Chapter 17 Birth of Venus

"Make the plan. Execute the plan. Expect the plan to be derailed. Throw away the plan." -Captain Cold (CW's The Flash)

EPOV

Galería de los Uffizi en Florencia the bronzed plaque on the side of the stone building read. Tonight the Uffizi gallery in Florence, Italy was hosting a grand gala. People from all over were gathered at the museum dressed to impress while getting drunk on Italian wine. I saw businessmen, politicians, and delegates from other countries in the sea of people. Tonight we had come for one reason and one reason only…

Birth of Venus

By: Sandro Botticelli

Weeks prior we were approached by a man wanting to 'acquire' the birth of Venus painting as a gift to give his wife. He was prepared to pay 200 mil for it. Normally in situations like these we like to have plenty of time to come up with a solid plan to acquire the item. But when we heard about the gala coming we knew we wouldn't get another chance for a while.

Thus being the reason I rushed on a plane with my father and brothers to Italy. Missing my fiancée in the process.

"E are you and Em inside yet?" Jasper asked through my ear bud.

"yeah. We are moving through to the crowd."

"Good. I tapped into the security system so it should be smooth sailing from here on out."

Emmett and I shared a look as if we were telling each other, "that will be the day."

It was never smooth sailing when it came to a heist.

Never the less, I could feel the anticipation and adrenaline running through my veins as we walked around the room. We grabbed a glass of wine from the near by waiter and proceeded until we stopped in front of the object of our desire, the birth of Venus. We stood to 'admire' the painting.

"Son listen to me. There has been a change of plans. The painting you are looking at is a replica of the original. We just saw the guards taking the real one to the restoration and preservation room. This may work to our benefit. Just hang tight."

See? Smooth sailing my ass. Shit like this happens frequently in my line of work… Things changing suddenly. Either that or it's that one guard or civilian who decides to try and be a hero.

Idiots.

We try to avoid killing anyone at any cost because that just makes things more messy but sometimes these things can't be avoided.

"Okay listen up boys." I heard my fathers voice pour out of my earpiece. "there should be a door outside the main hall to your left that says authorized personal only. Take that door. But be careful there are security guards crawling around back there."

Taking out guards was usually my specialty I was light on my feet and stealthy enough to take guards out quietly.

The first guard we came across was one fat fucker. Taking him out was easy as I snuck behind him and stunned him in the neck with my stun gun. He was going to have one helluva headache when he woke up. Emmett helped me carry the guards hefty ass to a supply closet. We grabbed his badge and security card and left locking the door behind us.

"Okay J. Where do we go now?" I asked Jasper through my mouth mic.

"Hold on. Okay walk down the corridor until you see a hallway on your right. Go down the hallway and the preservation room should be the fifth door on your left. But move quickly your window of opportunity is slipping away."

Emmett and I picked up our pace as we headed toward the preservation room. We passed the fifth door and turned down the hall leading us to our victory.

We had almost reached the room when I heard the footsteps. "Shit."

I looked up to see three guards looking at us in our tuxedos.

"sir you should not be back here. I'm going to have to escort you out." One of the guards tells me in Italian.

"Of course I apologize. My partner and I were looking for the bathroom and got lost." I replied in Italian.

I could hear Jasper laughing at me calling Emmett 'my partner'. But I had to say something and men often get weirded out when they think your gay. I let them escort us down a little ways before whipping out my Smith and Wesson revolver with my already attached silencer.

Thankfully for these guys the only bullets they will receive are made of rubber. Revolvers are great especially if you are like me and carry multiple kinds of bullets. I usually carry three rubber bullets and two hallow point bullets and just to be on the safe side.

I felt the gun recoil three times as I aimed and the guards dropped to the ground.

Emmett and I headed back to the preservation room. As we made it to the door a woman was coming out of the room. I stopped the door from closing with my foot and Emmett grabbed her arm and showed her his gun. The woman immediately started screaming and crying. She was drawing attention to us.

Emmett quickly shoved her into the room and closed the door. Once we were in the room Emmett stunned her on a low level setting and laid her limp body in the chair at her desk gently so it only looked like she fell asleep at her desk. She would only be out for maybe 15 minutes; but by then Emmett and I would be long gone with painting in hand.

Removing the painting from the frame is super easy. It basically pops out. The painting had been stretched over wooden beams which then turns it into what you would call a canvas painting. To get this painting out of here I turn it over and remove the staples. It's kind of like removing stitches and once you are adjusted to the procedure it goes by very fast.

I grab my tools to remove the staples while Emmett stands guard. One by one I collect the staples in my hands. After all the staples have been removed, I spray the painting with a flexspray that allows the painting to be rolled up without damage. Pretty much it helps the paint on the canvas to be flexible without destroying the integrity of the painting. Once I knew it was safe I slowly started rolling the painting up. Reaching in my pocket I pulled out a long, skinny, clear plastic bag and carefully stuck the painting in the bag. Now when this was the easy part. The hard part is getting this out of the building and the country.

"Yeah I bagged it now let's go home." I said to Jasper via mouth mic.

"Copy that." Jasper responded.

"Thank fuck. Let's getting the hell out of here." Emmett said.

((((No idea if there is such a thing as flex spray for paintings but in my story/world. It's legit.)))) Also I didn't think it would be hard to write a scene for Edward doing mob stuff but I don't think it turned out very well. it was much harder than I anticipated. ))))

Meanwhile in Chicago….

3rd POV (Girls Night Out)

Hermione opened the door to one of the newest restaurant/club establishments in the city. It was actually her husbands newest investment. The club just had its grand opening two weeks ago. Unfortunately Hermione hadn't been able to come with Draco the night of the grand opening due to a sinus infection. But she was excited to get to experience the completed project as a regular customer. Upon entering the restaurant section of the club she was greeted by a female hostess who had a cheerful disposition.

"Welcome to La Lune. My name is Lavender. Is it going to be just you today or are you waiting for someone?" The hostess trailed off awaiting Hermione's answer.

"Yes, I am meeting some friends. The reservation is under the name Malfoy I do believe." Hermione spoke sweetly. The hostess cheerful attitude was rubbing off on her.

The hostess eyes widened considerably at the drop of the name Malfoy.

"Of course. Well you are the first to arrive but the rest of your party should be here soon I'm sure. Would you like to go straight to the table or maybe grab a drink at the bar while you wait. We have some very creative new mixed drinks." The hostess said smiling.

"Umm... I think I will go to the bar and wait. Thank you."

Lavender led Hermione to a empty barstool at the end of the bar and went to talk to the bartender. The bartender looked over at Hermione quickly and nodded before serving a couple their drinks.

While waiting Hermione's eyes drank in her surroundings in awe of her husband's investment. The whole place held this mystical theme with hand painted murals covering random walls and it had Victorian gothic styled appliances and furnishings.

Various shades of blues and purples covered the walls and the ceiling had lighting that made it look like a blanket of twinkling stars. Black lights surrounded the bar making Hermione's dress look hypnotic. She was wearing a black and white vertically striped dress.

It wasn't something Hermione would have picked to wear to a club but the dress had been 'Draco Approved' for a night out to the club without him escorting her.

Hermione had told Draco about running into Bella and Rosalie at Macys. Draco and Edward grew up together as children and remained good friends. So when Hermione came home from shopping and told Draco about her new friends Draco smiled.

Naturally Draco knew who Bella and Rose were and who they belonged too and was glad to see Hermione have appropriate friends with a social status that matched her own.

The bartender laid a drink menu down in front of her effectively gaining Hermione's attention.

"How are you doing tonight? My name is Neville, your handsome bartender." He said putting his hands on his hips as if he were superman.

"This is a list of our new cocktails, mixed drinks and shots. I'll let you look it over and I will be right back. If you need help just scream my name and I'll 'come' over." Neville said emphasizing the word come.

"All joking aside if anyone even looks at you the wrong way let me know. We want every one, female and male to feel safe in our establishment." And with those parting words he was off to tend to his other customers. Hermione could hear a few ladies giggling at his antics down the other side of the bar.

Hermione could see why he was hired he had the perfect personality for working a crowd.

Hermione glanced at the menu looking at some of the names for the drinks. Nebula, Goblet o' fire, pixie punch, Eclipse, deathly hallow, elixir of life, siren serenade, and dark crystal.

"Anything catch your eye?" Neville asked walking up to Hermione.

"Yes, but which drink would do you suggest for me to try?" Hermione asked. Neville looked at Hermione and gave her a once over with a short nod he answered.

"Dark Crystal for sure. It's a pretty cool cocktail."

"Well could I please get a dark crystal?"

"Coming right up." Neville said with a smile.

Roughly two minutes later a drink is set in front of her.

"Now be careful these things can sneak up on you. Too many and you will be on your ass." Neville chuckled while Hermione hesitantly picked up her glass.

Once Neville walked off she stuck her finger in her glass. She pulled her finger out and looked at her nail polish. She was wearing a special top coat of nail polish that would tell her if her drink had been tampered with by glowing blue. Even though she liked Neville she had learned the hard way not to blindly trust anyone. Seeing that her polish was still the color it was supposed to be she took a sip. She was shocked that the rim of the glass had been dipped in sour pop rocks. The sour helped off set the sweetness. The drink was a purple color and had a stick of rock candy in the drink. It was a good selection for her. She looked around and saw Bella, Rose and three other girls making their way over to her.

"Hermione! How are you? I hope you haven't been here long." Bella said leaning in to give Hermione hug.

"Oh no. I've only been here for a few minutes. But my husband is part owner of this club and this is my first time here so it gave me a chance to admire his work."

"So if we know the owner does that mean free drinks?" Victoria asked laughing. "I'm kidding. Hello Hermione I'm Victoria."

Victoria held her hand out toward Hermione which Hermione shook.

"Okay let's introduce you to everyone." Bella said smiling at Hermione.

BPOV

"Well you know Rose and you just met Victoria but this is Maggie and Alice." I said gesturing to each girl as I said their names.

"Yeah now that introductions are out of the way let's go eat or as the British say, let's bloody well eat so we can go get pissed." Victoria said looking pointedly at Hermione.

The hostess. I believe her name was Lavender came to the bar to lead us towards our table.

Hermione gave a nervous chuckle and I hung toward the back of the group so I could talk to Hermione.

"Don't worry about Vic if she didn't like you she wouldn't tease you. Trust me."

We took our seats around a round table clothed in a rich purple tablecloth. The lighting was dim which felt intimate and romantic. I looked up and gasped at the ceiling so many twinkling lights I felt like I was eating under the stars.

"Hermione this place is really cool your husband did a great job with it." Maggie said looking up from her menu.

"Well my husband is an investor so he didn't really come up with the theme he just helped fund the project." Hermione said.

"Still this place is incredible. Everything looks great. What would you suggest I have for dinner?" Rose asked.

Hermione cheeks had a pink tint to them. "Tis is actually my first time coming. I was ill during the grand opening… so I'm in the same boat as you experiencing this for the first time."

Finally! Some else who blushes! I'm not the only one! I thought to myself with joy.

The rest of our dinner was spent laughing and talking about the upcoming weddings and marriage; Although, Hermione gave very little insight about life as a married woman. I could tell that there was more to her than a simply devoted house wife. But I didn't press the issue. After all, I wasn't quite ready to explain my upcoming marriage with it being arranged and all. I mean I love Edward well I'm almost positive I'm in love with him. We were taught that love doesn't have to come immediately. Sometimes it starts with trust and respect. Only time would tell if what we had was love or simply lust in disguise.

Little did I know our relationship, our bond, was going to be tested that night.

Okay so I kind of feel like I might be a horrible writer. I have only received 40 reviews so far 17 chapters in. If you guys don't like the story then tell me. I have other ideas floating around inside my head. If you like it let me know. I'm not trying to sound insecure but I would appreciate constructive criticism. So review.