"Back off", he warned, his voice steady despite her gun trained on him. The diamonds in his hand catching the faint light as he stared her down with unwavering resolve.

"Put the diamonds in the bag," Zyra instructed, throwing the bag at him, her  heart pounding in her chest. 

Treyón caught it, his golden eyes narrowed, the tension in the air palpable. "And what makes you think I'll just hand them over?"

Zyra could see the anger in his eyes, and she knew that he wasn't going to give up the diamonds without a fight. She had to keep her cool and not let him see the twinge of fear she was feeling. She willed her hand with the gun, not to shake and said in a less than confident voice, "Because I'm not leaving without them, and I'm  sure you don't want to risk your life over a few diamonds. Now put them all in the bag and hand them over."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head in disbelief. She was a fool if she thought she could threaten him. She was a pretty little thing, but her bravado was amusing at best. Treyón took his time placing the diamonds in the bag and then shoved them in his pocket. She could try to take it, but he would fight her for them. He was not about to be intimidated by a woman with a gun. He met her gaze, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You know, I have a feeling you're bluffing."

She can feel the heat rising in her cheeks, and and tried to maintain her composure. Zyra knew he was right, she was bluffing, but she couldn't let him see that. She had to stay strong and keep up the act. Zyra met his gaze, trying to look confident and unbothered, her grip tightening on the gun. "Oh really? And what makes you think that? Remember I'm the one with the gun and I'm not afraid to use it."

He smirked and patted his pocket. "If you want the diamonds, come and get it."

She was taken aback by his boldness. He was ruggedly handsome over 6 feet tall, solid, with thick wavy dark hair and unusual golden eyes. Zyra couldn't believe she was standing, pointing a gun at him, and he was daring her to get the diamonds out of his pocket. He probably had a death wish or was just trying to intimidate her. She wasn't going to fall for it. The click of the trigger being pulled back echoed around as she slowly annunciation each word. "Hand...Me...The...Bag."

He didn't flinch. His expression still calm and composed. "I can forget this happened if you put the gun down and walk away."

Zyra could tell he wasn't afraid of her, or what she was holding. But she couldn't just walk away. Zyra had to do this, for herself and for the people who were counting on her. She took a deep breath when he took a step forward and fired.

Thorne froze, his eyes widening in surprise as the bullet knocked the hat off his head. She actually had the guts to pull the trigger. He was impressed, for he had expected her to back down, but she was determined to get what she came for. But he wasn't about to let her win this standoff. With his hands raised in surrender, he smirked. "Nice shot."

Zyra kept her gun trained on him. "Take your pants off and throw it for me."

His brows shut up. She was a feisty one, and he couldn't help but be intrigued by her bravery. "And what if I refuse? You know what? I think I'll keep my pants on, thank you very much."

She felt annoyance raising inside of her, and she couldn't believe that he still wasn't taking her seriously. Zyra had to make him understand that she was not playing around. Before he could even blink, her next shot hit him in the shoulder.

Thorne grunted, clutching the wound, his face twisting in pain, as he stumbled back. Zyra rushed over to him, and the gun still trained on his chest. "Don't try anything." And dug in his pocket, her hand brushing against his body as she yanked out the bag of diamonds. She didn't even have time to react, and it seemed like pain didn't slow him down. His hand clamped down on the gun, twisted, and tore it from her grip. She was spun around, back pinned to him with her own gun now aimed at her neck.

His sudden movement caught her off guard, Zyra was stunned by the feel of the cold metal of her own gun against her neck. She tried to stay calm, but she was terrified, not knowing what he was going to do next. Zyra couldn't believe she had been disarmed so quickly by an injured man.

"I think you've got guts, sweetheart, and I like that... dammit it hurts." He hissed in the middle of what he was saying. "You should have known better than to try and rob me," he hissed again. "I'm going to make you an offer, and I really shouldn't do this because you tried to kill me. I'll allow you to walk away now and forget all about my precious cargo, or I can tell you about a heist I want you to help me with, in which you can benefit and make the same amount as from the diamonds you were trying to steal from me. What do you say?"

With her heart pounding in fear, she tried to process what he was saying. "A heist?" She said, her voice trembling.

"Decide quickly before I bleed out here." His hot hissing breath puffed against her neck, causing tingles to run down her spine. " Yes, a heist. I have a high-risk job, and I need a female to help me, who wouldn't flinch if things go sideways. You in?"

She suddenly elbowed him. He released a painful,  "Oof and then an ughhhhh..." She spun trying to grab at the gun, but he managed to straighten, gasping in pain, holding it up with one hand, and he was much taller than her. She was a slim little thing, and with his size, his other arm was wrapped around her and had her pinned to his chest. "Let me go!" She struggled against him.

"Nnn-god....sh-! This thing freaking hurts bad. Are you stupid? That wasn't a smart move." His speech was clipped and strained and she could hear him gritting his teeth.

Zyra stopped moving instantly, feeling his blood seeping into her clothes. "You're  bleeding." Zyra paled.

"No shit, I'm bleeding! That happens when someone puts a bullet in you. What did you think comes out, glitter?" He said harshly in a breathless, shaky voice. "Look forget this," and he shoved her away. "Get out of here!" He held onto his shoulder with the gun in his hand.

"I'm  sorry I shot you. I just reacted. I desperately need the money or the diamonds." Her eyes fell to his pocket.

He let out a strained breath. "You just reacted?" He spat, his hand still held his bleeding shoulder, blood oozing between his fingers. "You're lucky I need an extra person, that's the only reason I'm tolerating you now.   "I'm Thorne by the way."

"Zyra."

He shrugged off his jacket, jaw clenched, then yanked his shirt over his head with a grimace. Ripping a strip from the fabric, he pressed it hard against the wound, blood already soaking through. He tried to loop the makeshift bandage, around his back..."

"Let me help." Zyra said softly, stepping towards him.

"Back off," he snapped, not looking at her. "I don't  need your help," and continued to loop the bandage around his back and over his chest, tightening it over the bleeding. He hissed, pulling the knot tighter, his hand slick with blood. "I've  been patching myself up long before you decided to put a hole in me."

When he was done he pulled the gun he had stuffed in his pocket and threw it into the high grass and told her about the heist. The Pink Star Diamond is worth $70 million and it's  arriving for a three day exhibition...." Suddenly Thorne pressed a finger to his lips, signaling for her to be silent and looked to the left. Then he dragged her with his hand over her mouth behind a tractor. "Shh...." A sudden beam of light swept around, cutting through the night like a blade. Thorne's grip tightened and he pulled her deeper into the shadows, grunting, breath hissing through his clenched teeth as footsteps crunched on the gravel. Then came voices-low, cautious, and getting closer.

“…You see movement over there?”

“Could’ve sworn I heard something. Check by the fence.”

Another flashlight flicked on. The glow danced across the grass, drawing closer with every breath.

Zyra’s heart pounded in her chest, loud enough she was sure they’d hear it. When suddenly Thorne's knees buckled with a soft thud, followed by a broken, "Fff—damn it…" and the light swung,  passing inches from their feet.

“Nothing here,” one voice muttered.

“Keep sweeping. They said someone was out here.”

Thorne’s jaw tightened.

"We need to get out of here." He whispered, his voice laced with pain, and he tugged her quickly and quietly through the shadows."