"I don't like this...not one bit."

Leaning over and lacing up his boots, Jack let out another groan hearing the soft voice expressing the woman's displeasure. The pinkette was pacing back and forth around the small room, alternating between wringing her small hands together and running them through the long hair hanging loosely over her shoulders.

"Sakura...hahh.. Why are you so damn worried? This is nothing...Like, literally nothing! You're getting so worked up for no reason." Finishing up the knot at the top of his boots, he banged them against the wood floor, satisfied they were on nice and tight. "I'll be in and out. Easy. I already have everything planned and checked the place out myself multiple times. No problem, so...just relax, will ya?"

Stopping in mid-stride, Sakura bit into her bottom lip as she watched him. That look in her eyes...he couldn't stand it. It always got to him when those green eyes looked so sad, like she was about to cry. He hated it and she knew it. If there was anyway she could have changed his mind, it was usually through a few crocodile tears. That wasn't going to work tonight though.

'I can't back out now. Everything's already set up and we need this...'

Pushing himself up off of the side of the mattress that sat on the floor, he stood tall, towering over the woman. With the way she wrapped her arms around herself, she seemed so much smaller than usual. It wasn't that serious. Couldn't she just...understand? See things from his point of view? Back him up on this when he needed it?

There just weren't many options left...not anymore. That seemed to go out the window a while ago, along with any good looks he may have possessed. The tip of his tongue prodded the rough bumpy interior of his mouth, feeling along the jagged lines from the inside. A constant reminder of why their lives weren't getting anywhere at the moment.

With these terrible scars around his mouth, no one was going to hire him for a normal, everyday job. Everywhere he went, it was always a variation of the same reaction. Shock, disgust, fear, sometimes curiosity thrown into the mix. The look in their eyes as their faces twisted into horror, how they would cover their mouths to try to stifle any noises... It was so infuriating. The only thing worse than that was when there was pity or sympathy that might filter through after the initial surprise passed.

Jack didn't want their pity or for them to feel so...sorry for him. Couldn't stand the way no one could control their physical reactions, showing such a lack of self discipline and thoughtlessness in front of a complete stranger. It sent him reeling, seeing that look over and over again when their eyes widened at his disfigurement.

All he had wanted was a chance, not some stupid expression or feigned bullshit apology that was usually stuttered out. They usually couldn't look him in the eye or would just stare at the crude marks on his face as they told him they weren't hiring or needed help. Even when there was a listing or sign on the door... A fact they seemed embarrassed about having been pointed out, but still not willing to yield.

It didn't matter... That's what he told himself all the time. What did he care what other people thought or said about him, whether it was to his ruined face or behind his back? If one thing this whole ordeal taught him, it was that people were all the same, no matter where you went. Superficial, selfish, uncaring, greedy.

Those people didn't matter, not even a little. Not their reactions or their rejection... As long as there was someone who didn't share in their disgusting qualities...and she was standing right in front of him. If it wasn't for her, he probably would have lost his mind a long time ago. Given up on everything or snapped, doing something incredibly stupid...and not just robbing a joint.

Stepping up to the fidgeting woman, Jack wrapped his arms around her slim body, resting his head on top of hers. Hearing the sigh passing through her lips as she relaxed, he closed his eyes, letting the soothing floral scent calm his own nerves. Letting her know or showing how this actually was affecting him wasn't an option. Not this late in the game.. If that happened, the nagging wouldn't stop until the plans for tonight were scrapped. It didn't take a genius to know what would happen after that...he'd give in and they would just end up lying in bed together, trying to figure out a different option that would take way too much time and bring in a whole lot less.

'No...that won't do...'

Patience wasn't something the dirty blonde was known for by any means. Trying his hand at making an honest living hadn't been working out, that was painfully clear. Legal jobs were hard enough to come by without having a ruined face, making it seemingly impossible to get anywhere. If he was going to get Sakura out of The Narrows, it had to be soon...more like a year ago.

Restlessness and impatience were getting the best of him and he was man enough to admit it. If they had to live like this for even another month, someone was going to get killed. Namely Todd...the trash married to Sakura's junkie mother, Sherry. One more bruise, another lecherous look, any more degrading names...and Jack was going to murder the drunkard. As her man, he tried his best to keep the pinkette safe and out of harms way as much as possible. Since his parent's...death...she mostly stayed in the apartment he lived in by himself now, but sometimes things didn't go so smoothly as imagined.

At the threat of calling the police, Sakura would have to go back every so often and that's when things would get out of control. Both knew what would happen if Todd called his buddies over, the men in uniform who were being paid off by the drug dealer he worked for. Jack would be beaten to a bloody pulp after they would threaten to harm Sakura if he fought back and throw ridiculous charges his way. Now that he was of legal age and Sakura was still 17, they had more ammo than before. It was so damn frustrating.

Sakura would try to conceal what happened when he wasn't around or when she reluctantly would go back. Try to hide the marks on her wrists or use foundation on her face. It was useless, but he knew she was doing it to stop him from freaking out and getting arrested...again. When the clothes came off or they were in the shower, everything revealed itself.

It took every ounce of will power not to go next door and beat Todd to death, along with Sherry. He could do it, that wasn't the problem. After having to stab his father, there was no going back to the way things used to be. Nope...that ship had long sailed. If someone was going to hurt either of them, they deserved to die. The only thing stopping the inevitable was the pinkette's pleas, but that could only go so far. If things were going to change...if they were going to live the life he'd imagined, they needed to leave. To do that, he needed money...

"I'm scared..." Sakura's admission was quiet, just barely over a whisper. It made his chest twist in knots hearing it. Didn't she trust his judgement?

"You? Scared? Hahaha..." Laughing made it easier. Making it seem ridiculous felt better than dwelling on the possibility of anything going wrong. It couldn't... Not when they were this close. With the money he could make tonight, they could even be out of here in the morning if they felt like it.

They could go to a hotel or something until they found a nice little apartment outside of The Narrows. Maybe somewhere out in the suburbs.. Yeah, that sounded nice. Quiet and safe, where no one would bother them. The cops wouldn't bother going out there to look for her if Todd called them and soon enough, her 18th birthday would be rolling around.

"It's not funny, asshole..." The insult was muffled into his shirt as she buried her face into his chest, making his lips curl up. Hearing her curse always made him laugh, even when she was fuming. It just didn't match her appearance, but rolled off the tongue so easily.

"I know, I know... You know how I am. Look, it's not like I'm thrilled about this to be honest. It's the best I can come up with to get us out of here. What do ya want me to do, Sakura? Hmm?" Dainty hands grabbed onto the back of his shirt, twisting the fabric between her slim fingers, pulling it out of the top of his pants he'd tucked in just ten minutes ago. He didn't care...not really. It felt good to know how worried she was, even if it bothered him to no end. Just meant someone cared about what happened to him.

"I-I don't know..." With a loud 'tch', dark eyes looked away towards the wall. It wasn't like this was going to happen with a big kiss and wave goodbye. If there hadn't been any fight or concern on the matter, that would have been even more worrisome. "This whole thing makes me feel sick. I just have a bad feeling. Something just keep...making my stomach twist."

"Probably from that junk you eat." Not hearing a chuckle like he hoped, a drawn out sigh forced its way up. Smacking his lips together, it made things feel ten times worse when she was upset like this.

"Everything will be okay, trust me. You can do that, right? I know what I'm doin'..." Replacing the spot on the top of her head where his chin had been resting with a large hand, he ruffled the soft pink hair, making her reach up to swat at him. Hearing the little growl reverberate against his chest, it made him inwardly grin. "Heh. You're so cute when you're peeved..."

Green eyes looked up to glare at him, making the side of his mouth quirk up. It made it easier to go and do what needed to be done if she was angry or annoyed, anything other than tears. That wasn't the way he wanted to leave things when he left, but it was better than seeing the pinkette turn into a sobbing mess. There was no way he could walk out the door confidently like that.

Sakura dropped her head back against his chest, rolling it from one side to the other. Without saying anything, he knew she was running scenarios through her mind, picturing the worst. Sighing and looking down at her, he shifted his jaw, teeth grinding against each other.

"Sakura...Please don't be upset. I won't be able to think straight tonight like this. Just have my back on this, 'kay?" Hands trailed along her back soothingly as he ran his tongue over the spot where his bottom lip had been split, trying to reassure the small woman for both of their benefit. Keeping his mind on the prize was as important as keeping a clear head.

"It'll go smoothly...Did my homework, ya see. Already know the whole layout of the building and drew up most of the plans myself. These guys aren't the brightest, but I'm not the same as them." Staring down as the pinkette glanced up at him, he could feel his features hardening as he watched her. Who else was going to do what needed to be done? Better him than her, she didn't need to get those dainty hands dirty in this shit hole they called home. "I'm gettin' us out of here, Sakura...Don't care who's head I have to smash in to do it, but we're doing it and you'll be thanking me later. So ya gonna keep your promise to me or what?"

Jack didn't mean for it to come out as harsh as it did, his tone having an edge with bite to it. Hadn't realized how tightly his arms were squeezing her small frame or fingers digging into the tender skin along her spine. Instead of wincing or making any noise to show her discomfort, Sakura just stared up at him...Part of him knew those green eyes could see through him, saw how he really was on edge and anxious about what was going on. So much was riding on this, but it wasn't like stealing a pack of cigarettes from a convenient store. This was different...so much could go wrong real fast.

"...I...Ja-...Okay." Sighing, she reached up to take his face in her hands. Closing his eyes, he reveled in the way her thumbs caressed the jagged scars around his mouth. Always so carefully and thoughtful, knowing that it made him relax...her way of comforting him knowing he wasn't the kind of man who wanted words of sympathy or to be coddled. Actions always spoke louder than words ever could.

"I promised you I'd stay by your side and that's what I'll do. I'm just...worried for you. If something happened to you...I don't know what I'd do. Don't do anything too stupid. I swear to God Jack... You better come back in one piece. If something happens tonight, I'll never forgive you..." The hard look she gave him made the sides of his mouth pull up, giving him a genuine smile that rivaled his permanent one. That's what he needed to hear. That she was on his side and cared, no one else's words or actions mattered besides this.

"Trust me...neither would I." Poking his head over her shoulder to look down at the watch on his wrist, a sigh left his mangled lips. Despite how much he loathed to leave, it was getting close. "I gotta go, sweetheart. If I don't go in the next two minutes, I'm gonna be late."

The way her hands clung to his shirt, not wanting to let go, made his chest hurt more than it already did. It was hard, but it had to be done. Grabbing her thin wrists and gently pulling them from the fabric of his shirt, he pursed his lips tightly together in a hard line. It was either now or never.

"I love you...Wait here for me until I come home." Lifting up her chin from looking down at the floor, he kissed her hard, hoping that would be enough to express how he really felt. The way she returned it said more than anything else could have. Desperate and mournfully, afraid that it would be the last time.

It wouldn't.

He was coming back and everything was going to be different. That was for sure... Tomorrow, it would be like this night never even happened and they would be far away from this place.

"I love you too... Don't forget what I said, Jack. I won't forgive you if anything bad happens." Sakura smiled sadly, shrugging her shoulders as she finally let go. The look on her face alone was almost enough to make him stay, to reconsider what he was even doing.

'I can't... Walk away now or you won't be able to...'

Giving her a long look, Jack furrowed his brows and quickly turned away, not feeling confident that he could keep his nerve with her standing there. Grabbing the dark bag from the foot of the bed, he let out a deep breath, ready to get this over with.

Boots made the floorboards creak loudly as they thudded across the old wood, needing to get out of there as fast as possible.

Grabbing the doorknob tightly, the hand wrapped around it started to tremble, a sickening feeling pooling in the pit of his stomach. Closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath, the dirty blonde tried to calm himself down as best as possible. If he was going to give Sakura the life she deserved, sacrifices needed to be made... It took everything in him to not look back, knowing it would be impossible to walk away from her at that point.

Biting the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw blood, the pain from digging into the scarred tissue was the only thing that helped shake off the dread inside.. Turning the knob and yanking open the bedroom door, he stomped out and let the door slam behind him.

Jack forced himself to walk out of their room, to leave without taking another glance at the pinkette. It was the only way... He would make it up to her when he came back. Sakura would be thankful to him once she sees the fruits of his labor and they're enjoying a peaceful life out in the suburbs. She'll be grateful to him for taking care of her, the same way he was for her staying by his side.

Sakura will see that it was all for her... He'll make her see... Everything up to this point was just to test their strength and dedication, now they'll be rewarded for it.


Dark eyes flickered from one side to the other, taking in the surroundings carefully. There wasn't a soul around and he was grateful for that. Right now, he wasn't in any mood to deal with drunks or beating someone half to death for trying to pull a fast one.

Jack leaned against the wall of an old liquor store, waiting impatiently for the dark grey van to pull up. Despite being the image of casualness carefully hidden in the shadows as he lazily took the cigarette from between his lips, it was far from the truth.

It wasn't the act that was about to be committed that bothered him, nor working with men he barely knew. Nope. That was the easiest part of all this. Leaving Sakura upset and worried home alone was making him feel uneasy, not liking the way they parted. Perhaps he should have just taken one last look at her, gave another reassuring kiss or touch...maybe it would have put him at ease. God knows she was watching the whole way out, no way of shaking the feeling of those green eyes following the entire time, burning a hole into his back.

A large, gapping, sad hole.

'It'll be okay...'

Sakura would see soon enough...when they left the apartment and started over. It wasn't like there was anything they would want to take from either place. Nothing was of any value, sentimental or not. The only material object that couldn't be replaced was the cherry blossom pendant that was now hanging around his neck, concealed by the collar of the black shirt he was wearing. The lucky charm from her father that she insisted on him taking... Such things didn't hold much weight or faith by the dirty blonde, but if it made the pinkette feel better, then so be it.

Letting out a drawn out sigh, dark eyes watched the smoke float up as it swirled around in the night air. Something about it always drew his attention. Maybe the way it billowed out and danced around, coming out together and going off in different directions, finding its own way out.

Glancing down at the watch on his wrist, they were already two minutes behind schedule. This was what happens when you deal with fools who have no sense of what a schedule was or concept of how a plan actually works. Timing was everything. Even if this would be his first time trying to pull off something like this, it wasn't a hard idea to grasp.

Everything was in the details. If you didn't pay attention to that, things would begin to fall apart and that's when problems arise.

Seeing lights coming down the dark alley, he internally scoffed. This was going to be a pain in the ass... These guys were as dumb as the day is long, he knew that the moment he met them in the back of a bar a few blocks from the complex. The only good thing that came out of his father was meeting people around the area who were unsavory enough to get him connected with the underground if necessary.

Barely anyone knew it was actually Jack who killed him. Everyone believed the drunk ran off with his mother after paying off his debt from a transaction gone bad. It wasn't much and after pick pocketing a few people in the wealthy district, the dirty blonde was able to pay it off enough to get in good with one of the brokers who set these kind of jobs up. After all, a couple hundred dollars was worth the hit in order to make a few thousand, maybe more.

'I'm definitely going to make more...' A smirk spread across his face as the van pulled up. The door was yanked open as a large man looked around, motioning for him to hurry up. Kicking off the wall and flicking his cigarette towards the ground, his boot put out the ember as he stepped into it. Not one who needed to be told twice, Jack knew what he was doing better than these guys did who actually had experience with this sort of thing. They just didn't know it yet...


"You ready, kid?" The bald headed man crouching down next to him said, pulling the black mask over his face, straightening it out carefully.

Jack hated it when they called him 'kid', almost as much as when they would stare or ask about the scars. They didn't know him and there was no need to either. This was just a job and it wasn't like any of them were going to be buddies. That was for sure.

These men didn't need to know who he really was, aside from the unfortunate fact that he was his father's son who paid off the scum's debts to Lane. All they were told was that he was nimble, quick on the feet and smart. Was able to get in and out of places with ease and could steal just about anything from stores along the outskirts of The Narrows.

"Always."

This time was different from the others. Those were just little things, like smokes or food...usually necessities. Whatever him and Sakura needed to get by until they ran into a little cash, usually from Jack picking pockets around the business district. Those people had more than enough and weren't willing to share or help anyone in need. It was easier than he imagined after doing it the first few times, but didn't want to make it a habit.

Unlike most of the thieves in the area, he did it quietly and discreetly, the person never realizing it until they went into their pockets to pay for something. The dirty blonde would just take the cash that was in there and toss the wallet somewhere near them, so if they back tracked it wouldn't be too hard to find. Stealing debit and credit cards was a good way to get caught faster if you tried to use them and anything else was useless for the most part.

Taking their ID's and pictures would only make it more personal, make the victim feel more human and he didn't want to think of them like that. It was their fault for being so...oblivious...in the first place. No one ever was able to get close enough to stick their hands in his pockets. The only thing they would leave with, if they did, was a broken wrist and fingers.

Adjusting the gloves on his rough hands, Jack rolled the sleeves of the dark shirt he was wearing down, covering any exposed skin that might be showing. If everything went as planned, they would have to be in and out within a certain time frame. If anything were to happen, it would take the police at least 23 minutes to arrive, taking traffic at this hour into consideration.

This wasn't an ideal place to start off with... If it had been up to him, he would have robbed a convenience store or something similar a little further away.

"Maroni Galleria" the sign out front of the building read. A jewelry store owned by the Maroni Family, who were associated with the Falcone mob organization. It didn't take a genius to understand the multitude of reasons of why this was a bad idea. Stealing from the mob was one of the biggest "crimes" that could be committed in this city. Everything else could be overlooked for the most part, but this was a sure way to get killed or hunted down.

The reason this job was set up in the first place was retaliation against Sal Maroni, the current head of the Maroni Family, who disrespected Lane. Threatening to have the latter's drug operation taken out if he wasn't willing to give 40% of profit to the mob for allowing him to deal on his turf. There was a war going on in the streets between opposing forces, different sides fighting with each other and trying to use the wealth they accumulated to get an edge on the enemy.

The ones who were profiting the most from the squabbles were the police, who were being given large sums of cash from every side, hoping to build an alliance and get the authorities on their side. It made Jack sick, seeing how easily people were corrupted by the influence of money. No matter how much anyone had, they craved more and more, never content with what they already had. He just wanted enough for him and Sakura to live off of for a while, to start over. They didn't need anything fancy, just a simple little life where they would have what they needed. No reason to become greedy, that's when things turn for the worse. The Narrows and mob were proof of that...how money, or lack of, turns people into savages.

Lane had been doing business in The Narrows since Sal was in grade school, becoming enraged at the Italian's arrogance and use of Falcone's name to incite fear into any competition. This was to teach him a lesson, show the family they were as capable of hitting them just as hard. All it was going to do was escalate things and become a game of tit for tat, but Jack didn't care. Him and Sakura would be long gone before the war spilled further into the streets. No one else mattered anyway...

"Yevegny should be done with the alarm system and power circuit... Where'd a kid like you find that guy at?" The baldy and two other men stood next to Jack, waiting to hear the lock on the back door of the building click. Without having the keycard that worked on the control pad to open it up, it would be hard getting in. There were always ways around little obstacles if you put your mind to it.

"It's not hard. Just got Lane to find the person who installed the system and make him an offer he couldn't refuse. Maroni only pays so much...Lucky for us he's a cheap bastard when it comes to legal jobs." The man who put the security system in would be able to take it out or at least disable it.

After doing some research on these guys and how they did things, Jack knew their usual process. Cut the power, wait for the police and/or owner to show up, see there was no one around and wait for them to eventually leave before breaking in through the roof. It was a common tactic used during the nights by burglars these days. Problem was...this place was owned by the mob. If the alarm went off at all, they would already suspect what was going on and have about a dozen men hang around until it was time to open. That just wouldn't do...

This business wasn't run like most and had their own way of doing things. After watching the comings and goings for the last month, it wasn't hard to pick up on a lot of what usually happened. Like the fact that there would be one or two men monitoring on the inside. It was around this time the usual guy would drift off after sitting at the desk for the last five hours. Maroni wouldn't know that, since they ran so many buildings in the area and had different people beneath him taking care of everything.

Just to make sure the police or other stooges didn't barge in on them, they had two other guys trip the alarms at the Gotham Bank on 5th Ave and another jewelry store on the other side of the city. Those were considered a higher priority and would draw attention away from this place, further out of reach from anyone who might cause problems. Right now, if everything went as planned, the security systems were going off in the other buildings as of a minute ago. All the men had to do was set them off and run, nothing too hard. A brick through a window would be enough...

"Hmm... Didn't think of that. Seems like a lot of extra trouble if ya ask me."

"No one did ask you, Tanner." Furrowing his brows, Jack checked his watch again, ignoring the glare the man was giving him. The power supply should be disrupted in the next minute, allowing for them to get through the back door and into the building. They were going to have to be fast. One guy working on the security system and four going in. When they were in, Jack and baldy would work the safe, while the other men took out the guard sitting in the gallery. Should be easy enough if everyone did their job right.

Hearing the click as the lock sprung back, a gloved hand grabbed the handle, twisting it hard as the metal door opened. They had to be quick, in and out in the next five minutes.

The four men walked into the building through the back, splitting up as two of the men drew there guns. Jack and Tanner, took a left as soon as they entered, running down the short hall to where the room was that held the safe. If Darryl and Ker did their jobs right, the guard shouldn't be an issue and they could get out of here with no problems.

Tanner held the flashlight low, not trying to draw any unwanted attention from the front as they reached the door, kicking it in with a boot. A loud bang echoed through the silent building he busted through, the frame cracking as the door swung open and smacked into the wall behind it.

"Well...I'd be surprised if no one heard that... Good job." Curling his lips as dark eyes narrowed at the man, Jack ground his teeth in annoyance. Why couldn't these morons ever listen to direction? The lock could have been picked in less than 15 seconds without causing a ruckus and possibly alerting the guard in the other room before the other two got to them.

"Shaddap. Just do your job, kid. We'll worry about that if it comes down to it. Ker's good at what he does." Pushing passed the dirty blonde to go into the pitch dark room, Tanner shined the light around the office, beady eyes lighting up seeing the large luxury safe against the furthest wall.

Clenching his jaw tightly, the urge to just knock the man out was overwhelming. Already there were inconveniences and not from his end. These plans weren't put together just for some impatient hothead to ruin everything from being careless.

'One more thing...one more thing and I'm gonna put a bullet through this asshole's skull.'

Smacking his lips together, Jack thudded across the dark room, walking around the cardboard boxes stacked up on the floor. If there had been more time, maybe he might have checked them out to see what was inside. Knowing how the Maroni's were, it could be cash, drugs, anything really... That wasn't for sure though. They couldn't waste time on a 'what-if' when the real deal was sitting right there.

Walking up to the safe that was sitting on a counter, he couldn't help shaking his head at how confident Maroni must have been that no one would try robbing this place. They should have at least tried to conceal it, maybe even have it in a wall behind a picture or something...but no. It was sitting right out in the open, just asking for it to be broken into.

Throwing his bag on the floor, gloved hands grabbed onto the sides of the huge metal box, using his weight to shift it on the counter. With a grunt, it slowly started moving as he turned it around.

'Fucking heavy...just like I expected.'

"What the fuck are you doing, moron?! Where's the drill? We don't have time to screw around!" Tanner yelled louder than he needed to, making the light flicker around as his hands moved.

"Shut the hell up and give me the flashlight!" When he hesitated, Jack reached out and plucked the object from the tight grip around it.

"You're just wasting time, kid. Don't you have the drill in that bag? This ain't even funny!" Groaning as the man complained, Jack rolled his head along his broad shoulders, trying to block out the extra noise.

"Ya hear me?!"

Grabbing the bag and unzipping it, he reached down into it, grasping the sturdy wire he'd packed in there earlier in the day and straightening it out between his fingers. Sometimes, the old fashioned way wasn't always best. They didn't need a drill or explosives to get into this bad boy. That would only made a shit load of noise and waste even more time than this guy was already doing.

"Would you shut the fuck up already! If you're gonna be useless, just watch and learn..." Leaning down behind the back of the safe, dark eyes narrowed in as he flashed the light into the small holes, carefully and quickly looking at each one.

"What do ya mean? What are ya doin'?"

"Jesus Christ, man. This is a digital safe. If you look through the holes where the bolts are put through, you can find the interior keypad and reset the combination..." Biting his bottom lip, his eyes lit up seeing the corresponding hole across from the pad. Taking the wire between his fingers and gingerly feeding it through the spot he found, the flashlight was held up as dark eyes carefully watched where it was going. The little red button on the keypad was where it needed to hit and be held in for at least 10 seconds to clear out the old code.

This would be a lot less work and hassle than any other option. These guys just didn't seem to understand that concept. Today it was all about working smarter, not harder.

"You can do that?" Rolling his eyes, Jack didn't answer as he pushed the wire into the button, holding it there tightly and shifting closer to the front, ready to set the new code in.

'8, 9, 10...' Reaching his long arm out, fingers nimbly typed in the new code, hitting set and hoping it worked. If it did, not only would they get in, but Maroni would have to reset the safe again just to open it.

'3706... That should do.' A loud beeping sound made their ears perk up as the wire was pulled out of the back. It worked... Just as expected.

Throwing the wire back into the back, Jack stood up straight and typed in the new code, grinning as his gloved hand grabbed the handle and it opened up.

"What the... How did you know about that?" Tanner said as he stared in surprise, watching as the safe door was pulled open.

"Doesn't matter..." Dark eyes flickered back and forth at the contents in the large box. Stacks and stacks of cash in bands and jewelry filled the entire space up. Large gems, shiny gold, bedazzled watches. It was like a treasure chest...

Grabbing the bag, Jack stared filling it up with everything that was in there, setting the watches aside as the rest fell to the bottom. It was so much...far more money than he'd seen in his life. Hundred dollars bills piled up onto each other, row after row. There had to be at least thirty thousand in cash alone, not including the jewelry.

"Why aren't ya takin' the watches?" Tanner picked one up, holding it in front of the flashlight to admire its craftsmanship. It really was a nice piece...

"Watches have serial numbers and can be tracked if they get into the wrong hands or if you try to pawn them. Jewelry can be broken down and harder to find. Don't you know anything?" Grabbing the watch out of Tanner's hands, he tossed it back into the safe and snatched up the other ones, throwing them where they were originally. There was more than enough for all of them just in the bag alone. No need to get greedy and end up having one of these morons drag everyone down.

"Watch it, brat. You're getting pretty mouthy..."

A snarl ripped through the blonde's throat, trying to hold back to urge to break the guys neck. So far, Tanner hasn't been of any use aside from bringing two extra men along to take care of the guards and they could have found someone else to do that. If Lane hadn't requested it, things would have gone smoother without the baldy coming along.

'Professional my ass... Doesn't even know how to work a digital safe.' Standing ramrod straight next to him, they stared each other down with Jack being the taller of the two. This thug wasn't anything to worry about, but that was something that could be dealt with later.

"Let's just get out of here." This wasn't the time for dick measuring, there was a time limit and it was getting close.

"Tch. Shitty brat..." Shaking off the insult, Jack tossed him the flashlight and picked up the bag, swinging it over his shoulder. Hopping over the boxes that were in the way of the exit, Tanner tripped as gun shots rang out through the building.

'Shit!'

"Fuck, I hope that's Ter or Derryl..." Jumping back up to his feet quickly, Tanner moved quietly towards the door as Jack drew out the pistol hidden in the back of his waistband. Pulling the slide back, fingers tightly coiled around the grip and trigger, ready to take anyone's head off.

"Nope. If you'd calm down and listen, you woulda noticed the gun went from a semi- to full-automatic. Probably a Glock 17, they seem to be pretty popular with Maroni's men lately... Fired off about 13 shots, so it's gotta be a 30 mag... Can't ya tell the difference between that and Ter's revolver?" From the corner of his sight, he could see the incredulous look forming on Tanner's face, knowing he hadn't bothered to keep track to detail. That could be the difference of getting out of here in one piece or not.

"Who's got time to count shit, asshole! Ter and Darryl were suppose to take care of the guard!" Pulling out his own handgun and breathing hard, he backed up against the broken frame of the door, hesitantly peering around the corner. They had to get out of here fast, but needed to be alert.

"If ya count the rounds, you can guess when they'll be out and have to reload, moron. If we're lucky, they won't be keeping track either and we have a better chance of taking them by surprise." Didn't this guy ever watch any movies?

Holding the grip tightly, Jack could feel the adrenaline rushing through his body, the fight or flight instinct taking over and it wasn't the latter. There had been a few shots from a revolver, but it wasn't like either of them were going to be heroes and try to save any of their guys from trouble in the gallery. It was every man for himself, that's how these things work.

'I'll be damn if I get shot for someone else. No fucking way... Not when we're this close...'

If it meant Darryl and Ter dying, so be it. What did their lives matter to him anyway? None of them were family or even friends for that matter, just doing a job together.

'Fuck 'em...' Pulling the straps of the backpack to secure it to his shoulders tightly, there was no way in hell someone was going to try to rip it away or let it fall off while they escaped.

Slowly going down the dark after turning the flashlight off, the thumping in Jack's chest was deafening as his heart pounded erratically. One wrong move and a bullet could go straight through his head. It was...thrilling.

That couldn't happen though... No way did he spend an entire month watching and planning this for everything to go downhill now. Hiding things from Sakura, lying about where he was going, leaving her home alone and at the mercy of Todd on different occasions. He couldn't die here... What would happen to her then? If he wasn't there to protect and care for her?

Sucking in the scarred bottom lip and furrowing his brows together tightly, he swallowed hard, prepared to do whatever was necessary to get out of this place in one piece...even if it meant killing everyone in it.

Yevegny should be outside the back door in the van, ready and waiting for them to hop in. All they had to do was get to the end of the hall and there was the exit. If anything, maybe the two men in the gallery would keep them preoccupied enough for them to get away. Those two were useless anyway... It was the bag strapped to his back that was important.

A light shined down at the end of the hall as a man stumbled to the ground, crawling around frantically and screaming.

"W-Wait!" Blood splattered as a bullet hit him in the shoulder, a shriek piercing through the quiet room.

"Fuck you scumbag..." Hearing the gun cocked and ready to shoot again, Jack slipped down the rest of the short distance of the hall to the corner of the wall, gripping the pistol tightly in his hands. Biting the inside of his cheek hard, the blonde was ready to kill the guard, hoping to have the element of surprise.

"Get away from him, prick!" Dark eyes widened as Tanner rounded the corner, firing off rounds at the guard.

'Fucking idiot! Who yells before shooting someone?!'

Grabbing Ter by the shirt, the bald man drug him across the floor towards where they had been hiding, firing at the guard to keep him back.

More shots rang out, hitting the corner beside Jack as the full automatic weapon unloaded itself, hoping to hit one of them as they bounced off the wall.

"Goddammit!" Blood was pouring from Ter's shoulder as Tanner ripped off his jacket, trying to apply pressure to the wound.

"You guys are so fucking stupid!" Growling out angrily, the blonde grabbed the flashlight out of the older man's grip, who seemed more preoccupied helping his friend than paying attention to the round count.

'25, 26, 27...' The bullets stopped coming, quiet footsteps tapping against the smooth floor. 'Should be three more left.'

Crouching down low and putting the flashlight on the floor, he silently prayed to whoever might be listening to help him out this one time. No one ever seemed to answer anything before, making him believe there really wasn't anyone upstairs. Maybe this one time, someone could pull through...just once in his god forsaken life.

'Please let this guy be stupid enough...'

Sucking in a deep breath, Jack hit the switch on the light and rolled it forward across the hall. As soon as it was in front of the door, rounds unloaded at the metal handle, knocking it off to the side.

Bang, bang, bang, click, click, click...

Gripping the pistol as hard as he could, Jack spun around the corner, firing at the figure shining the light. The man dropped to the ground as he yelled out, crumpling into a heap on the floor.

"Let's go!" Without waiting to find out if there was anyone else lurking around, the three ran towards the door, Ter being suported by Tanner. If they dragged behind, that was their problem.

Throwing his weight against the metal door and yanking the handle to the side, the cool air outside rushed against his sweaty face as a harsh breath forced itself out. The two men followed closely behind as another shot rang out behind them, hitting Ter in the leg.

The van was right outside as it was suppose to be, door already wide open with Yevegny at the wheel. Not waiting for the other men, Jack ran as fast as he could, jumping into the back, clutching the pistol in his hand.

"Hurry the fuck up!" Ter and Tanner were hobbling along and for a moment, there was an internal debate of whether to just shoot them and close the door.

A tall man ran out the back door, gun raised and aimed straight for them.

"Do ya guys realize who yer stealin' from?!"

Without hesitating, Jack raised the pistol, aiming it straight for the guard at the door, firing at him. It was now or never and they needed to get out of there. He didn't need the driver causing a fuss if he took out their partners instead of the enemy.

Two shots landed right in the chest as the man hit the door, sliding down it and falling to the ground. This had to be the last one... From the month he spent watching over the building, there never seemed to be more than two of them during a single night. Gritting his teeth, he pulled the trigger again, making sure there wouldn't be any chance of the guard recovering from this. They didn't need anyone alive who could talk.

The two men were hunched down as they got to the van, Ter gingerly dragging himself through the open door, moaning as Tanner climbed over him to bring his friend in the rest of the way. Slamming the door shut, the van took off straight away as sirens could be heard in the distance.

"D-Darryl didn't make it..." The redhead groaned as he laid on the floor, hissing as they ran over a pothole.

"No shit." This hadn't gone as planned, thanks to these morons... At least they left with what they came for, that's all that mattered.


"For fuck's sake...I thought we were really gonna die back there!" Tanner laughed loudly, smacking his knee.

The four of them sat at a table in an old warehouse, waiting for Lane to arrive. The van was around back, covered in an battered tarp, hiding it from anyone who might have seen anything. It was unlikely, but you could never be too safe.

Jack hadn't liked the idea of robbing a place deep in The Narrows, especially for a first time run. That building wasn't just a jewelry store, it was also a stopping ground on a drug route. It's location in the shittiest part of the city made it perfect to go unnoticed by any police not on the payroll since most of them didn't bother even coming to this area.

'You don't shit where you eat...'

Taking a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke flittered up towards the light hanging low from the ceiling. If he had a choice, he'd rather hit places right outside of the slums... There was enough trouble around here without causing even more.

'Doesn't matter... Gonna be gone by the mornin' anyways.'

The table was littered with the contents of the safe. Money stacked high, jewels and small boxes in a pile, guns sitting on the surface... They had to wait for Lane to arrive to tally out the shares since this was the job he technically set up. If anyone would cross him and try to run off... Whatever happens to them is their own damn fault.

Jack didn't intend on running anyway. Lane had hooked him up with the gig and there was an understanding between them. If need be, he might need a good connection for later on. It would be better to at least keep that going.

"I know, I know... Look like everything did well.." Yevegny had a think Russian accent, making it hard to understand his broken English at times.

"Except for Darryl..." Ter had his shirt off, bandages wrapped around the wound on his shoulder and where his pant leg had been rolled up.

"Yeah..."

Looking at the watch on his wrist again, Jack groaned. There was still fifteen more minutes until Lane should get here. All he wanted to do was get his share and go home, having more than his fill of the night.

Taking a shower and curling up with Sakura was the only way to make tonight end perfectly. The tip of his tongue snaked out, running along the cracked skin of his scar, quietly watching the other men drinking and taking lines off of a tray.

As soon as they got into the old building, bottles and bags were brought out from a box that was in the van, something Tanner had brought along.

"Ya want some?" It was the third time the man had offered, pushing the tray in his direction. This wasn't his idea of having a good time. After spending most of his life seeing what drugs had done to his parents, the last thing he wanted to do was follow in their footsteps. Shaking his head, Tanner scoffed as if the refusal was offensive. "Why ya so serious kid? Maybe you should let loose a little, we all deserve it."

"I already said I'm good."

"Suit yourself..." Pulling the tray back, the bald man grabbed the straw, snorting another line of coke. "Man... I don't know if it's just me or the job just had me on edge, but I'm feeling pretty shitty."

"I'm me too. Shot man don't look good too." Yevegny rubbed his stomach, a trail of sweat running down the side of his face.

"Probably cause you guys are doin' too much..." The blonde answered before pointing towards Ter, who's face was ghostly white. "And he got shot twice. We all look like shit anyway."

"That's true... I mean the last part. Can't have enough blow." Taking another line, the tray was passed back and forth between the three, not bothering to offer it up again.

Looking back down at the watch, Jack rolled his head back and along his shoulders, trying to get the kinks out. Maybe Sakura would be elated seeing that he came home in one piece and would be willing to give him a massage. Nothing worked out his tense muscles like those dainty nimble fingers could.

He almost couldn't wait... Just imagining the look on her face as he showed her all the money they were going to have made him grin inwardly, not wanting the others to see. In this kind of environment, there was no laughing or smiling from his end, just business. That other side, the one that was playful and more carefree, was reserved for only when him and Sakura were alone. He'd rather people be put off by his serious attitude and scars, than to get chummy with anyone. They were all just means to an end anyway.

'I did it...'

There was more than enough money for them to live off of now. In the morning, he would take her to a nice hotel... One that had soft beds and a large tub, maybe room service. Neither of them ever experienced that. She could go buy some new clothes, get her hair done like other women did. Eat some good food, like steak or lobster.

That would be great...

They could lay in bed and look for an apartment in the paper or something. Get a car and drive around. He knew of a few people he could probably get one from without having a license. If they got pulled over, he could throw a hundred in the cops face and pull off laughing.

Get a small place and buy some furniture...maybe bring home a dog. A small little thing that would grow into a huge mutt. Yeah...another Pitbull or this time they could get a Rottweiler.

She wouldn't have to work, not as long as he could make money like this. It wouldn't have to be often, just once in a while. Jack didn't want her to have to get a job, unless it was something she enjoyed. The pinkette could just stay home and do whatever she liked, the way he imagined things should be. They would get married and settle down, maybe have a few "brats" as she called them.

Closing his eyes and letting his head lull back against the chair, he pictured how their lives would be from now on. It was going to be perfect, just like he always imagined. Of course there would be a fight every now and then that never lasted long, maybe there kids would cause some trouble...have an argument with a neighbor here and there. Who knows? It didn't matter. That's how a "normal" life was suppose to be like. Right? Nice, quiet, peaceful. It almost seemed too good to be true.

"Yeah... We're all here. Okay. Well, could you hurry up? I'm not feeling so great and I'd like to get out of here." Dark eyes flickered open hearing Tanner on the phone. It was probably Lane again, on his way.

'Good, he should be here in the next five minutes.'

Looking over at all the goods across the table, his eyes roamed around the pile of jewelry. They were all suppose to split it up amongst the five of them, which included Lane. There were diamonds, gold necklaces and chains, earrings and other gems all scattered and lumped around a few small boxes.

Shifting his jaw, the dirty blonde couldn't help letting his mind wander as he stared at the heap. The only jewelry he'd really seen on Sakura was the charm around his neck and occasionally a pair of small earrings. He already knew how she felt about expensive gems and gold...it was too fancy for her. Like she wasn't worth it... It was only because neither of them could ever afford it and the pinkette wasn't used to it yet. That would change.

'Sakura worth it and some... Far more than anything on this whole damn table.'

The pinkette just needed to realize how precious she was. Women like her were one in a billion, even more than that. No one else was as gentle, yet so fierce. Completely striking on the eyes and so unique.

When his face had been ripped open, she never looked away or seemed disgusted, the way everyone else did. Even when he had a fever and the wounds became infected from his manhandling and shoddy stitch job, she stayed with him and took care of them the best she could after he refused to go to the hospital.

After they healed, he'd become...a bit resentful and jealous...completely overbearing and paranoid that she was going to leave or realize that he wasn't worth shit and could do better. He'd taken his anger out on her, making wild accusations and yelling, throwing things around the apartment. Not being the kind of man who was easy to scare...there was only thing that really brought the worst out in him. The fear that one day he'd come through the door and find the apartment empty... That she would come to her senses and leave, find someone else who could give her what she deserved. A man who was just a beautiful as her, if that was possible. One that didn't have hideous scars all over or was shunned by the world for them and his cold demeanor towards it.

Jack didn't know if he could take it... There were a lot of things he could endure. Losing his parents, being beaten to a bloody pulp, going hungry, days without sleep, even having his mouth slashed open. The one thing he couldn't handle, the only thing he couldn't take...was losing her. There would be nothing left after that. The entire life he imagined living was centered around the pinkette. What would be the point if she wasn't there anymore?

After seeing him at his best and absolute worst, Sakura still stayed and did what she could to raise his spirits. Even when he was piping hot with rage, she would say or do something that completely threw him through a loop, knocking the blonde off balance. There was no way to stay angry like that and the pinkette was clever enough to know exactly what to do to calm him down. The only thing keeping him stable in an unstable world.

'I'm gonna marry her...'

Staring at the jewelry, he imagined what they would look like on her. They never really talked about engagement, so Jack didn't know what kind of ring she would have liked. Gold? Silver? White gold? A diamond? Or some kind of colored gem?

'Sakura likes purple...but she also likes green too...' Glancing over the lot, nothing really stuck out that made his eyes light up. He wanted something that would pop, that would look expensive and impressive at the same time. Everything was nice, they were all luxury items. She didn't have to know it was stolen, that would be his own little secret.

Using his index finger, the blonde pushed some of the gems around, ignoring the look from the man across the table. After all, it was him who gathered everything up and technically took out the guards. Whatever he chose would be part of his share.

An engagement ring was like a promise of what was to come. To show a woman what was in store for her and what kind of life the man would be able to provide. It symbolized how much she meant, so he couldn't just chose any old thing... It had to be special...

Not seeing anything that conveyed what he was trying to say, he let out a annoyed breath through his nose, feeling like huffing as he sorted through the contents of the safe. Maybe it would be better to just go to a jeweler and spend some of the cash or look around...

Picking through the small boxes, there didn't seem to be a ring that just felt...right. Something that called out to him or made him feel excited. Knowing Sakura, she would cry and carry on over anything he gave her. To her, it was the thought that counted, not the amount spent. Though if she knew how much something did cost, there would probably be a slap after the counting down the zeroes...

"Tch..." Moving to the boxes, it all kind of felt the same. Each piece was nice, but not really...unique. Maybe he was just being difficult, picky even...but this was important. If nothing stuck out, he wasn't going to settle. Tomorrow he would get Sakura to do something to keep her busy for a bit while he scoured around to find something that was up to his standard. Well, was actually fitting to propose to her with.

'Ah!' Opening one of the boxes up, dark eyes widened seeing the ring sitting prettily in the seam of the velvet cushion it sat on. Even in the dim lighting, the diamond shone bright, sparkling as he eyed it greedily. The gems around it were just as brilliant as the gold band that held it all together.

'This...This is the one!' Jack knew it as soon as he flipped the lid up. The only one out of the whole treasure trove that made his chest tighten, that stuck out among the others and was beautiful even in this dark, dingy room with bad lighting...the same way Sakura did. It was perfect...this had to be the one he would give her.

Closing the lid, the side of his mouth quirked up, trying not to let what he was feeling play out on his face. The rest of the heap meant nothing, he just wanted this piece and his share of the cash.

Hearing the sound of a hammer being pulled back, Jack looked up to see Tanner pointing a gun at him. Raising a brow at the bald headed man, he sat there calmly as the other two men shifted in their seats.

"What's, ah, up with you? Hmm? Got a problem?" Tilting his head to the side, dark eyes stared at the man across the table, almost daring him to pull the trigger.

"Nah..." The man's face was almost as pale as Ter's, sweating profusely as he gripped the gun tightly. "We ain't got no problem here..."

"Oh? Then why you pointin' that at me?" Pumping his brows up and down, a grin made his lips curl up, a sneer playing along his mouth.

"Ya see... We were thinkin' that five shares was a lil' too steep for us. Three would, ack!" Tanner put a hand to his chest as he hacked up, hand shaking around the gun. Wiping his chin with the back of his hand, he shook his head trying to focus. "Be...much more profitable after what we all went through..."

Yevegny coughed as he reached out, scooping some of the gems up and putting them into the bag Jack had brought. So this was how it is? The three of them were planning on killing him and running off before Lane got here? They didn't seem too bright, otherwise they would have realized they only had a few minutes left till the large man got there...

Unless Lane had told Tanner he was going to be a little late over the phone...

"Heh. You morons wouldn't have made it out of there if it wasn't for me." Putting his hands behind his head, the blonde leaned back in the chair casually. This only seemed to aggravate the man across from him even more.

"Doesn't matter, freak! Yeah, ya did your job well." Rubbing his chest, he heaved harshly as Ter tried getting up to help with the cash, just for him to fall back in the chair. "Ya think your so smart... If you were, ya woulda seen this coming."

"Ha..hah..HAHAHAHAHAAA!" Jack threw his head back, hand slapping the surface of the table, starling the men sitting in the chairs away from him.

Trying to stand up again, Ter trembled as sweat ran down his neck, holding on to the table to keep his weight off of the injured leg. Head lulling from one side to the other, he fell over and dropped to the floor.

"Hahaha!" He couldn't stop laughing. This whole thing was just so...funny.

"Ter!" Leaning over to look at the man on the floor, beady eyes narrowed in on the blonde howling across the table. "What's so funny, asshole?! Hand that box over or I swear I'll shoot!"

As quickly as the laughter started, it stopped. Dark eyes looked at the little black box sitting in the palm of his hand. He'd let the guy shoot him before handing it over.

"Oh? I think not..." Tossing the box in the air and snatching it, Jack slid it into the pocket of his pants, drumming his fingers against it from the outside of the fabric.

"You piece of...shit." Hissing out angrily, Tanner put a hand to his chest, breathing hard.

"I not feel so good..." Yevegny dropped his head against the table, shoulders trembling as small gasps left his lips..

"Ya see, Tanner... It's because I'm so 'smart' that I did see this coming. I've been watching how you guys work the same way I was watching the jewelry store. Finding out information, seeing how well you played with others." Wagging a finger at the bald man and sucking in his lips, he tried resisting the urge to laugh until he was done.

"Not. Very. Nice... Lane doesn't think so either." Seeing the beady eyes widen as he gripped his chest desperately, Jack let out a cackle. "Heheh... You guys were so busy drinking and going on and on and on about the money in the van, none of you noticed all of the shit I mixed into to your precious cocaine!"

Standing up as Yevegny fell over, the blonde casually walked over to Tanner, who was clutching his throat, gasping for air as his face started turning blue. The gun dropped to the floor, firing off a round at the wall.

"Hmm?" Looking over curiously at the newly made hole, he turned back and stepped closer as the the bald man threw himself back against the chair, panic all over his face. Slapping a hand against his shoulder, Jack leaned down to take a good look, letting his mug be the last thing Tanner would see.

"Ya see, Tan... Freaks like me have to use their brains when brawn or good looks just aren't enough." Running his tongue over the scar that split his lip, he couldn't hold back the sneer twisting his expression. "Sayonara!"

Saliva and blood ran out from the corners of his mouth, eyes rolling back as he fell forward against the table.

"Done already?" A deep voice come from the entrance of the warehouse, door closing behind the man as he strode in.

"Yeah..." Nudging Tanner, no movement came from him as his breathing stopped. "They're dead, Darryl was shot in the store as expected. Didn't even check his gun before going in or he would have realized it had been tampered with..."

"You sure are pretty ruthless for being so young, Jack..." The dark haired man chuckled, stepping up to the table and eyeing the money and jewels strewn out.

Shrugging his shoulders, there was point in refuting the claim. It was true... He was ruthless when push came to shove. If someone got in the way of what he wanted, they would be taken out. No questions asked.

"You did a great job for this being your first time... I'm really impressed. You're definitely not your dad's kid, that's for sure!" Jack grit his teeth, seething inside at even being compared to the piece of shit, even if it was meant to be a compliment.

"...Thanks..."

"Well, since we only have to split this between two people... You wanna pick out your half from the pile?" Pointing towards the jewelry, Lane walked over and pulled up a chair, kicking Yevegny out of the way as he did it.

"Nah..." Pulling out the box from his pocket and waving it, it was the only piece he wanted. "This is all I want out of that."

Looking at the blonde like he was insane, the older man's mouth opened and closed, almost not sure what to say.

"You sure? These would fetch a very nice penny at the right places. Half of this is worth more than all the money together..."

Jack didn't care. He didn't want a bunch of stolen gems and precious metals lying around, nor did he want to lug all that around trying to sell it off. All that mattered was the ring and his portion of the cash. Being too greedy never got anyone anywhere, except to an early grave.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Keep it for yourself, hire some new men or something. Ones that might have a single brain cell between them."

"Hahaha! You're a good man, Jack. A bit of a hard ass, but still good. Wish I had a dozen or so like you. This line of work would be hell of a lot easier... Maroni wouldn't know what hit him!" Smacking a hand on his knee, the brunette shook his head as he chuckled.

"You know what?" Reaching under the table, the man pulled out a duffle bag that had been put there for piling the money in. "Take 2/3's of the cash for yourself since you don't want your equal share of the jewelry. It's only fair...Go have a good time, buy your lady friend something nice. You've earned it...It's hard finding anyone half decent in this city who's not so damn greedy anymore."

Nodding towards the body on the floor, Lane sighed. This kind of money was nothing to him. "Look at these scumbags here. I've done nothing but take care of them and what do they do? Plan on robbing me and taking out another one of my guys. This isn't the first time they shot someone on the job to get a larger share... Pisses me off. You don't bite the hand that feeds you..."

"Well, ya know what they say... What goes around, comes around.." Watching as the older man counted through the money and stuffed it into the duffle bag, Jack felt like he couldn't breathe..

'All that money... Sakura's going to lose it...'

It almost didn't seem real. Part of him half expected to wake up, staring at a dingy ceiling and wondering why he had to have such a tantalizing dream. Having everything he wanted, ever hoped for was so close. It was worth every bullet and the five lives that were lost.

'It's really happening...'

"Here you go... Don't spend it all in one place, haha..." Zipping up the bag and slapping a hand on it, the blonde took the strap in his gloved hand, almost in disbelief as he felt it's weight picking it up. "You need a ride back? I know you live a few blocks away, but.."

"No, no...I'll walk. It's not far and I wanna stop somewhere on the way." It was a lie, but he didn't want Sakura or anyone in the apartment next door noticing the car pull up or him getting out with the bag, ruining the surprise.

"Alright, suit yourself. Gimme a call if you wanna do another job for me. You do good work, I'd pay you well... It's worth every penny to have a job done right the first time." Lane grinned, picking up a stack of hundreds and flipping through it.

"Gotcha. I'll let you know." Hoisting the bag up and pulling the strap over his shoulder, he nodded to the older man and turned away, walking briskly towards the door. The urge to just dash out was egging him on, but not wanting to seem desperate to get out of there, he kept an even pace.

As soon as he out of the building, Jack took in a deep breathe of cool night air, looking up at the dark sky. Right now, he felt like a new man... One that could actually accomplish something...anything.

'I did it...I fucking did it...'

Gloved fingers trembled, gripping the strap of the bag like his life depended on it. No one was going to take this away from him, even if someone else had to die... Anyone who even tried to take the bag, whether it was a thug or a cop, would be shot dead. The pistol was in the front of his waistband this time for easy access, fully loaded...just incase. You never know in The Narrows when someone was going to be ballsy or desperate enough to try.

'I can't wait to see her face...'

Even if he kicked himself most of the night for not taking one more look at her before walking out, it would be okay. Sakura would forgive him for being reckless and an asshole sometimes, especially when she realizes it was all for her... She had no idea how much time and effort he put into the plans he cooked up, whether it was for this job or their future. It was all he had going for him.

Everything was going to be better now...

The complex was just a few short blocks away. Different scenarios played out in his mind as he trudged down alley after alley, imagining how things would go. What he would say? how he'd show her the money? What kind of expression she'd make? Would the pinkette still be up, waiting for him? Or sleeping soundly? Most likely she would be pacing around the room, too nervous to lay down without knowing if he was okay or not.

Should he give her the ring tonight? How would he do it? Or it might be better at the hotel...make it more memorable... Could he even wait till then?

"HAHAHAHA!" The laughter bubbled up, making his chest shake with it at the victory he'd had tonight. Todd and Sherry's horrified faces when they realized the two of them disappeared would be priceless...if only him and Sakura would be there to see it... They would be long gone by then...

'I can't wait to get home and see her... She's going to be so happy.'

Dark eyes looked back up to the night sky, relishing in what he'd accomplished. The stars seemed brighter than usual...reminding him of the sparkling ring in the little box hidden in his pocket. Sakura was going to be beside herself when she sees it. Maybe they could take a late night trip to the park, go to their special spot...

Unable to wipe the grin from his face, he picked up the pace, holding onto the duffle bag tightly. Yeah, he wasn't going to be able to wait until tomorrow. Tonight, he would give Sakura the ring and ask her to marry him.

If only Jack knew it would be seven long years before he even got a glimpse of her again...

Life really could be hilariously unpredictable at times...


A/N: Thank you for those who read and enjoy this story! Don't worry, the next chapter is going back to present time.

I know some people enjoy "Queen of the Rhombus" better and would prefer me to work on that more (if the PM's and occasional comments are anything to go by), but this story has a special place in my heart. It's the first Joker/Sakura story I started and I'm going to keep working on it as I write for the others as well. Everything I create is special to me, like a baby I nurture and care for. Telling me to work on another story more because you like it better is like telling a mother not to bother feeding one child because the other one has more friends. That's how I feel anyway...

I think I update both stories frequently enough for it not to be an issue anyway...Some people don't post anything for months on end, so I think I'm doing pretty good in that aspect... Either way, oh well. Can't make everyone happy...

For the people who read, leave me reviews and send PM's about this, I really appreciate it. They really brighten up my day and I truly do enjoy reading what you guys think about it.

Miverse and Kihoko-san: I can see what you guys mean... It would be nice, but as long as even one person enjoys what I do, that's perfectly fine with me. I find some hidden gems with barely any of those things or reviews and can't believe people aren't eating it up. Nothing much can be done about it I guess, aside from us giving support to those who should get it. I try to leave love where ever I can and show other writer's how much I appreciate their hard work. After doing it myself, I realized how much a good review can make someone's day feel much better. That goes even more for how things have been going lately... Thanks for your kind words!

Edit: I realized I made a mistake about the amount Lane was giiving Jack. I wrote a third, but messed up. It was suppose to be 2/3 and now it's changed to that. Someone one AO3 thankfully pointed it out.