Partners In Crime

Chapter 23

We walked through thin paths, absorbing every bit of beautiful tiny details. Though the buildings had significant amounts of damage by way of cracks, chipped paint, and other related issues, it only added to the authenticity of the city's history. Despite its declining years, Île de la Cité remained standing as beguiling as a primeval tree, located among saplings. 

William and I stopped by many tents, placed specifically with an intention of luring in tourists; filled with a variety of unique delicacies, each exquisite in their own way, nowhere to be bought but in France. 

We had planned to fritter away a fit quantity of time until it was suitable to begin our marked mission and with every tent, the operation advanced closer towards us.

At last, the Church Bell rang. The time was 20:54, entirely six minutes before sundown. Located at the agreed spot we were. 

The plan was fairly simple: spot, seduce, dispose of.  

William hid on the mezzanine of the building which was replete with darkness, each candle dimmed by him. Even though my eyes could not distinguish William from the rest of the gloom, his position allowed him to have a clear sight of every movement in the room.

The chessboard was set for tranquility, awaiting the opponent's next move. 

Florence walked into our trap at a very precise timing, predicted by William...

-- William's POV --

The plan followed smoothly with my prognosis. Florence appeared at the center of the dartboard at the exact timing I wanted him to. Without a doubt, this mission was soon to be over, unblemished.

Yet there was a single worry threading around my chest. The thought of witnessing Y/N stand adjacent to him bothered me greatly. 

If only I hadn't promised her the luxury of serving him justice, he would've been far gone from this world the moment I'd see him through my peripheral vision. Instead, I sat there, observing her delicate hands roam up and down his chest. 

Her lips so close to his, yet far enough to prevent a kiss. 

She must be saving that kiss for the one she'll marry.

The assumption leaned towards the truth following the consideration of how effortless her job would turn out with a simple touch of the lips. A woman like her, granting his pathetic being a kiss, is keen to get him steamed up in no time.

Still, she chose the long way out just so she could share that special moment with the one she's doting for. How disgustingly honored he shall be. 

The thought alone of them being anyone else but me, had my muscles tensed up to the extent of nearly detaching from my tendons. It grew to be immensely painful the more I considered it to be a possibility. 

However, none of that pain compared to the sight before me, virtually driving my eyes to bleed as he stood there like an absolute fool, allowing her to do all of the work. 

What a goddamn virgin.

I clenched my jaw, cringing at his imbecility. A man shan't permit a lady to perform such actions without returning the favor. 

If only it had been me, standing there with her-

Stop. Calm yourself, William.

I silently rose from my seat, slowly walking away from the scene for I knew that she did not require my help. 

I walked outside, unnoticed, lighting a cigarette to prevent an outburst from escaping the boundaries of my mind. And there I thought that I could deal with it calmly, clearly wrong. Despite reflecting upon any possible imagery running through my brain, I truly believed that seeing her carry out a task that I, myself, had assigned for her, wouldn't affect me in the slightest. But it did, it affected me substantially, all thanks to my jealousy.

*thump*

It's done. 

I heard a pair of heels coming towards me. Regardless if I could see her or not, her steps echoed glamorously, how you'd expect to apprehend from a female full of class and elegance. 

At once she stopped beside me, not a single sound escaping her mouth yet I could feel the mortifying aura surrounding her. She despised herself for executing the mission by the way of seduction and I felt sorrowful for requesting her to do so. 

But now, experiencing the evident lack of self-control which I had while watching her please another man, experiencing the regretful clarity of hers,  I will no longer recognize seduction as an appropriate measure for our upcoming missions. 

No longer will she ever be forced to use herself in such a self-degrading manner. Not on my watch.  

"You left." She suddenly noted as her head hanged low, starring at the floor. "Why?"

"I'd rather not say."

There was no audible rebuttal but I knew her desire to hear my reasoning. So I gave it to her.

"I no longer wish to see you with another man."

Her attention darted towards me, shock was a suitable description of her expression. She starred at me for what felt like hours and oddly enough, I did not mind. 

What bothered me more was the slight yet visible shiftment of our bodies, impending closer, gradually decreasing the vicinity in between us. We faced each other without a sound, speaking our thoughts with our eyes. 

I couldn't help but skim down from her face down to her heels, shortly pausing at her chest and hips to appreciate the picture before me. 

The sinful pondering happening in my brain was wrong in all aspects. The lustful desire to see more of her was wrong. The variety of scenarios bursting through my mind, resembling some sort of a presentation, were wrong. The entirety of our current situation was wrong. 

With her, though, it felt right. 

At this point, our lips had nearly met, mere inches preventing the contact.

From the very beginning, my sole reason to achieve equality in my country was for those who lived in a disadvantage; however, recently my motivation had dulled. My impatience had gotten the best of me as I saw a very minimal change occur, despite the great numbers of missions Alber, Louis, and I have executed. Not only were my brothers in danger on countless occasions, but also those who volunteered to assist us without requesting anything in return. Yet the moment I witnessed her smile, I was filled with more determination than ever before. From the moment I met her, I knew that I no longer fancied to please the ungrateful. My sole reason of saving our country, was for Y/N to live in a world of her dreams. 

Y/N, I promise that I'll make you the happiest woman on this planet.