The rain fell in thin, icy needles as Aira slipped through the back gates of the Blackthorn estate. Her reputation as the quietest thief in the city wasn't exaggerated—nobody ever saw her coming. Tonight's job was simple: get in, grab the vault data chip, get out. Easy money.
At least… it was supposed to be.
Inside, the mansion was almost unnaturally silent. Expensive paintings, dark marble floors, golden sculptures—everything screamed wealth and danger. Aira smirked. Rich men were always the easiest to steal from.
But this wasn't a rich man.
This was Kade Blackthorn—the most feared underground mafia boss in the country.
She didn't know that yet.
Aira cracked open the hidden vault behind a false wall. Just as she reached for the chip, she felt something cold touch the back of her neck.
A gun barrel.
A deep voice murmured behind her, calm but deadly.
"You've got ten seconds to tell me how you bypassed three security layers… before I blow your pretty head off."
Her heart jumped. She spun around and froze.
The man holding the gun wasn't some bulky guard. He was tall, sharp-jawed, wearing a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing veins and tattoos. His eyes were dark, slow-burning—like he was deciding whether to kill her or kiss her.
Kade Blackthorn.
Aira swallowed. "So this wasn't an empty mansion."
He tilted his head, amused by her nerve. "I like to watch thieves try. Gives me entertainment."
She raised her dagger. "Let me entertain you more, then."
In one swift motion, she struck—but he anticipated it. He caught her wrist, spun her, and pinned her against the wall, his breath brushing her ear.
Their hearts were beating fast. Too close. Too intense.
"Feisty little fox," he murmured. "I should break your hands for touching my vault."
"Go ahead," she snapped back. "But I'm not scared of you."
Kade smirked—like he hadn't heard that in a long time.
Then the mansion alarms blared.
Aira's eyes widened. "I didn't trigger that."
His jaw tightened. "I know. Someone else is here."
Before she could react, gunshots echoed from outside the corridor—another group had invaded the mansion.
Kade cursed under his breath. "Looks like you picked the worst night to rob me."
She grabbed her dagger again. "Or the best. Because now you need me."
Their eyes locked—a spark of unwilling alliance forming.
He leaned in closer, voice low. "Listen, thief. You don't get to walk out of here unless I say so."
"And you won't get out alive without me," she fired back.
For the first time, he smiled.
A dangerous, intrigued smile.
"Fine. For tonight… we work together."
They moved side by side as the footsteps approached—two enemies forced into an unexpected partnership.
But as the hallway filled with the sound of approaching attackers, Aira sensed something even more dangerous:
The way Kade looked at her was not like he wanted to kill her anymore.
It was like he wanted to claim her.
And that scared her more than the guns outside.