We’ve all got trauma. Trust issues that run a mile long and scars that go far deeper than the uneven grooves of our skin. We’re more than a little fucked in the head, our morals skewered and nothing short of delusional.
But together, we found a home.
“Remind me again why we can’t come with you?”
“Only homeowners, blood relations and employees are permitted within the borders of Wolf Hollow.” Jasper responds for me, a slight frown rippling his dark complexion, “Anyone who falls beyond those specifications are sentenced to death.”
Horace blinks in surprise, “They still have the death penalty?”
“It’s more of an… unofficial justice system.” Jasper winces, catching my eye, “There are no laws in Wolf Hollow except those stipulated by the head of the hierarchy.”
I blow out a breath, casting my eyes over the plans and blueprints laid out on the kitchen table. I’ve got a matching set already packed, the fine lines and bullet points summarizing the next six months of my life.
“The Dragon runs the show. A woman known for child abductions and human trafficking, she controls the wealthiestmembers of Wolf Hollow. There’s a counsel and a board, but nothing goes through without the Dragon’s approval.”
Mae sighs, “You don’t have to do this, you know. We've got more than enough money to tide us over until the next job.”
“Shh, he was just getting to the good part.” Horace waves a hand around, as if he hasn’t heard this plan a million times, “Tell us more about the scary lady.”
“There’s not much more to tell. Maleficent Drache is known for being a vindictive and merciless woman, nothing short of the creature she designs herself after. The last person who stole from her ended up being tortured for hours before being burned alive.”
Horace grimaces, “God. The smell would have been horrible.”
“The worst.” My lips split into a wide smile, the rush of adrenaline already sinking into my system, “Which is why I’m not going to get caught. Get in, get out, with as much cash and treasure as I can find. I’ll warm up with the smaller mansions before going for the Drache Manor.”
It’s the mother load of the mother loads.
The score that will change our lives forever.
The problem with being a professional thief is there’s only so long you can play the game. One of these days, I’m going to be too old to climb rafters and Jasper will be too slow with his computer. Our luck is bound to run out, and I don’t want it to happen before we have a nest egg to fall back on.
This crew has given me everything. Love, loyalty and the kind of support I never thought I deserved.
Now it’s my turn to give them everything. To secure a future for them that isn’t behind the bars of a cell or left dead in a ditch somewhere.
And it all starts with this heist.
“What about the daughter?”
Mae’s question pulls me out of my thoughts. Her skin tone is lighter than Jasper’s, a warm olive colour that pulls out the specks of blue in her dark irises.
She knows me better than the boys. Not because she’s seen me naked – an accident we agreed to never act on again – but because she’s seen my scars.
The ones hiding beneath the inked surface. The ones I don’t talk about and the ones she refuses to talk about as well.
The boys carry their own trauma, but Mae and I are forced to wear our damage for the world to see. It’s a connection forged through blood and ink, a tradition we started long before it was fashionable to have a tattoo sleeve.
Every time we find a new scar, we cover it up.
The world might have hurt us, but I’ll be damned if anyone gets to see just how badly.
“Besides a photo of a little blonde girl, we don’t know anything about Calista Drache.” Clearing my throat, I think about the one person who could fuck up this entire plan, “Rumour has it she attends the college with the other prodigies, so that’s where I’m going to start. Touch base, get a feel for the crowd,and find a way into the inner circle. Once I have enough data, I’ll get Jasper to draft up a 3D model and we can start working on assembling a crew.”
And that’s the bitch of it all.
Having to assemble a brand new crew while working a job.
Every variable in this situation is less than ideal, and based on the cynical look on Jasper’s face, he feels it too. From the foreign territory to the unknown enemies, I am going in completely blind, shooting my way through the darkness and hoping something takes a hit. It’s stupid and reckless, but I do have one thing on my side.
