Page 72 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

CELESTE

Vincenzo’s room was dark, the only light a dim glow from a shaded lamp casting shadows along the polished wood and leather that filled his space.

Usually, he came to me. Whether he was summoned or simply appeared, his presence was as much a part of my nights as my own heartbeat.

Tonight, though, I stepped inside his domain, closing the door softly behind me.

Vincenzo looked up in surprise, then quickly schooled his expression.

He straightened, his stance coiling tight as he read the set of my face.

“ Dolcezza ,” he growled, closing the distance between us with a single step. His hand brushed my arm, smooth and familiar, and it was as if he could sense the unease twisting through me. “What’s wrong?”

“Sit down,” I said, the request shaky on my tongue, but his grip tightened fractionally, his gaze sharpening.

“I’m fine standing,” he replied, watching me with that dangerous mix of curiosity and wariness. “What is this about?”

I took a breath. “Luca is innocent.”

The muscles in his jaw ticked, the warmth in his expression icing over as he searched my face. “And how the hell would you know that?”

“Because I’m the one who took the money.”

Silence filled the room, crushing and heavy. His expression tightened, his gaze turning sharper, searching my face as though I might still be joking. When I didn’t flinch, his brows furrowed, disbelief shading into something darker.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he asked slowly. “Why would you steal from me? I would have given you anything you wanted.”

“It wasn’t about wanting anything for myself. I needed it to help Roberto’s dolls, the women he controlled. And Will. Those who suffered at his hands and were unemployed the moment you took Roberto’s life.”

His gaze turned cold, his expression carved from stone as he straightened, pulling back. “You needed my money to play hero for them? After I took care of Roberto?” His voice wavered, hinting at something raw, something deeply wounded. “ Dolcezza , explain. All of it.”

I swallowed, steadying myself against the intensity of his gaze.

“One night, when I couldn’t sleep, I found the computer in your office on.

I… I knew I could use the money to help them,” I said, my voice trembling despite my efforts to hold it steady.

“You killed him, Vincenzo. The fallout left his victims in the gutter. I had to clean up the mess after you lost control.”

“After I lost control?” he repeated, a trace of incredulity crossing his face before he caught himself. He stared at me with that look, that same one that turned his face hard and inscrutable, like he was looking at a stranger. It was the look of betrayal.

“You pushed me to this,” I said, forcing the words out, forcing him to hear me. “You gave me no choice. Those women… Will… someone had to be there for them.”

“And here we are,” he replied, his voice soft but with a hint of bitterness. “The little thief who walked into my life by breaking into my home because she wanted to steal from me. We’ve come full circle, haven’t we, Celeste?”

His words hit me like a blow, and for a second, I was too stunned to reply. Then, anger flared hot in my veins. “You think that’s what I wanted? You think I did this to hurt you?”

He stepped closer, dangerously close. “Well? You’ve got what you wanted, haven’t you? My money? Are you going to leave now?”

I bristled, meeting his gaze with my own hard stare. “Am I allowed to? Or am I a prisoner here?”

“You’re free to try,” he replied, his tone so soft it bordered on dangerous. “But you’ll always be mine, Celeste. Not a prisoner, but you’ll never escape me. Not now.”

My pulse quickened, a chill sweeping through me, and my anger wavered under his gaze. His voice dropped lower, turning rougher, almost gentle. “And if you’d come to me and asked, I would have given you even more than that for those women. You didn’t have to take it.”

I felt my resolve slipping, melting. “You… you would have done that?”

“I already did.” He raised an eyebrow, a hint of smugness in his smirk. “The day after I killed him, I started setting them up with everything they need. The bank’s handling it, and they’ll be cared for. Rent-free for life.”

His words settled over me like a lead weight. Guilt surged through me, thick and sickening. He’d already done it. He’d thought of them, too. A heavy ache bloomed in my chest, and I stared at him, words caught in my throat.

“I’m sorry. For not trusting you. For not coming to you first.”

He didn’t move, his expression softening just slightly.

Then he reached out, pulling me into his arms, the solid warmth of him grounding me in ways I didn’t know I needed.

I pressed my face into his chest, letting the warmth and strength of him soak into me.

He slid his hand to the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair.

His voice was a low murmur against my ear. “I’m sorry for making you feel like you had to steal from me.”

I stilled against him, absorbing his words. Relief and regret twisted together, and I raised my head, meeting his gaze. I didn’t need to speak. He saw it all in my eyes.

The wicked gleam returned to his gaze.

“You know,” he said, his voice deceptively calm, “you’re still going to have to be punished for this.”

I froze, and his smirk deepened, that knowing, crooked smile that always managed to make the world tilt just a little.

“Vincenzo,” I said, a teasing edge creeping into my voice. “You wouldn’t actually punish me, would you? I’m not one of your enemies. You don’t have to pretend to be a devil around me.”

He chuckled, and his eyes darkened. “ Dolcezza , I am not a devil.” His lips curved, eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. “I am the devil. Don’t start getting the wrong idea. And prepare to be punished.”

The door opened, and Dorian entered with his usual confidence, but he paused when he saw us. His sharp gaze flitted between Vincenzo and me.

“What’s going on?” he asked, looking slightly amused and slightly wary.

“Go get Luca. Now.”

Dorian’s brow lifted, curiosity piqued, but he didn’t argue. He disappeared out of the room, and I turned back to Vincenzo. His eyes, dark as obsidian, rested on me, sending a thrill down my spine.

“Strip,” he said.

The air grew heavy, and my heart skipped, the command jarring yet magnetic. A flicker of doubt teased at the edges of my mind, but beneath it was a strange exhilaration. The barest whisper of trust I felt for him, something I wouldn’t dare admit aloud, pulsed between us.

I didn’t look away from him as I pulled off my shirt. With unsteady hands, I shed the rest of my clothes, my panties pooling at my feet. He didn’t say a word, only watched me with that fierce intensity that always stripped away my defenses.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, his hands trailing over my stomach, his touch feather-light but igniting every nerve. “Even now, when you’re defiant, when you hate me, you’re exquisite.”

“I don’t hate you,” I whispered, the confession slipping out before I could stop it. My reflection in the full-length mirror betrayed me—raw vulnerability flashing across my face.

His fingers dug into my hips, his lips grazing the shell of my ear. “Good, because I don’t plan on letting you go.”

The words sent a thrill through me, terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

“You’re mine, Celeste,” he growled, his voice rough with hunger. “And I’m going to make sure you never forget it. Kneel. Hands behind your back. Sit back on your heels.”

I sank to my knees, the carpet cushioning my bare skin, and put my hands behind my back, feeling each muscle lengthen, each nerve fire with an unfamiliar thrill as I settled. Every part of me was tuned to him, his presence so vast it felt as though it crowded out the walls of the room.

When Dorian returned with Luca trailing behind, they both stopped short. Dorian’s expression turned from surprise to fascination, a dark gleam in his eyes. Luca looked away, his jaw set hard, tension radiating from him.

“What the hell is going on?” Dorian asked, a trace of laughter in his voice as he stepped closer.

Vincenzo’s gaze never left me. “Our little dolcezza has been a very bad girl,” he said, his tone deceptively light. “She’s earned herself a punishment.”

I could feel Luca’s gaze settle on me. I stole a quick glance at him, and when our eyes met, I held his gaze, hoping he’d understand. I was fine. I was here of my own will.

Dorian’s smirk softened into something sharper as he caught the silent exchange, and he nodded to Vincenzo, almost as if they were having a conversation without words. Vincenzo gestured for him to step closer.

“Tie her hands behind her back,” he commanded Dorian, a spark of satisfaction in his tone.

Dorian gave a low chuckle as he came to my side, pulling a rope out of his pocket.

His fingers slid over my wrists as he secured them with practiced ease, the rough cord biting gently into my skin, binding me in place.

My pulse thrummed faster, but I forced myself to stay still, to let myself feel the pull of his grip, the restraint solid and real.

“Is this what you want?” he whispered into my ear, and I gave a slight nod.

I trusted them. I didn’t know when or how that happened, but it was reality. I trusted the three monsters that were in the room with me.

Luca shifted uncomfortably on his feet. “I’m leaving.”

Vincenzo’s gaze snapped to him. “You’re staying.”

The authority in his voice echoed in the silence, thick with unspoken command.

Luca’s jaw clenched, his fists curling. He looked at me, his eyes holding a storm I couldn’t name.

It was anger, frustration, shame… but I knew it wasn’t for me.

It was for him, for being forced to watch, forced to confront the complexity of what tied us all together.

Vincenzo nodded toward a chair nearby. “Sit. You’ll watch.”