Page 43 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

VINCENZO

Being in her room, the scent of her surrounding me, was almost too much to bear.

Every breath I took was filled with her—warm, familiar, and maddeningly intoxicating.

How the hell could I miss someone this much after such a short time?

It was an absurd thought, and I tried to shake it off, but the second she walked into the room, the sight of her stopped me cold.

Her hair was a mess, and there was a weariness in the way she moved. She looked like she was carrying the weight of the world, and seeing her like that twisted something inside me.

Her sharp, startled voice broke through the silence. “What the fuck are you doing here? You can’t scare people like that.”

She stood frozen in place, staring at me like she wasn’t sure if she should run or attack. I leaned back in the chair, my eyes locking onto hers. “You broke your vow.”

Her expression shifted, her mouth tightening. “Fucking Luca,” she muttered under her breath, her jaw clenching.

I nodded, my eyes never leaving her. “You fucked up, Celeste.” My voice was calm, but the tension in my chest was a beast yearning to break free.

“What was the one thing I told you to do? You want me to answer for you? You said you wouldn’t get yourself into trouble.

Luca tells me you were in a whole shit ton of trouble last night, so guess what? You’re coming back with me.”

She bristled in defiance. “I’m not going anywhere, Vincenzo.

I didn’t have a choice… I had to do my fucking job.

Roberto tells me what to do, and if I don’t listen, it’s dangerous to be alive.

You think I can just ignore him? He’ll kill me.

So, what would you rather me do? Sit here like a fucking idiot and wait for the danger to come to me?

Or try to take control of my own godsdamned life? ”

I clenched my jaw, the name Roberto sending a pulse of fury through me. “What’s his full name?” I asked, my voice cold, calculated.

“Roberto Varela,” she answered, her gaze narrowing in challenge.

Finally. I was going to fucking murder that bastard.

“Pack a bag. You’ve got two minutes.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, her defiance returning full force. “The fuck I am.”

I stood, my voice lowering to a dangerous growl. “You’re coming with me not just because you’ve made horrible decisions, but because you’re fucking mine .”

Anger flashed in her eyes. “I’m not your property. I’m not anyone’s fucking property.”

I took a step closer, softening my tone just enough to catch her off guard. “I have a job for you. There are people being harmed, people I need to protect. The women we told you about. The bad drugs. I think you can help.”

She stilled, and for a moment, I thought I saw a crack in her armor. It was brief, but it was enough.

“Now pack.”

She finally moved, and it was then that I noticed she wasn’t moving like herself. She was slower, careful, like each step pained her. I reacted without thinking. In an instant, I was in front of her, my fingers closing around her wrist as I searched her eyes. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?”

Her confusion was written all over her face. “Why does it matter?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper. “Why do you care?”

Her words sliced through the haze of frustration, and my anger flared—hot, raw, unrelenting.

“Why do I care?” I stepped closer, my voice dangerously close to a growl.

“You put yourself in constant danger, Celeste. I’m fucking furious at you for that, but I’m even more furious at whoever touched you. ”

Why did I care? The question pissed me off even more—I was angry at her, at myself, at whoever had put that pain in her eyes. My grip tightened on her wrist as I reached out with my other hand and pulled her shirt up, my gaze tracking over her bruised and battered body. “Who. Fucking. Did this?”

She swallowed and looked away. “It doesn’t matter.”

It sure as fuck mattered. And I was going to find out.

I gently pulled her to me and cradled her head against my chest.

“Celeste. Dolcezza. What happened?”

She sobbed into my chest. Godsdamn the whole fucking world to hell. If I ever found who did this to her, they wouldn’t just pay with their life. No. They would suffer.

I held her close, tighter than I probably should have, considering the state of her body, but I couldn’t stop myself. Celeste wasn’t the type to accept comfort easily—too damn proud, too damn stubborn—but for once, she leaned into me. It was like watching a fortress crumble, brick by painful brick.

“I’ve been kicked out of my fucking apartment,” she muttered, her voice small. “Vivian, too. Roberto wants to punish us. We have to stay in a fucking hostel.”

Fury surged through me. A hostel? I clenched my jaw so tight I thought I might break a tooth. There was no way I would’ve let that happen. The people I had watching her would’ve informed me, and I’d have been there in an instant.

I rubbed soothing circles on her back. She let out one final, choked sob, and I vowed in that moment to make Roberto pay. Whatever it took, I would make him bleed for every single tear she’d shed.

She pulled away, wiping her face, her hand trembling as she pulled a vial of Phantomine out of her pocket. I gritted my teeth, anger boiling beneath the surface. I fucking hated that she was hooked on it, but now wasn’t the time for a fight. I had bigger issues to handle.

While she packed her bag in silence, I pulled out my phone.

Vincenzo: Find everything you can on Roberto Varela. I want his entire fucking life handed to me on a platter.

Dorian: On it. Just FYI, I think I might have some intel on the mirror. If it’s true, it’ll be hard to get.

Celeste glanced back at me, her eyes hollow but sharper than before. “What about Vivian? I can’t leave her.”

“I’ve got someone on it,” I replied, my fingers flying over the screen as I handled one problem after another.

“You need to tell Vivian to go with the nice mafia man that comes to pick her up. She’ll be safe, and she’ll meet us at my place.

Someone will also come by to pack all your equipment and bring it over. ”

She scowled as she tossed more clothes into her bag. “We’re not charity cases you need to take in, Vincenzo.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “This isn’t charity. This is me protecting what’s mine.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction. I slung her bag over my shoulder and motioned for her to follow me to the rooftop of the apartment building. As we stepped into the cool night, she glanced around, her brow furrowing.

“What the hell are you planning to do?” she asked, crossing her arms defensively.

I didn’t answer as I pulled off my shirt and stuffed it into her bag.

I let my wings burst from my back, dark and imposing against the moonlit sky.

Her eyes widened in surprise, but I didn’t give her more time to react.

In one swift but gentle motion, I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her against my chest.

Her heartbeat pounded against my chest, and for a moment, I savored the feeling of her warmth pressed against me. Despite the chaos, the danger, the constant battle between us, holding her like this felt right. It felt like she belonged in my arms, even though I knew she’d never admit it.

I glanced down at her. “You okay?”

She nodded, her face a mix of awe and irritation. “Yeah. Just... maybe give me a little warning next time?”

I chuckled, my wings flaring as I prepared to take off. “No, I don’t think I will. I like seeing genuine surprise in your eyes.”

With one powerful thrust, we soared into the sky.

The city blurred beneath us as I flew toward the tear in the Veil—not the one she was familiar with.

I knew of a different tear hidden in the sky, far away from prying eyes.

It took only minutes to reach it, and soon, the world shimmered and bent around us as we crossed into the other side.

My mansion came into view not long after, and I landed softly on the lawn, cradling her as we touched down. She stiffened slightly, and I loosened my grip, though part of me wanted to keep her close a little longer.

“We’re here.”

She stepped away from me, brushing off the moment as if it hadn’t happened, but her eyes flicked back to me, and they were soft with something deeper… something she’d never admit aloud.

As we walked into the mansion, Celeste slowed down again. Stubborn as she was, she would never admit when she needed help. I wasn’t about to let her collapse in front of me, so I scooped her up again.

She protested, wriggling in my arms. “Vincenzo, I can walk.”

Ignoring her, I kept going, carrying her past the grand foyer and up the winding staircase. I wouldn’t let her struggle on her own. Not here. Not now. She needed to be near me… needed to be protected. So, I took her to the room next to mine.

It was different from where I’d kept her before, less distant, closer. Intentionally close.

I set her down on the bed.

Her gaze sharpened, and her mouth twisted into a sneer. “So, what now, Vincenzo? How are you any different from Roberto? Are you just going to use me and keep me locked away like a prisoner?”

Her words hit like a punch to the gut. I wasn’t sure what stung more—the accusation or the fact that I had the capacity to feel hurt. Fuck, what was wrong with me?

Was I really as low as that fucker? No. I wouldn’t let her think that. As long as she was here, safe and alive, wasn’t that all that mattered? Surely, I didn’t care about her perceptions , her feelings , right?

I clenched my jaw, the heat of her words burning through me. “Prisoner?” I stepped closer, my voice dangerously low. “You think I’m keeping you here like some prisoner?”

She crossed her arms, glaring up at me from where she sat on the bed. “That’s what it feels like. You, Roberto… what’s the difference? You lock me away, tell me what to do, treat me like I’m some possession.”