Sweet Hatred Chapter 461: PLAN

SARAH

The rundown apartnt had been my prison for days.

Two days, specifically.

Two days watching the snow fall outside the grimy window, blanketing the city in white while I sat on this stained mattress, my laptop burning hot against my thighs.

Two days planning.

The Grandeur Hotel.

I’d known where they were staying before the storm even started. Had seen the news coverage after the will reading... Kael erging from that law office with Aria tucked protectively against his side, reporters swarming them as they climbed into his car.

And in the background of one news blog shot, clear as day: The Grandeur’s distinctive gold awning as they drove past it.

Idiots.

Kael might have billions and an army of security, but he’d gotten sloppy. Comfortable.

That comfort was going to cost him everything.

I’d spent the first day researching.

The Grandeur Hotel’s website had a virtual tour, ant to entice wealthy guests, but it gave exactly what I needed. Lobby layout. Hallway configurations. The location of service elevators tucked discreetly behind staff-only doors.

I’d found employee reviews on job sites, complaints about shift schedules and managent. That room service ran like clockwork. That the loading dock was accessible from the back alley with minimal cara coverage.

I’d even found the architectural plans filed with the city... public record, available to anyone who knew where to look.

Floor by floor. Room by room.

I studied them until I could walk through that hotel in my sleep.

But I couldn’t do this alone.

I needed muscle. Soone expendable. Soone who wouldn’t ask too many questions.

On the second day, I’d posted an ad on an underground forum I’d found by luck.

"Discrete work. One night job. Cash paynt. Must be available imdiately after storm clears."

The responses ca quickly.

Too quickly.

Most were clearly cops or scamrs. Their language too formal, their questions too specific.

But one stood out.

"Available. Experienced with extractions. 15k minimum. Half upfront."

Extractions.

Professional terminology.

I’d ssaged back imdiately.

"Not kidnapping. Retrieval of soone who belongs to . One night. In and out. Can you handle discrete entry into high-security building?"

His response took twenty minutes.

"Yeah. Done it before. What’s the target?"

"Hotel. 40th floor suite. Heavy security but manageable with proper planning."

"Security details?"

"Ard guard outside suite. Building security on rotation. Cara coverage standard but service areas less monitored."

Another pause. Longer this ti.

"Doable. But 20k. Half upfront, half after. Non-negotiable."

I’d stared at my bank balance. Nine thousand dollars.

Not enough.

But I had the card. The one tied to the account my parents had set up for back when they thought throwing money at would make go away.

I could give him that as down paynt.

"I have $9000 cash equivalent available imdiately via debit card. PIN included. You can verify funds. Remaining balance paid in cash after job complete. Deal?"

"How you getting the rest?"

"Not your concern. Do we have a deal or not?"

Ten minutes of silence.

Then:

"Deal. et day after tomorrow, 9 AM. Corner of Fifth and 52nd. Two blocks from target location. Co alone."

"How will I recognize you?"

"You won’t. I’ll recognize you. Bring the card."

And that was it.

No nas exchanged. No unnecessary details.

Professional.

Good.

I’d spent the rest of that second day refining the plan, thinking through every possible contingency.

He would infiltrate during the day. Blend in with staff or maintenance. Scout the interior while I tracked Kael and Aria’s movents from outside.

I would follow them all day. Learn their patterns. Wait for them to return to the hotel.

Then, once they were inside and settled, we’d extract Aria.

I’d need a uniform. Staff credentials. Sothing to get past the initial checkpoints.

He could handle that. Find soone to threaten. Soone to... remove.

I didn’t care how.

I just needed access.

The rest would be easy.

By the ti anyone realized she was missing, we’d be long gone.

I’d closed my laptop on that second night, my hands shaking with anticipation.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow the storm would clear.

Tomorrow I’d et my hired muscle.

Tomorrow I’d start tracking them.

And tomorrow night?

Tomorrow night, I’d take back what was mine.

Now, sitting in this rental car... cheap, forgettable, paid for with the last of my cash, I watched the entrance of The Grandeur Hotel and waited.

9 AM had co and gone.

I’d t him exactly as planned. Corner of Fifth and 52nd.

He’d been exactly what I’d expected: tall, built, covered in tattoos that crept up his neck. The kind of man who’d done ti and wasn’t afraid of going back.

He’d gotten into my car without preamble.

"You Sarah?"

"That’s ."

"The na’s Chase. Show the card."

I’d handed it over. Watched him pull out his phone and check the balance with so banking app I didn’t recognize.

"Nine thousand."

"Down paynt. You get the card now. PIN is 7639. The rest cos after the job."

He’d studied for a long mont, his expression unreadable.

Then he’d pocketed the card.

"What’s the plan?"

I’d explained everything. Every detail I’d mapped out over two days of planning.

He’d listened without interrupting, occasionally nodding.

When I finished, he’d said: "I’ll need three hours to get inside and scout. You track the targets. Text updates on their location. When they return to the hotel, I’ll text you when I’m in position."

"What about the uniform? The access?"

"I’ll handle it. You just make sure you’re ready when I signal."

And then he’d left.

That was six hours ago.

I’d been following Kael and Aria ever since.

Watched them leave the hotel mid-morning, Kael’s hand protective on her lower back as they climbed into his car.

Followed them to so expensive dical building, her prenatal appointnt, probably.

Then to the hospital where his father was rotting in a coma.

After the hospital, they’d gone to look at a house.

Houses.

Plural.

I’d followed them to an obnoxiously expensive property, watching through binoculars as they entered the building with a real estate agents, Aria’s face bright with excitent.

Playing house.

Building their perfect little future.

It made sick.

After the house ca shopping. High-end boutiques where Kael bought her clothes and jewelry and shoes like he was trying to bury her in luxury.

My hands had clenched on the steering wheel, watching him carry her bags, kiss her temple, make her laugh.

That should have been us.

All of it should have been us.

But he’d stolen it. Stolen her. Stolen everything.

Well, not for much longer.

Late afternoon, they’d driven to a different part of the city. To an apartnt building I recognized imdiately.

Aria’s apartnt.

I’d watched them go inside, watched lights turn on in her windows.

Hours later I saw Ash and Sylas leave.

Then it clicked

A party.

They were throwing her a fucking birthday party.

I’d sat in that car, watching through the windows as Aria and Kael stepped out, Niko following.

I watched as Aria smile like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Like she hadn’t destroyed what we had.

My phone buzzed.

A text from the number I’d been waiting for.

"In position. Service elevator accessible. Uniform acquired. Waiting for your signal."

I looked back up at the Jeep they entered.

Any second now, Kael would take her back to the hotel.

Back to their suite.

Back to where I’d be waiting.

I typed back quickly.

"Targets leaving now. Estimate 30 minutes until they return to hotel. Confirm you’re ready."

"Ready. Service entrance code is 4782. et second floor storage room when you arrive."

"Understood."

I started the car and pulled away from the curb, heading back toward The Grandeur.

My heart was racing now. Adrenaline making everything feel sharp and surreal.

This was it.

No more planning. No more waiting.

Tonight, I’d take her back.

Tonight, Kael would learn exactly how it felt to lose everything.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow, Aria would finally understand that she belonged to .

Always had.

Always would.