Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Novalee
The Belmont Plaza rises in front of us, all glass and steel. The midday sun bounces off its reflective surfaces, almost blinding me as I glance toward the rooftop bar, which isn’t visible from the street.
Here we are, waiting like ordinary tourists trying to gain entry to a fancy restaurant. Except we’re not tourists, and this isn’t a casual outing.
Ace shifts beside me, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides as he breathes through his teeth. His discomfort is shown in the slight twitch in his fingers and the subtle rocking of his weight from heel to toe.
I want to take his hand and give him something solid to hold on to, but I hesitate. Would that help? Or would it push him further into his head? Before I can decide, Sylus reaches for Ace’s clenched fist. He pries it open with casual ease and places it into my hand, linking our fingers. “She’s here. We’re here. This is real, and you’re safe,” he tells him firmly. Then Sylus takes my other hand, wrapping it in his own.
Ace’s shoulders drop, his tension bleeding out slowly as his grip on my hand tightens, letting me know he’s using our connection to ground himself. He exhales deeply, his jaw relaxing as his gaze flicks between Sylus and me. For the first time since we got here, he doesn’t look like he’s about to bolt.
“You okay?” I ask quietly, my thumb brushing against his knuckles now that I know my touch helps.
“I will be.” He lets out another long breath. “I have to be. This is good training. I need to fucking desensitize before the show.”
“We used to do this shit all the time with Oscar, Ric. You can do it. We’re with you. You’re safe. And if it gets too much, we’ll go home. You’re in control.”
Ace’s lips twitch, not quite into a smile, but not the blank mask he’s been wearing either. He straightens a little, his grip on my hand still firm as he nods. “Thanks, Sy.”
Sylus nods back, and I turn to scan the sidewalk. “She should be here any—”
Then Annabelle rounds the corner with her usual energy, her blonde ponytail bouncing with every step. She spots me and squeals, rushing over without a care for who might be watching. Sylus lets go of my hand and steps back to make room for her.
“Oh my God,” she exclaims, throwing her arms around me while I still hold Ace’s hand. She kisses my cheek loudly, then steps back to give me a playful once-over. “I missed you, babe. Thank you so much for the invite. Life’s already boring without you.”
I laugh, squeezing her arm with my free hand. “Missed you too. And I couldn’t let you wither away from boredom, could I?”
Annabelle steps back fully, her sharp eyes flicking between the two men flanking me. Her gaze drops to where I’m still holding Ace’s hand, and her brows shoot up, a sly grin spreading across her face. “Sooo,” she drawls, tilting her head. “I see you’ve got some news to share?”
Sylus smirks, his easy charm sliding back into place. “Hey, Blondie.”
She raises an eyebrow, smirking right back. “Hey, Hottie. Fancy seeing you in daylight for once.”
“His name is Sylus.” I chuckle. “And this is Ac—” I start, then correct myself quickly. “Alaric.”
Annabelle’s grin softens as she meets his gaze. “Alaric. Nice to meet you.”
Thankfully, she doesn’t offer a handshake or try to touch him. I made sure to warn her about that in advance, asking her not to touch each of the guys, and her response was to laugh. “I didn’t peg you for the jealous type, but don’t worry. I’ve got my own man, thank you very much.”
Ace nods, his expression polite but cautious. “You too.”
“Ready to head up?” I ask, glancing between the three of them. Annabelle nods eagerly, looping her arm through mine as we make our way into the lobby.
The Plaza’s interior is as opulent as the exterior, with marble floors, gold accents, and a chandelier that looks like it cost more than I’ll ever make in a lifetime.
Sylus leans in as we walk, his voice low in my ear. “Cameras,” he mutters, nodding subtly toward the corners of the ceiling. “Two near the entrance, one by the concierge desk and another by the elevators. Stick close to the walls to stay in their blind spots.”
I nod, following his lead as we weave through the lobby, making sure Ace is on my side next to the wall so I can shield him from the people walking past. Annabelle oohs and aahs at the decor while Ace is tense and keeps his focus on our surroundings.
When we reach the elevators, Sylus leans closer again. “These have an emergency override setting,” he explains. “It’s common in buildings like this. If you hit the floor button in a specific sequence, it bypasses all the other stops and takes you straight to the top.”
“How do you know that?” I whisper, genuinely curious.
“Because I’m good at what I do.” A smile ghosts over Sylus’s face. “And because I used to pull this trick all the time to sneak into places I wasn’t supposed to be.”
Ace presses the call button, his posture still tense but more composed than before. When the elevator doors slide open, we step inside, and Sylus immediately starts punching in the sequence. He presses the ground floor button twice, then the rooftop button once, followed by a long press on the close-door button.
The elevator hums to life, bypassing every floor as it ascends smoothly.
“Emergency setting,” Sylus repeats with a wink. “Designed for staff to use during urgent situations. Works like a charm if you know the sequence.”
“Impressive,” Annabelle murmurs, her eyes darting between Sylus and the control panel.
Sylus smirks, leaning back against the wall. “Stick around, Blondie. You might learn a thing or two.”
I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my lips as I glance at Ace. He’s still holding my hand, his grip steady, and I see the faintest trace of a smile on his lips too.
The elevator dings, and the doors slide open to reveal the rooftop bar. The view is breathtaking—glittering skyscrapers, the endless sprawl of the city, and the faint haze of the desert in the distance. But I barely notice it, my focus on Ace as he steps out beside me, his hand still in mine, though his posture is tense again as soon as the chatter and music from the bar hits us.
There are white lounge chairs and tables scattered across the terrace. A glass cage sits prominently at the far end of the rooftop, housing the Lamborghini Huracán that Belmont owns purely to show off. My stomach tightens as I glance at it, imagining Koen driving it off this very roof. The thought alone is enough to make my pulse skip.
Sylus steps ahead of us, his eyes scanning the place. “There’s only one camera up here,” he says, pointing toward the exit of the elevator. “Angled at the door, so if we drape something over it, they won’t track. This is a sunroof bar, open during the day for the view, but at night, it’s closed.”
“Okay, all this talk is getting suspicious,” Annabelle mutters. “I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear all the crimes you’re describing.”
I snort and study the setup. “And how does Ace get up here when the bar’s closed?”
“The plan was to hack in, but thanks to you snagging Belmont’s hotel card, we can do that a lot easier,” Sylus replies with a grin. “It’s universal access. I made a few copies before Ezra had one of his cops return it to Belmont. We made sure it looked untouched. No recorded access, no changes. So, yeah, I’m sure Belmont hasn’t updated the system. Would be a nightmare for him if he did.”
“A lot of guesses you’re making,” I remark, raising an eyebrow. “And what about the employees in the lobby and everywhere? What if they notice that somebody goes up here when it should be closed?”
“They will all be way too distracted by what’s going on outside. Another perk to doing it out in the open on the street.”
“I hope you’re fucking right.”
Sylus chuckles as we make our way to a table at the far end of the bar, close to the Lamborghini. The car gleams inside its glass cage, reflecting the sunlight like a jewel.
We settle at the table, and a server approaches almost immediately. Annabelle orders something sweet, and I follow suit, asking for a caramel macchiato. Ace and Sylus glance at each other before mirroring our choices, though their amusement is clear.
I laugh softly. “Good thing Nicholas isn’t here. He’d probably scoff at all the sugar.”
Sylus snorts. “It’s always good when the dickhead isn’t around.”
Ace chuckles, and some of the tension melts away. But Annabelle turns to me with a curious look. “Who the fuck is Nicholas? Nova, girl, I have no idea what kind of people you’re hanging out with lately.”
I hesitate for a moment, but there’s no hiding it now. Since I want her to help us out, she has a right to know. “Nicholas Harrington.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Annabelle’s eyes widen. “Harrington as in Harrington Heights? Veronica Harrington?”
“Yep,” I say, popping the P. “The son.”
She lets out a low whistle, leaning back in her chair. “Wow. And what about the Lane brothers? Last time I saw you, you were with Koen.”
“Your bestie is with all of us,” Sylus announces casually, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. “She’s with me, Alaric, Koen, and… yeah, Harrington hangs around too.”
Annabelle freezes, her wide eyes darting to me. I brace myself, ready for the judgment, the questioning, the awkwardness. Instead, she squeals, drawing a few glances from nearby tables before I hush her with a panicked look.
“Geez, girl,” I whisper. “People are staring.”
She clamps a hand over her mouth, but her excitement is undeterred. “Like, for real? Like, with them, with them? Together? With all of them? Or are you… you know, fucking them?” Her gaze flicks to Sylus and Alaric, then she throws me a teasing smirk and adds, “Not that I could blame you.”
My cheeks burn as I glance at the guys, but Sylus laughs, clearly unbothered. Ace’s lips twitch, almost forming a smile.
“It’s complicated,” I mumble, trying to downplay it.
“Girl, don’t even try to it’s complicated me. You’re living the dream. The fantasy . Told you manifesting works. What do we say? We don’t chase, we attract .”
“Oh, I chased the fuck out of her,” Sylus interjects, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. “She punched a guy in the face, took me home, kicked me out, then vanished into thin air, and I spent days trying to track her down.”
That little gossip.
Annabelle blinks at him, then turns to me, eyebrows arched. “You punched a guy?”
I shrug. “He deserved it.”
“He absolutely did.” Sylus leans closer, his grin widening. “But I didn’t deserve her vanishing on me. That part? Completely uncalled for.”
Annabelle snorts, shaking her head. “You mean you didn’t catch on that she was a runner?”
“She’s not just a runner,” Sylus says dramatically. “She’s a magician. One second, she’s there, all glitter and sass, and the next? Poof. Gone.”
“Sounds like you worked for it,” Annabelle teases, leaning on the table with a sly grin.
“Worked for it?” Sylus laughs. “I earned it. Blood, sweat, and tears. But it was worth every second.” His smirk softens as he turns to me. “You were worth every second.”
“Ugh, cute. ” Annabelle groans, rolling her eyes dramatically, then she turns to Ace. “And you, fellow blondie? What’s your deal?”
I jump in quickly before Ace can speak, not ready to unravel my entire backstory right now, “We were together when we were teens. He’s from my hometown. I just… found him again.” Annabelle doesn’t know all the details of my past, and this isn’t the time to lay it all out.
Ace glances at me, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he smiles faintly. “Yeah, we must’ve manifested getting back together a lot.”
“So damn romantic,” Annabelle swoons, clutching her chest. “And now you’re telling me you need my help for… what exactly? Need a bridesmaid?”
“I wish,” Sylus mutters, while Ace shakes his head but doesn’t argue.
“No bridesmaid needed, thanks. ”
Annabelle might be over the top, but she’s my safe place. And for once, it feels good to let someone into this insane, tangled life I’m trying to navigate.
The server returns with our drinks, setting down our caramel monstrosities. Belle takes a slow sip of her latte, sighing in exaggerated bliss. “God, I needed this. Okay, spill. What’s this thing you need me for?”
I glance at Ace, unsure how much to reveal. “Well, it’s not pure coincidence why I’m with these particular guys,” I start carefully, stirring my latte. “They need my help to pull something off.”
“Something?” Belle echoes, her eyebrow arching.
“It’s a show,” Ace says, surprising me by jumping in. “The Lane brothers are planning one pretty soon.”
“A show?” Belle perks up, her excitement palpable.
“Yeah,” Ace continues, sipping his coffee like he isn’t dropping bombshells. “But it’s not your usual magic show. It has a bigger purpose.”
“Which is?” Belle leans in.
“To bring down some very bad people,” Sylus interjects.
Belle looks between the three of us. “Okay, I’m intrigued. What do you need me for?”
Ace sets down his cup, meeting her gaze evenly. “We need to ensure the bad guys are in the crowd that night. For that, we need to make them come. They’re all working for Veronica Harrington.”
Belle freezes, her caramel latte hovering just shy of her lips. “Wait, Veronica Harrington is the bad guy?”
“Yes,” Ace confirms.
Annabelle’s gaze snaps to me. “But you said you’re with her son.”
“ He ’s not the bad guy.” I wince. “And technically, I’m not—”
“Okay.” Annabelle cuts me off. “Veronica Harrington is bad with bad-guy employees. Nicholas Harrington is good guy. Go ahead, Blondie.”
Ace shoots her a playful glare but continues, “We want to send a message that looks like it’s from Veronica to make them attend, but we can’t use her phone directly.”
“If we can get access to their phones, I can make it look like the message is from her, even though it’s not,” Sylus jumps in. “But to do that, we need to get their phones, alter what we need, and return them without them noticing.”
I take a sip of my drink, watching Annabelle closely. “And since we need four people to pull this off—”
“Done.” Annabelle cuts me off before I can finish. “I’m in.”
“You don’t even know—” I start, but she shakes her head.
“Babe,” she says firmly, setting her cup down. “You’ve never asked me for anything in the last six years. It’s always been me needing you. You need me now? I’m there. No questions asked.”
God, I love this girl.
But she needs to know what she’s getting herself into.
“We could mess up. This could be dangerous.”
Annabelle’s gaze flicks between Ace and Sylus, sizing them up. “You know what you’re doing?”
“Yes,” Sylus says confidently. “I wouldn’t risk her if we didn’t.”
“Agreed,” Ace adds. “This part of the plan isn’t the risky one. Your role would be pure distraction. Nothing more.”
“I can do distraction.” Annabelle smirks, leaning back in her chair. “Hell, I thrive on it.”
Ace nods, a flicker of approval crossing his face. “Good. We’ll get you the details later. We can’t discuss it all here, but I’m glad you’re in.”
Annabelle picks up her drink, raising it in a mock toast. “Thanks, Blondie.”
Sylus snickers, leaning toward me. “Your bestie’s got more guts than half the people I know.”
“She’s got plenty of guts,” I murmur, my heart swelling with affection and nerves. This is why she’s my girl. And now she’s stepping into my madness with no hesitation, no questions. Just trust.
God, I hope she won’t regret it.
“All right.” Annabelle sets her cup down with a decisive clink. “When do we start this whole saving-the-world-one-bad-guy-at-a-time mission?”
Sylus grins, letting his chair drop back to all four legs with a thud. “Patience, Blondie. First, we scope things out here, then we head home and fill you in on the rest.”
He waves down the server and pulls out a card, casually handing it over to pay for our coffees.
“Thanks,” I say, meeting his gaze.
“Anything for you, Sparkle baby,” he replies smoothly, his grin wide enough to make my heart stumble.
“Yeah, thanks, Sy,” Ace mutters dryly.
Sylus shrugs, unbothered. “You can thank Ezra later. I swiped his card to pay.”
“You did what?” I ask, staring at him in disbelief.
“He won’t even notice,” Sylus says with a casual wave of his hand as if this isn’t the first time.
Annabelle snorts into her empty cup, and Ace shakes his head while my laughter carries over the rooftop as we gather our things and start toward the far end of the bar, where the Lamborghini glints like a prize waiting to be claimed.
Sylus and Annabelle hang back, positioning themselves on our backs to avoid drawing attention, while Ace and I move closer to the Lambo, where I notice the lock is an electric panel.
“This…” Ace points to it, “… is an RFID-based system. The glass doors swing outward, but only after the key card signal is verified. We were going to use an RFID skimmer,” he explains. “But thanks to you, we don’t have to mess with timing or risk the skimmer glitching. We can simply use the key card.”
“Key card?”
“Belmont’s master key. You saved us a lot of guesswork and potential screwups.” Ace lips curve into a faint smile. “One less thing to stress about.”
“And no alarms?” I ask as Annabelle steps a little closer, careful not to attract attention. To everyone else, we look like tourists admiring the Lambo.
“No alarms,” Ace confirms. “Not as long as the card’s signal is clean and the doors open smoothly.”
“And the car?” I glance up at Ace. “How do we get it out of there without setting anything off?”
“We’ve got a bypass module for that. It’ll override the keyless entry system long enough to start the engine.”
Behind us, Sylus snickers. “A little digital magic goes a long way.”
Annabelle leans closer, crossing her arms as she whispers to me. “Am I hearing this right? You guys are planning to steal this car?”
I let a sly smile tug at my lips. “Pretty much.”
She lets out a low whistle, shaking her head. “The shit you get yourself into. Girl, I’ve been moved out of our place for not even a month, and now you’re out here planning grand theft auto?”
I chuckle. “It’s for a good cause.”
“Uh-huh. Sure it is,” she mutters, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and begrudging admiration.
We make our way toward the opposite end of the rooftop, leaving the gleaming Lamborghini behind for now. The wind picks up as we approach the edge, carrying a faint chill that prickles against my skin. My breath catches as I glance across the yawning gap between rooftops, and my stomach twists as the sheer scale of what we’re planning hits me. This isn’t just ambition. It’s madness.
“This is madness,” I mutter my thought, gripping the railing tightly. “There’s no way he can make that.”
“Koen can do it,” Ace replies without hesitation. He rests a hand on the railing beside mine, shaking only slightly, his gaze fixed on the far rooftop.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Sylus and Annabelle join us, and Sylus gestures toward a cluster of cactus plants a few feet away. “Let’s see if they’re still there.” He crouches down to peek behind the prickly greenery before he straightens again with a satisfied nod. “Yep, still right where we left them.”
“Good,” Ace replies.
“What’s still there?” Annabelle asks, her curiosity now mirroring my own.
Sylus steps back, allowing us a clear view. Hidden beneath the cactuses are several wooden planks stacked haphazardly yet carefully enough to remain out of sight.
“Planks?”
“For the ramp,” Sylus explains, brushing his hands together. “Ric will have to set them up on the railing to create the angle Koen needs.”
“What the fuck are you guys up to?” Annabelle exclaims, her tone caught between incredulity and amazement.
Right. Koen can’t just drive straight into the railing.
Annabelle raises an eyebrow at Sylus. “And how exactly did you get those up here? Pretty sure wooden planks aren’t standard rooftop décor.”
“People don’t ask questions when you’re wearing a neon vest. Walk around like you own the place, and everyone assumes you’re supposed to be there.”
Annabelle snorts, shaking her head. “You guys are unbelievable.”
“And you’re sure this will work?”
Fuck, the more I get to know about the plan, the more hesitant I get.
“It’ll work,” Ace reassures me. “We measured everything. Calculated every angle. This spot is perfect.”
Sylus pulls a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, tapping one.
“No blunt today?” Annabelle asks him with a smirk.
“Nope, I stopped.”
I don’t even think as I reach for my matchbox and light it for him.
“Oh?” Annabelle raises an eyebrow.
“Yeah, I’m high on glitter these days,” he deadpans, making her laugh. “See that?” He exhales, then hands the cigarette to me before he points to a faint, almost imperceptible mark etched into the concrete near the railing. “We made it three months ago. This is the exact spot the ramp has to go.”
I take a drag as I look from the mark to the planks, then to the distant rooftop of Harrington Heights. “You guys are either brilliant or completely insane.”
“Both,” Sylus replies with a wink, taking the cigarette back for another slow drag.
“Well.” Annabelle folds her arms. “I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of excited to see how this all plays out. Whatever the hell it is.”
Ace’s lips twitch into a faint smile. “You won’t have to wait long.”
The wind howls around us, tugging at my hair and making the planks rattle faintly against one another. My heart beats louder in my chest as I glance again at the gap between the buildings. It’s wide. Too wide. Koen’s going to have to defy gravity to pull this off.
This isn’t reckless.
It’s borderline impossible.
But that’s the thing about these men, they thrive in the space where others would fold.
I exhale, the wind stealing the sound from my lips as I let my eyes drift back to Ace. He has to be terrified, but he handled this outing so well.
I can keep my shit together if he can.