Fated Love: A Tale of Destiny

Chapter 0013: The Heist Begins 

The clock struck midnight. The city was quiet, its neon glow reflecting off the damp streets as Alexander approached the towering structure that held the vault. He took a deep breath, steadying himself. There was no room for error.

Ethan's voice crackled in his earpiece. "Alright, Alex. Cameras are looping in five… four… three…"

Alexander moved swiftly through the side entrance as Ethan disabled the security feed for a brief window. He pressed against the wall, listening for footsteps. Silence.

"I'm in," he whispered.

"Good. Head to the elevator on the left. It should take you down to the sub-basement."

Alexander advanced, careful to avoid the roaming guards. His heartbeat was steady, his body tuned to the familiar rush of adrenaline. He had done jobs like this before, but tonight was different. Tonight, he wasn't just stealing for himself—he was stealing for Claire.

The elevator doors slid open silently. Alexander stepped inside and pressed the button for the sub-basement. As the doors closed, his fingers tightened into fists.

"You sure about this?" Ethan's voice held a trace of doubt.

"No choice," Alexander muttered.

The descent felt endless. The moment the doors slid open, a wave of cold air greeted him. The sub-basement was dimly lit, shadows stretching across steel walls. He stepped forward cautiously, scanning his surroundings.

"The vault is at the end of the hall," Ethan instructed. "But there's a biometric scanner. You're gonna need a fingerprint."

Alexander exhaled sharply. "Let's hope Victor was as careless as I remember."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small glass case containing a latex print—Victor's. He had stolen it earlier, knowing Sebastian wouldn't make things easy.

Pressing the latex print against the scanner, he held his breath. The red light flickered, then turned green. The heavy steel door clicked open.

"I'm in."

Ethan let out a relieved laugh. "Damn, Alex. I almost doubted you."

Alexander stepped inside, his gaze immediately falling on the prize—a small black case, locked within another layer of security.

"What the hell is this?" he muttered.

"Beats me," Ethan replied. "Just grab it and get out."

Alexander reached for the case when a sudden noise made him freeze. A voice behind him.

"Going somewhere?"

His blood ran cold.

Sebastian Hale stood in the doorway, flanked by two armed guards, his expression unreadable.

"I knew you'd come, Alexander."

Alexander straightened, his hands balling into fists. "And yet, here we are."

Sebastian smirked. "Did you really think I wouldn't be watching?"

Ethan's panicked voice echoed in his ear. "Alex, you need to get out—now!"

Alexander's mind raced. He had two options—fight his way out or talk his way through.

He had never been one for diplomacy.

With a swift movement, he lunged.

The Escape

The moment Alexander lunged, chaos erupted.

He grabbed the first guard's wrist, twisting it sharply until the man yelped and dropped his weapon. Alexander caught the gun midair, pivoted, and fired a shot at the second guard's knee. The man collapsed with a howl of pain, his weapon clattering to the floor.

Sebastian remained still, unfazed. "Impressive," he mused, stepping back as Alexander turned the gun on him. "But you know you can't shoot me."

Alexander smirked. "Wanna bet?"

Ethan's voice buzzed frantically in his ear. "Alex, you've got to get out of there! Security's coming—fast!"

Alexander didn't waste another second. He snatched the black case from its secure position and bolted toward the exit, knowing Sebastian wouldn't let him go so easily.

Behind him, Sebastian called out, "Run all you want, Alexander! You'll never outrun your past!"

Alexander ignored him, sprinting down the dimly lit corridor. Alarms blared, red lights flashing as the entire building locked down. Ahead, two more guards emerged from a side door, weapons drawn.

"Alex—left!" Ethan barked in his ear.

He veered left at the last second, sliding under a half-closing security gate and narrowly avoiding a bullet. The impact ricocheted off the steel behind him. He pushed forward, his breath ragged as he reached the stairwell.

"Elevator's disabled!" Ethan warned. "You're gonna have to take the hard way."

With no time to hesitate, Alexander raced up the stairs, skipping steps two at a time. Voices shouted below, the thudding of boots echoing as guards pursued him. By the time he reached the ground level, he was running on pure adrenaline.

The lobby was swarming with armed men.

"Out the side entrance!" Ethan guided him. "I'm hacking the security locks—hold on!"

Alexander ducked behind a pillar, gripping the black case tightly. He could hear the guards spreading out, their orders being barked through radios.

"Come on, Ethan," he muttered.

The electronic buzz of a door unlocking made his heart leap. "Go, go, GO!" Ethan yelled.

Alexander burst through the side exit into the cold night air. He didn't stop running until he reached the alleyway where his car was parked. He threw open the door and jumped in, peeling away just as sirens roared behind him.

"You got it?" Ethan asked breathlessly.

Alexander exhaled, glancing at the case on the passenger seat. "Yeah. I got it."

But as he drove into the darkened city streets, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over.

 The Price of Freedom

The city lights blurred past as Alexander gripped the steering wheel tightly. His mind raced just as fast as his car. The black case sat ominously on the passenger seat, its presence heavier than its actual weight.

Ethan's voice crackled in his ear. "Alex, talk to me. What's in the case?"

Alexander took a deep breath. "I don't know. But whatever it is, Sebastian wanted it bad enough to set up an entire operation around it."

"Well, that's reassuring," Ethan muttered. "Get somewhere safe, and we'll crack it open."

Alexander nodded to himself, taking a sharp turn down an empty side street. He needed somewhere off the grid. He pulled into an underground parking garage, cutting the engine. The sudden silence was deafening.

With a cautious glance around, he grabbed the case and exited the car, making his way to a secluded corner of the garage. Ethan was already tracking his location.

"I've got a hideout a few blocks from you," Ethan said. "Head there. I'll meet you in ten."

Alexander tucked the case under his arm and moved quickly. The streets were mostly empty, but paranoia gnawed at him. Sebastian wouldn't just let him walk away with whatever he had stolen.

The thought barely had time to settle when headlights suddenly flared to life down the street. A black SUV roared forward, tires screeching.

"Alex—MOVE!" Ethan shouted.

Alexander didn't need to be told twice. He sprinted toward the alleyway, dodging between parked cars. The SUV barreled forward, slamming into a trash bin as the driver tried to cut him off.

A gunshot rang out, the bullet sparking against the pavement near his feet. He cursed under his breath, ducking low as he reached a chain-link fence. Without hesitation, he threw the case over and scrambled up the metal links, swinging himself over just as another shot whizzed past his shoulder.

He hit the ground running, snatching the case up as he rounded the next corner. The hideout wasn't far now.

Ethan's voice was frantic. "Almost there, Alex! Keep moving!"

His breath burned in his lungs, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. If Sebastian was already sending men after him, then whatever was inside this case was worth more than he had ever imagined.

And that terrified him.

Unveiling the Truth

Alexander burst through the door of the hideout, his chest heaving from the chase. The dimly lit room smelled of old books and coffee—Ethan's signature workspace. The hacker was already at his desk, multiple monitors glowing in the darkness.

"Close that door!" Ethan snapped, eyes flicking toward Alexander as he locked it behind him. "You look like you just ran a marathon."

"Not far off," Alexander muttered, tossing the black case onto the table. "They're after me, Ethan. We need to find out what's in this thing—now."

Ethan hesitated, then grabbed a set of tools, carefully inspecting the case. "High-tech security. Biometric lock, probably voice-activated too." He glanced up. "Who did this belong to?"

"Sebastian."

Ethan let out a low whistle. "Of course it did." He pulled up a scanner, analyzing the case's locking mechanism. "It's encrypted. But you know me—I love a challenge."

As Ethan worked, Alexander paced the room, his mind racing. "They found me too fast," he muttered. "Sebastian must have a tracker on me."

Ethan paused. "You think he bugged you?"

Alexander checked his pockets, his jacket, his watch—nothing. But as he reached for the collar of his shirt, he froze. A tiny, nearly invisible tracker was woven into the seam.

"Damn it," he hissed, yanking it out and crushing it underfoot.

"Too late now," Ethan said grimly. "They already know you're here."

The case let out a soft beep. Ethan grinned triumphantly. "And… we're in."

Alexander stepped forward as Ethan lifted the lid. Inside, cushioned in black velvet, lay a sleek hard drive. A single label adorned it—

Project Revenant.

"What the hell is this?" Alexander breathed.

Ethan plugged the drive into his computer, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Lines of encrypted code flooded the screen.

"This is big," Ethan murmured. "Government-level encryption. High-level clearance. Whatever this is, it's not meant to be seen."

Alexander clenched his fists. "Then we find out exactly what Sebastian is hiding."

Outside, the distant roar of engines grew louder. Headlights flashed through the hideout's covered windows.

"They're here," Ethan whispered.

Alexander grabbed his gun. "Then let's give them a welcome."

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(TO BE CONTINUED...)