"No, there is no way. Why would he be here?" I shake my head in disbelief.
"You weren't his target when he shot Mario. You know his aim, if he wanted you dead..." Lucas trails off.
"If I wasn't his target then, I definitely am now." They all share similar expressions. A mixture of fear and anger fills the room.
"Let him come. He became my target the moment he stabbed me. Hopefully his reputation is true and he's fast enough to outrun La Sirena." I declare strongly.This is war.
Chapter Three
Ocean Eyes
*SIX MONTHS LATER*
"Mic check." Ryon’s voice cuts into my headset.
"Loud and clear, honey buns!"
"Everly...this is serious." I roll my eyes at my father’s dictating tone.
"Yeah, yeah. It's not like my reputation out here means anything."
"He is entering the building now." Lucas says.
I ready my position and set my rifle on the building edge. Through my scope I see my target; Ricardo Gonzalez. A drug lord who's guilty pleasure is selling women and children into sex slavery. The lowest of the low if you ask me. The wind rolls past me as my hair catches in the breeze. Removing the displaced hair from my face, I reset my sights on Ricardo. He arrogantly places himself on a couch as people young and old are cycled through the doors. He is deciding their fates right in front of my eyes.
"I have a visual." I tell the team.
"Take the shot when you are ready." Ryon says.
Just as I ready myself to fire, there is movement on the roof opposite of me. Using my scope, I zoom in and my heart stops for a split second. The devil mask stares back at me and suddenly there is a loud impact nearby. Looking over to the source I find a bullet embedded in the concrete only inches from my body. Anger explodes in my brain and I am blinded by rage.
"Ev, come in! What was that?" Lucas asks.
With a growl I say, "Thefucker is here! He took a shot at me!" I pull my ear piece out and look back through my scope.
This asshole has the audacity to blow me a kiss as he readies his aim. I flip him off and shoot. There is a synchronized explosion in the air and within a millisecond there is a second bang. Our bullets collide with each other. Bullets begin to rain back and forth. Each one meeting the other with godly precision. I see a stupid white flag being waved which catches me off guard. I watch as he uses his index finger to point in the direction of Ricardo before waving goodbye to me. Oh fuck no.
I am at a full sprint down the fire escape, jumping from landing to landing. With my weapon drawn I fly across the street, dodging oncoming cars. I find the entrance of the building and shoot the lock causing the door to swing open. Taking three steps at a time I near Ricardo's room. Not again. He will die at my hands. Like cat and mouse, I peak around corners moving silently with my gun held tightly in position. I tear room to room until I land on my destination with a smirk. I kick the door in and the scene in front of my eyes freezes me in my position. No fucking way. Ricardo is slumped on the couch with a blade embedded in his forehead. His men are thrown through the room covered in scarlet fluid. I hear a whimper and my eyes find the source. A small child, no older than five, is found hiding under a table.
I approach him quickly and ask "Who did this?"
Trying my best not to scare him, I use a soft hushed voice. He stares blankly at me. I ask again in Spanish.
With teary eyes the boy looks at me. "The Ghost” he whimpers. His accent is harsh but understandable.
“Okay. Take this and find someone.” I quickly say while handing him a card. My men will find him a home andmake sure he never ends up here again. He runs from the room and I am left in complete and utter silence.
Walking over to the couch, I push Ricardo off with disgust. He falls grossly to the floor and I sloppily throw myself on the couch. I place my head in my hands and groan. Again, he got me again. Took yet another kill from me and for what? What is his goal? His end game? I throw myself back and close my eyes in frustration. Six months have gone by and it's been radio silence until now. More and more of my men have been dying on missions. More and more stolen targets. Hopefully we can find something on the cameras. At least to understand how he is getting in and out. That will give us some type of profile on him. He is invisible. Untouchable and undetectable. Until me, no one managed to cause major damage to him. I know I have a target on my back now. He will keep coming for me until one of us dies. I chuckle out loud. Both in frustration and amusement at the thought of him managing to kill me.
"You will never catch me, Ghost." Just as the words leave my lips, a knife is placed against my throat while a hand holds my head steady. A low vibrating chuckle comes from behind me. My eyes open to be met with the mask of a devil. Well fuck.
"But I’ve already done that, baby" He speaks. His accent is husky but subtle enough that only certain words pick it up.
He smells clean, like soap mixed with the ocean. His scent fills my mind as I look directly into his eyes. They could steal your soul. Blue, so light they remind me of the oceans in Belize. They are mesmerizing. He is mesmerizing. I don't have to see his face to know the truth behind the mask. He’s truly beautiful. The kind of deadly beauty that draws you in before you meet your inevitable death. I’m so lost in his presence that I almost forget the situation I am faced with.We stare at each other. Waiting for the other to make a move. The blade is pressed sharply against my neck causing a trickle of blood to slip out from underneath its pressure. I don't even blink at the pain. Pain is a weakness.
"Are you scared to die?" He asks, a curious tone in his voice.
"No, I have died. I am not afraid of death, but I won't go down without a fight." With this I grip his wrist and break his hold.
