Bridging Hearts

25. What's this?

Him

I glanced over the plan one last time. Natty, Brian, and I were in the cramped, dimly lit back room, a silent understanding hanging between us. This wasn't just a job—it was the one. The one we couldn't screw up.

"Everything set?" Natty's voice was low but sharp. Her gaze bore into mine.

I nodded. "Brian swept the whole Mayfair location. Shifts, security schedules, entrances. We move at eleven when the night guard switches out. Quick and clean."

Brian adjusted his earpiece, running a quick check. "Got a twenty-minute window, no more. I disable the security, and we're in. Miss it? We're done. They'll know."

A beat of silence. Just one mistake, and we'd be leaving more than empty-handed. Natty rolled her shoulders, eyes narrowing.

"Let's get this done."

---

At eleven on the dot, we slipped into position, shadows moving against the cold stone of Mayfair. Brian was by the security panel in the back, ready to shut it down, while Natty and I waited by the entrance. Street was quiet. We blended into the night like ghosts.

Brian's fingers danced over the controls. "I'm in. Security's down for twenty. Go."

I nodded to Natty, and we moved in, footsteps silent. Hallways were cold and stark, empty of any life or warmth. Sterile walls made the place feel more like a cage. I ignored the prickling unease creeping in.

Natty stayed close, matching my pace as we approached the target room. Heart hammering, I gripped the door handle and eased it open, motioning her to stay alert. The door creaked softly, and I took a step inside.

Nothing.

The room was empty, bare walls echoing the hollowness that dropped into my gut. No trace, not a single sign. It felt like a slap to the face.

"They're not here," Natty murmured, voice taut. Her fists clenched at her sides.

A low curse escaped me. "They were supposed to be here."

Brian's voice came through the earpiece. "Dante, status?"

"Nothing," I ground out, barely holding back the anger. "It's empty. We got played."

A sharp curse from Brian. "Damn it. Get out now. Security's back in three."

Natty's eyes flashed, seeking something—answers I didn't have. I forced myself to breathe, fighting down the fury clawing its way up. They'd baited us, led us right to a dead end. But I couldn't think about that now.

"Let's go," I said through clenched teeth, leading us back the way we came. Each step away from that empty room felt heavier. We slipped out just as Brian reactivated the system, cameras blinking back on.

---

Back in the van, silence weighed on us like a stone. Natty broke first, her fist slamming into the seat. "We were so damn close."

Brian gripped the wheel tight, his jaw clenched. "Every lead pointed here. They either moved them or..."

"Or it was a setup," I said, voice cold as steel. "They wanted us here."

The frustration simmered, rage barely contained. I had wanted to believe we'd finally have a shot to do some good. To make a difference. But instead, reality was staring us down, brutal and empty-handed.

"We'll keep going," Brian said, though the weariness in his voice was hard to miss. "They can't keep slipping through forever."

I nodded, the fire in my chest burning even hotter. Every instinct was telling me to fight, to destroy anything in my way, but I kept it contained, letting the resolve sharpen.

"They'll pay," I said, voice tight with barely controlled anger. "Every single one of them."

Natty's jaw set, determination gleaming in her eyes. "We'll get them, Dante. We have to."

The three of us sat in the thick silence, failure pressing down on us. But underneath it all, the fire still smoldered, refusing to die.

This wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

---

One evening, Tara and I were lounging at my place. The atmosphere was relaxed, Arjun was sleeping in his bedroom and Tara took that opportunity to sneak out of the house.

She had curled up on the couch with a book while I was working on my laptop. We were attempting to maintain a semblance of normalcy, but the weight of the recent events still hovered in the back of my mind.

"Hey, Mr. Grump," Tara said, looking up from her book. "Do you mind if I grab something from your drawer? I need a pen."

"Sure," I replied, not looking up from my screen.

Tara walked over to my desk and opened the drawer where I kept a few miscellaneous items. As she rummaged through it, her hand brushed against a small, unmarked envelope that I had hastily shoved in there. The envelope was filled with documents related to the mission-plans, notes, and some sketches of the building.

"Uh, Dante?" Tara's voice held a hint of curiosity as she pulled the envelope out. "What's this?"

I froze, my heart racing. I had been careless, and now there was a chance she might stumble upon something she wasn't supposed to see. I stood up quickly, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

"Ah, that's nothing," I said, reaching for the envelope. "Just some old paperwork I didn't get around to sorting."

Tara raised an eyebrow, not fully convinced. "Old paperwork? It looks like it has a lot of... plans and notes."

"Really, it's nothing," I insisted, taking the envelope from her and sliding it back into the drawer. "Just some old work stuff."

Tara's gaze was skeptical, but she let it go with a shrug. "Okay, if you say so. I was just curious."

I let out a silent sigh of relief, but the incident left me on edge.

As Tara settled back on the couch, I closed my laptop and got up. I moved over to her, settling down beside her on the couch and wrapping my arms around her. The warmth of her body against mine was a comforting reminder of what I had to protect. I held her close, feeling the steady rhythm of her breathing, and tried to push aside the lingering unease.