The Thief and The Smuggler

3: The Trial Heist

 The Trial Heist

Alina sat in the back of the sleek black car, watching the city lights flicker past her window as the driver navigated through the winding streets. The car smelled of expensive leather and the faintest trace of Gabriel's cologne. The night was warm, and the air felt heavy with anticipation.

Her stomach churned with a mixture of excitement and unease. She had agreed to work with Gabriel, but now it was time to prove herself. Tonight would be her trial—her first real test in his world. A small, inconspicuous antiques store on the outskirts of the city would be her proving ground. Gabriel had arranged everything: the plan, the details, the timing. All she had to do was execute.

It was supposed to be a simple job—retrieve a rare artifact from a privately owned antiques store. The piece, a carved jade statue from the Ming Dynasty, was worth millions on the black market. It was a high-stakes job for sure, but Gabriel assured her it would be a good starting point. No big risks. Just a way to show him she had what it took.

"Are you ready?" Gabriel's voice broke through her thoughts. He was sitting across from her, his dark eyes glinting with the same cold confidence she'd come to expect. He wasn't nervous—of course, he wasn't. Gabriel DeMarco never seemed to feel anything other than control.

Alina nodded slowly, pushing back the fleeting doubt that crept up her spine. She had done this a hundred times before, and though the stakes were higher now, it was still just a heist.

"I'm ready," she said, her voice steady.

Gabriel gave her a small smile. "Good. You'll meet our inside man once we arrive. Follow the plan exactly. Do not deviate. If anything goes wrong, you know what to do."

Alina's eyes flickered to him. "What if I don't want to follow the plan? What if I decide to do things my way?"

Gabriel's smile remained, but there was something darker in his eyes now—an unspoken warning. "Then you won't be part of this world anymore. Understand?"

The finality in his words sent a shiver down her spine, but she didn't show it. She had no intention of crossing him—not yet. She had more to learn from him, more to gain, and only time would tell if she could turn the tables in her favor.

The car slowed as they approached the small, unremarkable building nestled between a few rundown shops. The antiques store looked like something straight out of the past, with peeling paint and a faded sign above the door. It was the perfect cover for a high-end black-market operation. On the outside, no one would ever guess what was being sold inside.

Gabriel leaned forward, speaking softly to the driver. "Drop us off a block away. Let's not draw attention."

Alina stepped out first, adjusting the black jacket over her slim frame, making sure the small tools she'd packed in her bag were secure. She had come prepared. Though this was a small job, she never underestimated the importance of being ready for anything.

They walked the short distance to the store. Gabriel led the way, moving with the fluidity of someone who had orchestrated countless heists. Alina kept pace, staying a few steps behind him as they approached the door.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old wood and dust. The shop was cramped, with narrow aisles lined with shelves filled with knick-knacks and valuable antiques—most of which were probably stolen at some point. But there, in the back, under a single dim light, sat the jade statue. It was everything Gabriel had promised and more: intricate, beautiful, and worth a fortune.

Their inside man, a thin, unassuming man named Carl, was already waiting for them near the back of the store. He wore a jacket that was too big for him and had the nervous energy of someone who had been in this business far longer than he cared to admit.

Gabriel gave him a curt nod, and Carl quickly led them through the back hallway. Alina kept her eyes sharp, noting the security measures—cameras, motion sensors, and an alarm system that could trigger if someone broke the wrong sensor. It was a well-protected shop, but nothing Alina couldn't handle.

They stopped in front of a door at the end of the hall. Carl unlocked it with a key, and the three of them stepped inside the small, dimly lit room. There, sitting atop a velvet cushion on a glass case, was the jade statue. Alina felt a pang of recognition. It wasn't just valuable; it was a rare piece, a historical artifact that belonged in a museum, not a private collection or on the black market.

Gabriel looked at Alina, his gaze sharp. "The case is rigged with a silent alarm. You'll need to disable it. Carl will keep watch. Once it's open, take the statue and get out. Simple."

Alina glanced at the display case. There was a subtle red light near the corner—a motion sensor. She could disarm it with ease, but she'd have to be quick.

"You know the plan," Gabriel reminded her, his voice steady.

Alina nodded and moved toward the case, her mind clicking into focus. She took a deep breath and began her work, slipping a small device from her bag. She reached inside the case, carefully avoiding the sensor, and started the process of disabling the security system. Her fingers moved with practiced precision, twisting the wires and bypassing the alarm in less than a minute.

Once the case was open, she carefully lifted the jade statue, feeling the weight of it in her hands. It was exquisite, its surface cool to the touch, and for a moment, she almost forgot why she was here. But she didn't allow herself to linger. This wasn't just another artifact to admire—it was part of the game.

She turned to face Gabriel, holding the statue out to him. He looked pleased, though his expression remained carefully controlled. "Well done, Alina. You followed the plan, and it worked."

Carl stepped forward, his hands shaking as he took the statue from Alina. "You got it, just like you said," he muttered, clearly in awe of her skills.

Gabriel's eyes never left Alina as he gestured for Carl to pack the statue away. "This is just the beginning. There's much more to do. This is how we work, Alina. We move with precision, never leaving a trace. Every job is a lesson, and if you do this right, you'll earn a place at the top of this world."

Alina watched Carl scurry to pack the artifact away. Her pulse still raced from the heist—despite its simplicity, it was a rush unlike any other. But as Gabriel spoke, she realized the true magnitude of what she had just stepped into. There was no going back. This wasn't just a job. It was a game of power, and Gabriel DeMarco had already set the rules.

The sound of sirens in the distance reminded her that the night was still young—and that danger was never far behind.

Gabriel turned to her once again, his gaze unreadable. "This is how we move, Alina. Clean. Fast. And above all, with control. If you want to keep up, you'll need to learn how to stay ahead of the game."

Alina didn't respond immediately. She simply nodded, her mind already working through the next steps. Tonight was a small victory, but in Gabriel's world, even a small victory could lead to something far bigger. And Alina was ready for it.

 "You've answered the doubts in my hand tonight." He said, extending a hand for her to shake. "Welcome to the gang, Alina."

She stared at the posh man in front of her. Fully aware of the raw animal instincts he hid behind that mask. Tonight not only Gabriel's, but her doubts about him had also been answered.
This wasn't a bored man, looking to make easy dough... This was a seasoned man, gritty from his time in the street, so as to say.

So she shook Gabriel's outstretched hand.
"Glad to be here, Gabriel."

.

A/N: Let me know if you're starting to enjoy this! Please let me know your thoughts!

OOOH, and remember, voting is an act of kindness :)