn’t expected.
“With your samples, my scientists can create the cure we’ve sought for decades. ”
A muscle in Vincenzo’s jaw ticked, but he held back, nodding in silent approval. The Shadow moved toward the desk, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, and then he faced Vincenzo once more.
“In respect of our agreement,” The Shadow said, his voice even but tinged with the faintest hint of reverence, “I will release the women. And I will withdraw my illusions from your territory, returning every inch I’ve taken. This truce stands between us.”
His gaze shifted back to me, his hand lifting to gesture at the mark curling up my arm, the one he had cursed me with to track my every move.
“You’ve done more for my people than you’ll ever know.
And for that, I owe you this.” His hand moved in a subtle, practiced motion, and a searing heat gripped my wrist as the shadowy markings began to dissolve, unwinding from my skin like smoke.
The moment they vanished, a lightness washed over me, a freedom I hadn’t felt since the mark first appeared. I let out a shuddering breath, my heart pounding with overwhelming relief. The tether was gone.
He turned to Luca, who still sat with his back against the wall, trying to regain his strength. He raised his hand, and the markings on Luca’s arm vanished. Smoke dissipated into the air, and Luca grimaced in pain.
The Shadow’s hand fell to his side, his face now impassive. “It’s done.”
Vincenzo inclined his head slightly, a signal of respect. This peace was not forged in dominance or fear, but in mutual necessity. As we turned to leave, a subtle shift in the air told me that the war we’d fought with shadows and secrets had finally found its resolution.