Reckless {HS}

thirty-seven

Delilah's Pov

We had arrived at the hotel, and the gravity of the situation was starting to sink in. The tension in the air was thick, each of us quietly preparing for what was to come. As we stepped into one of the rooms, I noticed that everything had already been set up—clothes, weapons, even the earpieces they'd be using to communicate. My nerves twisted in my stomach.

On a rack by the window hung a gorgeous emerald green gown, shimmering faintly in the low light. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it. "Is that for me?" I asked, almost shyly, glancing around at the guys. The excitement in my voice surprised even me.

Louis gave a nod from across the room, but no one said much. I moved closer to the dress, running my fingers over the fabric. It was exquisite, far more beautiful than anything I'd ever worn before. The gown was silky and smooth, with a slit running up one thigh, just high enough to be seductive without crossing a line. The corseted waist would accentuate my figure perfectly, and delicate straps sat on the shoulders, leaving my arms bare. The deep green color reminded me of something regal, something powerful. For a moment, the nervousness faded and was replaced with something else—a thrill, maybe.

I slipped into the dress, my breath catching as I saw my reflection. I almost didn't recognize myself. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped back into the room.

The boys were all there, but they had fallen completely silent when I entered. I felt their eyes on me, like something had shifted in the atmosphere. For a moment, I hesitated, heat rising to my cheeks under their stares.

Niall, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, gave a low whistle, breaking the silence. "Well, damn," he muttered, grinning in my direction.

Harry, standing in the corner adjusting his tie, turned and stared. He was dressed in a suit, all sharp edges and clean lines, his dark curls falling messily over his forehead. My eyes roamed over him, taking in how impossibly good he looked in the black tailored suit. The tension between us felt like an electric current, buzzing just beneath the surface.

I quickly averted my gaze before I could get too distracted. Louis stepped forward, holding out a tiny earpiece. "Here," he said, his expression more serious. "You won't even notice it's there. But I'll be able to talk to you the whole time. If anything goes wrong, I'll let you know."

I nodded, taking it from him and slipping it into my ear. It was small, almost undetectable. Just like everything about tonight—quiet, careful, hidden in plain sight.

Before I could even process what was happening, Harry walked over to me, his face all business again. He gestured toward a nearby chair. "Sit down," he ordered softly, but there was a firmness in his tone that left no room for argument.

I did as he said, sinking into the chair as he kneeled down in front of me, maintaining eye contact the whole time. His hand reached for the hem of my dress, and I instantly tensed. "What are you doing?" I asked, a flash of panic rushing through me as he slowly lifted the bottom of my gown, exposing my thigh.

"Relax," he said quietly, a smirk playing on his lips as he reached for something from his jacket pocket. "I'm strapping this to your leg."

My eyes widened when I realized what he was holding—a gun, small and sleek. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as he slid a matching green garter up my thigh and secured the gun to it. The cool metal pressed against my skin, sending a shiver through me.

"I don't even know how to use that," I said, my voice shaky.

Harry's eyes flicked up to mine, something almost playful in them. "Even if you don't know how to use it, most people get scared if you just point it at them," he said, securing the strap firmly. "Just don't shoot me, yeah?"

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. The weight of what I had agreed to do finally crashed over me. This wasn't just dress-up, or some harmless game. This was real. There was a gun strapped to my thigh. We were about to steal a necklace off someone's neck, and everything in my life was about to change.

Harry stood up, towering over me as I stayed seated, still processing. His hands were in his pockets now, his face serious again. The smirk was gone, replaced with something much heavier.

"You're ready for this, Delilah," he said quietly, though I wasn't sure if he was trying to convince me or himself.

I forced a nod, but deep down, I wasn't sure at all.