Chance: An Action & Adventure Romance Novel (Sacrifice)

by A. C. Heller

  “Enjoy your dinner. I'll come back later to collect the dishes.”

  After thanking her I watch as she leaves and I do as she said. The chicken parmesan she brought me was amazing and I know Chasca made it. She had been talking my ear off about wanting it all week. Powering on the computer an application pops up that says it's specifically used for instant messaging. Looking at the contact list I see that everyone I have met since I've been here is listed, but only one is green. I can only assume green means they're online. I begin typing in the chat box.

  Dora: Hello is anyone there?

  Deluca: Yo.

  It takes me a minute to remember who this is.

  Dora: Angelo?

  Deluca: You got me. What's up?

  Dora: Is Aiden around?

  Deluca: Yeah. Want him?

  Dora: Please.

  There's no response from him, so I sit staring at the application on my screen. Luckily I did because I notice immediately when the icon next to “Ripley” turns green.

  Ripley: Dora?

  Dora: Yes.

  Ripley: Darlin' I'm so sorry.

  Dora: I know Aiden, it's alright.

  Ripley: You do? How? You were so upset.

  Dora: I had a conversation with Liza.

  Ripley: Shit.

  At that I find myself giggling at my computer. I felt so betrayed when he told me about the chamber, but deep down I knew that Aiden would not betray me.

  Ripley: Dora?

  Dora: I'm here.

  Ripley: Talk to me.

  Dora: Sorry I was just thinking.

  Ripley: About what?

  Dora: You.

  Ripley: Good things I hope.

  Dora: Very. I was thinking that I should have known you had a good reason for this.

  Ripley: I should have told you sooner but I had just found out. Then there was the explosion and I saw you. I just couldn't stop myself. That's what you do to me.

  Dora: I know how you feel.

  Ripley: Is that so?

  Dora: Yes. When I first saw you at The Sapient facility I thought I was seeing things. You were something out of a romance novel.

  Ripley: That I can relate to. Never in my life have I seen a more beautiful woman.

  My heart flutters in my chest as I read those words over and over again. Before I get a chance to type a response he continues.

  Ripley: And I know I never will. I think you're it for me darlin’.

  Oh. My. God.

  Dora: Aiden we barely know each other. Don't you think this is a bit sudden?

  Ripley: Nope. I'm not a man that makes impulsive decisions. And this may seem sudden to you but you do not know how long I have been waiting for you. You are the girl I would have brought home to my parents. The girl who curls into me just right while we're watching TV. The girl that laughs and her eyes light up and I feel it in my chest. You are it for me.

  My hands are shaking as I bring them back to the keyboard. The tears pooling in my eyes from his beautiful words make it hard for me to see what I'm typing but I manage to get it out.

  Dora: I don't know how to do this. And I didn't. I was terrified.

  Ripley: I know that darlin. And you do not have to. I will do it for both of us. You're hurt, I'll mend you. You're lost, I will find you. You've waited so long for someone to give you what you deserve darlin. I am that man. You just gotta' let me do it.

  Dora: Okay.

  Ripley: Okay? That means you're mine?

  Dora: Yes, Aiden. I'm yours.

  Ripley: Thank fuck. Sit tight Dora. Come hell or high water we will get you out of there.

  Dora: We?

  Ripley: Me, Angelo, Takeo, Al and Liza are all gonna work to get you out. Gonna sit tight for me darlin?

  Dora: Yes.

  Ripley: That's my girl.

  After I receive his last message his little icon goes gray and I know my Aiden is coming for me. All my life I've been consumed by darkness, whether it was in my mind, manifested physically by my abilities or in the eyes of The Sapient. But for the first time I know everything is going to work out. I feel like I'm on the right path with the right people.

  One week later – Aiden

  The main building of the training facility is currently housing Dora's cell so we've decided it would be better to move our night training outside. There's a flood light on the side of the compound that keeps it illuminated enough to effectively train. Tonight I've been pushing myself much further than I usually do but I've got more steam to blow. It's been a week and I haven't heard a fuckin' thing from The Order about Dora's release and its left me extremely pissed, among other things. I had a taste of her and now I felt like I was a dying man in a desert and my water was locked in a box in front of me. Fuck!

  Landing a savage blow on Takeo's chest I watch as he takes a step back from the impact but Takeo being who he is he only smiles and comes at me full force. Takeo doesn't have abilities like me. He's just fucking huge and strong. I've watched this man flip a car and while training I've personally felt one of his punches. Let me tell you, do not get in this man’s fuckin' way. Takeo hits me in my abdomen with his shoulder sending us both sliding across the grass. He sits up laughing and that only pisses me off more. Coming to my feet I assume my fighting stance. I quickly notice that Takeo is already on his feet standing next to Angelo. They are both staring into the shadows behind them and that's when I feel him.

  Damiano steps out into the light and he's shirtless and his peculiar white locks are tied back in a ponytail. He's still wearing his black pressed slacks and his expensive Italian dress shoes, but his eyes are golden in color. The one time I saw his eyes that color he dropped twelve Sapient. They didn't have a chance. As fast as they would reach him they were dead. I've known Damiano for years, but to this day I'm not entirely sure what he is capable of.

  “Come to learn to fight old man?” Angelo says. Both Takeo and I flinch slightly at his words. Oh shit. Damiano doesn't say anything. He just lifts one hand and motions for Angelo to come at him. Angelo unsheathes his sword and charges Damiano without another word. When Angelo's blade is about to pierce the skin of Damiano's chest he wraps his hand around the blade and tears the weapon from Angelo's hand. Damiano tosses his sword against the wall of the compound and with his other hand he grabs Angelo by the throat lifting him off his feet suspended in the air.

  “Ego.” Damiano mutters and drops Angelo to the ground. He steps over Angelo and walks towards us while Angelo is coughing and rubbing his throat. He stops as he reaches us. Takeo and I exchange a look. We're both wondering what this is all about. Damiano doesn't do anything without a purpose, nor has he ever joined us for training.

  “As one.” Damiano says and drops his hands to his sides. He wants us both to attack him at once. Takeo and I have fought together for years, so I know we're both on the same page when I nod to him and he nods back. Takeo drops his shoulder and hits Damiano in the abdomen just as he had done to me minutes ago. I manipulate a gust of wind to hit Damiano in the back of his knees. He goes down on his back, but only for a moment. Damiano plants a foot and rolls forcing Takeo's body to the ground under his just as he swings a foot out taking my legs out from under me. When I hit the ground he drags me by my leg over next to Takeo and we both lay there breathing hard, staring up at him.

  “Some battles simply cannot be won.” In the second it takes for me to blink my eyes he is gone. Takeo groans and sits up and I follow suit.

  “I fuckin' hate when he does that,” I say aloud.

  “Yeah, these disappearing acts are getting a little old,” Takeo agrees.

  “No, I mean him showin' up and spouting his philosophical bullshit.” It was actually pretty rare that Damiano did that. On that thought I turn to Takeo and ask him, “He ever wrong?”

  “Nope,” Takeo responds.

  “Fuck.”

  “Yup.”

  Chapter Ten

  Smoke

  My back is to the wall. I’ve got one glock po
inted at the Sapient in front of me. My other glock is on the second Sapient to my left with both of their weapons on me. There are two bodies on the floor. Those are the two Sapient I clocked before I even came into the room. Walker'd be pissed if he knew I ran up in here guns blazin'. Too late to think about that now. Walker was the man who trained me. A man I haven't seen in years. One night he told me he taught me all he had to teach and the next day he was gone. That's how he was. A drifter by nature. Old school all the way. My thoughts come back to the now as I hear footfalls comin' from one of the bedrooms of the luxury suite that these fuckers were hidin' out in.

  Three to one. Not good odds, but I've been in this situation before. Their first mistake was hesitatin' to pull the trigger but I'm usin' this to my advantage. The third Sapient that comes out of the room is clearly in charge. His suit looks expensive, probably Armani, and he's grinning at me like he likes what he sees. Sick.

  “Lower your weapons and I'll call my men off.”

  Time to pull out the big guns. I tilt my head to the side and smile sweetly at him. “You're not gonna’ let your men hurt me are you?”

  “Little thing like you? Not a chance. Call off whoever killed my other two men and you and I can take things to the back and talk this whole mess out.”

  Fuckin' men. Always quick to assume a girl ain't capable of takin' care of business. That's when he makes his next mistake. The moment I start to lower my weapons he takes a few steps towards me and leans in so close to me that I can feel his mouth is near my ear. There's a soft rustlin' outside the suite door and I almost didn't hear it, so I know the three men don't. The head honcho whispers softly to me distractin' me from the sounds at the door.

  “Bet you like it rough too.”

  He runs a finger along the seam of my tank top grazing my breast and I barely stop the disgusted shudder that my body wants to do. Talkin' dirty to me is one thing, but touchin' me is another. I'm done.

  “You have no idea.”

  Slammin' my head forward, my forehead connects with his chin just as I bring my knee up and connect with his balls. He stumbles back and drops to a knee cuppin' his balls in his hand. As his knee hits the floor my glocks are up and I fire off four shots, two at each of the gunmen taking one out instantly and hitting the other in the thigh and shoulder. Perfect. Walkin' forward I slam my fist into the side of the leaders face causin' him to go off balance and crumble to the floor.

  “I don't like to be touched.”

  Walkin' over to the one I maimed, I grab him by the shirt and turn him so he's face to face with me.

  “Are there anymore of you fuckers in here?”

  He shakes his head no, but I know I heard somethin' at the door. One last bullet puts him out of his misery and I make my way over to the door. But just as I round the couch to get to the door there's suddenly a hand wrapped around my throat draggin' me backwards over the couch. Once my feet hit the back of the couch I plant them and push off as hard as I can forcin' myself and whoever has a hold of me backwards. The man trips and we both fall to the floor. Before I can gain my feet there's a knee pressin' painfully into my abdomen and a ball of fire in my face.

  Well fuck.

  I always wear the same shit when I go huntin'. Black tank top, black skinny jeans and my red chucks. My shoulder and thigh holsters fit perfectly over them and my chucks aren't exactly incognito but I love em', so fuck it. The aviators I wear, even at night, are oversized, but that's for a reason. I've got bright blue eyes and that's somethin' people won't forget. The last thing I need is for people to be able to pick me out of a lineup, crowd or any of that bullshit. But the problem is none of what I'm wearin' is fire resistant. This includes my skin. So as the ball of fire is pressed closer and closer to my face it starts to really hurt. My hands are wrapped around the fucker’s wrist but he's overpowerin' me. As the ball of fire starts to burn my cheek and I'm about to cry out from the pain, suddenly the man’s head is gone and there's blood pouring from his neck onto my chest.

  Scramblin' out from under the lifeless body I look up to see none other than the Italian hottie from the park. Sword in hand, eyes on me, I watch as he spits on the lifeless Sapient. He leans down and takes the leaders expensive suit jacket into his hand and wipes the blood from his sword before sheathing it and turnin' back to me.

  “'Suppose we're even now,” he says if gruff voice that makes him sound sexier than he looks. Not that that's really possible, I’m just sayin'. His jaw is tight and I can see the muscles workin' in his cheek. He doesn't look very happy. Actually, he looks pissed. Snatchin' up my Aviators I check them for scratches and slide them back on. Lookin' back up at him I can see that he's still pissed about what-the-fuck-ever his issue is. Shruggin' one shoulder I holster one weapon, keepin' the other in my hand, mainly because I don't know this dude.

  Walkin' around him I head towards the door wonderin' how he found me. He must have followed me, but I've always been careful to watch for a tail and I didn't see anyone. I'm not about to ask him out for coffee to find out how he found me, so blowin' off my own thoughts I place my hand on the door and turn the knob.

  One footstep.

  Before I can even turn around a katana barely misses my face as it is embedded in the door. My heart's racin' but that's good. The human body has a fight or flight response and that only amplifies my abilities. When most freak out, I thrive. I can hear his heart beatin' in his chest. It's poundin' just like mine and for some reason I smile. Still smilin' I turn and lift my glock and fire off two shots. Now, I could have fired at where I know the heartbeat is comin' from but I don't, I fire a foot to the left.

  I quickly pull out my other glock and lift them both as I cautiously walk backwards through the room, retracin' the areas I know, never givin' him my back. I can still smell his cologne in the room. Gucci. Kind of pretentious, but I have to admit I like the way it smells. It suits him.

  Taken aback by my own strange thought I don't notice that the sword is no longer embedded in the door.

  Heartbeat.

  Faster.

  Faster.

  Colognes stronger.

  Heat at my back.

  Down!

  Droppin' to the ground I hear the distinctive 'swoosh' of a blade slicing through the air. Rollin' to my back I lift both guns and to my surprise he is still standin' over me. He doesn't back away. He doesn't attempt to shield himself. He just stands there starin' down at me. His feet are on the outsides of each of my knees and I've already figured out how I'm gonna drop him. Like an idiot he sheathes his sword and tilts his head to each side crackin' his neck. I want to laugh at his typical I'm a badass maneuver. His facial expression is serious and he looks more annoyed now than pissed and when he speaks I know I'm right.

  “This cat and mouse shit ain't for me. Get the fuck up, you're comin' with me whether I gotta drag you outta here or not. Your call.”

  Still lying on my back on the floor, arms lifted, guns aimed at his chest, I throw my head back and burst out laughin'. He's cocky. It's would almost be a little cute if it wasn't so insultin'.

  “That so?”

  “Yup.”

  He's scowlin' at me now and I know he's waitin' for me to say somethin', but I'm done talkin' for now. Shruggin' my shoulders I holster my guns and turn my body slightly like I'm going to get up. He doesn't move and that's exactly what I was hopin' for. Bowin' my legs out, I twist my feet so their parallel with the floor and pull them towards my chest as hard as I can, catchin' him in the back of the knees with my feet. He starts to fall forward but I anticipated this, so I use the momentum from the pull at the back of his knee to slide forward, still on my back between his legs, as he comes down. At the last second, I thrust the barrel of my glock upwards successfully catchin' him in the balls. He sucks in a breath and mouths fuckin' bitch just as his knees hit the floor.

  A low menacin' growl comes from his throat, but by the time he turns his head I've got a gun trained on the back of him. There's somethin' different about
him now. His eyes. They're red. And let me tell you, I've seen some shit, but I find myself wantin' to take a step back. Thank fuck I'm wearin' my Aviators or he'd be able to see the fear in my eyes. Steelin' myself against the fear I keep my gun on him and lift my chin, throw on my best smirk and hope to fuck he can't sense my fear.

  “Thought I made myself clear. I'm done with you. Leave me the fuck alone. I got my own shit to take care of and you ain't on my list.”

  Fuck! Why do I keep givin' myself away to this guy? He doesn't need to know about my list. The only person who knows is Walker. My list took years to build but it's a list of all my targets. And I've been and will continue to mow all those motherfuckers down until I get to the scumbag that took my childhood from me. Took my family, my everything, and me. Once upon a time I was a normal girl, swoonin' over boys and listenin' to boy bands. Not anymore. Now I don't have time for guys and its rock and roll all the way. I don't smile like I used to. I don't cry. I just get even. Life made me hard, but you know what? If it hadn’t I'd be dead, so fuck it.

  “Step back.”

  His voice is mostly a growl and almost completely different than it had been. No more hottie with the sexy voice. Now he had my danger meter losing its shit. I'm not sure if I'm too scared to move or too proud, but I do not move.

  “Step the fuck back!” He roars and stands quickly swingin' an arm back. He effectively catches me off guard and knocks my gun out of my hand. I listen as it skids across the floor comin' to rest against a wall. He takes a step towards me and I instinctively take one back, away from him.

  “Who’s got your back?”

  “I don't need....”

  His voice rises even higher as he cuts me off, “Whose got your back!?”

  “No one!” I shot back at him because it's true. I work alone. I don't have anyone I can call to come help me. There's Walker but it's not like that. He comes around when he wants. I have no way of gettin' a hold of him. He stares at me for a moment and shakes his head in disgust. He scoffs and turns away from me and starts prowlin' towards the window. He's halfway out of the window before I blurt out my stupid question.