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The building in question is an interesting one. It’s made of pale grey sandstone and is three stories tall. It hosts beautiful large windows, a Hermes fountain in its courtyard, and a lovely open-air staircase leading up to the main entrance. People come and go, most of them too busy with whatever business they need to take care of to pay me any mind.
I check my watch. Gabriel’s running late. He received a phone call just as we stepped out of the hotel together, so we agreed to meet outside town hall at exactly ten o’ clock. I impatiently tap my foot, stamping my footprint against the light layer of morning snow on the ground. I glance from left to right for any sign of him, anxiousness curling in my gut.
Things between us are… different. Not in a bad way, but not necessarily in a good way, either. Just unspoken. I still get hot in the face at the memory of him touching me, kissing me,fillingme with his finger.
I’m not even embarrassed about how quickly I came. Gabriel’s hands on me, his filthy words in my ear —whatever the hell he was saying— the way he so much as looked at me made me feel so damn good. Nobody’s ever touched me like that before. Heat pools between my legs just thinking about it. I didn’t know what to expect, if there’d be any pain or if he’d expect anything in return.
A part of me was actually grateful we didn’t have sex. This pace feels much better. Slower and easier, like dipping a toe into a pool before jumping straight in. I was impressed with how courteous he was, how gentle. But when we got back to the hotel, we didn’t speak of it. We both went straight to bed, too exhausted to discuss what had happened between us.
I know it’s complicated. We’re not…together, but we’re not nothing, either. Things aren’t comfy, but they’re also not uncomfortable. It’s strange how I want to spend more time with him, but I’m also perfectly fine if he wants some space.
I shake my head like it’s going to free my mind of my thoughts. I should really be concentrating on planning this heist. I can’t afford any mistakes, any distractions.
Butdamnif Gabriel isn’t the best kind of distraction.
“Hey.”
I turn to find Gabriel quickly approaching, two cups of coffee in hand, one of which he hands to me.
“Where have you been?” I ask.
“Had a phone call,” he responds gruffly. He wears a bitter frown. “Needed to talk to… Penelope. Check in on Odette.”
“How are they?”
“Good. She’s —They’re doing fine.”
“Is this the first time you’ve been away from your daughter this long?”
He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, coffee cup hovering right below his lip. “You could say that,” he mutters.
“Don’t worry. The vase is as good as ours and you’ll be back home with your family by Monday.”
He takes a long sip. “I hope so.”
I drink my coffee, too, but pull away with a grimace. “Ugh. Did you put any sugar and milk in here?”
“Sugar and milk in coffee?” he scoffs, giving me a judgmental eyebrow raise. “Americans.”
“Coffee snob,” I snipe back.
The corner of his lip curls up into a grin. “Come on, Rocky. Town hall opened five minutes ago.”
“You’re the one who was late.”
“Less standing, more infiltrating. We’ve got blueprints to find.”
* * *
It’s quiet inside town hall, but I’m not complaining. Sometimes it helps to blend in with a crowd, but in this instance, I need space and time to work my magic. The fewer people witnessing me skulking around a government building the better.
It’s a maze inside. With this many halls to navigate, I’m worried I’d be lost if not for the signs demarcating where public access ends and employee access begins. What I really need is an unmanned computer, then Gabriel and I are golden.
It takes me a few minutes to get my bearings. We carefully observe the comings and goings of civil servants, following them at a distance until they lead us straight to an employee-only area. I spot a couple of empty offices, their lights shut off and their doors firmly locked.
My time to shine.
I pull out my trusty lockpicks and get to cracking. Gabriel waits behind me, standing watch. His big body blocks me from view, providing me just enough cover to work undisturbed.
