Earning Her Trust

Dean wasn't sure how to feel as he left the warehouse. The adrenaline of being handed his first real task still buzzed through his veins, but he knew he couldn't get too cocky. This was far from over. Thalia had given him an opportunity, but it was nothing more than a test. If he wanted to survive in her world, he had to prove he was more than just some pawn.

The job she had assigned him wasn't simple. It was the kind of mission that could make or break a reputation in the criminal world. One wrong move, and he'd be finished. But if he succeeded, if he handled it flawlessly, he might just earn a spot at her side—and with it, the chance to gather the intel he needed to take her down.

The target was a rival gang member, someone who had crossed Thalia's organization. His betrayal had put them all at risk, and now it was up to Dean to make sure the man never saw the light of day again.

Dean spent the next few hours preparing. He made sure his weapon was clean, his gear in top condition. But it wasn't just about the physical preparation. He needed to think like Thalia—understand her, anticipate her actions. She wasn't just a criminal; she was a strategist, a chess player, always thinking two or three steps ahead of everyone else.

And tonight, Dean was going to be her pawn. But he would be a pawn who moved the pieces in his favor.

As he walked into the club where the target was supposed to meet his contacts, Dean's mind was sharp, every muscle in his body on high alert. He had rehearsed the mission a thousand times in his head, but there was always that sense of uncertainty. He wasn't a killer—not in the way Thalia's crew was. But tonight, he had to make a choice: blend in, play the part, or risk losing it all.

Inside the club, the lights were low, the air thick with smoke and music. Dean's eyes scanned the crowd, noting every exit, every shadow. The target was supposed to meet a few of his own men here, making this the perfect place for a quick, clean job.

Then he saw him—Rico, the man Thalia had wanted eliminated. He was sitting at a booth in the back, surrounded by a couple of shady-looking individuals. Dean moved toward the bar, his eyes never leaving the target, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. Every move he made was being tracked by someone, and the weight of it was pressing down on him.

He leaned against the bar, ordering a drink, watching the group as he mentally prepared for what was to come. A few minutes passed, and the time felt like it was slowing down. Thalia's voice echoed in his mind: "You're here to do a job. Do it, and do it well."

It was now or never.

Dean moved quickly, slipping into the shadows near the booth where Rico was sitting. He'd already done his homework—he knew the man's routine, where he liked to sit, how he spoke to his associates. The key to this mission was to make it look like a clean hit, like it was something personal, something that couldn't be traced back to Thalia. No witnesses, no evidence.

With a quiet precision, Dean approached, slipping behind Rico and his men. He reached into his jacket and pulled out the silenced pistol Thalia had given him—light, compact, efficient. One shot. That was all it would take.

Dean took a breath, steadying his hand. Just as he raised the weapon, a loud crash echoed through the club. Someone had bumped into a table, sending drinks flying. The distraction was just enough to break his concentration.

He cursed under his breath but didn't waste time. The target's guards were distracted, their attention drawn to the commotion. Dean used the opportunity to move swiftly, positioning himself in the right angle.

Then, everything seemed to slow down. He saw Rico's face, the man who had betrayed Thalia's trust. It was all clear now—this was the moment that would prove his loyalty.

With a steady hand, Dean aimed, and with a muffled shot, the man slumped forward, lifeless.

He didn't wait to see the aftermath. Dean was already moving, slipping back into the shadows, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't hear the chaos that followed—the shouts, the scrambling, the panic. He was already gone.

Back in his car, Dean took a moment to catch his breath. The job was done. He'd kept it clean. No one would know that he was involved, and Thalia's name wouldn't be tied to it. He'd done exactly what she'd asked.

But the real test had only just begun.