Hunter slept soundly until 1:00 PM.
He woke up, drenched in sweat from the summer heat, and took a shower. June in LA was getting hotter by the day.
Freshly cleaned, he was about to make lunch when a knock echoed through the apartment.
Surprised, he opened the door.
Standing there was his "Good Neighbor," Maggie, dressed in a revealing outfit that left little to the imagination.
"Hi!"
She greeted him enthusiastically, her eyes practically devouring him.
Hunter felt a surge of pride. His looks were top-tier, and his physique, enhanced by his maxed-out stats, was nearly perfect.
Unlike Dom, whose muscle mass was intimidatingly bulky, Hunter's build was lean, proportionate, and aesthetically flawless. When he took his shirt off, few women could resist.
And it wasn't just for show.
Ever since Maggie first came over to complain about the noise, every visit ended with her needing to support herself against the wall just to walk home. She would collapse into bed and sleep for hours.
Hunter smiled.
"Hi."
Thanks to her, his [Reproduction] skill was now Level 4. He never turned away a dedicated training partner.
"Aren't you going to invite me in for coffee?"
Maggie's attitude towards her young, handsome, and incredibly capable Asian neighbor was worlds apart from how she treated her sloppy husband.
Hunter saw the fire in her eyes. He smiled knowingly and gestured for her to enter.
She walked in without a second thought.
She didn't notice her stepdaughter, Mathilda, standing in front of their own door, watching them with an expressionless face.
Hunter noticed.
He didn't care. He just nodded politely at the kid and closed the door.
Several hours later.
The door opened again.
Maggie walked out, leaning heavily against the wall. Her face was flushed with satisfaction and exhaustion.
"What a beast..."
"To be young again..."
Her legs were trembling as she shuffled next door. She savored the memory of the past few hours. She knew Hunter was barely eighteen, and the experience had shattered her worldview.
She entered her apartment and saw Mathilda watching TV with her little brother. Her older daughter was nowhere to be seen.
Too tired to care, Maggie barked an order. "TV dinners in the fridge. Make whatever you want. Don't stay up too late."
Too lazy to shower, she went straight to her bedroom.
Her husband had been busy lately—distracted, anxious, and rarely home at night. She wasn't worried about him finding out.
She fell into a deep, satisfied sleep.
"Ah, that hit the spot."
Hunter finished a plate of Kung Pao Chicken and downed a glass of homemade lemon soda.
He burped in satisfaction and walked to the window.
The sky was darkening. The stars were coming out.
"Surprisingly good weather."
Excitement bubbled in his chest.
Last night, he had spent hours in the rain hammering pitons into the cliff below Steve's villa.
Tonight, he would climb that cliff, infiltrate the villa, find the safe, and walk away with a ton of gold.
He was broke. He needed this win.
With the gold, his financial troubles would vanish. He could fund his skill training without worry.
And since Steve stole it from the Italian mafia (after betraying his own crew), Hunter felt zero guilt about stealing it from him.
As for Charlie Croker... well, sorry, bro.
Just as he was feeling a twinge of guilt, his phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hey, pal."
"Got a new job. You in?"
It was Charlie.
After twenty days of silence, he finally called.
Tonight was the night Hunter planned to rob Steve.
Without hesitation, Hunter agreed.
"Sure thing. I'm wrapping up some loose ends right now."
"If it works for you, give me an address. We can talk details tomorrow noon."
Charlie had no idea Hunter knew about Steve. Or the gold. Or that Hunter had been stalking him and Stella for weeks.
Hearing Hunter's quick agreement, Charlie sounded pleased.
"Great. Meet me at the diner tomorrow noon."
"Done."
Hunter hung up, grinning.
"Sorry, Charlie."
"I'm taking the gold."
"I'll settle your grudge with Steve for you."
"As for Stella... let's just say may the best man win."
He left his phone on the table. He didn't want it tracking him or distracting him during the heist.
He checked his gear one last time.
8:00 PM.
Hunter walked out of the apartment. He retrieved his motorcycle from a dark alley and rode toward Steve's villa.
Mission Start.
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