A Dangerous Gamble

The moment they stepped out of the wine cellar, Emma felt the weight of the evening crash down on her. The polished halls of the estate seemed colder, the golden chandeliers casting long, eerie shadows.

Beside her, Alexander's expression was unreadable, but she knew his mind was already racing through possibilities. Lucien and Dmitri had set a trap, and they had walked right into it.

Marcus's voice buzzed in their earpieces. "Tell me you're not actually considering this."

Alexander exhaled. "Do we have a choice?"

Emma crossed her arms, maintaining the poised elegance expected of her in this world. "If we refuse, they'll see us as a threat. We need time."

Marcus cursed. "What exactly are we stealing?"

Alexander's jaw tensed. "An artifact in the possession of a politician."

Marcus hesitated. "Do we know which politician?"

Emma's mind whirled. There were dozens of corrupt politicians tied to the Collective, but the fact that Lucien and Dmitri were targeting someone meant one thing—whoever had this artifact was powerful enough to be a problem.

"Marcus," Emma said, lowering her voice. "Find out who Lucien wants us to steal from. We need to know what we're walking into."

"On it."

Alexander turned to her, his gray eyes darker than usual. "We'll play along for now, but we're not delivering that artifact to them."

Emma nodded. "Agreed. We need to find out what it is—and why it's so important."

Just then, a pair of guards approached, their eyes cold and assessing.

They were being watched.

One of them inclined his head. "Monsieur Moreau has arranged for a car to take you back to your hotel."

A polite way of saying: We'll be escorting you out.

Emma smiled, slipping seamlessly back into her role. "How thoughtful."

Alexander placed a hand on the small of her back, guiding her forward. "Lead the way."

The guards flanked them as they walked through the estate, their presence a silent warning.

Lucien was letting them leave—but only because he expected them to return.

---

Back at the Hotel

The moment they stepped into their suite, Marcus was already waiting for them, laptop open, his fingers flying over the keys.

"Got something," he said without looking up. "Lucien's target is Senator William Harrington."

Emma's breath hitched. Harrington.

Alexander frowned. "He's a hardliner against the Collective. He's been pushing for international sanctions on their known operatives."

Marcus nodded. "And get this—he recently acquired an Egyptian relic that some believe is tied to the Revenant's lost collection."

Emma sat down, mind racing. "If that artifact is connected to the Revenant, then Lucien wants it for more than just power. He might be looking for something specific."

Alexander folded his arms. "Then we need to get it first."

Marcus sighed. "You realize you're about to steal from a high-profile U.S. senator, right?"

Emma smiled wryly. "Wouldn't be the first time."

Marcus groaned. "You two are insane."

Alexander smirked. "And yet, you haven't left us yet."

Marcus muttered something under his breath before turning his screen toward them. "Harrington's estate is heavily secured. Motion sensors, biometric locks, armed guards. This isn't a simple heist."

Emma leaned closer. "When does he leave next?"

Marcus pulled up a schedule. "He's attending a fundraiser tomorrow night. He'll be gone for three hours."

Alexander nodded. "That's our window."

Emma glanced at him. "Then let's get to work."

---

Breaking In

The following night, Emma crouched on the rooftop of Harrington's estate, her black jumpsuit blending seamlessly into the shadows. The cool night air brushed against her skin as she adjusted her earpiece.

"Marcus, status?"

His voice came through instantly. "Cameras are looped for six minutes. That's all I can give you before the system reboots."

Emma smirked. "Plenty of time."

Alexander landed beside her, silent as a shadow. "Let's move."

They rappelled down the side of the building, landing softly on the balcony. Alexander picked the lock in seconds, and they slipped inside.

The study was dark, filled with the scent of leather and aged paper. A large vault stood against the far wall.

Emma ran her fingers over the keypad. "Biometric access. We need his fingerprint."

Alexander pulled a small case from his pocket, extracting a replica fingerprint mold. "Already handled."

She raised a brow. "Impressive."

He smirked. "I have my moments."

Pressing the mold to the scanner, the lock clicked open.

Inside, a black velvet box rested on a shelf.

Emma's breath caught as she lifted the lid.

Inside was a golden amulet inlaid with emeralds, its surface engraved with ancient Egyptian symbols.

Alexander's eyes darkened. "This is no ordinary artifact."

Marcus's voice crackled in their ears. "Guys, we have a problem. Security's rebooting early."

Emma snapped the box shut. "Time to go."

They moved quickly, slipping back through the balcony just as floodlights flickered on.

"Move!" Alexander ordered, and they leapt over the edge, their grappling hooks catching just in time.

As they disappeared into the night, Emma clutched the amulet tighter.

Lucien wanted this badly.

Now they had to figure out why.