His face stills as if he had an epiphany. "Make them partners, of course. Your daughter isthefemme fatale. My son is well known for his own skillset as well."
“Forgive me… but Blake? What is he known for outside of partying and spending his inheritance?” My father questions.
He chuckles in a way that feels familiar to me, though I can’t place where. “He has many talents and hobbies.”
I finally speak up. "Whatexactlyis the goal here?” Dominic smirks but somehow it doesn't meet his eyes.
"You two work together to dismantle the cartel."
I scoff and begin laughing hysterically. "You think I would believe that the man I danced with at the gala is capable of such necessities?"
He nods slowly. "He’s well proven in the field; believe me. Would this be a problem?"I wouldn’t believe this prick as far as I could throw him, which is pretty far to be fair.
I have a moment of clarity. If I partner with him, we may be able to hunt Ghost together.
"Fine. I'll do it." Gasps fill the room.
"Great, I have already drawn up a contract. All you have to do is sign it." He slides a packet over to me and without thinking, I sign. He scribbles his own signature down before returning his attention back to me.
"Oh and Everly? I had wanted to mention something to you. It's silly really. Just a minor fleeting thought..." My inquisitive mind ponders.
"And what's that?" I ask. He smirks again, but this time something is different. The once warm expressions are no more.
“You never really appreciate the night sky until you are forced to look up at it, huh?”
His words hit me like a splash of cold water. All sound is choked from my throat as stars and darkness clash behind my eyes, wielding me back to the very first night when I met Ghost. A memory filled with a dark angel painted in thegalaxies. His glacial gaze haunting my final consciousness. The full moon creates a crown of lunar glow behind his head. The figure’s ethereal voice paints its lips with my name. Why would Dominic say such a thing with no meaning unless…?
Before I can speak we are interrupted by gunfire in the distance. The large doors explode open and the room fills with smoke. The blinding cloud forces us to squint in an attempt to assess the on coming danger.
We pull our guns and without hesitation take fire.Shoot first, ask questions later as they say.
“Token, kill!" I screech over the gun fire. He launches forward, hardly recognizable within smoke as he grabs an enemy. The canine makes quick work of downing the attacker before moving on to another. Their screams fill the air just as motion beckons me to follow its path.
Blake's father crouches across the table from me, firing his weapon at the oncoming assault. Just as I internally comment on his marksmanship, he groans while clutching at his abdomen. His body involuntarily collapses from the trauma. Without thinking, I vault over the table to crouch beside him. Blood seeps through his black shirt, only leaving a subtle shine in its destruction. I pull off my blouse, not bothering to consider the social implications of me in only my bra. With my shirt in hand I apply pressure to the wound. He grunts in response, looking down at where his obvious pain originated from.
“I’ve been hit.” He says in disbelief; his eyes wide from shock.
“It happens to the best of us. You are going to be just fine. Don’t go dying on me now.” I chuckle, offering a supportive smile.
“Dominic’s been hit. We need to get out of here NOW!” I shout to the surrounding men, inferring that we need to wrap this shit up sooner rather than later.
I hear a cough come from next to me. Looking over, I find Dominic coughing up blood. He looks at his hand and then to me, fear evident in his eyes for the fleeting moment before they roll back. He gurgles and gasps just as his eyes close. His body begins to relax ever so slightly.
“Fuck! No, no, no. Don’t you do that!” Amidst the panic, I check his pulse and it’s absent. Like a well oiled machine, my mind calms within the chaos. Going through the mental steps, I start chest compressions. There’s no fucking way I’m letting him die. If he does, Blake likely won't help me track down Ghost.
I don't realize the gunfire has stopped until my father’s hand touches my shoulder. He says something about moving Dominic to a vehicle, though his actual words don't meet my ears. I nod and continue chest compressions as his body is put on a small table and carried out with me at his side. Whether it be shock or muscle memory, I don't stop.
“Drive!” My father screams from beside me as we are loaded into an SUV. The vehicle races off into the city, traveling towards the closest hospital.Who the fuck attacked us? Why did they do it at that exact time?Things just got a whole lot more complicated.
Chapter Seven
Multi-Talented
Dominic's phone rests in my trembling hand while Blake’s contact is displayed on the screen.Why am I hesitant to call him?I hit the call button without a thought; He picks up on the second ring.
“Father.” His voice comes through the speaker with heavy breaths.
“This is Everly Beretta. Your father’s been shot. We’re at Mercy General Hospital. You need to get here now.” I rush out, still in a state of adrenaline.
