Page 8 of Their Reckless Thief (The Below #1)

VINCENZO

In the middle of the discussion with my men, I heard it.

The faintest spark of something off. A heartbeat.

Soft, steady, and subtle. Not Luca or Dorian.

Something... else. I dismissed it at first, assuming it was one of the guards or a staff member.

I had bigger problems to worry about than a random pulse.

Then my gaze drifted to the door. And that’s when I saw her.

The most mouthwatering, life-destroying woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

Lurking in the shadows, trying to remain invisible.

My jaw tightened, eyes narrowing. She was spying on us, and she wasn’t spying on a typical day-to-day conversation.

No, this woman had the audacity to sneak into my mansion during my most critical meeting in decades.

I should’ve been furious. I was furious. But I was also intrigued, as twisted as that was.

She tried to put on a brave face, tried to play the innocent with wide eyes and a quivering lip. She backed up slightly, but her posture changed, and I saw the flash of defiance in her eyes. She was good at the act, but not good enough. I could see through the mask.

When it became clear none of us were buying her act, and I instructed my men to tie her up, she dropped the innocent routine and went straight into fight mode. In one fluid motion, she pulled out two wicked-looking blades and settled into a fierce stance. It was hot as fuck.

My lips curled into a grin. Not many people surprised me, but this woman…

If I were being honest, her show of skill and bravado was giving me a twisted sort of thrill.

Beside me, Dorian let out a low whistle, amusement written all over his face. “Damn, she’s feisty. I like it.”

“Of course you do,” Luca muttered, though even he looked mildly impressed.

I couldn’t help but chuckle as I crossed my arms. “Cute,” I said, my voice dripping with mockery. “But those blades aren’t going to help you. You’re out of your league, sweetheart.”

She wasn’t backing down, though. I had to give her that. She lunged forward, slicing through the air with a skill that—had she been facing lesser opponents—might have gotten her somewhere.

But Dorian was one of the best shifter fighters around, and Luca… well, Luca was a fucking shadow-wielder, a skill no one in The Below dared underestimate.

Dorian moved first, dodging her blade with ease and closing the distance between them. He grabbed her wrist, but before he could get a solid hold, she twisted out of his grip and kicked him in his side. He grunted, but the look on his face was pure enjoyment.

“Damn, I really like her.” He laughed.

Luca wasn’t as playful. Shadows whirled around him as he stepped in, using her momentum against her. In seconds, he had her pinned, twisting one arm behind her back. Her blades clattered to the floor.

She fought like hell to break free—thrashing, kicking, even trying to bite. And while her moves were impressive for a human, she was still just a fucking human.

Dorian chuckled, stepping forward as Luca held her down. “If this were under different circumstances…” He gave her a wicked grin as he leaned in close. “I think we’d be having a lot more fun.”

She glared up at him, her chest heaving. “In your fucking dreams, wolf boy,” she spat. Then, to my amusement, she kneed him right in the balls.

Dorian doubled over with a loud groan, but the grin never left his face. “She’s a wild one, boss. I think we should keep her.”

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn’t deny the thrill buzzing through me. “Get her tied up. Now.” My voice was sharp, my patience thinning. The more she fought, though, the more my curiosity grew.

Luca tied her hands behind her back with practiced ease, his expression unreadable as always. Dorian, still recovering from the knee to his groin, gave her an exaggerated wink. “You sure know how to make a first impression.”

She glared at him, her lips pulling back in a snarl. “You disgust me.”

I stepped forward, my eyes locking on hers. “Shut your beautiful fucking mouth, or I’ll cut out your tongue and feed it to Dorian.”

She stopped struggling, her fiery gaze meeting mine with a challenge that only made me want to break her even more. Despite her bravado, I could sense she was scared.

Good. She should be.

“Take her downstairs,” I ordered Dorian, who was grinning like a fool as he grabbed her arm. “And tell my useless fucking guards they’re dead men walking.”

She was struggling, but this time, Luca was there to help, and between the two of them, they got her out of the room. She kept screaming and fighting every step of the way, her defiance like a spark in the air.

I watched her go, my mind racing with questions.

Who the fuck was she? And more importantly, what was she doing here?

As the door closed behind them, I stood in the quiet, my pulse still thrumming with the thrill of what had just happened.

Whoever she was, I’d find out. And when I did… well, let’s just say things were about to get interesting for the human.

I strode across the hall into my office, my fingers brushing over my phone screen. It wasn’t every day I had to use this particular measure, but when I did, it wasn’t for anything good. I sent the text message. Within minutes, the heavy thud of footsteps echoed down the hallway outside the office.

Alessandro and Camilla appeared, swift and ready for blood.

Alessandro, with his sharp, angular features and calculating gaze, looked like a predator about to pounce. His suit was immaculate, as usual, not a hair out of place, yet there was a deadly edge to him. He was the kind of enforcer who relished punishment—surgical and precise.

Camilla, by contrast, was quieter and more reserved, but every bit as dangerous. Her red hair hung loosely over her shoulder, her lips quirked in a way that showed she knew exactly what was about to happen.

“Boss,” Alessandro said. “What’s the situation?”

I gestured toward the monitor on my desk, where the security footage flickered on the screen.

“Our guards let someone in tonight. A fucking human woman. Walked right into our meeting.” My blood heated with every word, rage simmering under the surface.

“They failed, and now, they need to be punished.”

Alessandro’s expression remained cold, but there was a hint of anticipation on his face. “Of course.”

Camilla gave a short nod, the movement making her red hair gleam under the low light. “We’ll handle it.”

I didn’t need to tell them twice. They knew what failure meant in my world, and my men— my people—knew better than to expect leniency. They’d broken the chain, and they’d pay for it. Alessandro and Camilla would ensure that with their particular brand of efficiency.

“Review the footage. Find out who was responsible,” I growled, tapping my fingers against the desk. “Make sure they understand, in no uncertain terms, the consequences of failure. Severest order. You know what to do.”

Alessandro’s smile was cold and sharp. “Understood, boss.”

As they slipped out of the room, I headed for the door that led downstairs. I wasn’t done with the human woman. Not by a long shot.

The ancient stairs creaked under my weight as I descended into the basement.

The air grew colder, the scent of old stone and leather filling my nostrils as I headed down the narrow hallway.

This specific side of the basement was a testament to the things I’d done and the power I possessed.

The walls were lined with various tools of the trade—torture devices I’d used countless times.

Chains hung from the ceiling, a bloodstained table sat in the center, and iron shackles caught the dim light.

It was a room built to break even the strongest.

The woman was tied to a chair near a table under a singular, harsh lamp, the light shining right into her face so she couldn’t see shit.

Her face showed desperation, fear, and unmitigated anger.

Dorian and Luca stood nearby, watching as she struggled against her restraints, her eyes narrowing against the glare.

I took my time, watching her for a moment.

She was a sight—gorgeous, fierce, and determined, despite the circumstances.

Most would’ve been pissing themselves by now, but not her. She didn’t scream, didn’t cry. She just sat there, defiant as hell, her chin raised in a silent challenge.

The corner of my mouth twitched.

She wasn’t too scared.

She would be, though.

Stepping into the light, I crossed my arms, letting my gaze rake over her. “You’re an interesting little thing, aren’t you?”

Her head snapped in my direction, but the light was too bright for her to make out anything beyond my silhouette. I took a few more steps, just enough so she could finally get a good look at me.

“Let her go,” I said.

Luca moved without hesitation and cut the ropes that bound her wrists. She rubbed her skin, her eyes darting between the three of us like a cornered animal assessing its options. Instead of cowering, she stood up slowly, holding my gaze the entire time. Impressive, if reckless.

“Follow me,” I ordered, my tone leaving no room for argument. My gaze dragged down her body before I moved toward the side of the basement that was less ominous, more inviting. My den.

She didn’t move. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head, trying to figure out an escape route, trying to decide if she could take us.

I gave her a slow, dangerous smile. “I won’t ask again. You follow me, or I drag you. Your choice.”

With a muttered curse under her breath, she started walking, her chin held high.