Reckless {HS}

forty-one

Delilah's Pov

I couldn't stop smiling. The rush of adrenaline coursed through me, making everything feel electric, like I was still riding the high of what had just happened. The entire ride back to Harry's apartment had been a blur—half from the excitement, half from how surreal it all still felt. I had actually done it. I'd walked into a ballroom, stolen a necklace right off a woman's neck, and no one had even noticed.

The car finally pulled up outside Harry's place, and the five of us—Harry, Niall, Louis, Liam, and I—climbed out. As we headed inside, I slipped my hand into my pocket and felt the cool metal of the necklace still nestled there. For some reason, the weight of it made everything real again. I wasn't dreaming. I had really just pulled off a heist.

The moment we stepped into Harry's apartment, I held the necklace out to him. "Here," I said, handing it over. The emeralds and diamonds glittered under the low light of the room, catching Harry's eye as he reached for it.

"Good work," he said, his voice low but filled with that same calm confidence he always had. "You stay here for a while. I need to take care of this."

He gave me a nod, then disappeared down the hallway toward his office. I watched him go, feeling the buzz of excitement shift into something else—curiosity, maybe. There were still so many things I didn't understand. This was only the beginning, wasn't it? There had to be more to it than just this one job.

I turned back to Niall, Louis, and Liam, who had all sprawled out on the couch and chairs in Harry's living room like it was their second home. Their expressions were relaxed, but I could tell they were still coming down from the night, too.

Without even thinking, I flopped down on the couch next to Niall, my heart still racing. "So... what happens now?" I asked, leaning forward, my curiosity getting the best of me. "I mean, does this just... go on until you guys retire or something? Or is this all leading up to something bigger?"

Louis chuckled lightly from his spot on the armchair, shooting a glance at Liam. "You're asking a lot of questions for someone who just joined the crew."

I shrugged, not backing down. "I'm just curious. I mean, you've all been doing this for a while, right? And Harry's dad is... involved somehow?" I paused, remembering bits and pieces of conversations I had overheard. "How does this all work? Do you guys actually get to keep anything from these heists, or is it for something bigger?"

Niall shifted uncomfortably beside me, clearly unsure of how to respond. He scratched the back of his neck, glancing at Louis and Liam for help. "Uh, well... it's complicated."

I raised an eyebrow, not satisfied with that answer. "Complicated how?"

Louis leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he looked at me, his expression more serious now. "Look, Delilah, there's a lot going on here that you don't need to know just yet. You did great tonight, but this isn't just about stealing jewelry or breaking into safes. There's more at play."

I frowned, feeling a flicker of frustration. "More at play? Like what?"

Liam sighed, his voice calm but firm. "We're not going to get into all that right now. It's better if you don't know too much just yet. Trust me."

I sat back, crossing my arms over my chest, feeling a little irritated at their evasiveness. "So, you're saying I pulled off this big heist tonight, but I don't even get to know why? Or what the endgame is?"

Niall let out a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "It's not like we're keeping secrets just to mess with you. It's just... some things are better left unsaid until the time is right. You'll understand eventually."

I wasn't buying it. They were dodging the questions, and it was only making me more curious. What were they hiding? And why couldn't I know? I had risked just as much as they had tonight—if not more, considering I had never done anything like this before.

"You guys are terrible at keeping secrets, you know that?" I said, my voice half-joking but laced with genuine frustration. "Come on, just tell me something. Anything. How does Harry's dad fit into all of this? Is he like... the boss or something?"

Louis' eyes flicked toward Liam, and I could see them silently communicating, like they were deciding how much to reveal. "You could say that," Louis said after a moment, his voice carefully measured. "But it's more complicated than that."

I rolled my eyes. "Everything's complicated with you guys."

Liam chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, well, this life isn't exactly simple."

I opened my mouth to push further, but Niall nudged me gently with his elbow, cutting me off. "Hey, take it easy, Delilah. You've had a big night. Just... relax, yeah? You'll get your answers in time."

I huffed, still not satisfied but knowing I wasn't going to get anywhere with them tonight. They were too good at this—keeping their secrets close, only revealing bits and pieces when they had to. It was frustrating, but I couldn't help but respect it. They were professionals, after all. They knew what they were doing.

"Fine," I said, leaning back against the couch, though my mind was still racing with questions. "But I'm not going to stop asking."

Louis smirked. "We wouldn't expect you to."

I glanced around the room, still feeling the adrenaline buzzing beneath my skin. I was trying to focus on what they were saying, but the truth was, my mind was still replaying everything that had just happened at the hotel. The way the woman hadn't even noticed me slipping the necklace from her neck, the way Harry had flirted with her to keep her distracted. It had all been so smooth, so seamless. And the rush... I'd never felt anything like it before.

It was intoxicating. Addictive, even. The adrenaline, the thrill of getting away with something so dangerous—it was like a drug, and I could feel it still pulsing through my veins.

I glanced at the guys, who had fallen into an easy conversation about something else now, their voices low and relaxed. I couldn't help but wonder if this was what it felt like for them every time. Did they feel this rush after every job? And if they did... how did they ever go back to normal after something like this?

My heart was still pounding, my mind racing with questions that I knew they wouldn't answer just yet. But one thing was clear—I was in this now. And there was no going back.