Chapter 30
Nothing has changed, and how could it? It's just my stupid mind that sometimes lets me forget that Set is pure evil. He doesn't care about anything else except for his own pocket. He would kill anyone who didn't bow to his power, no matter what other casualties might occur.
I need to always remind myself of that. My life depends on it.
We returned to the penthouse a half hour ago after having dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants. Not that I could eat too much. Dinner was a formality, I could barely touch my food. No matter how easy the break-in might seem, I'm still stressed. I get that way before every mission, especially now when failure would mean disappointing Set. Even if he seems to care about me, I can’t afford to let that blind me. I don't want to find out how he would react if I failed to return with his precious artifact.
I put my hair up in a ponytail, fingers trembling slightly as I braid it. But I won't risk leaving any kind of DNA evidence behind. Black pants and a matching T-shirt help me blend into the darkness, and I can never be too cautious when it comes to my own freedom. Not that I am free now.
With my heart pounding in my ears, I announce to Set that I'm ready and we leave to meet up with the rest of the team. Our destination—a secluded warehouse near the museum. The drive there is unusually silent. Not that Set is usually a talker, but as I look at him sitting behind the wheel, I can see he is as tense as I am. For a fleeting moment, I consider saying something about it, but I refrain. The air is thick with unspoken words, but my head needs to be clear, and Set knows it—that's exactly why he's acting more civilized than ever. No threat, no invitation into his bed, and not a single word about what happened earlier in his office when he ordered that man to leave no witnesses behind. I don't imagine Set ever thought about it twice, and why would he when I saw with my own eyes what he’s really capable of, and how he killed my team that night?
Still, I can't get rid of that damn knot in the pit of my stomach that keeps reminding me of the magnetic connection between our bodies. I’m starting to wish I were paralyzed so that my mind would be the only thing I need to keep under control.
Everything is set when we arrive at the warehouse, and even though I'm confident about going in, I have a bad feeling about it. One that I wouldn't usually ignore, but I feel I need to do this. I need to be something more than a bed warmer, even if I wasn’t doing this for Set, but just for me.
My new team hops into a van that's equipped with the software they need to monitor the cameras, while I remain in Set's SUV. He’ll be outside the whole time, followed by two of his men who just showed up in an extra car. He even offered to go in with me, but we both know he’ll be much more useful on the outside in case anything happens.
We drive to the museum, which is only a street away, and pull up at an entrance where our tech guys have already ensured the cameras have been cut off.
I'm getting ready to get out of the car as soon as Set parks. It’s an awkward moment, and I'm a little clumsy while I’m still considering if I should say something to him or not. I don't even know why my heart is pounding so loudly. I seemed to be okay just a couple of minutes ago. But now that my eyes turn to meet his, I can't help but take a mental picture of his perfectly sculpted face. I just wish he wasn’t so damn attractive. My life would be so much easier if he was just fucking ugly. I used to take mental pictures of all the people I cared about before going on a mission. No matter how safe it may be, there's always a risk of never seeing them again.
Maybe I come off as awkward because I’m convinced that by now I’m staring into his dark onyx eyes, and at the way fugitive strands of raven hair are falling over them— so perfect on the outside, so flawed on the inside . And as if he wants to contradict me on that last statement—even if I didn't let it out loud—Set’s fingers intertwine with mine. “Are you sure you want to do this? We can call it off,” he asks, his tone thick with genuine concern, as if this weighs on him more than he lets on.
Why does he have to be thoughtful right now?
“I'm sure.” I nod, convinced that I'm doing the right thing. It's just everything else in my life that I'm not convinced about.
His hand squeezes tighter on my own. “Ya'amar, what’s between us isn't a whim. It's not even my will or yours; it's destiny. You just have to believe it.” The sound of his voice so sincere that I could actually believe him. Maybe I could even believe in us if he could ever learn the word mercy.
I don't have time to think about this right now, so ignoring whatever my reason dictates, I act on pure instinct. My lips crash against his, kissing him with a passion I have never felt before. Maybe it's the heat of the moment, but right now, I would be ready to lose myself with him for one more night.His drugging cologne etches itself into me, seeping into my senses like a relentless reminder that I'm his—not just because he spared my life, but because my heart is starting to concede. It's just my conscience that won't let me accept it.
“I have to go,” I whisper, parting my lips from his, a painful hollowness left in its wake as if someone is ripping a piece of my heart and throwing it into a damn blender.
What the hell is wrong with me? It's only a heist.
Flinging open the car door, I sprint toward my team that's already waiting for me. The adrenaline is almost overwhelming, and it’s not because of the heist. We have to make this quick, so we go inside through a service door without looking back. But I know Set's looking. He's looking straight at me. I can feel his burning gaze studying my body the same way it did back in the car—like he can't be sure that this won't be the last time he sees me.
Forcing myself to ignore the weight of his gaze, I go on and follow Tatiana as she enters a service door and advances through the hallways. She’s a badass Russian chick who works as a mercenary. From what Set told me, she did a few missions in the past for him. Main point—she can be trusted, and that’s all I care about, especially since we have to stick together. The staff corridors all blur together—white sterile walls lined with doors on each side like it’s a damn mall. It would take just one wrong turn to get lost in this place. We carefully pass through several unlocked security doors until we reach the main room. Our tech team assured us of a clear path, but since they couldn't access all the cameras in the lobbies, we had to go through the old display room. It was probably because the equipment is so old that it’s not even working, but it’s not a risk we’re willing to take. They've been trying all night to find an alternative route, but they came up empty-handed, and we don’t have any more time on our hands.
We take a moment to make sure there's no one around. There are still a few security guards left in the building, and I asked Set for no casualties. I don't want to have more blood on my hands, even if I’m not the one pulling the trigger. I do, however, see Tatiana carrying a gun with real bullets as an extra measure of protection, but she's also wearing a tranquilizer gun, just in case we run into any guards.I just pray everything goes smoothly.
The room is clear, and the two of us slip inside, our own guard trailing closely behind. It takes us no time to cross it, get through a secondary lobby, and to the vault. I take another look at the vault and reassure myself that cracking it open won't pose any difficulty. I’ve tackled this model before, and although it’s sturdy, it’s almost rudimentary compared to the latest technology out there.
The hackers Set hired had already disabled all the alarms and key-card locked doors, so I get to work, connecting my phone and tablet to the vault's system. The program is loading and quickly finds the keypad access software that it needs to decode. It isn't the easiest vault to crack, but I've seen much more complicated than this, including Chen's. The guy who made this program is so smart that if he put his knowledge to good use, he would probably be a billionaire by now. But then I wouldn't have this beautiful tool to work on, so I give thanks to him, especially since I'm on the other side of the law for now.
I simply input the correct data, and the safe lock wheel automatically turns itself to the right position and clicks open. I didn't even have to touch the handle. It was almost as easy as playing a child's game, or maybe I was just getting too used to things not going my way.
The guard helps me pull the vault door open. The safe is as large as a full-sized room, because where else could you keep all those priceless pieces of art? The place is filled with vibrant paintings, delicate vases, intricate sculptures, different pieces of art, and some ancient jewelry. I would love a bracelet made of Greek gold. What girl doesn't dream of being Aphrodite for a day? But I am far from that right now, and I won't steal anything except for what I came here for.
We scan the place, and it doesn't take me long to find what we're looking for. Set showed us old drawings of the artifact he wanted. It's an old wooden box, almost the size of a small cradle, adorned with crystals and rubies covering the lid—nothing too impressive, and it doesn't look half as valuable as anything else around here. There are pieces of old jewelry everywhere; I can even see a breathtaking crown with diamonds and sapphires carefully crafted into a piece of art, and yet he only asked us to get one thing—strange.
I reach for the box, only to find it surprisingly heavy. My guard immediately observes and comes to my aid. Set wasn't sure initially about its size, but I don't think he expected it to be this large. I wouldn't have a problem carrying it, but it will definitely slow me down, whereas the guard lifts it like it weighs nothing.
My cue is that I need to go back to the gym.
I didn't keep an eye on Tatiana since I was much more preoccupied with looking out for the artifact, and by the time the guard is carrying the box, I see her straining to lift a glass lid from over a pedestal to take a better look at a beautiful diamond necklace that seems to be worth a fortune and a half.
“Noooo!” I whisper-scream, trying to warn her. I specifically warned everyone during our earlier meeting in Set’s office about not touching anything unless I approve of it. She's supposed to know better. She's a professional, but to be honest, this is not the first time I've witnessed reckless behavior like this. It's like pirate’s gold; one glimpse at it, and you need to have a part of the treasure. But those display boxes might still have infrared or Wi-Fi hidden alarm systems. So, it's not safe for her to touch anything, unless I inspect it first.
As if to prove me right, she doesn't even get to put it back before all hell breaks loose, and a loud high-pitched alarm sound fills the corridors.
“Go, cover him,” I order Tatiana, urgency clawing at my throat to ensure the guard delivers Set's artifact. I can't take the blame for another failure. Especially since none of the failures ever seem to be because of something I've done. And I definitely don't want to see the blood of this team as well covering Set’s marble floors.
However, Tatiana doesn't seem to want to abandon me. “I'm staying with you. I can't leave you behind.”
“Set will kill you if you don't deliver this. I want to close the vault's door. That way, the guards will investigate here first since the alarm comes from within. That will buy us some time,” I urge her to leave as I push the door to close, anxiety rising in my chest. “It will take me ten seconds. Leave now; I'll be right behind you.”
In fact, it takes me less than ten seconds, though it feels like an eternity. My tablet is still attached to the safe’s opening pad, so I only hit a button to make the mechanism lock itself before I swiftly pack my equipment away. I can even see Tatiana at the end of the hallway when I'm done, and there's no museum security guard in sight yet.
Everything seems like it develops in slow-motion.
That's when it hits me—a rush of exhilaration and fear—I could be free again. Free from Set, free from having any more blood on my hands. A plan of how to make that work instantly forms in my mind because, as I look around the room, I see a ventilation grill large enough for me to fit in.
It's a decision I need to make that very second, and no matter what my gut or my heart tells me, I know better than to keep lying to myself. I'll end up dead if I stay next to Set, or maybe even worse—a killer myself. No matter what he would do or say, I can't forgive him for putting that knife in my hands, regardless of what those people did to me. It's not something that goes away easily, and I feel my heart breaking little by little every day knowing that I have to live with the guilt of taking someone's life.
I fight to smother any thought that could make me stay, along with any other feelings I might have developed for Set. The physical attraction must’ve brainwashed me into thinking I felt something. That's all there is to it.
My hand flies to my belt, where I keep a screwdriver with its array of detachable heads. Finding the perfect one, I unscrew the vent and get inside, just before the guards arrive. My plan worked. They're racing through the building, scrambling to access the vault and discover what triggered the alarm instead of checking the area.
“Serena, what's going on?” I hear Set's worried voice crackling in my earpiece. He sounds almost out of control, and it takes everything I have in me not to answer him. I just turn the volume to zero and put the earpiece in my pocket. I'll dispose of it later. I can't leave it here and risk anyone finding it and linking it to any of us.
I won't remain here; one of the guards might check the vents. I slowly crawl through the ducts, urgency guiding my movements as I try to figure my way around. It's this or jail now because I don't have a way to get back to Set, and that doesn't give me any other option than to get out of here. I recall seeing an air vent leading to a main unit outside just a couple of feet away from the building. I'm just not sure if I can go through the propellers, but I'm heading there to try.
The siren is quickly cut off, probably the work of Set’s hackers, but it's too late now. I can hear the museum guards calling 911, their confusion echoing into the air as they start to check the rest of the building.
It doesn't take long for the first police car to screech to a halt outside. I think they were in the area because I just managed to get past the main lobby, from what I could tell. I just pray Tatiana and the guard got out by now and delivered Set his artifact without incident.
Set. A sharp pain slices through my chest, and I feel my stomach constricting with an anguishing knot. It's just the rush of the moment; it has to be , I tell myself, making my way through the pipes and to freedom.
It only takes less than a minute before the police cars start to pile up at the entrance, and the place is soon crowded with police officers.
I have to go on and get out of here.
I crawl through another vent pipe and end up directly above what seems to be an old office when I hear the door to the room opening.
Fuck!
I can't move and risk anyone hearing me, so I just have to stay put, praying they’ll leave soon. The filter is missing from the air vent that leads to the room. I can only assume that it wasn't functioning properly. By the looks of it, they were working on it before they shut the place down. The vent hole provides a perfect vision of the person who's searching the room. It’s a policewoman.She seems so young, maybe even younger than I am, so that makes her also inexperienced, which lets another idea pop into my mind: why use the back door when you can make a getaway through the front? Besides, I've been crawling around the grill vents for a while, and they're like a fucking maze. I'm not entirely sure I’ll find my way to the main ventilator before anyone catches on to me, or if I'll be able to get out through propellers if I manage to get there.
As if to convince myself to switch to plan B, the policewoman holsters her gun to report to her commander. “Western wing secured,” she says as I cautiously ease the vent grill aside. Fuck, I’m praying I won’t make a sound, although I’m beginning to think my heart is pounding loud enough for her to hear. I carefully watch her, and I know she’s heading back to the door which is right below me. Time to put some of the self-defense courses Michael insisted I take a few years ago to good use—only today, I will play the villain.
The second the policewoman steps under the vent, I jump her.The weight of my body unbalances her, sending her straight to the ground, her head banging on the granite floor. For a second, I panic, thinking that maybe I killed her, but after a moment of silence, I can hear her breathing. That means she's just unconscious from the blow, so I probably don't have much time.
Even though I suspect she's still a rookie, I'm not a warrior princess myself. I need to restrain her. Pulling out the duct tape I have in my bag, I secure her hands, then wrap the tape over her mouth so many times that by the time I’m done, she looks like a drug package. I'm not an expert at this; I just hope her hairdresser forgives me when he sees the amount of duct tape I got in her hair.
Taking her gun, I strip her of her uniform. She’s starting to regain consciousness just as I finish duct-taping her feet.
Thank God! I was afraid the blow caused brain damage.
She tries to mutter something, but I can't understand her. She's probably just screaming for help, but as sorry as I am for her head bump, I had to do this.
“Stay here; it will be all right. They’ll find you.”
Hopefully, after I'm gone.
I just finish putting on her shoes and pants when I hear an explosion outside.
This was part of our backup plan. That tells me I need to hurry.
Another two explosions follow, and I know this is the perfect time to get away. General panic will set in, and no one will take the time to even look my way.
Closing the uniform shirt, I tuck all of my hair into the cap and head out the door, praying my plan will work. Judging by the number of police officers running outside, I'm more and more convinced it will. I join them, pretending to be in a hurry to see what's happening. No one knows me, and just as I suspected, no one cares as long as I'm wearing this uniform.
There's a loud hum surrounding the place. An ambulance siren hums in the background while the blast of the explosions still makes pieces of the cars fall to the ground. It’s havoc, and everyone seems to be running aimlessly around the place.
I'm so close to the exit now, but just as I'm a few feet away from the building’s main door, there he is—Set. I have never seen him like this before. So perfect, yet so deadly as if he’s havoc himself, set out to destroy everything and anything in his path. His eyes now seem even darker than the night, flickering only with the lust to burn this world down; his jaw tight, as if his teeth might shatter at any minute, and his muscles so tense that they're threatening to break through the security guard jacket he has on.
For a second, I want to run to him, and just get out of here together. But I fight the thought because I know too well what would happen if I did that. He already made me sin by putting deeds on my conscience that will scar me for life. I can’t allow myself to become like him—a sinner by choice, so close to the supreme evil.
Set storms in, flashing a fake security guard ID. No one has time to ask any questions anyway, but you can clearly see that he's looking for something, or someone—me.
It’s just that I don't want to be found, so following the darkest corners, I hide amongst some police officers, and walk right past him.
He's too out of it to take note of my presence anyway, especially since the cap hides my hair color, and most of my face. Besides, I don't think he would expect me to walk out of here in a police uniform.
Grinding my teeth to cause any kind of other pain that would mask the one of my heart-shattering, I storm outside. The night sky smells like freedom. I can’t even sense the smoke and debris clouding the air. It’s just freedom. I'm free now. Everything has gone so smoothly that it seems like a dream—everything except the weight of my soul.I suspect Set irremediably broke me, and that's the exact thing that doesn't make me his.
I spot my team’s car, and I try to take a detour so no one would recognize me. Going to the back of the building, I’m pretending to be investigating the crime scene. What I’m actually doing is scanning the area to find the best route out without running into Set’s men or the police.
Searching my pocket; well, the woman's pockets, from whom I took the jacket, I find a wallet. I open it. There's not much money inside, just a couple of 50s and some change. She does have a bunch of credit cards, but I can't use them without being traced. I count the cash—$127, but then I remember I’m also a woman, so I check for any side pockets where I find an extra $200 tucked away—probably her emergency money. My lucky day. It won't last me long, but it will get me out of the city, and I’ll figure out the rest.
I can see a 24/7 shop nearby. But first, I need to take the SIM out of my phone and turn the damn thing off. I know Set’s men could track me with it, so I'll throw it away as soon as I get the chance to lead them in a different direction.
I walk up to the store. The salesman there is already outside, trying to see what's happening, but there are still a couple of customers inside who don't seem to be affected by the explosion. Weird shit happens here every day . Gotta love Vegas.
“What's going on there?” the salesman asks, seeing me dressed as a police officer.
“Police business, still under investigation. Do you mind if I use your bathroom?” I ask, trying to look around the place and see if the toilets are inside the shop or on the outside.
The man laughs as if I said something funny: “You got nervous out there fighting crime?”
Is he implying that I'm peeing myself out of fear? I roll my eyes and can't help but say, “Yeah, yeah, I've seen better days.”
“Around the back of the shop. There is nothing pretty there to see,” the man says, throwing his cigarette away and going inside. I'm sure it isn't, but I need to get out of these clothes, and ditch all the equipment I've been carrying around. I still have my own clothes underneath the uniform, so after taking off the tool belt and wrapping everything in the police officer's shirt, I look like any other regular person around here.
Going back into the shop, I get a bag to carry my things. Then I walk for a few streets and toss everything in a large bin I find in an alley. It’ll take them a while to find the clothes and figure everything out—if they even find them in the first place.
I just need to get out of here now.
Removing the cord that holds my hair together, I let it loose to look more attractive and get myself a ride out of there fast. This is a remote part of Vegas, so I’ll need to hitchhike since I can't afford to wait for a bus out of town.
It doesn't take long before I get a car to stop next to me, and as if fate is telling me it approves of my decision, the driver is heading straight to California.
Everything happens so fast that I can't even make sense of things. The decision. The escape. The car taking me out of Set’s life. I know he'll probably try to find me. I also know I won't allow him to, even though the image of him coming to save me, risking his own freedom will haunt my dreams forever. But I do know I can't live with him. I'm too scared of that life, even if I feel I’m leaving a part of myself behind with him. The truth is, I'm afraid of my own feelings and what Set could turn me into just by exploiting them.
All I can do is look out the window and watch, mile by mile, what I’m leaving behind. Even if Set wanted a fairytale for us, he painted it in blood, and that doesn't make it a bedtime story; it only makes it a nightmare.
I close off my soul, although I feel I have so little of it left that I’m afraid I will fade away soon. I can only hope that one day it’ll heal, but deep down, I know I am beyond redemption.
So goodbye, Set, Creator of my Darkness, Destroyer of my Soul.