By the time we reached back to the penthouse it was about 10 pm. But everyone was exhausted. John went straight for a bath and Ghost went out to sit with G.

AJ and I stayed in the kitchen and talked to Lily and Jake. And told them what had happened. Jesse was listening too, occasionally cheering me on for what I did. Just before deciding to go change and clean up before dinner, G called my name.

"Delilah! Can I talk to you for a minute?" He asked.

He was standing in the middle of the hall and looked like a statue. All smooth,dark and tall. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants. AJ looked at me for a minute, then left my hand and went to his room. I walked to where G was.

"Sure G. What's up?" I said.

"I just wanted thankyou. You've done very good. I heard about your fight with the C4 chumps, and the fact that you single handedly figured out 3 escape routes. I know it must be hard. But I'm very grateful."

I smiled with relief.
"I thought you were kicking me out or something, I'm thankful too G. This is like family. I've really bonded with everyone. I'm very happy."

"I'd never throw you out, little Delilah. You can ask me for anything if you need me. Think of me as an older brother. I know I can never replace James. I wouldn't want to. But I'd like to be there for you."

I was smiling uncontrollably now.

"G that means more than the world. Thankyou." I said softly.

"Anyday. Also, you and AJ......I'm very happy for you. Both of you," he said smiling now. He had a great smile. One that made others smile with him.

"I'm very happy too." I said. He nodded and left for the pool, where Ghost and Jesse were. I slowly turned and went back down the hallway.

Lily had handed me the first aid box and some pain relief pills. I went straight to AJ's room and knocked.

"Lilah?" AJ asked.

"Yup, can I come in?" I said.
He opened the door and stood there looking at me. He had taken off his shirt and was only wearing black pants.

"Come in," he said.

I went in, with him right behind me and made him sit on the bed. He sighed but complied. He looked up at me while I dabbed his wounds with antiseptic. He'd gotten badly hurt on the forehead and had a cut on his back. Otherwise it was just bruises. When I was done he pulled me onto his lap and touched my hair, pulling it away from my face.

"Are you okay?" He asked again.

"I'm fine, I've taken a painkiller and I've thoroughly cleaned up the bite mark. And I mean thoroughly," I said with a small smile.

He chuckled.
"What did G have to say?" He asked.

"Oh nothing, just that he was happy with what I did. And to think of him as an older brother." I answered.

"That's good. If G's happy with you, you'll be smooth sailing from here," he said grinning.

"He also said he was happy for us."

"Well, why wouldn't he be. Now come on let's go eat dinner, I'm famished," He said and we got up and walked out to the hall to eat dinner.
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After dinner, John, Ghost and Gordan left. John would stay at G's for the night as it was the more practical thing to do. The rest of us excluding Lily would leave for the tunnels again tomorrow. We all bid eachother goodnight and left for our rooms.

I was quite anxious the whole time. Things were getting real and the heist was to take place in just a few days. Ghost was hardly acting suspicious or secretive. But I had too, I just had to find out more.

I grabbed my computer and started installing a new program. I knew that first I'd want to listen to his cell conversations, and to do that I'd need to install a virus or program on his phone. I couldn't put in an app that'd be too easy to recognise. I also noticed that Ghost carried a laptop bag with him to some places. It would be the most obvious place to hide and store things in, and he couldn't possibly be so stupid for an ex taker.

But I needed to cut off all loose ends. I was halfway through finishing a new programming when the door to the bedroom, creaked open slightly. I shut the computer immediately, and sat straight up only to realise that it was AJ.

"What in the world are you doing here, I got scared!" I told him.

He gently closed the door and came to my side of the bed. He was still bare in the chest, he only wore black pajamas now. I gulped.

"Can I...can we..." He started.

"Can't sleep?" I asked with one raised eyebrow.

He chuckled looking down. And nodded slightly.

"Get in and shut the lights." I said putting my computer away.

He did as asked and got into bed next to me, he smelled of mint as per usual. He put an arm around me and kissed my cheek.

"What were you doing on the computer?"

"Trying to figure out ways to hack into Ghosts private devices."

"It won't be easy, he has a ton of security systems download on his stuff."

"I'd be surprised if he didn't. I just need to figure out a way."

"You will. If you need any help, ask me" he said with his eyes closed.
I looked at him.

"Don't you think we got together too quickly?" I asked suddenly. "I've never been so forward or quick to fall for anyone. It was like all my friends needed to do was make me realise it. And I was past the point of going back."

He opened his eyes again, in the little light coming from outside, I could make out the gold in them.

"I've never done anything like it before, either. It was as if I was waiting for you to come around and then boom. I'm done for," He said.
"I guess when you know, you know. Do you think we should've waited?"

"No I don't think, I could have. I'm just afraid, you didn't know me then, and still don't know me yet. How could you fall for me if you don't even know me completely?" I said softly.

"You're right I didn't know you, but that's what it is right, meeting someone you don't know, but are dying to know about. I don't know you still, but I hope that slowly you'll tell me all about you. And I'm willing to wait."

"Falling for a stranger? Sounds dangerous."

"Extremely, that's why it's called falling in love, right?"

"AJ I know nothing about love. How do I know I'm doing it right?"

"I always thought Love is more of a feeling than anything. A new foreign but utterly delightful feeling. It doesn't always have a right or wrong. Sometimes it has both. All you have to do, is what your heart wants. And keep talking to me about it, about what your heart wants. Conversation is the key." He finished.

"How do you know so much?"

"You teach me, without realising it. You inspire me Lilah. That's how I know I'm doing it right," He said.

"Alright, I'll keep talking to you stranger. Beautiful lovely stranger."

He smiled and closed his eyes.
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The next day AJ woke me up really early, it was 5 am or something. He dragged he out of bed, gave me a cup of coffee and took me to the roof. I was pretty awake by then.

"You wanted to learn how to fight right? Come on, show me what you've got," He said with a sly face.

I straightened up and charged, I kicked him on the neck, he caught my foot before it touched his skin. But looked pleasantly surprised.

Then I swooped around and punched him in the gut. He couldn't avoid that. I kept kicking and punching until he asked me to stop.

"Okay, so you've got the energy and the physique. All you need to learn is to be quick and know where to hit." He said looking serious.

After that he explained to me places to hit a person where they'd be vulnerable, for men especially, crotch, small of the back, nape of the neck and chest. For everyone, under the arm, front neck and nose. Also the most effective place to buzz someone out is the head.

"But that's the most tricky, cause you only want to disarm someone. Not kill them. And the head is a risky place."

Then he told me to practice, and we practiced and practiced until it was about 9am. The morning sun was almost out and about. Jake and Jesse had come up to see us fight. Lily came too eventually, then she and Jesse started their own match.

I kept on doing those few moves, quicker each time. AJ first wanted to teach me offence, he said my defense was good anyways.

I kept going like this, first I'd kick his bad foot, he'd loose balance. Then I'd attack his groin, which he'd save, it was just practice after all. Then I'd go for a quick swoop to the back. After which I'd quickly swat the nape of his neck with my hand, then punch the chest and finish with a kick to the knees.

That routine went on for 4 or so hours. By 9 I was quick enough. Then I'd try the underarm and the front neck and nose. That's the routine he wanted me to follow.

"Good. Now let's try a bit of defence."
He told me to always use my arms for defence, keep them in front of me. And to always use my knees when I'm caught up.

"Woah, AJ. I didn't know you were so bad." Said jake. He was having quite the time teasing AJ.

"Oh yeah why don't you try at her." He said looking fiesty.

Jake nodded and threw AJ his jacket. AJ didn't catch it.

"Come on man." Whined Jake.
He stood in front of me, he was quite well built. And had strong arms. But his legs were the problem.

"Okay baby girl, I'm not going to be easy on you. Want you be the best right!" He said.

I had my head slightly down, my brown hair was tightly tied in a pony and I was wearing sports wear.

"Let's get it then, pancake man," I said egging him on.

He pouted and forged forward.
He came quick with both hands protecting his chest. But I wasn't aiming for his chest. I ducked his blow and kicked his shin hard, he bent with pain. I took advantage and kicked his butt and punched his back. He got up and tried to get my neck, I swirved and he got my shoulder instead.

I smirked and kicked his tummy. He bent again and I swatted his nape repeatedly. Then he went for my legs. He grabbed my right leg and I fell. AJ sucked in breath. He got up and was about to kick my side. But I rolled and kick his abdomen instead.

Then quickly attacked his chest and finally punched his neck area. He buckled and fell. When he was on the ground I was going to lock him in.

When he yelled, "DONE!" I stopped.

Lily was screaming, "You go girl," AJ helped Jake up and smiled.

"So much for going easy," he said.

"Oh shut up, she's inhuman," Jake answerd.
"But all I know is you don't have to worry about her getting hurt anymore."

"Jesse, wanna have a try?" I called a bit too sweetly.

"Ah nah, see I actually intend on reproducing somewhere down the line." He grinned.

I went and pet Jake's back.

"You okay?"

"All good baby girl. Just know I won't be crossing you any time soon," He smiled.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey! It's all part of the game!" He said and winked.
"Lily, baby. I'm not sure we'll be able to have kids anymore."

"You wish," She said. And supported him on their way down.

AJ waited for me, then put his arm around me.

"How's the back doing?" I asked him grinning.

"Oh all good, thanks to you," he answered sarcastically on our way down.

We couldn't stop laughing.
Even though it pained to move too much.
For him of course.
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

By 11am everyone was set to go. When we reached the tunnels the boys set to work and I went back to selecting the escape routes. Lily had chosen one, it seemed pretty solid. It was through the tunnels and led out into a deserted alleyway on the opposite end of the city.
It wasn't mapped so the police wouldn't be able to trace us.

The only problem was that someone would have to wait on the other end with a getaway car of sorts.

"Getaway helicopter would've been better," AJ had said.

AJ and Jake were both hanging from the ceiling of the tunnels, fixing the C4.
Jake was still in some pain. I felt bad now.

"Hey Jake, how's it hanging?" AJ joked.
"Very funny man, AJ very funny."

That day wasn't very eventful. After the tunnels, AJ had to go meet Gordan. They had to discuss the timing. AJ decided to leave with Jesse on the back of his motorbike, while Jake finished off with his bit in the tunnels. I stayed back with him. We'd drive back together. And pick up AJ on the way.

"So, any new info on Ghost?" Jake asked still hanging from the ceiling.

"I'm still trying to create a program, a virus of sorts. For his phone." I said.

"You good at hacking?" He questioned.
"I mean, that's one thing no one in the crew knows shit about. Except maybe AJ."

"Do you recall that Cybersecurity break-in in the late 2000's?" I said. "The one where government files were hacked into and the hacker was never identified, because the files were still intact and didn't seem to even have been read?"

"No shits, that was you?" He asked.

"Yup, I was 12. James needed some files, he said it was a do or die situation. So I hacked in. Took me two weeks and a lot of background studies. But i did it. And I was never caught because, I made it seem like we'd not read anything. He needed it to remove his girlfriend from the official police documents. She apparently was illegally in the country. If they found out she'd be deported," I answered.

"Now that I think about it I was stupid to have taken such a risk for a girl who walked out on him just days after he set her record straight."

"You are crazy. Did you ever try anything else?"

"No that was my last hack. I did amateur stuff after that. Then when I turned 16, I completely stopped."

"Holy shit, that's why G wanted you. You're a hacker. Plus you're studying law."

"How'd he know I can hack?"

"He's good in background checks." Jake said, finally coming down.

He'd collected all the equipment and put it in the car, as I was sitting and taking notes. AJ had left his convertible for us. I'd driven it twice now. Jake was about to sit in the driver's seat when I jumped in.

"Umm. I'm driving," I said with a cheeky smile.

"What? No. I've heard about your driving from AJ!" He said looking slightly scared.

"Guys talk about that stuff?"

"More than you'd like to know."

"Oh well, I'm still driving"
He sighed and sat down.

"Just know if I die, Lily will not be happy." He said holding on tight to the dashboard.

"Oh I'm sure I'd find her someone knew, in no time." I said, and he looked at me with a sarcastic look.

I grinned. And started the car.

The evening was sweet and the skies were gold. Their were a bunch of birds flying around, but I couldn't here much of their coos over Jake's frantic screams.
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(YouTube vid: theflowervolcano)
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