The next evening found Elena and Valentina in one of the high-rise buildings overlooking the sprawling city. From their vantage point, the urban lights stretched endlessly, a glittering web of streets and buildings that concealed secrets, power, and danger. This mission felt different, and Elena couldn’t shake the feeling of a storm building between them and the score they’d been promised.
“Elena, check the surveillance feeds again,” Valentina said, her voice low and commanding, snapping Elena out of her thoughts. The sharp edge to Valentina’s tone was a reminder of the stakes tonight. As tempting as it was to indulge in their banter, now wasn’t the time for distraction.
Elena tapped into the security systems of the building housing their target, her fingers flying over her laptop. Within moments, a grid of camera feeds appeared on the screen, each one showing a different angle of the building they were about to infiltrate. She pulled up the map they’d been given the night before, cross-referencing it with the cameras.
“It’s like Fort Knox in there,” she murmured. “Guards stationed at every exit, and cameras covering almost every blind spot. Whoever owns this place isn’t taking chances.”
Valentina leaned over her shoulder, studying the feed. “You think that’s supposed to scare me?” she said, smirking. “They’re just making it interesting.”
Elena glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, so you’re one of those people? The kind who sees a locked door and just has to open it?”
Valentina shrugged, unbothered. “Something like that. You’d be surprised how many people just need a little… encouragement.”
Their eyes met, and for a moment, Elena felt a rush of excitement that had nothing to do with the heist. She could feel the warmth of Valentina’s breath, her fingers brushing hers over the keys.
“Elena,” Valentina’s voice dropped to a whisper, “focus. We’re not here for a date.”
Elena rolled her eyes, pulling her hand away. “You’re the one leaning over me. Besides,” she added, her lips curving into a smirk, “you’re not exactly subtle.”
Valentina chuckled, straightening. “Fine. Let’s get down to business.” She took a step back, but her eyes lingered on Elena’s for a beat too long, her smirk giving away just enough.
After a few final checks, they slipped out of the high-rise and made their way toward the target building. Moving through the shadows, they stayed low, Valentina leading the way with Elena covering her six. They reached a side entrance with a fingerprint scanner.
“Watch and learn,” Elena murmured, pulling out a small device she’d modified just for tonight. She pressed it to the scanner, and within seconds, it blinked green.
Valentina let out an impressed hum. “Not bad.”
Elena flashed a grin. “I’m full of surprises.”
They crept through the dimly lit halls, careful to avoid the roving guards. Every footstep, every shadow that moved along the walls was a reminder of how easy it would be to get caught. Yet, with Valentina by her side, Elena felt invincible, as if the two of them were capable of anything.
Valentina pulled her close suddenly, pressing them against the wall as a guard rounded the corner. Elena felt her heart skip a beat, though whether it was from the danger or Valentina’s nearness, she couldn’t say. The guard passed, oblivious, and Valentina leaned close, whispering in Elena’s ear, “Close call. But then, you like living on the edge.”
Elena smirked, giving Valentina a sideways glance. “You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?”
They exchanged a silent laugh, the thrill of the game between them unmistakable.
As they continued through the corridors, they came upon a secured room. Inside, a vault lay waiting—a silver monolith embedded in the wall. Valentina approached it, eyeing the lock. “Think you can crack it?”
Elena’s fingers itched with anticipation as she approached. “Give me a minute,” she replied, her voice laced with confidence.
She knelt in front of the vault, pulling out her tools, hyper-focused on the task. With a gentle touch, she guided the tumblers inside the lock, each click heightening her sense of triumph.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement. A guard turned into the hallway, his flashlight sweeping the walls. Without a word, Valentina slipped past Elena, sliding up to the guard with quiet precision. Before the guard could react, Valentina had him against the wall, a knife at his throat, her gaze cold and unyielding.
“Not a sound,” Valentina whispered, her voice sharp as steel. Elena watched, a strange mixture of admiration and wariness stirring within her. Valentina’s eyes were dark, unreadable, as she leaned in closer to the guard, her knife pressing into his neck.
Elena’s breath hitched as she whispered, “Valentina…”
With one swift motion, Valentina knocked the guard out, lowering him to the ground soundlessly. She looked back at Elena, wiping the blade clean with practiced ease. “You were saying?”
Elena swallowed, a thrill racing through her veins as she watched Valentina in action. “You’re… efficient,” she managed, trying to keep her voice steady.
Valentina flashed a grin, that dangerous glint still in her eyes. “I have my talents.”
The vault clicked open, and Elena pulled back, pride filling her as she gestured toward the open door. “After you.”
They slipped inside, quickly filling their bags with stacks of untraceable bills and rare stones. Elena’s pulse raced at the weight of the prize, the sense of victory mingling with the adrenaline still pumping through her veins.
But just as they were about to leave, an alarm blared, echoing through the corridors.
“Time to go,” Valentina said, her voice barely masking her excitement as she grabbed Elena’s hand, pulling her into a sprint.
They darted through the hallways, narrowly dodging guards as they raced for the exit. As they rounded a corner, a group of guards blocked their path, guns raised.
Valentina’s eyes gleamed with an almost feral excitement. “Looks like we’ll have to fight our way out.”
Without hesitation, she launched herself at the nearest guard, disarming him with a sharp twist of his wrist and kicking him back against the wall. Elena ducked as a guard aimed at her, sweeping his legs out from under him and landing a solid punch to his jaw. The two women moved in perfect sync, each covering the other as they took down guard after guard, a blur of calculated chaos.
At one point, Elena found herself backed against the wall, a guard pressing in, his gun aimed at her chest. Valentina moved like lightning, grabbing the guard by the collar and slamming him to the ground.
“Get off her,” she hissed, delivering a swift blow that left the guard sprawled unconscious on the floor.
Breathing hard, Elena looked up at her, a flicker of gratitude and something more in her eyes. “You didn’t have to do that.”
Valentina smirked, helping her to her feet. “You’re my partner, Elena. Can’t let anyone else have the pleasure of beating you up.”
They shared a breathless laugh, the tension between them finally breaking as they made their way out of the building. By the time they reached the car, they were bruised and exhausted but victorious, their stolen prizes weighing down their bags.
As they climbed into the car, Valentina turned to Elena, her eyes bright with the lingering thrill of the night. “Not bad for a night’s work,” she said, grinning.
Elena chuckled, leaning back in her seat. “Just another day in paradise.”
Valentina shot her a look, one that was both challenging and full of unspoken promise. “You say that now, but I know you love this.”
Elena met her gaze, her heart racing. “Maybe. But it wouldn’t be nearly as fun without you.”
They drove off into the night, the city lights fading behind them as they disappeared into the darkness, knowing that this was only the beginning.
- If you want more check out my page! The book is called Underworld Hearts! I’ll be updating almost everyday!
