Page 21 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

Emotions flickered over her face—confusion, fear, and anger—as she struggled to keep up with the cold detachment pouring out of me. She wanted to fight back, to defy me like she always did, but she saw the seriousness in my look, the threat in every word. She knew I wasn’t bluffing. I never did.

She nodded, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.

“Good.” I stepped back, straightening my shirt as if that would somehow iron out the mess I was in. “Now, get the fuck out of my house.”

Her eyes widened again, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she stared at me like she was seeing someone she didn’t recognize. And maybe she was.

She slipped out of bed and gathered her leather jacket and the clothing she’d worn when she’d broken into my house. I kept my gaze on her as she put on her boots, and that familiar tension took hold of my gut. Celeste had no idea what a storm she’d brought into my life.

But this… this was the only way to stop it.

She paused at the door, turning to look at me one last time. I didn’t move, didn’t speak, but kept my mask firmly in place.

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.

The bastard 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.

She was a few blocks ahead, unaware that I was trailing her. I kept my distance, blending into the shadows as best I could, though the harsh daylight made it more difficult.

Celeste walked fast, head down, and I could tell by her body language that she was tense. On edge.

Good. She should be.

She rounded a corner and stopped in front of a shitty, rundown apartment complex that reeked of neglect. The windows were cracked, and graffiti marred the walls. It was the kind of place that made you wonder how anyone survived living there.

Gods, did Celeste live here? She deserved better than this.

She climbed the stairs, then disappeared into the building. I followed after, slipping through the door before it closed. I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t fucking care.

But there I was, climbing several flights of stairs.

I stopped outside her door, listening to the muffled sounds behind it. My senses stretched out, picking up the steady rhythm of her heartbeat, the slight creak of floorboards under her feet. Then came another sound—loud, frantic screaming.

I gripped the hilt of my knife, ready to break down the door, but I listened more closely before I did anything rash.

“Where the hell have you been? I thought you were dead!”

The voice wasn’t one of danger. It was… concern. A human. Her friend.

Good. She was loved.

I stepped back, my heart still racing, but some of the tension seeped out of me. She didn’t need me. She had someone.

So why the hell did I feel like I would always be responsible for her?

I waited until I heard her voice join the conversation, then I turned and slunk back out of the building.

She was home. Safe. Not my problem anymore.

Her face flashed in my mind again. That fragile, beautiful defiance of hers made my blood boil and my pulse quicken.

I clenched my fists, forcing the image out of my head.

Maybe, once there was more distance between us, the effect she had on me would fade.

Maybe.

I stalked through the bright streets, thankful for the charmed watch that allowed me to be outside in the daylight without any discomfort. It was the only thing I was thankful for from my asshole of a father.

I forced myself to shake off the distraction.

I had more pressing business. That stray bastard of a police chief, Fred, was next on my list. That fat, greasy fuck had more influence in the human world than he should have.

But it was all politics. Keeping the peace between The Below and the human world meant playing nice with the likes of Fred, no matter how much it disgusted me.

And I had a treaty to uphold. That bastard was a necessary evil.

The police station reeked of stale coffee and fear.

Humans liked to think they were in control, that their little badges and guns kept the chaos at bay, but Fred knew better.

As a stray, he didn’t quite belong to either world, but he pulled strings from both.

And as much as I hated to admit it, I needed the intel he could provide.

The low buzz of activity screeched to a halt as every officer turned to look at me, their fear as palpable as the stink of sweat and nerves that assaulted my nose.

They parted like the Red Sea as I passed, not a single soul daring to make eye contact.

Smart. Even though they didn’t know what I was, they knew I was dangerous.

Vampires exuded an aura of allure and intrigue, but also fear.

It was the perfect combination to draw humans in, keep them meek, and make them bend to our will.

When I got to Fred’s office, I didn’t bother knocking. I shoved the door open and sneered at the overweight, balding asshole who looked like he was about to shit himself.

“V-Vincenzo,” Fred stammered. “What an… unexpected surprise.”

“Save it,” I growled. I was not in the mood for pleasantries. I shut the door behind me, the lock clicking ominously. The bastard was already sweating. Good.

Fred fumbled with some paperwork on his desk, probably to distract himself from my presence. He cleared his throat. “What brings you?—”

“Let’s cut the bullshit,” I snapped. “I don’t have time for your games. Guys like me allow you to run your little empire as long as you keep things quiet and contained. But I digress.”

Fred glanced nervously at the door, then back at me. “O-of course. Right to the point, then. What do you need?”

I leaned against the wall, keeping my distance.

The idea of sitting in his filthy office, of touching anything here, made my skin crawl.

Fred might look like an upright human citizen, but he was as corrupt as they fucking came.

“I’ve got it on good authority that there’s an artifact somewhere in the human realm. And I want it. Fucking yesterday.”

Fred blinked, obviously caught off guard. “An artifact? You mean like… a magical artifact?”

I nodded slowly. “A mirror. And I need it.”

His pupils dilated slightly. The fucker knew something. “A mirror? I-I can look into it for you, sure, but… what do I get out of it?”

Of course. The bastard wouldn’t give me anything for free.

My jaw tightened. “What do you want?”

Fred leaned back in his chair, some of his nerves fading as greed took over. He smirked, his double chin wobbling. “I want a free pass through the tear in the Veil. No questions asked. I come and go as I please.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “What business would you have in The Below, Fred?”

He grinned, leaning forward now, his voice dropping to a disgusting whisper. “I’ve heard rumors about a brothel down there. Incubi, succubi, the best sex anyone could ever experience. I want in on that.”

Revulsion twisted in my gut. Of course.

He was a pig. Worse than a pig. I’d encountered worse in my life, but Fred was the kind of filth that made your soul feel dirty if you were in the same room as him.

My lip curled back in disgust. “You do know, of course, that the women at my brothels choose their partners. They have the freedom to say no, and they charge for their worth.”

Fred leaned back with a smug smile, his belly pressing against the desk. “I doubt I’d have any trouble getting one of them to want me. I can be persuasive .”

Disgusting. I took a breath, reining in the urge to tear his throat out. “Here’s the deal, Fred. You bring me valuable intel on the location of the Mirror of Truths, and I’ll give you one free pass into The Below. No promises after that.”

He blinked, clearly surprised. “One pass? That’s it?”

I bared my teeth in a mockery of a smile. “One. Be grateful you’re getting that.”

Fred weighed his options, the gears turning slowly in his thick skull. Finally, he nodded. “Deal. I’ll dig around. But if this mirror is what I think it is, it won’t be easy.”

“I didn’t come here for easy,” I replied coldly. “I came here for results. And if I find out that you ran your slimy mouth about this, I will make sure you can never speak again. Understood?”

He nodded emphatically.

As I turned to leave, I caught a glint of fear in Fred’s eyes. Good. That fear would keep him in line. He needed to know that if he crossed me, there would be consequences far worse than he could imagine.

As I stepped back into the sunlight, I took a moment to breathe. I needed that damned mirror. The Shadow was closing in, and I was running out of time.

Fred would either give me what I wanted, or I’d break him in half.

I wasn’t playing games. Treaty be fucked.