Page 58 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

VINCENZO

As soon as we stepped out of the bathroom, the air shifted.

All eyes were on us, but I didn’t give a fuck.

Celeste walked beside me, her hair tousled, and her makeup smudged.

Her dress clung to her like a second skin, and I knew what everyone was thinking.

Ciro, Luca, Dorian, hell, even Vivian could see it in her flushed cheeks and the dazed look in her eyes.

She looked thoroughly fucked, and it gave me an almost primal sense of satisfaction.

She hated me for it. I could feel her simmering resentment, her anger at my possessiveness, my need to protect what was mine. I didn’t care. Celeste needed to be protected, and if I had to be the villain in her eyes to keep her safe, then so be it.

We made our way back to the table where Luca and Dorian were already deep in conversation with Ciro Rossi. The tension at the table wasn’t lost on me as I took my seat beside Celeste.

Luca and Dorian had done well in managing the situation, and I could tell they’d kept Ciro in line while Celeste and I were busy. Ciro’s gaze flitted toward us as we sat down, his expression filled with amusement and thinly veiled discomfort.

“Well,” Ciro began, glancing between me and Celeste with a smirk, “I’ve learned my lesson, Vincenzo.

I’ll keep my hands, and my comments, to myself when it comes to your women.

” His gaze slid toward Vivian, who sat beside Luca, her shoulders rigid, but her face a mask of calm.

I wasn’t stupid; he’d probably had his eye on her too, but Luca and Dorian must have made it clear where the boundaries were.

I shot him a cold look of warning, one that promised he’d regret testing me again. “Good. I’m glad we understand each other.” I took a long sip of my blood cocktail.

Ciro chuckled and leaned back in his seat. “So, let’s get down to business. You’ve invited me into your territory. I assume it’s not just a friendly visit.”

I nodded, keeping my voice steady and composed. “We need access to the black-market vault in your district. No questions asked, no interference. Just a clear path in and out.”

Ciro raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “That’s a tall order, Vincenzo. You know how valuable that vault is. I’m guessing you’re not planning to tell me why you need to get inside.”

I didn’t flinch. “The why doesn’t concern you.”

He smirked again, but there was no humor in his eyes. “Of course not. The price you’re willing to pay for such a favor… Now that does concern me.”

Luca leaned forward slightly, his shadows undulating almost imperceptibly around him, ready to strike if necessary.

“Name your price, but let me make myself clear. This is a courtesy I’m offering you. Whether I have your permission or not, I will be coming to retrieve what I need. This just allows your men to live.”

Ciro tilted his head, clearly enjoying the leverage he had in this moment. “Access to that vault, without any interference from me, and with my assistance in clearing the way? It’s going to cost you.”

I kept my gaze steady on him, waiting.

“I want access to the strip clubs in your territory, Vincenzo,” he said smoothly, his eyes glinting with ambition. “I’m not talking about the scraps or the low-level clubs. I want nightly access to your high-end establishments. Right in the middle of all the fucking high-end pussy.”

Dorian spoke, his voice laced with annoyance. “You’re asking for a hell of a lot, Rossi.”

Ciro shrugged, completely unbothered. “If you want access to my vault, then I want access to the best female entertainment in The Below. Not only that, but I want to send ten of my women to work here for you. I will get a share of their profits. It’s a fair trade, don’t you think?”

Tensions became even higher around the table, but I kept my composure.

I knew what he was asking was steep—my control over the nightlife in my territory was ironclad, and allowing someone like Ciro in was a risk—but we needed the key in that vault.

Without access to the Mirror of Truths, the power balance would continue to tip in The Shadow’s favor, and we couldn’t afford that.

Before I could respond, Celeste shifted beside me.

Her hand brushed against mine under the table, a subtle gesture, but enough to remind me that this wasn’t only about power or territory anymore.

It was about keeping the people in my territory safe.

And for some reason, keeping her safe had become just as important.

I met Ciro’s gaze, my expression hard. “You can have weekly access, not nightly. And don’t be surprised if you only get to look, not touch.

My women have complete autonomy over their physical interactions.

” I leaned forward, lowering my voice. “If I get word that you’ve forced yourself on one of them, the deal is off.

And I’ll personally deliver the news to you. ”

Ciro’s smirk widened, and I could see the satisfaction in his eyes. He thought he’d won, but he didn’t understand the cost of crossing me. “Deal.”

We shook on it. He’d cleared the way for us to get into the vault, but I knew that this wasn’t the end. This alliance was temporary, fragile, and it would only last as long as our interests aligned.

With the deal settled, Ciro rose from his seat, his entourage following suit. He cast one last look at Celeste before turning to me. “You’ve got a beautiful prize there, Vincenzo. Better keep an eye on her.”

I gritted my teeth. Ciro left, his men trailing behind him, and I exhaled slowly, the tension from the night settling into my bones. I glanced at Celeste, who watched me with an unreadable expression.

She stood up and declared she was going to dance.

I knew I was in trouble. It wasn’t just the dress she was wearing, though that alone had my blood simmering—it clung to her in all the right places, accentuating every dangerous curve—but it was the way she looked at me, those eyes wide and full of challenge and fire.

“I want to dance,” she said, tilting her head with a smirk, “and I’m taking Vivian with me.”

I wanted to say no. Gods, I needed to say no. Every part of me bristled at the idea of her out there on the dance floor, with every hungry eye on her. The club was full of predators, and in that dress, Celeste might as well have been walking straight into the lion’s den.

How could I deny her when she turned those eyes on me, though? Those fucking puppy-dog eyes that made my chest tighten and my defenses weaken.

“Fine,” I growled, unable to stop myself from relenting. “Don’t go far. And keep those drinks in your hand.”

She grinned, victory dancing across her lips, and pulled Vivian toward the dance floor. The two of them moved with an easy grace, their laughter blending into the music. Even though I hated every single eye that turned their way, I did my best to ignore it.

The guys and I eventually followed them down to the dance floor and stood in the corner, keeping a close eye on them. Dorian stood beside me, arms crossed, watching them with a playful grin.

“You’re really gonna let her out there like that?” he asked, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

“I can kill anyone who touches her,” I muttered, my eyes not leaving her for a second.

Dorian chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. “That’s the spirit.”

The two women were lost in the rhythm of the music, and I couldn’t look away. Celeste moved like the music was made for her, the sway of her hips completely hypnotic. She caught my eye across the room and winked. Fuck, she was playing me, and she knew it.

Vivian danced beside her, just as free. Every set of eyes in the room was drawn to them, and hell, I couldn’t blame them. They were both unbelievably beautiful. Fierce. Dangerous.

Dorian downed the last of his drink and smirked. “Fuck it,” he said as he strolled out onto the dance floor.

I watched as Dorian slid behind Celeste, his hands casually resting on her hips, moving with her to the beat.

Normally, the sight of someone touching her would’ve sent a white-hot flare of jealousy through me, but this was different.

It was Dorian. We shared everything, and while the possessive streak was still there, it wasn’t quite as enraging as it would have been if it was anyone else touching her.

That didn’t mean I wasn’t jealous, though. I watched them grinding together, his hands all over her, and even though it was Dorian, I still wanted to be the one touching her like that.

Vivian had found herself a partner, some guy who was far too enthusiastic about her, but she was laughing. Luca and I were the only ones left watching from the sidelines.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Fuck,” I growled under my breath, setting down my drink. I strode onto the dance floor, weaving through the crowd until I was the one behind Celeste. Dorian flashed me a grin as he stepped to the side.

I slid my hands over her hips, pulling her back against me.

She didn’t miss a beat, leaning into me as we moved together to the pounding rhythm of the music.

The heat of her skin sent a bolt of possessive satisfaction through me.

I lowered my lips to her ear, breathing her in. Gods, she smelled intoxicating.

I couldn’t help the words that slipped from my mouth, my voice a low growl. “Remember who you belong to, dolcezza .”

She turned her head slightly, her lips curving into that maddening smirk of hers. “You don’t own me,” she whispered back, but her eyes said something entirely different. There was a challenge in her gaze, and fuck, I loved it.

Luca stood at the edge of the dance floor, watching with that stoic, unreadable expression of his. Celeste’s gaze flicked over to him, and she gave me that damn look again… the one I couldn’t say no to.

“Get Luca out here. I want him to join us.”

I raised an eyebrow. Luca hated crowds, hated the noise, and definitely hated dancing, but if Celeste wanted something, she would find a way to get it.