Vangelico

Michael kept repeating, "Ethan, you with us?" to snap Ethan back into reality, making him shake his head to focus. Lester stood by Michael, frozen in front of the board with complex heist plans on it. His thick glasses reflected the dim light in the room, and his orange hair weirdly glowed under the lights. His right leg was paralyzed, but he stood steady like he was part of the plan.

Michael, in his red "BUGSTARS" suit, looked at everyone calmly and said, "Listen to Lester, pay close attention to what he's saying. Each one of you's got a key role in this. We all gonna make money, but only if we do this right."

He added quietly, watching us, "You know what to do if things go south? If something unexpected happens, pretend it never happened. We don't know each other well, so we gotta be ready for anything."

I nodded toward Lester, who was standing still next to Michael, not talking, just watching us closely. Then Lester spoke fast but with a calm tone: "The alarm system's easy now. That's if I have to run the operation. I can hack it no problem, but I'm sure you can buy me more time."

Then Lester turned to Harris Biggs, sitting on the couch next to Franklin, busy working on her laptop while listening to what Lester was saying. "When the system goes down, look to Michael. He'll give you the orders."

To save time, Michael started explaining the instructions in more detail. Then he pointed to Franklin: "You're with me."

"Ethan, you're with Eddie," he said.

I nodded, noticing some of their skeptical, distrustful looks. I couldn't blame them; one wrong move could blow the whole thing.

I walked with Eddie and hopped on the bus.

We headed to Vangelico.

The bus was moving slowly down road, and Ethan was sitting next to Eddie, noticing every little detail passing by without saying much. He could feel a slight tension in his stomach, but he tried to keep calm. Eddie, who noticed Ethan's silence, decided to break the quiet.

"First time?"

Ethan looked ahead, then nodded quietly. "Yeah, but I'm used to the pressure."

Eddie smiled lightly, then looked at Ethan . "Pressure's part of the game, but the key is to stay calm. If you let yourself get lost in your thoughts, you'll lose."

Ethan leaned back in his seat a little, trying to relax. "Not scared, just... gotta stay focused."

"Exactly, it's all in your hands. If you stay sharp, nothing's gonna trip you up." Eddie replied confidently, then added, "When people see you calm, they'll believe anything."

Ethan nodded slowly, trying to take in the words. "You sure everything's set?"

Aiden didn't rush to answer. "Everything's lined up. We ain't here to fumble, we're here to do this right. If you keep steady, no one's gonna doubt you."

Ethan felt a bit of reassurance in Eddie's words, but he didn't comment. He just kept staring at the road, focusing on what was ahead. "Alright. Let's get it started."....

When we reached the Vangelico store, Michael was standing there. The air was thick with tension, and each of us was in position, breathing steady as we prepared for the next part of the plan.

"Ready to roll?" Ethan asked as he stepped toward Michael.

I was wearing a red bug-suit, black gloves adding a weird vibe to the situation. The outfit gave me a sense of mystery, like we were on some secret mission, far from prying eyes.

Michael gave us a confident look, then said loudly, "The clock's ticking, everything's set up right, no room for mistakes."

I gave him a quick look, then kept an eye on his moves. We started moving toward the door quietly, our eyes scanning everything carefully around us. Our steps were firm, and our minds focused on the next task: smash the glass, grab the jewels quick and clean before things get wild.

We all put on gas masks, the ones to block out the sleep gas Franklin had placed in the ventilation ducts. That was crucial – it kept us safe from the gas spreading fast inside the store. When the customers started dropping one by one, I knew we had bought ourselves some precious time.

Once everyone was down, we moved fast into the store, avoiding any unnecessary moves that might draw attention. We moved in sync, eyes locked on the prize. The glass was in front of us, and with it, the jewels we came for. Everything was going as planned – at least up until that point.

Michael stepped forward a little and said quietly as we neared the glass, "Now, smash it fast. No time to waste."

In an instant, we hit the glass, the sound echoing in the space. But we didn't stop. We were in the middle of it, everything had to go quick and clean.

As I hit the glass, the room shifted into a blur of swift and silent motion. Michael, moving among us, was grabbing the jewels fast but with expert precision. His steps were quick but sure, like time had slowed down around him. He snatched the jewels like they'd always been in his hands, but still, he kept watching everyone, guiding them with his eyes. He caught every small detail but never wasted a second thinking. He knew exactly what had to happen at every moment.

I felt a rush of excitement in my veins. The sound of the breaking glass was full of power, marking the start of the most delicate part of the plan. In that moment, I was fully aware of everything around me, watching closely.

Eddie moved quickly and precisely, his eyes never leaving his target. He grabbed the jewels carefully, trying to stay calm despite the surrounding tension. I couldn't help but notice how he moved so smoothly, like he'd done this a million times. Each step was calculated, each move aimed at perfect timing. His hands danced over the jewels like they were part of the plan. Every time he picked up a piece, he shot me a glance with no hint of fear or hesitation. It was clear he was a pro at this.

As Ethan grabbed the jewels one by one, there was something else on his mind. He didn't need the money. He had enough to live a quiet life, free from the financial worries that bother most people. Yet, he was still picking up the jewels, placing them in his bag with each new piece.

Why? Why was he here, in the middle of a heist, with all the risks around him? Questions were rising in his mind, but his hands didn't stop moving. He didn't need the money, but he was stealing. Was it just the thrill of the challenge? Was this how he felt alive, proving something to himself?

Who am I gonna lie to, someone who doesn't need extra money?"

Maybe it was about something deeper than money. Collecting those jewels seemed to fill some strange need inside him, something money couldn't buy, something that could only be gained through moments like this. The jewels weren't just pieces of value for him; they were tiny symbols of success in a ruthless world. Maybe they gave him a sense of power, or maybe they were just a reminder of what he could accomplish, even in the most bizarre moments.

Ethan needed to feel like he was in control of the moment.

As he dropped another piece in his bag, he smiled to himself. Maybe he didn't need the jewels, but he sure needed what they represented.

As we worked fast in the store, Harris Biggs' voice came through our earpieces, calm but clear:

"You've got a minute and 30 seconds before the alarm resets."

Michael didn't stop grabbing jewels but shouted in surprise without slowing down, "90 seconds?! Damn, that's a lot of time! This is why we give you the big cut!"

We moved faster, but as the time ticked down, Harris's voice came again, her tone sharper now:

"One minute! Be careful, speed and precision."

The sound of glass breaking got louder, jewels falling into bags quickly, sweat starting to form on our brows.

"40 seconds! Grab everything fast!"

Eddie, who had been calm at first, was now moving with urgency, snatching pieces like his life depended on it. I looked at Michael, who was keeping an eye on everyone while working, his eyes shifting between us and the entrance, making sure we got out in time.

"20 seconds! Finish it up and move!"

There was no time to look back. The bags were full, and the floor was almost empty of jewels. We exchanged quick glances, then started moving toward the exit with measured steps, knowing every second counted between success and failure.

We made it out of the store, bags heavy with jewels worth about four million dollars. The air outside felt fresh compared to the heat of tension inside. There was no time to think, just move. The motorcycles were lined up outside, engines ready to roar, like they'd been waiting for us.

Eddie jumped on his bike without hesitation, smooth as always, while I felt the handlebars, the slight vibration under my hands. I looked around, searching for Michael. He hadn't come out yet.

"Where's (M) ?" I asked through the earpiece.

Harris's voice came quickly, a little tense: "He'll be out in five seconds, get ready."

Right then, the doors to Vangelico exploded again, and Michael came out quickly, grabbed the guy talking to Franklin, shoved him to the ground, and said, "You forget thousands of things every day, forget this one too."

Michael looks at Franklin before handing him the bag and says, "Meet me at the river."

After they came out of the store, the air was crackling with electricity, and the adrenaline was in every moment. Ethan, Franklin, and Eddie were riding their bikes, hands steady on the handlebars, while their ears caught the sound of cops' engines getting closer fast. The road was full of challenges, the streets narrow between the buildings, and the chase was fiercer than ever.

Ethan was focused, feeling this weird calmness in the chaos. The tension was thick in the air, but he could keep his mind sharp. He darted left and right, dodging the cop cars chasing them, weaving through the traffic smoothly, avoiding their gunfire, just trying to keep himself out of danger. There was no room for mistakes.

"Eddie, there's a car in front of you!" Franklin said over the comm, breathing hard, stressed out.

"Leave it to me!" Eddie replied, without hesitation, gunning his bike faster, dodging the car chasing them.ready to take risks to keep them ahead.

Ethan was staying calm as usual, but there were moments of tension that crept up now and then. He glanced back quick, seeing the cops closing in, firing shots. When he felt the threat getting too close, he made a sharp turn the other way, getting away from the crowd.

"Take the left! The road's tight ahead!" Eddie shouted, leading the way, like he knew every corner and alley.

The cops were firing at them faster now, their cars almost catching up in every turn. The gunfire was deafening, but Ethan didn't let that throw him off. Every move was calculated, his hands flying over the handlebars, dodging any unnecessary risk.

The sharp turns and narrow alleys let them pull ahead of their pursuers, but the chase was picking up speed. The cop cars were driving them toward the edge of Los Santos streets. "It's life or death in one step!" That thought kept echoing in Ethan's mind as he jumped fast over a ramp, leaving the main road behind.

After they jumped the broken bridge, Eddie's orders came over the comm, "Head to the Del Perro freeway! Then we hit the tunnels!" His voice sounded calm, but Ethan could feel the pressure building up. The tunnels were tight and dark, and time was running out."

"If we make it through this, I think I'll deserve a prize... maybe a bag full of cash... or a hot cup of coffee." I told myself, but the words were more of an attempt to calm myself. At that moment, money didn't matter; all I cared about was getting out safe.

As we entered the tunnel, I felt the tension rise. The silence in the tunnels made everything feel even more dangerous. Eddie was guiding us, like we were in an endless race. Despite it all, my mind was focused on survival.

While following Eddie's directions through the tunnel, the atmosphere started feeling more suffocating, and the only sound that filled the place was the beating of our hearts and the hum of our bikes rushing through the narrow tunnels. The walls around us seemed to close in, pressing us from all sides, and the light was so dim, only the headlights gave us any guidance. There was no room for mistakes.

"When we reach the exit, it's gonna be a turning point. We'll need to be more careful than ever," Eddie said calmly over the comms.

We all stuck close, moving fast but cautiously, trying to avoid any mistakes that could lead to disaster. Eddie was guiding us through the sharp curves like he knew every inch of the place. It was clear he was used to these kinds of maneuvers, but we knew this pressure was higher than ever. We were about to face a real challenge.

"Now, switch to the side passage! Go on, crawl through!" Eddie yelled, and we quickly responded, dodging sharp turns that would have given us away if we'd been any more panicked.

In that moment, the sound started fading away, and I felt something strange: everything was in our hands now. The tight, dark tunnels offered us temporary shelter, but it was obvious we didn't have much time. We had only a few minutes before we reached the critical point that would make us an easy target if we weren't careful enough.

"Stay calm, you're two minutes from the exit. There'll be some cars waiting. Hide in the corners. It's time to move fast!" Eddie said, his voice full of focus.

As I followed the instructions and made quick turns in the tunnel, I had this strong feeling we were about to hit the biggest danger yet. The tunnels were getting tighter, and one wrong move could put us face-to-face with the cops that were closing in. But I didn't let that tension get to me, and I kept moving, knowing time was running out.

"Fifty meters left!" Eddie shouted over the comms, speeding up. We were almost out, and the tunnel was getting even tighter at this point, like we were about to emerge from a volcano's mouth.

As I got ready to leave the tunnel, the tension in the air was thick. We all knew this next step was the most crucial one.

I gunned my bike and flew out of the tunnel, jumping high. There were a bunch of cop cars waiting for us, just like we expected.

I sped up, following Eddie and Franklin, on the other side of the river.

Michael came in with the truck, blocking the cop cars and slamming into them.

"Calm down, guys, I've got bumpers on this truck," Michael said, flipping a cop car upside down.

"Shit!" Ethan said as he dodged a cop car over the river, switching to the other side.

Michael, with his truck loaded with special bumpers for just this kind of situation, rammed into the remaining cop cars, causing violent crashes. He was taking them down like he controlled everything around him, while the team sped towards the truck.

Well, that's unexpected," Ethan says, watching."

After a few quick lane changes, the truck finally stopped in a safe spot, away from any clear surveillance. Perfect timing. Ethan and the team moved towards the back of the truck, "Let's do this."

We got in through the back of the truck on our bikes.

Leicester was waiting for us in the garage, Michael said while driving the truck.

"Oh, fuck, man, thought I was gonna get stuck on that bike," Franklin said, relieved.

"I thought I was gonna get stuck with that cop car," Ethan replied to Franklin.

"Haha, nice one!" Michael laughed, excited.

"Wow! I think I can send the kids to college now!" Eddie said.

We arrived at Leicester's place and all got out of the truck.

Ethan stepped off slowly. He looked more exhausted than usual, but still had that calm demeanor. He was wearing a torn red "BUGSTARS" suit, a little dirty with stains of oil and dirt. His hands were covered in black gloves.

The bike helmet he had on was still on his head. For a brief moment, he grabbed it and slowly removed it, showing his full face. His features were sharp, and his blue eyes shone with a strange glimmer in the light. His black hair was a little messy, as if the wind from riding the bike had tousled it. But despite all of that, he kept his complete calm. His eyes had that dry look, like none of this was anything more than just another experience.

As he took off his helmet, he felt the others staring at him.

"Well, well, looks like someone decided to man up," Michael said, stepping close.

"How's the retirement break treating you?" he smiled at Ethan, who replied.

"Oh, feels like I'm back in my youth," Michael said, stretching his shoulder.

"Man, didn't think you'd actually do it," Eddie said, patting Ethan's shoulder.

"Trust me, if you saw my aim in the fight," Franklin said, moving closer.

"Can he even handle a gun? I thought he'd scratch it if he even touched one," Eddie said sarcastically.

"Fuck you," Ethan said, pushing Eddie's hand away.

Harris, who had been watchin' us the whole time, joined the group, takin' a deep breath as she celebrated with us. "Didn't expect we'd pull this off this quick!" she said, smilin' as she stood in the middle of us.

Michael chimed in, grinnin' at Harris, "Hey, you did half the work right there. We wouldn't have made it this far without you

Leicester came up to them and said, "Great job, now that the jewelry's sold, we'll send each of you your share. Stay low for a while."

"Alright, People , we need to split up," Michael said, sending us off in different directions.