The city never slept, and neither did Aisha Verma.

She crouched behind a rusting ventilation shaft, her pulse steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The rooftop beneath her boots trembled slightly from the hum of the nightclub below-Aurora, a playground for the city's elite and criminals alike. Somewhere inside, Ronan Malik was making his move.

She had spent the last three years chasing him, memorizing his patterns, decoding his messages, and learning his tricks.

He was always one step ahead, always slipping through her fingers at the last second. Not this time.

Her earpiece crackled. "Aisha, do you have a visual?"

"Not yet," she whispered, scanning the rooftop entrance. Ronan had a habit of using the less obvious exits. If he was inside, he'd be leaving soon.

A sharp click echoed behind her.

"You're getting better, Detective," a familiar voice murmured.

Aisha spun, gun raised. But she was too late. Ronan stood a few feet away, hands in the pockets of his dark jacket, an infuriatingly calm smirk on his lips.

He was lean, effortlessly confident, his dark hair slightly tousled like he'd just come from a party instead of a heist.

Aisha's grip on her gun tightened. "Hands where I can see them, Malik."

He sighed dramatically. "Come on, now. We do this every time."

"Because you keep committing crimes."

He pressed a hand to his heart as if wounded. "Allegedly."

Aisha clenched her jaw. "The sapphire necklace. Hand it over."

Ronan pulled out a small velvet pouch and tossed it toward her.

She caught it, carefully opening it to reveal the glittering blue gem, still cool from being inside a vault moments ago.

"See? No trouble at all."

She narrowed her eyes. "Why are you giving it up so easily?"

"Who said I am?"

Ronan then ran to her snatching the necklace again.

Before she could react, Ronan took a step back-and then another-until he was standing on the very edge of the rooftop.

Aisha's pulse spiked. "Don't you dare."

"Relax, Detective. You know I'm not the reckless type."

With that, he tipped backward, disappearing over the ledge.

Aisha rushed forward just in time to see him land on a lower balcony, roll to his feet, and flash her a quick salute before vanishing into the shadows.

Her radio crackled again. "Aisha? Did you get him?"

"No," she muttered. "But I will."