𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞

27|| (Bad) Listener

Celeste // February 16
•••

I hadn't listened to Dante's order to rest for another week.

Instead, I'm standing in the staff's women's toilet of Chicago's Central Bank after successfully sneaking passed the guards at the gates of Dante's property.

After Dante got rid of the physical tension in my body and instantly replaced it with a mental one, I spend the whole night fixating on drawing out the perfect plan to get my ring back.

It seems like years ago since I was on my honeymoon with Charles Richardson, him begging for his life while I was rolling my eyes underneath our hotel bed, but in reality it had only been a few weeks.

Yet each week was a week too many for me to not have my wedding ring where it belonged: my collection in the music box.

I hadn't bothered to disguise my face, knowing it wouldn't make a difference since I estimated Dante to be smart enough to realize who'd break into his personal safe just to steal one single ring.

My outfit and makeup made me blend right in with the other Central Bank's employees and the nametag pinned to my chest and cord around my neck are stolen from an employee who's currently taking an unnatural nap in one of the toilet stalls. When she wakes, I will have my ring and she will have her stuff back.

I secure the gun held against my thigh ones more before I leave to walk to Dante's safe.

It hadn't been easy to hack into the bank's data without anyone noticing, especially with the limited time. But everything had worked out, and now nothing and no one was stopping me from getting back what's mine.

The security guard takes one look at my hall pass and lets me through with a nod.

I check my watch and conclude that the camaras in this wing will be set on a loop in about twenty seconds and that's how long I wait before I enter into view.

Instantly I shoot the two security guards that hadn't been paying attention, each left on the floor with a purple dart in their throats.

I move quickly, typing in the passcode to the safe – Adriana's birthday – and enter without wasting any of the ten minutes I'd shut off the security measures set around Dante's safe.

It doesn't take long before I find it, stashed away like some ordinary meaningless possession. The diamond ring is in its red velvet box, which I discard on the ground as I put my ring in my pocket.

I take some stacks of money too, planning to walk straight to the headquarter of the charity I'd send the money I'd planned to get from Charles Richardson to, and leave it in their mailbox.

•••

I turn the corner of the street with my hands in my pockets after leaving the stacks of money in the mailbox of the charity as of police sirens sound in the distance.

They were quicker than I'd anticipated, but nonetheless I had enough time to get my ring back and get out.

The phone I had stolen from a fancy store earlier today rings and I frown in curiosity when I see a number I don't recognize.

"Oui?"

"Where are you?" the voice on the other end of the line demands.

"You know where."

I can practically picture the faint hint of annoyance that always flashes in his eyes when I challenge him, and I hate how it makes my lips pull up.

He doesn't comment on my statement, confirming my suspicion that his hacker already passed the information of recent events in his bank's safe to him.

Dante had collected a good handful of skilled people in his circle, one of them being his famous hacker that had neither a name or a face to the rest of the world. 

"Get back here."

"I'll think about it."

"I'm not playing games, Ce-"

I hang up on him, tired of talking and listening to words.

Not a minute later, a car pulls up beside me. I'm prepared to shoot the driver right in the heart when the window lowers and a familiar scolding face greats my vision.

"Get in," he says.

I don't feel like arguing so I enter the car and if I didn't know any better I'd say it surprised him.

He speeds out of the street before I can fasten my seatbelt and I shoot a glare at the side of his head.

After a nice quiet ten seconds, he sighs deeply. "You're testing my patience, Celeste."

Good. Because he's been testing not only my patience but also my self-control on driving a knife through his heart and maiming his annoyingly symmetrical face and ruining the countless flawless tattoos and breaking every single bone in those maddening beautiful hands.

With his unreadable face, impossibly emotionless voice, unexpressive body – it's just all so difficult.

So he should count himself lucky if the only thing I'm being is something that tests his fucking patience.

"We caught the maid that left those flowers in your room."

I didn't expect the sudden change of subject, but then again, I never expect anything when it comes to this man.

"Do you want to talk to her or should I send the package with her head and hands on its way to Lester?"

"Just send it."

He nods, but it seemed more agitated than a sign of confirmation. Or maybe he's too focused on driving to give me a proper response. Or maybe, just maybe, I should stop staring at this man and give up on understanding him all together.

He parks in his driveway, turns off the engine and locks my car door before I can get out.

"Steal from me again and this whole deal is off, understood?"

I nod even though I disagree with his choice of words.

It's not stealing if I'm simply taking back what's rightfully mine.

He unlocks my door and I take that as his way of dismissing me, so I leave the car and head back to my room where I can finally see the ballerina without feeling judged.

I carefully lay the wedding ring between the others and a sense of peace overflows me as I stare at the nine diamonds.

•••
Celeste finally has her ring back 🥳🥳

I'm sick and have to go to my old high school to watch my brother's presentation in five minutes 😩😩 hope I can pull through lmao

Please vote and comment!! It means a lot <33