CHAPTER 4: The Heist
In the mist of strong espresso, inside a lavish oak-wood office, I tried crafting a plan for the heist of Lelith. Sha'ira visited often to "inspect" my progress.
"Hmm…"
She'd take a long, judgmental glance at my draft… then scribble something on it that I erased the moment she left.
In my secret draft. Obviously.
A little later…
"WHAT in the world is THIS!! Even a pocket thief comes with a better plan than this!!"
She growled, throwing my papers like cursed confetti.
"This won't do!!"
She stormed out, shouting at people who weren't even talking to her.
Some questionable days later…
"Are you serious!!! Who takes SELFIES before a heist and then POSTS them?!"
She slapped the paper for extra emotional damage.
"And—AND THIS! Going inside while playing Bella Ciao?! BELLA CIAO!? Who does that?!"
"I do that," I said with an innocent smile pure enough to make even the Devil reconsider his career.
"AAAHHH!!!"
She roared, grabbed my throat, lifted me like a badly behaved kitten.
"Listen, RiVeN!! You better stop playing those pathetic games of yours! I might not do anything to you… but I can do a lot to your sister in Northfrost Valley. And your parents in Petal-Town."
She threw me down again.
This time I sat up straight instantly — like a good boy.
"Try. Again. And this time do your job properly!!"
Storms out. Staff trembles. Floorboards cry.
Not that I gave her threats much value…
But I didn't want my parents to die just because my crazy ex wanted a new toy in her collection and I didn't feel like working on it.
So I worked.
Enough time passed for a beard to grow (but mine didn't)
Sha'ira sat in her chair, dim lights focusing on her mother-blessed assets.
"In two days, Gionda is hosting a party for his daughter's first anniversary. Luckily for us, the party is at his mansion. You'll be invited of course—actually, you already are."
I handed her the invitation card.
She raised an eyebrow and grr'd. Naturally. The scent of her enemy was probably already suffocating her supernatural sinuses.
"You and I will go as a couple," she said.
I perked up. "I heard they have desserts…"
My mouth watered. It's been a month of eating meat so spicy it could melt steel. I needed cake—
"Ahem." She cut me off.
"ANd we then—"
The Day of the Party
We entered the mansion — filled with officials laughing at jokes nobody laughed at, nodding at opinions nobody cared about, pretending to be important.
"This reminds me of the day Father was going to announce our marriage," Sha'ira said.
I sensed two things in her voice:
Her loneliness.
And her hatred.
Both deserved, honestly.
She was looking beautifully sinful.
That scaled-black dress caught the light, and her skin didn't just glow — it cheered, proud to be wrapped around her.
And that walk… gods, that walk.
Every step melted the world around me like candles set too close to a flame.
Her braid swung behind her like a golden whip — neat, sharp, smug — the kind of hair that made you want to sin, apologize, and sin again.
We greeted a few unfortunate souls who crossed our path.
And once we were settled in…
The Heist Begins.