by A. C. Heller
Okay, granted this dude was hot and I mean fuck, like cover of GQ hot, but never before in my life had I seen hotness like this. So I guess it ain't a shock I sat there like an idiot and watched him stroll carelessly into the park across the street. A park that I've hunted in many times. A park that is inhabited by scumbags, douche bags and any bag of the asshole variety.
Goddamn it.
Reachin' under my seat I pull out my glocks and strap on my thigh holsters with the extra magazines. Slidin' out of my car I briefly wonder if this is a set up but quickly realize that I can't risk someone innocent gettin' dead because I'm paranoid. The lighting in the park is shit but lucky for me my eyesight is not. In fact it’s incredible as is my hearing and reflexes.
Lucky me, huh?
Stickin' to the tree line, I watch as the unknown heartthrob walks towards a fountain at the center of a walkway. He's starin' down at his phone now and I find myself wonderin' if he's straight up stupid or distracted by some chick textin' him. It's then I notice somethin'. Somethin' I should have seen from the start. He's packin', not a gun but a sword, I can't really tell what kind because it's in a sheath, but this dude is seriously walkin' around with a sword on his hip.
Who does that?
In the shadows roughly fifty yards from him I see the flash of silver that I've become all too familiar with. A gun. A muscle tenses in the hotties cheek and I know he's got his teeth clenched. He knows they're there too. Then everything goes to shit. Four Sapient come from two directions. One fires off two shots towards the Italian, but he quickly hits the ground. It was a smart move but at the same time it was so very stupid. The other three launch themselves on him takin' him to the ground. Now, usually I'm very calm and collected in these situations but at the moment the only thing I knew for sure was I had to help him. Not just because he was seemingly innocent, but for a bigger reason. Something profound but what? The fuck if I knew.
Safety off, cocked. Play time.
I fire three shots while steppin' out of the shadows. Thigh, Shoulder, Knee. Not fatal wounds but enough to give the Italian some breathin' room. The hottie quickly jumps to his feet as the three Sapient are writhin' on the ground in pain. His eyes meet mine but I don't lower my weapons. I keep them on him. I don't know this dude and even though he's hot, I can't trust him.
“Smoke?” The Italian says and the fact that he knows my street name tells me this was a set up.
“You're a fuckin' fool.” I say through clenched teeth. I don't like being played, especially when all I was tryin' to do was help.
“''Scuse me? You wanna run that by me one more time?”
“Yeah, with pleasure. You're a fuckin' moron. I shoulda' let those fuckers off you.”
The hottie throws his head back and laughs. Actually laughs and unsheathes his sword. He decapitates the three Sapient on the ground and wipes the blood from the blade. He wipes the blood on a jacket one of the dead Sapient is wearin' and sheathes his weapon before locking eyes with me once more.
“Gotta tell you, don't you feel real stupid right now considerin' I'm still standin' and you didn't figure out sooner I was playin' you? You wanna keep talkin' 'bout whose stupid?”
Grittin’ my teeth I remain silent makin' it clear I had nothin' else to say. Even if he was bein' an asshole he was still right. He played me, but I fell for it. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a white business card that only had The Order and a phone number on it. He extends it to me and nods towards the card.
“We've been lookin' for you. Want you to work with us. Take the card. Think about it.”
“Don't need the card, I can read it just fine.”
“You're twenty feet away there ain't no way you can read it.”
Clenchin' my teeth harder I quote the card back to him and he raises an eyebrow is disbelief.
“Enhanced senses. Fuckin' figures.”
Fuck.
I was givin' my shit away to this guy. That was some shit about me that he did not need to know. The less people that knew my advantage the safer I'd be. He takes a step forward and I aim one of my glocks at the ground by his feet and pop off a shot. He doesn't jump, he just stops. His clearly irritated stare is on me.
“Do not do that shit again.”
“Do not fuckin' move.”
Stalemate.
“Look, it's like this. We have been lookin' for you for a while now. You're here. I'm here. Come back to the compound and we'll set you up with a nice job where you can shoot bad guys all day.”
“Got my own shit to worry about. Take the card, the job and shove it up your ass. Cause you got your one. You won't see me again.”
Turnin' away I holster one of my glocks and start walkin' away. Just as I do I heard swift movement behind me but it's too far to be the hottie. Turnin' back quickly, I lift my remainin' glock, aim and fire off a round. It misses the hotties face by mere inches and hits the gun wieldin' Sapient, who was comin' up behind the hottie, in the center of his forehead causin' him to instantly crumble to the ground.
“Make that two. Now, you owe me one.”
By the time I reach my car I was flat out runnin'. Jumpin' behind the wheel I throw the car into gear and head for the city limits. While I'm drivin' down the deserted highway I add the number from the card into my phone. You know... Just in case.
Angelo
I wanted to be pissed but I couldn't. That tiny speck of a woman could have taken my head off tonight but she didn't. When it all came down to it she was just protectin' me. And I played her. It was fucked up but from all my intel that was the only way I was gonna get face to face with that chick. I did what I had to do. She knows we're interested in her and she knows how to contact us but that didn't stop me from wanting to go after her. I didn't, but that’s only 'cause I knew it would only make her run farther. The picture from the security camera did not do that girl justice.
She had a head full of light brown hair tied up in a ponytail at the back of her head; ice blue eyes and an attitude that would make any man who was all man want to enter a verbal battle with her just for the sheer satisfaction of it. And to top it off, she was a better shot than most men I knew and she knew her way around guns. Smoke... Yeah, smokin, fuck yeah.
Shaking my head to clear it of her I realize I've been sittin' in my SUV grinning at my steering wheel for the last ten minutes. Shit. I don't need distractions like this right now. The last time I got all riled up about a woman she ended up living in the same house as me with one of my brothers. I'm really not tryin' to have that happen again.
When I pull into the garage at the compound I see that Aiden is outside working on one of the vehicles. He always did tedious shit like that when he was thinking. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out it had to do with Dora. Aiden was damn near drooling the second he saw her. Soon as I step outta' my car Aiden comes over to me wiping his hands on a grease rag.
“Any luck?” Aiden asks, his eyes obviously searching my face.
“Oh yeah.” I say grinning back at him. He chuckles and shakes his head.
“So what happened?”
“I played her, got her to think I needed help. She showed, took out four Sapient, nearly took my head off too.”
“No shit?”
“I shit you not. That girl is bad ass but I gotta say her ass ain't bad either.”
I start laughing and Aiden is right there with me.
“You like this girl.”
It was definitely a statement and not a question. This is Aiden; I got no reason to lie to him.
“Brother, no bullshit, there's parts of me that wanna get better acquainted with her, if you get what I'm saying. But I ain't got time for that shit.”
Then Aiden said something that I never thought I'd hear him say. Something the, to-the-minute-by-the-books, leader would never say.
“Make time.”
And that's when I knew my brother was in love with a girl he barely knew.
Fuck.
Chapter Seven<
br />
Dora
My eyes flutter open and meet the darkness of my new prison. I know I shouldn't look at it like that, but if you really think about it, that's what it, is. I went from one to the other. Only here I'm free to move around as I please and essentially do what I want. But I'm still stuck behind these walls and to make matters worse, these people haven't moved to protect themselves from what I can do.
Flicking on the bedside lamp I glance at the door of my bedroom noting that there is half an inch of space between the bottom of the door and the floor. Fools. The curse that plagues me would easily slip through that crevice and destroy any living thing it came across. A walking plague, that's what I am and these people would be smart to lock me away. Better yet, get as far away from me as possible. The thought of Aiden fleeing for his life because of me has my insides twisting themselves into knots and causing an undeniable want to cry.
Since I'm lying on my side the single tear that slips from my eye crosses the bridge of my nose before falling and coming to rest on the pillow. I was focusing on this and that's why I didn't notice I wasn't alone in my room.
“This would not happen,” rumbles from the still darkened corner of my bedroom. Jerking to a sitting position I can clearly see that Damiano is sitting in an arm chair facing me with his elbows resting on his knees. He seems to be staring at the floor, but it still feels like his eyes are on me.
“What would not happen?” I ask honestly confused by his random statement. More importantly, why is he even in my bedroom.
“He would never flee. It is not of his nature.” Ah. So he was talking about Aiden. Wait... I didn't say....
“How did you know I was thinking about that?” Damiano raises his eyes from the floor and looks me directly in mine. I can see that there is a strange luminous blue tint to his irises. Every time I have seen him his eyes have been a different color. I know it has to have something to do with his abilities but something tells me it is really not my place to ask.
“I know many things. One thing that we both know is that you will eventually unleash your pestilence upon those you now hold dear.”
At his words my throat closes and I'm forced to tear my eyes from his. He's right, it's inevitable
“There must always be balance. Ask yourself will you live to die, or die to live?”
My head snaps up so I can meet his eyes, but to my surprise he's gone. The door never opened but yet the chair is empty.
Okay, that's a little scary.
Looking over at the clock I see that it's only six in the morning. After the conversation I just had with Damiano there's no way I'm going to be able to go back to sleep. Climbing out of bed I quickly shower and change into some of the clothes Liza bought for me. I feel slightly better now that I do not have to borrow Chasca's everyday but I still feel guilty that Liza had to go buy me clothes. Then again, it isn't as if I could go get them myself. Once dressed, I head into the kitchen where, to my surprise, most of the men are. Aiden, Angelo, Takeo and Al are all sitting at the table. Judging by the animated way Angelo is moving his hands, it seems he’s telling a story.
“You should have seen it; she didn't even have time to aim. She just pivoted, lifted her gun and caught the Sapient fucker right in the center of his forehead. No bullshit, I felt the heat of the bullet on my face. That's how close that shit was.”
When he finishes speaking I realize I was standing motionless at the coffee pot ease-dropping instead of getting myself a cup. Praying they didn't notice, I get myself a cup and stand at the counter facing them. I had never had coffee before I came here but Chasca showed me how to make it and now I love it.
Aiden and Takeo are on the side of the booth style table and when they notice me facing them they both give me a friendly smile. And I have to admit it felt good to see it. Never in the years I was a prisoner with The Sapient did I get a genuine smile. If I got a smile at all it was very easy to see the pity behind it. Al and Angelo turn their heads and smile at me as well, but it's Al who chooses to speak to me.
“Good morning, sweet Dora.”
I can't help the grin that spreads across my face. I really liked that. It made me feel cared for, which is something I've never had before. Not that I can remember at least.
“Good morning, everyone.” I say sounding hesitant but genuinely pleased to see them.
Both Takeo and Angelo give me some strange chin lift that I can only assume is their way of acknowledging my greeting.
Aiden smiles and speaks softly. “Morning, darlin’. You sleep well?” There's just something about the way he says darlin’ that gets my heart to flutter in my chest and my knees to wobble. Perhaps it's because he's utterly gorgeous and it rolls off his perfect lips in such a way that no other man could pull off. Either way, it's a good thing I was standing at the counter because I could brace myself with a hand so as to not stumble from his words.
“Yes,” is all I manage to get out. The word comes out breathy making it obvious where my head is at. Aiden's smile turns into a grin and I quickly look down at my coffee cup in my hands feeling like an idiot. Not that I had an issue with everyone in the room knowing I thought Aiden was a beautiful man, but more that I was acting like a teenager with a crush. Granted I didn't have any experience at all with this kind of thing, but still I would have thought over the years I would have developed some self control. Apparently not.
The men climb to their feet and Aiden is the first to leave the kitchen but not before he smiles at me one last time. I feel the blush wash over my face. Takeo and Al are bickering about something as they leave, so neither of them pays me any mind. Angelo however walks directly over to me.
“You should stop fuckin' around and put that man outta' his misery.” My mouth drops open and I stare at him wide eyed for a moment before noticing he hasn't moved and is expecting a response from me.
“What do you mean?” I ask, because I kinda thought he was talking about Aiden, but I wasn't really sure.
“Aiden. Give in. Let him have you so you two can stop this song and dance bullshit.” Wow. I learned relatively fast that Angelo had no censor but this was a little ridiculous.
“I don't know what you expect from me. I have nothing to offer him. Yes, I like him, but he should be with someone more suited for him.”
Before I even finish speaking Angelo is already laughing. He was handsome too, but a different kind of handsome. In fact, they all were. Aiden was 'kempt' handsome. He took care of himself, but he was also dangerous. Takeo was this massive man with tons of muscle, but his beautiful eyes gentled his face. Angelo was rough around the edges and had a foul mouth, but when he smiled you instantly smiled back. It was uncontrollable. Even Al was handsome, his clothes never seemed to quite match, but it worked for him. His hair was in this spiked style and he wore these red tinted glasses. He wasn't as tall as the others, but his muscle tone and personality made you instantly adore him.
“Girl you need to stop that shit now. You might not be experienced, but my boy will teach you anything you need to know. You just gotta give him an in, know what I'm sayin'?”
“Uh... no. I have no idea what that means, Angelo.” He grins at me and shakes his head in disbelief.
“Right, you need to show him you like him. Make it clear.” Oh. He should have just said that.
“How do you expect me to do that?”
“Easiest way I see, kiss him.”
I feel my eyes widen and I immediately start shaking my head no. I've never kissed a guy and I wasn't about to just do it without his permission. Something about that just seemed rude, or worse, potentially embarrassing. “That's not going to happen.”
Angelo chuckles softly at me and shakes his head again. He shrugs his shoulders and starts walking out of the kitchen. Before he exits, he calls back to me, “Suit yourself, but that doors already open. You just gotta' walk through.”
With those parting words I find myself alone in the kitchen with a now cold cup of coffee in my hands. What a morn
ing.
The next morning I woke up at a decent time. It was just after eight and the moment Chasca saw me she tugged my hand and dragged me to the gym stating I “absolutely had to see something.” So I went with her. Once we were in the gym she sits down on an empty weight bench, but doesn't let go of my hand. Instead, she pulls me down beside her.
“What are we here to see?” I asked genuinely curious and thinking that watching people working out seemed rather boring. But she only raises a finger to her lips hushing me and nods towards the opening to the locker room. And it was then that I decided watching people working out sounded like an amazing idea. Takeo came strolling out with Angelo, both dressed in baggy sweats and sneakers but both shirtless. Takeo grinned at Chasca and she blew him a kiss in return. It was nice to see such love in real life. I'd read romance novels before so I understood the concept, but to see it was truly beautiful.
The strange thing was Angelo winked at Chasca causing her to giggle. Assuming they had some private joke running I just sat motionless taking in the two amazing male specimens in front of me. That is until Aiden walked out dressed exactly the same only his hair was wet and there were still drops of water on his shoulders and chest making it obvious he had just come from the shower. Dear God. Never in my life have I felt like I do right at this moment. My entire body feels flushed. I feel nervous and I'm pretty sure my understanding of the English language has slipped my mind. Instead of speaking I simply stare. When Aiden sees me sitting there he immediately stops moving as well.
