I slammed the car door behind me, taking my place in the passenger seat. My heart was thumping rapidly in my chest as Derik violently hit the gas. Willi remained quiet in the backseat with the money we had just acquired.

I spun around to peer out of the back window, making sure no one was following us. "Holy shit," I mumbled. "Holy shit, I can't believe we got away with that! Did we really just get away with that?"

Derik was smirking in the seat next to me. "We got away with it alright. You sure you've never done this before, Lex?"

Willi chuckled in the backseat.

I leaned my back into the leather of the seat. Coming down from the high of completing my first bank score was something, but there was also a sickening guilt rising in my stomach. I was now officially a federal criminal.

"Hey," Derik nudged. "You're fine. You did great."

I shook my head. "Derik..."

Willi squeezed my shoulder in reassurance. "Look kid, no one got hurt. We didn't kill anyone. It was a clean job. Money's just that. Money. Paper. The only reason it means something is because we make it mean something."

I bowed my head and took in their words. It didn't matter to me. The stealing part. Okay, maybe it did deep down. But what really irked me was how I would explain this to mom or Anna. They would ask me where I had gotten the sixteen grand to pay off Anna's medical bills. How would I tell them?

I rubbed my temples, knowing that if mom wouldn't have lost her damn job and the health insurance benefits I wouldn't have needed a quick sum of cash.

"Lex look at me," Derik ordered. I forced myself to comply. "What's wrong?"

Should I tell him? If there was anyone on this earth that would be willing to listen and help, it would be Derik... But I didn't want to throw this burden on him.

Eventually his gaze broke me down. "Mom lost her job. And I know the money from the score will pay off the hospital bills but..."

"What?" he asked. "When did this happen?"

I shook my head. "She got fired a few weeks ago. Derik she was drunk at work. She has a problem..."

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" he pressed.

Because I didn't want to be a burden. "I... I don't know."

I silently wondered if it would've made a difference. Since mom lost her job the bills weren't gonna get paid, and the house note would wipe out any leftover money we had...

Derik looked over to me. "Have you ever thought about rehab?"

"You mean like, putting her in one of those programs?"

"It could help," he suggested.

"She won't go. She'll make some lame excuse like leaving Anna with me isn't appropriate. Or that I wouldn't be able to keep up with the bills by myself..." I answered. "She'll fight it."

"You'll talk to her. Make her listen to you."

"Even if I made her listen we won't have enough money left over."

Derik took in a deep breath. "We'll have some extra if we all pitch in."

I heard Willi agree in the backseat but I couldn't ask them to do that. They both needed all of their share. I wouldn't let them waste it on my alcoholic mother. "N-No, don't worry about it. I'll find more money-"

"Alexa," Derik cut me off, "When someone offers you help out of the kindness of their heart, you take it. No matter what."

I just watched him from the passenger seat, knowing I was lucky to have someone like him in my life. He reminded me of my dad, or what I could still remember of him anyway. I shook the thought

"Here's what we're gonna do," he started. "You're going to pay off the hospital bills. Once that is off your back then you'll talk to your mom about selling that house, because you can't afford to live their anymore."

Sell the house? If I sold the house where would we live?

I shook my head. "Derik I can't sell the house. Where would Anna and I go?"

"You'll live with me," he answered. "Mia and I have two spare bedrooms. You'll talk to your mom about selling the house, and if she fights then I'll talk to her. Once she agrees we'll talk about rehab, okay?"

He made everything sound so easy. Like this was a normal occurrence and that there was no need to feel ashamed. But I was ashamed. Not only was my mother slipping deeper into her depression but I had stood by and watched it happen. I didn't know what to do. I hadn't known how to help.

But Derik knew what to do. He always knew what to do.

"Okay," I mumbled.

"We'll fix this Lex. You don't have to do italone," he comforted. "Everything's gonna be fine."

* * *

I snapped out of the memory as I heard the front door close. Everything's gonna be fine, echoed in my head. Almost three years had passed since my first score and things had only escalated. Everything has not been fine, but there was a possibility it would be after tonight.

Melissa and Willi were here and I was needed downstairs but for some reason my body didn't want to move. If everything went well tonight I would be able to leave my old life behind. All the crime, all the lying and stealing... but if we failed...

No. I couldn't think like that.

After a deep breath I forced myself out of the safety of my room. On top of the pressure for success there was also a nasty ball of guilt weighing me down. Melissa would most likely be upset with me and I couldn't blame her. Leaving this morning had been a real shitty move, but at the time it had felt like the easiest thing to do.

I jogged downstairs and locked eyes with her immediately. She threw me a look that made me uncomfortable. Yeah, she was upset.

"We're going meet Chapman at the NIA building. We'll drop off my car and take the one he's gotten for us," Derik ordered. "The plan is simple. Go in through the ground entrance and get to the elevator. Alexa and I have key cards to get us to our target departments. We'll be able to communicate the entire time with the devices Chapman's providing."

"Okay, and if something goes wrong?" I added.

"Everything's gonna be fine."

There it was again.

"I'm preparing for the worst."

"Lex, the building will be empty. Victoria is getting us through security... Nothing will go wrong."

"And if there's a GIB lurking around?" I asked.

"Then you do what you have to do," Derik demanded. "Chapman's also providing guns."

My stomach churned at the thought of using a gun. If there was ever an alternative to killing I tried my best to find it. But if we did run into someone who shouldn't be there the likeliness of being recognized was high. And if I knocked them out there was also a high chance they could come to and alert everyone else of our presence. Just because the NIA was conducting an investigation didn't mean me and my crew were welcome. After all, we were still criminals.

"Anything else before we go?" Derik asked.

"I'm going tell Anna," I answered. "I'll meet you guys in the driveway."

Derik's glare softened at the mentioning of my sister. I couldn't leave her again without telling her where I was going. And I had to tell her I loved her. Just in case.

I opened her door, peering through the dark and spotting her passed out in her bed. She looked so peaceful. Seeing her made me realize I was doing this not only for myself, but for her too. So she could focus on being a kid and enjoying her childhood. She deserved that much. I flicked on the lamp.

She sat up a little startled. "Lex? What are you doing?"

"We're leaving."

Her sleepy eyes stared at me for a minute before she wrapped her arms around my neck. I closed my eyes at the stinging sensation, knowing now wasn't the time to cry. I would be back later.

"When you get back, can you tell me what you wanted to earlier in Derik's car?" she asked.

She wanted the know the truth, but would she still want to if she knew it was about our father?

I just nodded. "I will."

Her hand squeezed mine. "Promise you'll come back."

She was so scared. The tone of her voice struck a nerve somewhere deep in my soul. Even though it was an easy job there was always a chance I wouldn't. It was terrifying. The thought of leaving my sister here alone was my worst fear. It seemed the to be the worst punishment possible.

"I promise," I whispered, kissing her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too."

And with that I stood, exiting her room as I tried my best not to cry. It was so hard leaving her, but there were things to do. There was a tiny bit of unfinished business I had to attend to before I could tell her the full truth.

After shutting her door behind me I turned, running into Melissa in the same breath.

"Shit," I hissed. "You scared me."

"Are you okay?" she asked, spotting the redness in my eyes.

"I'm fine," I answered. "What are you doing?"

"I needed to talk to you before we left tonight..." She looked down, "You could've woken me up this morning."

This was bothering her more than I had assumed it would. Did she care that much? The thought of her being hurt over something I did made my stomach ache.

"I'm sorry," I whispered. "I just... you were sleeping and I had to go get Anna... Melissa last night-"

"Was a mistake," she interrupted. "You don't have to say it."

Suddenly there was a nasty taste in my mouth. I knew I had hurt her. But maybe it was time to start being honest with her. Maybe it was time to start being honest with myself too. There was a desire to be completely open, especially before tonight. At this point what did I have to lose?

"I wasn't gonna say that," I claimed.

But she was quiet, her arms folded against her chest. She looked like she was trying to keep herself in one piece. God I had really messed up.

"I... us sleeping together... It wasn't a mistake. At least not to me," I confessed. "I'm sorry."

I found the words flowed out of my mouth too easy for it to be a lie. Trying to convince myself that I didn't care for Melissa was no longer working, and I wanted her to know the truth before we stepped foot in that building.

That's when she looked up from the ground. Those mesmerizing eyes locked with mine as her hands gently cupped my face and brought me closer. This kiss was more controlled. More gentle. It was longing and I savored every second as I inhaled her unique smell of soap and perfume. I hadn't realized how much I needed that until she broke away.

Her nose remained touching mine, "In case I don't get a chance to do so after tonight."

"Don't think like that," I ordered. "Victoria's taking care of us."

She just gave me a small nod.

"We should go," I suggested. As much as I'd like to be alone with Melissa, Derik and Willi were waiting.

The drive to the NIA building was quiet. Everyone seemed to be in their own state of mind, preparing for what lied ahead. We all wanted to believe this job would be smooth sailing. That everything would go according to plan. But there were too many instances where it hadn't.

Call it paranoia, but by now we were conditioned to expect the unexpected.

We finally reached Chapman who was waiting for us in the usual spot of the parking garage. He nodded at me to ease my obvious worry.

Derik stepped in front. "Thanks for agreeing to provide us with equipment."

"No problem," Chapman answered, popping open the car's trunk. "I got four guns, each of you an earpiece and a mic, and extra rounds of bullets."

Just in case, I thought to myself.

We helped ourselves to the gifts.

Derik closed the trunk after. "That should be good. Let's go."

Before I could disappear into the car Chapman addressed me. "Thought about my offer?"

I had thought about it. I had thought about it a lot, and I felt ready to make the commitment. It was now or never.

I nodded. "I want to do it."

He smiled. "I knew you would. But first, do what you have to do tonight."

I found myself smiling too. "Copy that." Then I climbed into the car with the rest of my team.

"What was that all about?" Derik asked.

My eyes met Derik's in the front mirror. "He offered me a job."

Derik didn't respond. It hurt knowing that he wasn't on board with it. Was he jealous? Was he still wary of Chapman even after everything he had given us in return for helping him? Was he afraid I was replacing him?

The drive there was long, longer than the chopper ride the first time. It was expected, but the silence between me and my crew made it unbearable. I had a feeling this could be the beginning of the end us as a team. Especially if I started working for Chapman.

Then the building finally appeared in the distance. Darkness hung around it like a fog storm, making it seem almost deserted. Being back here made my stomach tight with anticipation, remembering the last trip vividly.

Derik shut off the headlights as he pulled up near the entrance and into the parking garage. This was go time. Everything looked still. It was a good sign.

Before exiting the car, he turned to face the rest of us. "This is it. Stick to the plan."

We all nodded and followed him out of the car.

I followed right behind him, sticking against the shadows on the wall for cover. My hand teased the metal of my gun as my palm rested on the handle. It took us little to no time to make it to the doors. Derik scanned his card. A green light. We were free to enter.

The building was empty. Stacks of paperwork sat on the lobby desk. The computer screens were black. Everything looked more normal than I had expected.

We filed into the elevator, the doors shutting behind us as Derik punched the ninth and thirteenth floor button. I felt my heart begin to speed up. My hands started to shake.

Derik read my body language and locked eyes with me. "Alexa, breathe," he ordered.

I did so, slowly, attempting to keep my head straight.

"Everything will be fine," he finished.

He was right. He always would be. Everything was going to be fine, I was just thinking too much. It wouldn't be like the last time. And Derik wouldn't leave without us if anything did go wrong. But nothing would. Everything would be fine.

Then the doors opened to the ninth floor. My heart dropped at the sight of Willi and Derik leaving the elevator.

Derik turned back towards me. "Do what you have to do. I'll be able to talk to you the whole time." He smiled. "I'm not leaving without you."

I blinked hard. The burning in my eyes was almost intolerable, but I nodded anyway. The doors closed between us and then it was just me and Melissa. This was it.

I exhaled a heavy breath while watching the elevator rise to my floor. It didn't take long for it to come to a halt and open up. A wide room with white, tiled floor extended to a pair of double doors. The dimmed lights made this place even creepier.

I quickly made my way over to the doors, scanning my card and hoping it didn't set off an alarm. The green light flashed and the lock clicked. I let myself in.

Okay, I thought, The computer. Get to the computer.

The back room. That's where it was. I found my legs almost running towards the door. The urgency of this situation made it impossible to keep calm. I just wanted to get in there and get it over with.

We stood at the back room staring at the door I assumed to be our destination. My hand fell onto the handle and turned it slowly. This time it wasn't locked. The cool air from the other side hit my face and made me smile. When I spotted the main server I could suddenly hear my heartbeat in my head.

Derik's voice cut through my ear. "Alexa?"

"Derik," I replied, closing the door behind me and Melissa.

"Have you made it to the main server?"

"Yes."

I removed my backpack and began the process. Melissa wasted no time turning on the computer while I removed the device needed to unlock it. I plugged it in and waited for it to get us through.

"How long will this take?" Melissa asked.

I looked up. "Victoria said about fifteen to twenty minutes."

Once I was in their system I wasted no time searching for our files one by one. Victoria was first. Then I would start on the rest of ours. I began to delete.

I watched Melissa from my peripheral vision. She paced back and forth, her hand upon her mouth. Just the sight of that made me even more anxious.

It didn't take her long to gravitate back over to me. Her body heat grazed my skin as she stood over my shoulder. We watched Victoria's files fall away from the screen as if they didn't exist. Alright, onto the rest of us.

After commanding the computer to delete my files I turned towards her. "You okay?"

"Y-Yea, this place just makes my stomach hurt," she confessed. Her eyes switched back and forth between my own.

I grabbed her hand, which caused her to come in closer towards me. Out of everyone, I wouldn't want anyone but Melissa accompanying me in this room right now.

Derik came through again. "How's everything looking, Alexa?"

I jumped away from Melissa, glancing at the screen and seeing my files were gone. Derik and Willi were next. We were almost done.

"Starting on you and Willi's files now," I answered.

"Great. You're doing great."

I smiled to myself before facing Melissa again. My hand laced in one of hers. Gray eyes met brown as I tried to read her, but found even that impossible right now.

Then before I knew it her lips were on mine. I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath through my nose. Both of her hands grabbed my cheeks with a desperation I had never experience. As if she was afraid to let go. Why were her lips trembling?

She pulled away. Something dark was swimming within her irises. There was something wrong. I could feel it, but I didn't understand what was happening. For some reason I felt the need to glace back at the computer. Five more minutes.

"Why'd you do that?" I asked.

"I'm so sorry..." she whispered.

Something told me to run but my feet were bolted to the ground. She stepped away from me but I remained by the computer. If there was one thing I needed to make sure got done, it was erasing the files. But I couldn't stop looking at the girl across the room.

I tried again. "Melissa, what's wrong?"

Then a deep voice cut through the thick silence. "Melissa, are the targets in position?"

A chill ran up my spine. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not when we were so close to the finish line. It was as if my brain couldn't even fathom the idea of this kind of betrayal. I was numb.

"Who was that?" I asked. My tone was panicked.

Melissa didn't answer me. Instead she pulled out a hidden mic inside of her shirt. Her hands were trembling. "Y-Yes, they're in position," she finished.

"Moving in," he answered.

The first thing I thought to do was warn the others. "Derik?!" I yelled through my mic.

"Alexa what's going on?"

"You and Willi need out of the building!" I demanded.

My hand found my gun, whipping in out of my waistline and pointing it straight at Melissa.

"What are you-"

I heard shouting. Voices, a lot of them. They demanded for Derik and Willi to drop their weapons as I heard Derik struggle.

My eyes suddenly found Melissa. She was shaking her head. Tears welled in her eyes but I wasn't buying it. I should shoot her. I should kill her and leave while I could. I could take her gun and save my friends. I could fight my way out. I could. I knew I could.

But my finger couldn't touch the trigger. I couldn't make myself do it.

I begged, "Tell me you didn't..."

Her hands remained in the air, her head still shaking. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Tell me you didn't!" I shouted, watching her flinch.

"I didn't have a choice!" she sobbed.

The adrenaline was enough to snap me out of my hesitation. Why couldn't I do this?

That's when she knocked the gun from my hands. I heard it clatter to the floor. My instincts kicked in as I pushed against her, my hands wrapped around her throat. Anger possessed me like a demon. I could hear the blood pumping in my head.

I should've listened to my gut. I should've trusted myself. But I let everyone else determine what I should feel. This was my fault.

"How?!" I asked through clenched teeth.

There were only a few more moments before the guards got here, so I released her throat for an answer.

"I was working for them! Alexa please!" she choked.

I slammed her head against the wall. "Why?"

"Because they have... my dad..."

Before I could watch the life slip from her eyes strong hands were on me. They yanked me off of her but I tried to fight. I couldn't help it. This shouldn't be happening. We should be on our way out of here. We weren't supposed to get caught.

"I trusted you!" I screamed. My voice echoed through the room.

Tears of anger seeped from my eyes. I continued to fight against the guards as my eyes stayed locked on Melissa. This wasn't real. This had to be a nightmare that I was going to wake up from very soon. If I kept fighting I would win. I just had to keep fighting.

Finally my thrashing paid off as one of the guards released me. I spun and elbowed him to the throat, watching him crumple to the ground. The other got a hard punch right to the jaw. He stumbled to the floor.

I darted back over to Melissa but was soon face to face with death. Her gun was pointed straight between my eyes. The barrel trembled in the air. Tears continued to roll down her face.

I shook my head. "How could you do this?"

"I didn't have a choice."

"There's always a choice," I forced.

My throat burned as I quickly reached for herbut she backed away. A blunt force hit the back of my head. Everything around megrew black.