Page 92 of Lovesick Gods

The first fifteen minutes of the plan went flawlessly. A hole in the building’s defenses made it a breeze to enter through the security team’s own back exit after the old guard left, leaving the new guy in charge for the night—a two-minute window before the security protocols rebooted on the door. In less than forty-five seconds, Mal and the others were in, with free access to the camera feeds and the rest of the security room without breaking a sweat.

Lucy dug her vines into the console, frying the cameras, but several of the alarms would remain intact. All that meant was that they had to take care of the guard, then exit through the same door they’d entered when they left.

The only problem as they darted from the offices into the main building of the museum was the windows. Not large enough for a general passerby to catch sight of people moving about, but enough to draw attention to the light from their powers in a dark building. Which was why frying or icing anything before they reached the prize at the end had to be minimal, and timing was always of the essence.

The building’s new pressure sensors were controlled separately from the main security room—Mal had traded a few very worthwhile and old favors for those updated blueprints. It meant he knew exactly when to tell Lucy to use her powers on any remaining security measures and which tiles in the various rooms needed to be avoided.

Dom and Lucy didn’t have the locations memorized as well as Mal did, so he led the way, and they stepped where he stepped. He had to hand it to the history museum for not slouching on creativity—reminded him ofThe Last Crusadeand he was Indyseeking the Holy Grail. Or at least a big-ass diamond he could keep on display in his favorite safe house. Maybe he’d fence some of the lesser items they’d swipe. This heist was purely for the thrill.

Checking the time displayed through his goggles, Mal hushed Dom and Lucy behind him, motioning for them to take positions on the opposite side of the doorway that led into the next room. The security guard should be coming from that direction in less than one minute.

Mal had watched the guard during his training for weeks. While the man did practice rounds at off hours, Mal had learned his route and his timing, usually with Dom beside him. Given this was the man’s first real run-through, alone in the dark museum, maybe nervous, Mal had accounted for both having more time if the guard slouched or less if he was antsy. Either way, they should be perfectly poised for the next stage in the plan.

Holding up his hand to keep the others quiet, Mal listened…listened…and heard the telltale jingle of keys that indicated the guard was coming. He motioned for Lucy to get the gas, while he and Dom held steady, and she pulled the gas can from one of the large pockets in her cloak.

Mal listened…listened…and counted down on his hand—five, four, three,two—

Lucy whirled around the corner and sprayed in a back and forth arch across the open doorway in front of her. The gas can looked like a normal aerosol but packed much more punch, shooting gas into the room and filling it quickly. They had moments for the guard to breathe in enough of the misty green substance to be knocked out, then neutralize it before it kicked back into the room with them.

“What the—?!” the guard stammered. More jingling keys and shuffling as he fumbled for his gun, then a clatter as the gun fellto the floor, and a moment later, after a few choked coughs, a thud as the guard followed suit.

Whipping back into place to avoid any backlash from the gas, Lucy returned the can to her pocket, while Mal took her spot in front of the door. Being sure to aim above the collapsed guard on the floor, he misted an ice-cold frost from his palms, freezing the particles of gas mid-air. The gas didn’t merely dissipate, it fell like putrid green snow.

Now unhindered by the gas or any potential collateral damage, Mal nodded at Lucy and Dom to follow him again. The diamond was straight ahead in the east wing. The room they entered first was the nexus that split into the last three areas of the building. Lucy turned right to explore the gold collection in the Egypt exhibit. Dom went left to head into the north wing.

The American history section had a collection of paintings depicting the Great Chicago Fire. Dom loved them. So of course she wanted to burn them. Mal didn’t question his friend’s choice of catharsis; he had his own quirks, after all.

“Remember, we’re connected,” he indicated his earpiece before moving into the room for specialty items on loan. “Inform each other the second something seems off.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Dom said, already gone.

Lucy shot Mal a smile over her shoulder before disappearing as well.

“Keep center to avoid the pressure plates. Meet back here in five,” Mal said, then bounded forward, feeling the thrill of the chase spurring him on.

The diamond was at the far end of the room, down a short set of steps, inside a glass container with pressure sensors of its own to protect the glass from even being touched. Thankfully the sensors didn’t work if frozen solid. The rest of the room was filled with similar glass cases, many sporting mirrors inside toreflect the items on display. Mal’s image bounced back at him from every direction as he moved through the room.

He kept his eyes and ears open for signs of trouble, any passing cops outside, but he only heard the occasional chatter from Dom and Lucy over the comms. Even in the dark room, his new goggles kept his vision clear, almost but not quite as potent as night vision. It was just as he was about to reach the steps leading down to the diamond that he felt a gust of wind.

Mal spun around, finger twitching on the cold field switch. But not yet. Not yet…

Another gust.Yes—an invisible Zeus. Dannyhadwarned him. But this time Mal was ready and very much into the game. He turned his comms off.

“I was hoping it was you,” Danny’s voice echoed around him from the high ceilings, making it difficult to pinpoint his position.

“And here I thought you were above cheating,” Mal said, circling carefully, making sure he didn’t misstep so close to the stairs and tumble down them.

“A heads up wasn’t enough?” Danny said—to Mal’s left, definitely to the left.

Mal backed up slowly until the wall was close behind him—

“How about this then?”

—and tensed for an attack. But Danny merely rippled into existence a few meters from him, visible in the all black suit and shimmering like he was covered in sequins when he moved.

Mal considered blasting him. Vaughn would have built the usual precautions into the suit against Elementals they knew—like thermal dampeners to lessen the effect of Mal’s ice—but Danny’s saunter had such a nice, sexy sway to it. Mal aimed more at his lower half. “Careful. Any closer and I’ll take your feet out from under you.”

“Oh really?” Danny purred, hands held up but steps still carrying him closer. He paused only once he was close enough that they could have touched if Danny outstretched his arms. Then, in the split second Mal chose not to fire, Danny surged forward and had him against the wall, wrists pinned to his sides.

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