AJ'S pov:

That night had gone restlessly, the boys and I worked all night with the plans, making sure everything was perfect.

G had made sure everyone was still in the room once Ghost had gone. Ghost had come like a dog begging for bones, once he'd heard about the helicopter incident. But nor I neither anyone else pulled it too long. We just wanted this over with. We wanted to pay our debts to Ghost and get out. I knew I did. And I knew Jake did too. G had looked so serious and stern when he'd told us what we all knew was coming.

"Remember the plan, gents. Family, always." He'd said, again and again.

'Remember the plan'

Never did I ever think that I'd quit all this, ecstatic madness. The drive and rush of it. The Takers. But after meeting her, I knew I'd never be the same again. She has a control over me. She taught me that love is not changing yourself, or trying to be someone you're not. It's loving part of the other person that they themselves feel to be strange. It's sacrifice. And even though I know she'll be more than willing to stay....stay in this ride or die life with me. I can't let her throw all her potentials away. And I know....what I do is...well not as morally desired as one would want it to be.
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The day of the heist had finally arrived. I woke up at 5 in the morning due to restlessness. I was anxious, why the hell was I anxious. Then I saw her hand next to my pillow. So it hadn't been a wonderful dream after all. The morning had just begun to break. There were warm rays of sunlight peaking through the curtains. They were painting her brown hair a shade of crimson. Her mouth was slightly open. And her eyes were fluttering crazily behind her lids. Nightmares. She had them more often now. She was worried too. I bent down to her face and brushed my fingers over the outline of her jaw, the shape of her lips, her temples, her hair. And then I kissed her very softly on the cheek. She smiled and turned the other way.

"Don't leave without me," she said in her sleep.

"I wouldn't dare too," I answered back. "Get some more sleep, I'll wake you up when it's time."

She hummed agreeing and buried her head back into the pillows.
I got out of bed and got ready.

Jake was outside waiting, he had a sandwich in his hand and coffee on the table.

"You up too?" He asked with a slight smile.

"Yup couldn't sleep, I'm-" I was saying.

"Worried," Jake finished for me.

"Yes, I don't feel so good about this. I mean we know Ghost is up too no good. We know he wants Delilah. Why are we keeping up a glamour about it all?"

"There's no way Ghost is getting out of this alive AJ. And once we're done. We disappear." He said, his blue eyes grave.

"You say it as if it's so easy."

"It is. All you have to do is choose. Her or this?" He was looking right at me now.

"You know my priorities Jake. And you remember what I told you?"

"Of course. Don't worry AJ. That's not going to be needed. You're not playing the martyr."

I snickered and he just eyed me.

"Remember the plan," he said slowly.

"Remember the plan." I muttered back under my breath, my mind was in the game and my eyes far off into the horizon. But my heart....

My heart would always be with her.
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Delilah's pov:

"Lilah it's time, breakfast's ready too," I heard AJ whisper in my ear. I stretched and yawned knowing that once I'm out of bed, I'll be back in the turmoil of this heist.

I sighed and nodded.

He'd gone back out and left me to get ready. As I showered and saw the water wash over me and run into the drain, I wondered whether my life would ever be the same again. How could it be? I wouldn't want it to be? Not without him, never without him.

I wore black jeans and a black crop top, to get into character. My brown curls tied up into a steady ponytail. I breathed in once and looked at myself in the mirror.

"No matter what, we'll come out of this. Together," I said out to no one in particular.

AJ was dressed in all black too, black suit and his lucky ass fedora. I chuckled when I saw him in it.

Everyone was ready, Lily and Jake. Jesse and Willow. G and John. AJ and I.

Irene and Sam would have sit this one out. I'd sent them home, to the college dorms. And told them not to leave the whole day. If it was up to me, Willow wouldn't be going either. But she was stuck to Jesse like glue. And she wouldn't let me go alone either.

I saw Jesse touching his neck, moving it around and remembered.

"Jake!" I called out to him before we had a official meet. Everyone was finishing off with lunch right now.

"Yeah Lilah?" He stopped and asked.

"What happened about that report with Jesse. I got so wrapped up with AJ and the Russians. I didn't remember?", I apologised.

He smiled.
"All clear Lilah, just a knot. Nothing to worry about. I just got too heated about it. But it made things clear for me." He said and turned back to join Lily.

"That's good," I muttered with a smile.

"Okay Gentlemen and Ladies, are y'all ready for the biggest heist yet?" G said after some time. He had a fire in his eyes. The same fire all of them had. Doing what they did best. With their crew. With the Takers.

It's a Ride or Die now.
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The plan was simple, Ghost would pose as a police officer and keep an eye out for the armored trucks. While the rest of them, meaning, AJ, G, Jake and John would pose as construction workers and stay underground. Jesse and Willow would be at a station with money bags to distribute the money that will be stolen. Lily and I would be together. We don't have much to do, we just wait at the main hotel. Wait for the rest to meet us and leave.

What was out of plan was the packing. We'd all packed. We were all going to run. Because we knew there was no way we'd make it out of this without collateral damage. Lily set a computer, and gave each of the takers a microphone. So we can stay in touch. I set up a camera in the square where it was all supposed to go down. To keep an eye on things. And for myself.

Once the trucks arrived, Ghost would stop them, normal procedure. Then the boys would blow the trucks up and they would land underground. The boys would take the money and scram. Via all the millions of exits I designed. Jake and AJ would go to Jesse and transfer some money there. John would take some and G would take some. And they'd all take different routes to the hotel. After which we flee. And disappear.

Ghost would get his cut and the Takers would no longer be in debt. As the police is concerned. That would be all luck and strategy. But it shouldn't be a problem. Or that's what I told myself to keep my nerves from exploding.

So yeah, pretty simple plan don't you think?

There's just one more question to ask.
"Are you ready for the biggest heist yet?"
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Before parting ways AJ pulled me to a side. While everyone else was filling up the cars. Jesse and Willow were on their motorcycle. John and G were prepping the Jeep, John had a huge sniper rifle with him. Jake was whispering something into Lily's ear. Who was leaning in her sedan. The one she and I would take.

AJ held me against the nearest wall and kissed me. Kissed me a kiss full of desperation and fiery passion. It sent shivers down me. Then he looked at me. He looked at all of me. With that same look that stripped me of all my protective layers, all my shields. And left only me. A silly girl, who'd fallen in love with a beautiful criminal.

His eyes were their same evergreen and gold shade. They were glittering in the sunlight. Just as they always did. I touched his fedora, it was the same one he'd worn at the twilight exit. The first night I'd met him. With his naked stare and his enticing glare.

Then I touched his face and kissed him softly, gently with delicate ease, and a promise. That we'd come out if this.

"Take care and stick with Lily, I love you. I love you Delilah O'dair." He said finally, knowing it was time to go. "After this I promise, I'll take you far away. To somewhere only we'll know."

"Oh yeah? Be careful, don't be frisky. And don't worry about me. I practiced some moves last night." I said trying to lighten the mood. "I love you AJ."

"Come on guys, we've got money to steal!" Hollered Jesse.

He and Willow took off first, then John and the others, John had hugged me too, and told me that it'll all be fine. I worried about him with his injured arm. But if anyone can pull it off with a injury, it'd be John. Before leaving he'd said, "James would've been proud of you Delilah."

I'd laughed, "Why? Because I'm an accomplice to a crime to be committed?"

"No," he'd said with a smile that barely reached his eyes. "Because you're happy."

Then he'd kissed me on the forehead and left off with the others, with AJ.

"Ready?" Lily asked with the door to the sedan open.

"Ready."
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AJ's pov:

When we were in the Jeep, everyone was dead silent. Thinking about everything that was going to happen. No carefree attitude anymore.

"Don't worry, we'll ride this one like we ride em all," G who was driving assured us.

"Yeah and I've got my sniper ready, incase Ghost tries something." John said.

"What if he goes back for the money?" Asked Jesse into the speaker, he was already hooked in.

"There's nothing there, it's all packed Jess, he'd be going into an empty house." G Said.

"He doesn't know we packed up?" Willow's voice came next.

"No, no he doesn't," Jake answered.

"Everything will be fine, just remember the plan", G's voice echoed through the Jeep. Till we reached and set up ourselves underground. Wearing the neon of workers cloths. John was no where to be seen. Everyone else was in position. And I could still hear G saying.

"Remember the plan"
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Delilah's pov:

As I was driving downtown to the hotel with Lily in the driver's seat I took a deep breath and looked around. It was early in the morning, but not too early for LA. The sky was streaked in sunlight yellow. And the rain puddles were reflecting back all the rays.

"We'll go together AJ, to.... somewhere only we know..." I thought to myself. Hoping everything goes according to plan.

'Somewhere only we know'
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Thankyou for all the reads and votes and comments! People! The next few chapters will be about the heist, shits going to get real! I hope you have fun! Please keep voting! Hitting that star at the end of chapters really really helps! Byeee now y'all!
Xoxo 💜✨💫