I was eighteen when I walked into Domino's Gym for the first time. My Converse sneakers squeaked on the tile hallway. I took in my surroundings as Chief explained the different areas of headquarters. When we entered a small weight room, I saw defined abdominal muscles before my gaze moved up to broad shoulders and biceps that bulged each time the man with blonde hair curled his arm, holding a dumbbell.
“And this is the private weight room, solely for you guys on the team,” I heard Chief’s voice say, snapping me out of the trance I was in.
The adonis lifted his chin in a welcoming gesture before racking the weights he was using and walking over to me. His bright-blue eyes sparkled with warmth as he stuck his hand out. “Hey, I’m Aaron. Welcome to the team.” His voice was as beautiful as he was.
A blush heated my face and chest. He was by far one of the sexiest men I had ever seen. I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear before placing my hand in his. His grip was firm and gentle all at the same time. “Thank you. I’m Evelyn.” My voice sounded shyer than I’d ever heard it.
“Pleasure to meet you, Evelyn. What’s your code name?” Aaron’s smile never fell from his face as he spoke.
“Phantom.”
“Oh damn, that’s awesome. They call me Arrow.”
I let go of Aaron’s hand and returned the smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Arrow.”
That day was the first day in my life since my father died that I’d felt a sense of hope.
The van hit another pothole, jerking me off of Aaron and out of my memory.
Anger began to boil inside me. How could Kade do this to me? I understood that there were repercussions to my actions, but this seemed sadistic. Then again, I was dealing with the head of the Mafia and my demented stepfather who went by the nameButcher.
I felt the van slow to stop. I wiped my cheeks with my hands, not caring if it only spread Aaron’s blood on me.
I heard the driver’s door open and shut before the sounds of gunshots made me jerk forward over Aaron’s corpse, in an attempt to protect his already battered body.
“Machine! For fuck’s sake! It’s me!” I heard Kade yell outside the van doors.
“My bad!”
The back double doors to the van opened, the daylight making me squint. Rage clouded my vision when Kade climbed into the back. An animalistic growl escaped me as I tackled him out of the vehicle.
I didn’t feel a thing as our bodies hit the gravel. Kade cursed and groaned as the wind was knocked out of him. I heard a curse from somewhere in the distance before the sound of quick footsteps coming our way met my ears. Notwasting any time, I began to scream as I pummeled any place on Kade’s body that I could reach.
“You fucking monster!” I screamed as I punched his chest.
Strong arms wrapped around my torso before hauling me off of a groaning Kade. I kicked my legs out, as I attempted to get out of my capture’s grip.
“Easy, Evelyn,” Machine tried to soothe while continuing to back us away from Kade.
“Let me go,Evan!” I growled out, using his real name for once.
Kade slowly stood up and wiped the dirt off his black slacks and black button-down. His usually composed and polished self was disheveled. He swiped his thumb at the corner of his bottom lip where I must have hit him. Good, I hoped it fucking hurt.
“If I let you go, do you promise to not go attack mode and let us explain?” I stilled in Machine’s hold.
I didn’t care what they had to say. Nothing could excuse what had happened to Aaron and my team, let alone what happened to me.
“Evelyn?” Machine questioned.
“Yes,” I gritted out as I tried to kill Kade with my stare.
Machine released me and took a step to the side.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw him tense and glare at Kade. “What the fuck, Kade?! What the fuck happened to her?”
Kade’s nostrils flared at the same time his gaze bore into mine, mimicking my intensity. Ignoring Machine’s questions, he began walking toward me. Instead of stopping in front of me, he walked past me and said, “Follow me, Evelyn.” He didn’t leave room for argument as he walked toward a large warehouse that appeared to be abandoned.
My legs began to move on their own accord while Machine followed behind me.
