Carswell Thorne was a criminal mastermind—New York's best kept secret. He was the king of the streets. He controlled all the best thefts, break-ins, crimes. He piloted New York under his pinky finger. He could do anything.

Or so he thought.

Thorne crossed his arms. "You're saying that you want me to execute a murder?"

The woman in front of him narrowed her dark brown eyes. Levana Blackburn was a famous investor/businesswoman, and her appearance didn't deny it. With her hair swept back into a tight bun and her clothes adorned with stylish add-ons, even Thorne felt unattractive sitting beside her. That was not to say he was unnerved, though. Captain Thorne could handle anything.

Just not murders.

"Are you saying you're not up for it?" Blackburn extended one long arm and tapped at the tablet installed in the table, her fingers dancing with the stylus. "I can find other…ruffians, too." The screen pulled up a long list of criminals. Thorne knew all of them, and it didn't make him feel any better to see he wasn't so important in Levana's eyes.

"I'm up for it," he drawled, leaning back in his chair with his arms folded behind his head. "Just not so sure you're being reasonable."

"There's money involved."

Thorne smirked. "There's always money involved, sweetheart."

Levana glanced coldly at him before turning back to the table. Thorne gulped. Aces, those eyes could freeze up the whole room.

"I want you to gain this girl's trust," Blackburn began, tapping something on the table. A spinwheel indicated that it was loading her information. She reached for the cup of tea sitting by her elbow, scrutinizing him over the rim. "And, from what I've heard, you're fairly good with ladies. I am positive this girl will be absolutely smitten with you."

Thorne plastered a smile on his face, leaning forward and taking a sip of his black coffee. "No objection here."

"From then, you'll convince her to break into the security of a bank vault. She'll then electronically extract the money into my account, leaving no traces behind, and hiding all signs there was ever a system break-in."

"Sneaky." Thorne nodded. "I can respect that. Although, I'd like to be able to boost my street cred—"

"This heist must remain a secret."

Carswell shrugged. His value was already high enough, anyways. "Noted."

"Then, you'll kill her." Blackburn's eyes glinted at the words, and Thorne felt a prickling sense of wrongness in his chest. "Crescent Moon has been disobeying my orders lately. I do not tolerate rebellious children."

Stars. This Levana person was really serious about her stuff.

Not to mention that she was a successful investor who secretly got her money from bank robberies instead.

Well, at least that rumor was true.

"Wait, hold on," Thorne cut in, a hand out to stop the conversation in its tracks. "A kid? You want me to kill a kid?"

"She is sixteen."

"Same difference. A kid, then." He felt the prickling feeling growing in his chest. "That's not right."

Levana's cold gaze bore into him. "Are you telling your client what is right or wrong?"

"Aces. You're right, okay? Just, uh—"He held his breath, dreading what was coming next,"why, exactly, do you want her dead?"

"She has been disobeying my orders."

"I know, but…" Thorne gulped, licking his lips nervously. "That seems a bit harsh, doesn't it? Maybe just a bit?"

The cold glare turned back to him. This time, it felt like it was boring into his own, like she was poking needles into his flesh.

Thorne swallowed, his throat dry.

"Okay, okay, I got it! No questioning orders, okay? I'll do it." Thorne jumped out of his chair, the legs skidding over the floor. "Just… Don't do that again."

The ice cold gaze softened, and Levana set down her tea with a satisfied air, like a day deemed productive. "I will send you the coordinates when you have prepared yourself."

Thorne couldn't get out of the mansion fast enough.