The alley went quiet for a few seconds after Lucian spoke. His confidence hung in the air, but the crew's faces didn't all match the silence.
The short guy shook his head. "I still say we tie him up and dump him later. This ain't some fucking job fair."
Jessica leaned her shoulder against the wall, watching Lucian like she was trying to read a poker hand. "He's either bold or stupid. Maybe both."
The tall, bald man with the thick jacket let out a short laugh. "Or desperate. Don't forget desperate."
Ricky didn't look away from Lucian. "Desperate people can be useful. Or they can sink you faster than cops."
"That's what I'm saying," the short guy cut in. "We can't trust him. One wrong move, and—"
Ricky raised a hand, shutting him up. "We vote. If we're split, I decide."
"Vote? On this shit?" the bald man said, half laughing, half irritated.
"Yeah," Ricky said. "Because if he's in, we all own it. No one gets to bitch later if he screws up."
Jessica was the first to speak. "I say keep him. If he's lying, we'll know before the job."
Bald man shook his head. "No. Not worth it."
The short guy didn't hesitate. "Hell no. Risk is too high."
All eyes went to Ricky. He didn't rush his answer. He stepped closer to Lucian, close enough that Lucian could smell the faint burn of cigarette smoke on his jacket.
"You screw us," Ricky said quietly, "and I don't care how good you can talk. I'll make sure you don't get to talk again."
Lucian didn't blink. "Then I won't screw you."
Ricky looked him over one last time, then nodded. "Fine. He's in. But you work under Jessica. If she says jump, you don't ask why."
Jessica smirked slightly. "Lucky you."
The short guy muttered something under his breath, but no one listened. The decision was made.
Lucian had a foot in the door. Now he just had to make sure it stayed open.
Lucian's goal wasn't really to get in on this one job.
But from the way they moved, five of them in total, and surprisingly, how the girl who looked young at the back wasn't even asked to vote, he could tell there was a hierarchy here.
Besides that, the way they spoke with each other made it clear they had done jobs like this before.
Lucian wanted to join that crew and build something.
Sure, working for Crystal might be good like his father had said, maybe even get him some protection.
But a slow pace wouldn't save his brother from cancer before it even started.
A slow pace wouldn't pull his family out of poverty.
He needed to act and take things into his own hands, to stop waiting for opportunities to fall into his lap.
If he wanted a future where his brother could get treatment, where his family could climb out of the hole they'd been stuck in for years, then he couldn't afford to move at someone else's pace.
He had to grow by himself, learn to stand on his own, and build something that no one could take away from him.
That meant gaining real skills, things that would matter when money and survival were on the line.
It meant finding people worth calling allies, ones who could have his back when things turned dangerous.
But it also meant keeping a line between himself and others, making sure he never leaned so heavily on someone that losing them would break him.
In the end, if he couldn't carry his own weight, if he couldn't make himself valuable in any room he walked into, then nothing he built would last.
Jessica looked at him. "Not bad."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Lucian asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as the others shifted their attention back to each other, low voices blending in the alley.
She shrugged, casual but with the faintest smirk. "It means you're not too bad."
Lucian held her gaze for a second, trying to read if she was impressed or just humoring him.
Before he could push it further, Ricky stepped forward, breaking through the quiet murmurs of the crew.
He pulled something from his jacket pocket, a cheap black flip phone with scratches along the casing, and tossed it to Lucian. "Burner," Ricky said. "Don't lose it. You'll hear from us if we decide you're worth the risk."
Lucian caught it, feeling the weight in his palm. "And if I don't?"
Ricky's stare was flat. "Then you don't hear from us. Simple as that."
Jessica glanced between them, an unreadable look on her face, before turning away to follow the others as they began to leave the alley.
Lucian slipped the phone into his jacket pocket, already knowing he'd keep it charged and close.
Without another word, he stepped out into the street, the crew's voices fading behind him.
He moved quickly toward the Honda Civic.
Alexa was still in the driver's seat, the window cracked open as she scanned the street. Her head turned the moment he came into view, eyes locking on him instantly.
Lucian slid into the passenger seat without a word.
"I delivered the package," he said.
"Took you long enough," she muttered, putting the car in gear. Her gaze flicked to the rearview mirror before narrowing slightly. "Why are you coming from the back—" She stopped herself mid-sentence and waved it off. "Actually, I don't care. Now let's go. You'll tell Madame yourself."
Lucian gave a short nod. He kept his expression neutral, choosing not to mention the new band of potential allies he'd just met. For now, that was his business alone.
"Uhm, the man said he had a message for Crystal," Lucian added casually.
Alexa gave him a sideways glance, one brow lifting. "And do I look like Madam? You can tell her the message yourself."
She pressed the accelerator, the car rolling out into the street.
Lucian leaned back in his seat, letting the matter drop. There was no point pushing it, he'd see Crystal soon enough.