Chapter 5

DARANA

“This is bullshit”. Gemma cursed as she kicked the side of the couch. I laid back in my seat and massaged my temples.

“You shouldn't have gone out,” Gemma screeched as she glared at me. “That's why we came up with that rule in the first place”.

“He would have gotten her eventually,” Adrika said dryly. “Judging from what Rana has just explained, he was going to find her sooner or later. It was inevitable”.

Gemma groaned and slumped onto the couch next to me. “What if we give the diamond back?. That's what caused all the ruckus in the first place. Let's give the damn jewel back and we can go steal elsewhere”.

“He doesn't want the jewel,” I said with a shake of my head. “He wants me”. I whispered as I clamped my hands tightly together as the memory of the video of my sister played in my head. That asshole.

“Rana sweetheart, you can't marry him!”Gemma cried out and Adrika nodded along with her. “She's right, you can't just marry some psychotic dude just because he wants you to”.

“He has my sister” I yelled and they flinched back in shock.

“Who has who's sister?”Reggie asked as he plopped down onto the couch next to me, oblivious to the rising tension in the room.

His eyes darted between us ladies and he sat up straight. “What's going on?”

“He has someone watching my sister. I can't play any funny tricks or he could harm her,” I muttered in a resigned tone.

“Damn, this is fucked up”. Adrika groaned. “I knew this heist was going to go down a black hole right from the start. Who in their right senses with a house like that wouldn't have CCTV cameras?. It was fishy from the start but we were too fixated on the damn jewel to notice”.

Gemma bolted from the couch as if struck by lightning —startling us as she paced the living room in thought.

“If there were no CCTV cameras in the house, how was Niklaus able to trace the theft back to us?" she asked and my eyes widened.

“Adrika was one thing, but how did he see through Rana who just innocently attended the party?”

“ Maybe there were invisible cameras we weren't aware of?" Adrika said with a shrug and Gemma shook her head.

“No, I did a thorough sweep of the house. There were no cameras, Adrika”.

“Unless, he knew about us before we came to the party”. I said after a minute of silence.

“ That's absurd,” Adrika said. “No, it's not,” Gemma said, tapping her chin in thought.

“Think of it. There was no way anyone would have connected Adrika to Rana if they hadn't already had prior knowledge about our gang”.

“Also, why did Niklaus come to a party that he wasn't supposed to attend?. He was supposed to be on an important business trip. I checked his schedule!”

“But still,” Adrika argued. “Nobody has ever put a face to our gang”.

“But there have been rumors. People are aware there's a certain seductress among us that deceives men. Niklaus must have put two and two together”. Gemma said with finality.

“So, you're saying our cover is blown?" Reggie asked, putting the pieces together.

Gemma stared at me and shook her head. “Not yet. But if Rana doesn't do what Niklaus wants then we're all in some deep shit”.

“So, are you suggesting she marries him?” Adrika asked in disbelief. “She has no choice," Gemma yelled in agitation. “Think of Juniper. She's innocent in all this”.

“But what will he gain from marrying her?" Reggie asked all of a sudden. “No offense Rana, but it's only when you're in action you look classy and elegant but on a normal day, you're pretty ….plain” he observed as his eyes rested on my outfit.

“He's right, something doesn't add up. This is all so fucked up”. Adrika said.

“Either way, it doesn't matter,” I said, finally coming to terms with the situation.

“What are you trying to say?” Adrika asked as she slowly crept closer.

“It means I'll marry him. I have no choice”.

~~~~~~~~~~

“Glad you were able to come to a decision. The right decision I might add” Niklaus said, without any trace of emotion or smile on his face.

He looked so much different now in a black suit. More formidable, more distant,his gray, piercing eyes studying me with unhidden interest.

“Just take me to the church or wherever we'll sign the marriage papers" I spat harshly and he chuckled, revealing the man I was used to before masking it up again.

“Did you really think the wedding would happen just like that? Have you forgotten I belong to the Titterington roots?” He asked with a smile and it was this up close that I was able to notice he had dimples not that it made me hate him any less. Or so I thought.

His fingers found their way to my chin and traced the soft line of my jaw. I pushed his hand angrily as my eyes flared with hatred. My contempt for this man was more than whatever sort of attraction I held for him.

He shook his head and let his hand drop. “So feisty” he muttered and headed for the vehicle.

“Where are we going?” I yelled and he stopped in his tracks for a minute before continuing. “To the Titterington house”.

“Why?” I asked in confusion. “Because we are going to meet Caliste, now stop talking and get in," he ordered but I stood, rooted in shock.

“Caliste? I can't meet her,” I said as guilt of my actions gnawed my insides.

“Why?” he asked with a smirk. “Because you stole from her?” His smile widened as he took in my silence.

“Well, news flash Cinderella, no wedding happens under the Titterington household without Caliste’s approval and consent now stop being a chicken and get in”.

My legs moved at his command.