Characters

Thank you so much for reading Femme Fatale! Just warning you, there is quite a bit of

GRAPHIC

CONTENT

.

Containing

but

not

limited

to:

Abuse, sexual harassment, violence, sex, explosions, guns, witty females, vulgar language, and action.

I will NOT warn you prior to graphic screens, so consider this your one

and

only

warning

.

Reader discretion is advised .

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Damon Carbone (28) - Jacey Elthalion

Ghost (27) - Cara Delevingne **since a lot of you guys weren’t happy with Charlize Theron I changed it to Cara! **

Martino Mendoza (30) - Christopher Mason

Angelo Rossi (26) - Mariano Di Vaio

Giovani D’Mario (27) - Emanuele Fiore

Rebel (26) - Rihanna

Storm (25) - Diego Barrueco

Fox (25)- Irina Shayk

Chapter 1

DAMON POV

“Damon, I’m so sorry for your loss.” My best friend Angelo said as we walked into the estate. I simply nodded as I looked at the lavish marble floor.

Today was one of the most painful and excruciating days of my life: the day I had to watch my father be buried next to my mother.

My idol, role model, and father, died in a car explosion two days ago. And for two days, I’ve been a complete and utter shit show. I lost my mother to cancer when I was 9, and after her death, my father did everything in his power to make sure I was raised properly.

I still don’t know how that man managed to run The Italian Mafia and still make sure he was home every night to prepare me dinner. He ran one of the largest operations organized crime has ever seen, yet still always made time for his one and only child.

Being the heir to the Italian Mafia, my father made sure I was properly prepared for my duties when I turned eighteen. He trained me extensively in every area I would need to be a great leader: martial arts, shooting, business, negotiation, persuasion, anything and everything to help me be successful.

My father trained me with love, care, and respect. A method that was unusual and looked down upon in the Mafia world. He never laid a finger on me nor did he verbally degrade me in any way. He firmly believed that I didn’t need to be beaten to a pulp consistently to make me tough. He made sure I knew that I was loved by my father.

His brother, my Uncle Martin, made sure to verbalize his disagreement with my fathers training methods. He said it would make me a soft and weak leader, a leader that would be unfit to rule the Italian Mafia. He trained his son, Martino, in ruthless and cruel ways. Constantly beating him, and forcing him to undergo torture sessions regularly in order to make him a merciless killing machine.

My Uncle Martins words would get to me at times when I was younger, but my father was confident that I would be the leader to take this Mafia to new heights, to make it better than ever before.

Four years ago, Uncle Martin was caught trying to overthrow my father. So he executed his own brother in front of the entire Mafia, sliced his neck open, to show everyone in our organization what happens to traitors.

My father’s funeral ended only an hour ago, and now Angelo and I walked towards my fathers office, where I will now be officially declared the Don of the Italian Mafia. It was quite intimidating being twenty-three and rising to such a responsibility. Most Dons were in their forties or fifties, and I would now be the youngest Don in the world.

Gio, my other best friend, was standing outside the door of my fathers… my office. He walked towards us as we neared the massive wooden doors.

“You ready for this, brother?” He said as he gripped my shoulders firmly.

I’ve known Angelo and Gio my entire life. Both of their fathers died for the Mafia, so this organization was their way of carrying on the legacy of their family. They were both a year younger than me, and I’ve always considered them as family.

Angelo was a prodigy when it came to hacking. He can get into any security system, database, software, you name it and he can access it. Gio was more of a brute. Shooting first, and asking questions later. He was one of the toughest men I’ve ever known, except he was lacking substantially in the strategical department. I’ve planned to make them my main underbosses when I take over, confident that their abilities will propel this Mafia forward.

I simply nodded as Gio slapped my shoulder before pulling me into a tight embrace.

“You’re going to make a great Don. We’ll stand by you no matter what happens.” Gio said before he pulled back from the bro hug, Angelo nodding at us, affirming his words.

I took a deep breath, before I opened the double doors and walked into the large office. The estate was located in Genoa, and the mansion was on top of a mountain overlooking the beautiful ocean below. The floor to ceiling windows displayed the beautiful moonlit waters below us, and I could now see why father enjoyed view so much.

I walked up to Beto Hernandez, my fathers right hand and Capo. He was standing in the center of the office surrounded by the higher ranking members of the Mafia, everyone standing with their hands behind their backs in a sign of respect. I quickly walked over to him, and stood in front of him.

“Damon DeAlgarro Carbone. Today, you will rise and take the throne of the Italian Mafia. Do you accept this responsibility.” Beto asked as he jumped right into the ceremony.

“I, Damon DeAlgarro Carbone, accept the responsibility. I will live, breath, fight, and die per la famiglia. I will be loyal until my last breath, and do everything in my power to ensure safety, success, and prosperity.” I said reciting the vow I’ve had engrained in me since birth, trying to make my voice as confident as I can.

“The Mafia is not just an organization, ma una famiglia, and as a family, everyone has a say in who they shall follow. If anyone objects to Damon DeAlgarro Carbone ascending to Don, speak now.” Beto stated as he looked around the room.

It felt as if the silence grew even stronger as tension filled the room. It stretched on for what seemed like hours as I stood there, focusing on Beto instead of the members around me.

“I reject this new Don.” I heard a familiar voice scoff as anger filled my body at the disrespect. All heads turned to the back of the room, where my cousin Martino, was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

“Your reasoning?” Beto asked with his eyebrows raised. Martino pushed off the wall, and started calmly walking towards us.

“A Don is meant to protect his members, protect his family.” He said as he slowly started to close the distance between us.

“Which is what I intend to do.” I said with an edge to my voice.

“You’re a weak man, Damon. Too soft to rule over this Mafia.” He said as he turned his body to face the members of the Mafia.

“We are the fearless and powerful Italian Mafia. What would our rivals think if we let this soft, weak, pathetic man lead us? Would you really trust him with your life? Would you trust him to protect you and your families?” He started to yell as he faced the members surrounding us. Whispers filled the air as I looked around the room.

“What are you proposing, Martino?” Beto asked as he stared at him with a deadly glare.

“Damon and I are from the same heritage. I should be Don, I could bring this Mafia to new heights.” Martino said as he turned around and glared at me.

“If you’re truly capable of leading this family, fight me, right here, right now, and prove to everyone that you’d be fit enough to be our Don.” He said as his face morphed into a scowl.

I looked around at the members, they were whispering under their breaths and watching my every move. Waiting to see if their future Don will rise to the occasion.

“I accept your challenge, cousin.” I said as my hands balled into fists at my side and a cocky smirk stretched across his face.

Chapter 2

I undid the buttons of my dress shirt and tossed it to the side along with my suit jacket, leaving my chest bare. Martino did the same, revealing his chest that was littered with tattoos and scars. The members moved the desk out of the way and cleared the furniture in order to give us enough space to fight before they circled around us, cheering with anticipation.

No one has ever voiced their objection during a ceremony, but in the rare case that they do, the result will be to fight till the death. To not only prove their skills, but to kill the brave and foolish man who disrespected them. One of us will leave this fight a Don, while the other will leave in a body bag.

Anger consumed my body as I heard some of the members cheering for Martino instead of me. But today, I will finally prove that I am worthy of leading this Mafia. I’ll prove all of them fucking wrong. Martino will be my first, and most important kill.

Martino made the first move, lunging towards me and throwing a right hook. I ducked, narrowly avoiding his fist, and punched him in the ribs.

“You got this Damon!” Angelo yelled over the crowd of members.

He grabbed the back of my neck, and kneed me in the face. I heard my nose crack from the impact, and blood started gushing down onto my chest.

I wrapped my arms around his waist and tackled him to the ground. I straddled him and started to punch him repeatedly in the face, busting his lip open and creating a gash on his eyebrow.

I threw another punch at him, and he quickly grabbed my wrist. He pulled it over his head, making me roll over him and land on my back on the ground.

I quickly got to my feet, and created distance between us as Martino jumped to his. We circled each other with our fists raised in front of our faces defensively.

He lunged at me, and I threw a jab and hit him in the face. He smiled a bloody smile at me, unfazed from my attack.

I threw a kick at him, and he grabbed my leg. I tried to bring my other leg up to wrap it around him, but he socked me in the face, making me fall roughly to the ground.

“You think you can beat me?” He said as he got on top of me and punched me in the face.

“You think you can lead this Mafia?” Martino said as he punched me again. I felt blood dripping down my neck, my vision blurring with the warm crimson liquid covering my eyes.

He punched me repeatedly in the face before I grabbed his neck, catching him off guard, and threw him off of me.

I rolled to the side, laying on my stomach a few feet away from Martino.

“Come on Damon! Get up! Get the fuck up!” I heard Gio yell frantically from the crowd.

Martino ran towards me, and cocked his leg back before he swung it forward trying to kick me in the face while I was down. I did a forward somersault, barely avoiding the kick, and landed on my feet.

He lunged at me again, and I avoided his left hook and roundhouse kicked him in the face. While he was bent over, I grabbed his shoulder and kneed him in the stomach.

He threw a punch at my ribs, cracking them upon impact. Martino stepped back a bit, creating some distance between us before he threw a punch at my face.

I blocked it, and threw a right hook towards his cheek. He grabbed my arm and punched the bottom of my elbow, breaking my arm with a loud snap. I yelled in pain as my arm fell like a limp noodle.

The room fell silent. The once exuberant cheers of the crowd around us vanishing like a vapor in the wind.

“You’re a weak man, Damon.” He said as I stumbled backwards, holding onto my arm.

“Just like your pathetic father.” Martino said as he slowly walked forward with each step I took backwards.

“Don’t you dare talk about my father you bitch.” I growled as my back hit the cool glass of the window.

Martino let out a malevolent laugh as he came closer to me. I threw a kick to his ribs, making him hunch over in pain.

He kicked the front of my knee with immense force, making it snap and hyperextend. I fell forward, catching myself with my good arm. I quickly stood up with one leg, leaning against the glass window for support as my body throbbed with pain.

“You just don’t know when to quit, do you?” Martino said coldly. His bloody and bruised face morphed into a scowl.

“Fuck you.” I breathed, my lungs shot pain through my chest from my broken ribs piercing my organs.

“You’re a pathetic excuse for a man. You were raised to be soft, and because of that, you grew up to be a weak, little bitch. I should have ended you a long time ago.” He snarled as he stepped closer to me until he was in front of me.

I spat at him, the blood from my mouth hitting him directly in the center of his face. He wiped if off with the back of his hand, his eyes never leaving mine as he shot me a deadly glare.

“Goodbye, cousin.” He smirked before he Spartan kicked me right in the center of the chest.

“NOOOOO!” Angelo yelled from the crowd. I caught a glimpse of him running towards me, Gio holding him back, knowing that if he interfered, he would be executed.

My ribs screamed in pain as my body flew backwards, shattering the glass window and sending me hurling off the cliff towards the jagged rocks below.

Chapter 3

5 years later

I threw the black duffle bag onto the lavish wooden desk, making a loud thud echo throughout the lavish and modern office. My client was dressed in an expensive Armani suit, sitting in a leather chair. He was a tall and masculine man, and his body language made it obvious that he was a confident and cutthroat business owner. It was after hours at his facility, so the lights were dim and the building was empty. The city lights of Manhattan were the only source of illumination in the dark and eerie office.

“Jobs done.” I said coldly.

The CEO hesitantly reached over and started to unzip the duffle bag. He opened it and gagged repeatedly when he saw the decapitated head of his competitor, his masculinity vanishing at the sight. His hands fumbled as he quickly zipped the bag closed.

“What the fuck!” He exclaimed, his voice cracking like a boy going through puberty as he frantically pushed his chair away from the duffle bag on his desk. He pushed too hard, and ended up flipping the chair over, and it fell onto its back on the floor, taking him down along with it.

“My payment.” I said seriously as I grabbed a cigarette from the pocket of my leather jacket and brought it to my mouth.

“Y- you can’t smoke in-” My client started to stutter as he stood up, but when I looked up at him, his words halted. He gulped before I continued to light the cigarette and take a long drag, blowing the smoke in his direction just for the hell of it. He quickly reached under his desk and pulled out a briefcase, and placed it gently on the desk.

“Quarter mill. Cash, just as you requested.” He said as I walked over until I was in front of his desk. I held the cigarette between my teeth as I opened the briefcase. Bands of hundred dollar bills were organized and perfectly placed within the case. I lifted a few bills, checking for any kind of wire or tracking device underneath the cash, and was pleased when I found none.

“Pleasure doing business with you.” I said as I closed the briefcase and started walking out of the office.

“Wait! What the hell am I suposto do with… that?” My client asked as he cautiously poked the black duffle bag on his desk. He was looking at it as if the severed head would pop out of the bag and jump at him at any moment.

“Keep it, burn it, toss it, mount it up on your wall, doesn’t fucking matter to me.” I said before I walked out of the office and started to head towards the elevator. I put out my cigarette in an ash tray near the doors, and put it in my pocket, not wanting to leave any evidence that I was here.

The doors slid open, I walked into the elevator, and hit the button for the ground floor. The sleek metal doors closed, and I looked at myself in the grey reflection.

After I was overthrown from the Mafia, everyone thought I was dead, and to be honest, so did I. I fell five hundred feet into a bed of jagged rocks with a broken arm, knee, nose, shattered ribs, and a severe concussion. As I fell to what I thought would be my death, the only thing I could think of was how disappointed my father would be if he was alive to see his only son getting his ass handed to him and losing the title of Don.

After Martino got initiated as Don, Gio and Angelo risked their lives and ran away the same night. They searched for hours until they found me washed up on the shore, barely breathing. They took me to a hospital under a fake name, where I remained there for five days. It was too dangerous for us to stay in Italy, so the day that I got released from the hospital, we fled to New York, and haven’t been back home since.

Now, I’m known as one of the most deadly and notorious assassins in the United States: Il Mietitore. I’ve been hired by politicians, businessmen, celebrities, hell I even did a job for the Vice President before. I don’t give a fuck who I have to kill, I’ll do any job… for the right price that is.

But the main reason why I started to do assassinations wasn’t because of the money. Granted, the money was fucking great, but I did it to better my skillsets. Each and every kill I did made me that much more stronger, faster, better than I was the day before.

I walked out of the elevator and walked over to my all black Porsche 918. I got in, and peeled out of the barren streets as I headed towards the the house. I brought out the half smoked cigarette from my pocket. I relit it as I switched on the radio and merged onto the freeway.

“A string of robberies has plagued the world over the past few months. Some of the largest and most secure facilities are left baffled, as a total of $892 Million dollars has been stolen. The criminals have left no trace behind, begging the question, how safe is our money? And what are the governments doing in order to prevent ano-”

Annoyed with the female newscasters high pitched voice, I quickly flipped a switch, and changed it to a classic rock station. I listened as The Rolling Stones song Sympathy for the Devil started to fill my car. I turned up the volume as I floored it and sped through the restless city.

When I pulled up to the medium sized house, and parked in the three car garage. I grabbed the briefcase and walked inside.

I lived with Gio and Angelo, and the house was barren of any decorations and hardly any furniture. It was the kind of house you walked into and knew immediately that men occupied its walls, the lack of a woman’s touch blatantly obvious.

They were sitting in the living room, beer bottles scattered amongst the cheap wooden coffee table, some even on the floor. It was as if we lived in a fucking fraternity house: piles of take out boxes on the kitchen counter, the wallpaper coming apart towards the ceiling, and the white carpet was stained from alcohol and burned from cigarettes. The kitchen, however, was pristine from lack of use. Angelo and Gio both sat on the old and plain couch with their eyes glued to the TV screen mounted on the wall.

“Another decapitated body has been found tonight near 27th Street, no evidence was left on the scene, thus adding it to the list of cold cases that have spanned over the course of 5 years-”

I walked in front of the TV and turned it off. I’ve always hated watching the fucking news. I swung the briefcase in front of me, sending the empty beer bottles scattering from the table, and slammed the briefcase down onto the glass.

“Jesus, bro. You gotta start thinking of a better way to provide proof to your clients.” Angelo slurred.

“Yeah man. This whole decapitation thing you have going on is getting kind of weird.” Gio said as he drunkenly hiccuped.

“All you two do is gather intel on my targets, so don’t tell me how to do my fucking job when all you do is sit on your ass and get shitfaced.” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“Make yourself useful and deposit this.” I said coldly as I pointed to the briefcase and walked into my room without another word.

I slammed the door to my bedroom shut, and locked it. My room only contained a bed, a small closet, a large trunk containing weapons and ammo, and a large board on the wall where I kept intel on the Italian Mafia. I’ve mapped out their new hierarchy, knowing everything and anything about Martino’s underbosses.

I walked over to the table in the corner, and grabbed my tattoo gun from the drawer. I placed it on the desk, and removed my shirt as I looked at myself in the mirror.

The hair that once reached my shoulders is now short and curly. My chest was now covered in scars and dark tattoos. My childlike features vanished underneath my beard and scowl. I have a long scar over my right eye, that extended from underneath my eyebrow to my upper cheek. With zero percent body fat, my muscles were toned to perfection.

I grabbed the tattoo gun and turned it on as I flipped my left arm over, revealing the inside of my forearm that was covered with tally marks. Tally marks that represented each and every person I’ve killed. It took up the entire space of my forearms, thousands of small marks barely recognizable from a distance. On the outside of my arms were intricate designs, artwork done by some of the best artists in the business.

I drew another tally near my wrist, slashing it across four vertical lines. Once I was finished, I put the tattoo gun away and looked over to my the board on my wall. In the middle of the board was a picture of my dear cousin, his arms draped over the shoulders of two beautiful women as he threw his head back and laughed. I grit my teeth before I quickly threw my knife at the photograph, piercing him right in the face with deadly precision.

The boy inside of me died five years ago on that cliff. He died right along with my pride and happiness, which was replaced with anger, hatred, and revenge that now consumed me. That was the day Damon Carbone died, and Il Mietitore rose.

You better sleep with one eye open, cousin, cause The Reaper is coming for you.

Chapter 4

“Why don’t we just blow up the estate? Plant bombs during the night, then BOOM! Problem solved.” Angelo said as he leaned back in his chair and used his hands to emphasize the explosion.

“Oh my god, why didn’t I think of that before.” I said sarcastically as I looked at him with wide eyes.

“I’ve always been the smartest on-” he started to say before I cut him off by throwing a bottle at his head. He ducked quickly, making the glass shatter against the wall behind him.

“I was being sarcastic you idota ! They’ll kill us the second we step foot near the estate. Cazzo!” I said as I leaned back in my chair.

“Why can’t we just go in, guns a-blazing, and kill everyone in sight?” Gio asked as he took a swig of his beer.

“Three men against an army of Mafia members. Sounds like some good odds.” I scoffed as I rolled my eyes and leaned forward as I looked down at the files scattered across the cheap wooden table.

For years I’ve been doing assassinations and working on my skills in order to take down Martino. I’ve trained every single day and every single night, to prepare myself for the next time we meet. So I can kill the fucker I call a cousin once and for all.

For the past few hours, we’ve been sitting around the cheap, tattered dining room table, going over our options and attempting to brainstorm ideas. Over the past week, we decided that we have enough intel, skills, weapons, and equipment necessary to finally set our plan in motion. Except the only problem was, is that we have no plan.

“Seeing that the only thing you’re contributing to this brainstorm session is your fucking sarcasm, you got any bright ideas?” Gio said as he scowled at me.

My eyes were locked onto the photograph of Martino on the table. Every single picture, he has a different woman around his arm. Besides being known as a merciless and cruel Don, he also built himself quite a reputation as a womanizer.

“What’s the one thing Martino is known for?” I said as my eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

“Cocaine?” Angelo said as he scratched his chin.

“His Ferrari?” Gio said as he furrowed his eyebrows.

“Having a tiny dick.” Angelo said as he snapped his fingers and pointed at me.

“Being a royal douchebag?” Gio said as he scratched his head.

“No you idiotas !” I said as I face palmed myself.

“Women. He’s known as a womanizer, always having a different woman in his bed every night.” I groaned as I seriously started to seriously reconsider my choice of friends.

“Ohhhhhhh.” They both said in union as I grit my teeth in annoyance.

“So were going to use his greatest weakness against him.” I said as I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms.

“And how would we do that?” Gio asked as he raised his eyebrow at me.

“Easy. Just hire a stripper and give her a gun.” Angelo said nonchalantly as he shrugged.

“You can’t just send a whore with a beretta to do an assassins job.” I said as I rolled my eyes. “Besides, I want to end Martino myself.”

“We need a Femme Fatale.” I said seriously as my thumb grazed the stubble on my chin. “We can have her infiltrate Martino’s organization, get him alone, and deliver him to us. Then I can kill him, get control of my Mafia, and we go about our lives.” I said calmly as I verbalized my thoughts.

A Femme Fatale is a lethal woman. A woman who is skilled enough to kill and cunning enough to escape undetected. Fatales are usually extremely beautiful, their looks luring in their prey before they take their life. Most Fatales can bring a man or woman to their knees with just one look… or so I’ve heard.

“Boss, as good as that plan sounds, Fatales are incredible difficult to locate. They’re like an enigma, always hidden and never staying in one place for too long.” Angelo said as he pondered my idea.

“Wait,” Gio said as he sat forward rapidly. “I thought Fatales were a myth. A story of a hot woman who would seduce you then kill you. Just a story wives tell to scare men who can’t keep their dick in their pants. They’re actually real!?” He said as his eyes widened.

Angelo and I stared at our friend in disbelief of his stupidity.

“Gio, a Femme Fatale is just a beautiful female assassin. Just because someone is a woman doesn’t mean they can’t be skilled you sexist motherfucker.” I said as I continued to look at him in disbelief.

“Well fuck okay then.” Gio said as he threw his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes and turned to Angelo.

“Angelo, I want you to access all of the databases you can, and start downloading every file you can find on the most lethal women in the world. If there’s a Fatale out there, well fucking find her.” I said seriously as the boys around me groaned.

“This is going to take forever.” Angelo said as he started typing on his old and tattered laptop.

“I’ll start the coffee.” Gio said as he rolled out of his chair and walked towards the kitchen.

Angelo started getting to work on the files as I drank Gio’s shitty coffee he made. It tasted disgusting, and I instantly spat it out, all of it accidentally hitting Gio in the face. He let out a string of curses under his breath while he walked to his room to take a shower as I mentally made a note to hire a chef.

I laid down on the couch as my mind wandered back to a time where my mother and the maids would always make us coffee and breakfast in the morning. I didn’t want to admit it, but I missed having women in the house. Not that I expected females to serve on my every whim, but it was the homey aura that they brought with them.

You give a woman a house, she’ll make it a home. You give her groceries, she’ll make it a meal. Give the right woman a gun, and she’ll give you a massacre. A woman can make the most simple things amazing. I thought this way because my father taught me to look at woman as my equal, and to always treat them with respect. A mindset that most people in the Mafia disagree with.

I drifted off to sleep, with fond memories of my childhood. Living carefree and happy as I ran through the estate that was once my home.

---

A loud thud rang through the house, causing me to instinctively jump from the couch and throw my knife at the source of the disturbance.

I heard a girlish scream, and I looked around, ready to fight, when my eyes fell upon a very angry Angelo. He was glaring at me, with his arm raised and bent. His hand was near his head, and the sleeve of his hoodie was pierced with the knife I threw, the blade narrowly missing his skin. The knife was lodged into the wall, pinning Angelo to its surface by the black material of his sweatshirt.

“Bro. What. The. Fuck.” He said, emphasizing his every word as he reached for the knife and pulled it out of the wall, freeing his arm along with it, his eyes never leaving mine.

“You know not to wake me up like that.” I said nonchalantly before I yawned.

“Fuckin psycho.” Angelo said under his breath before he walked over to the coffee table near me and threw a large box of files on top of it. I sat back down and yawned as I glanced at the files in front of me.

“I found 523 woman around the world that matched the description of a Fatale.” He said as he handed me a large stack of files. Gio walked over from the kitchen with two steaming cups of coffee in his hands.

“You lost the right to drink my coffee.” Gio said in a serious tone as he gave me a deadly glare. He handed a cup to Angelo, who quickly gulped it before he spat it back into Gio’s face.

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” Gio yelled as he examined his wet shirt.

“Did you just heat up your shit and try to make me drink it?! You sick fucker!” Angelo said as he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.

“My coffee is delicious, fuck you guys.” Gio said as he brought his cup to his lips. He took a large gulp, and cringed, holding the liquid in his mouth and not swallowing. He looked at me, then Angelo before gagging, and spitting the drink back into the cup.

“Delicious, huh?” I said as I smirked at him and grabbed a file from the table.

“It’s just too hot to drink right now.” Gio lied as he pushed the cup away from him.

“I’ll never understand how you can fuck up coffee. It’s like the easiest thing to make in the world, you just click a damn button.” Angelo said in disbelief as he grabbed his own file.

“Fuck off.” Gio said as he rolled his eyes and reached for the files on the table.

It’s going to be a long fucking night.

Chapter 5

** GHOST POV **

Meanwhile in Dubai…

“Everyone in position?” I said under my breath, but loud enough for them to hear me on my earpiece. The heat of the sunlight warmed my skin as I walked down the sidewalk. It was a beautiful day.

A beautiful day for a heist.

“Check.” I heard Storm call out.

“Check.” Fox said through my ear piece. I looked at Rebel, who was standing beside me. She raised her eyebrow at me and smirked.

“Check boss lady.” Rebel smirked as she raised her eyebrow at me, her thick Caribbean accent dripping off her words. Her bronze skin glowed under the sunlight. Her black wavy hair was tied up in a high ponytail, but even with her hair up, it still reached below her waist. Her arms were adorned with intricate tattoos and traveled down to her hands and fingers. Out of everyone in the crew, she was the most aggressive, brazen, and batshit crazy.

“Fox, are the cameras looped?” I said as we turned a corner, the bank coming into view.

“Looping in 3…2…1. You’re good to go.” Fox said calmly through my earpiece. Fox was our engineering mastermind. She was one of the best hackers in the world, and was a genius when it came to creating and modifying weaponry. The high tech and deadly equipment she creates far surpasses any military weapon. No one would ever suspect that a beautiful woman with long black hair, a curvy figure, and piercing blue eyes would ever have such a deadly intellect.

“Storm, are the backup vehicles in place?” I said, my British accent taking over the line.

“Two Yamaha YZF-R1’s parked in the back, just in case.” Storm said in my earpiece, his deep voice taking over the line. Storm and Fox were fraternal twins, and shared similar features. The only major difference was that Storm has light brown eyes. Storm was our vehicle expert. Jets, cars, motorcycles, boats, give him anything with a motor and he can operate it. The modifications he does for our vehicles would put Fast and Furious to shame.

“Commencing mission.” I said calmly as Rebel and I walked into the heavily guarded bank. It was quiet, like the calm before the storm. Fox had looped the camera footage, so we would have no video evidence of us being here.

“Excuse me,” I asked as we walked up to a guard. He looked us up and down as his lips slightly parted.

“Where’s the restroom?” I asked sweetly as I smiled at him.

“It’s uhhh down that hallway to the right.” He said quite flustered as he blushed. I mentally rolled my eyes at the fact that men’s brains stopped working in the presence of beautiful women, fucking typical.

“Thank you.” I said as Rebel and I walked down the corridor.

“Get in the stall closest to the wall on the west side of the room.” Fox said in our earpieces. She was watching the live feed from the security cameras, guiding us as we navigated through the unfamiliar bank.

Rebel and I walked down the corridor, and entered the bathroom. I walked into the stall and locked it while Rebel locked the bathroom door.

I pulled out the small device that Fox gave me earlier. It was a spool of thin wire that she designed herself. It can stick to any wall, and when activated, can burn through any substance without causing a commotion. I quickly stuck the wire to the wall, forming a rectangle large enough that we can walk through.

“The guards are turning the corner. Activate it now.” Fox said quickly as I slid my finger across and inch of the wire.

It started to glow a bright red as it burned through the wall. I watched and waited for the red glow to fade back to black, indicating that it penetrated through the entire surface.

I unlocked the stall before I gently pushed against the middle of the rectangle I formed, causing the concrete to fall forward slowly. I reached forward and grabbed the piece of wall before it hit the floor.

I bent down, and walked out of the bathroom and into the hallway, still holding onto the large slab of concrete. Rebel stepped out after me. She grabbed the other side of the rectangular block and helped me push it back into its original position, making it look as if the wall was untouched.

“Turn left, then take your third right. That’ll lead you to the vault. There’s four guards standing outside of it.” Fox said as we started following her directions.

Like always, our timing was perfect as we walked through the hallway, avoiding the guards as they made their rounds. Just as we were about to turn right, we stopped and stood with our backs against the wall.

I peeked my head out and saw the four guards Fox warned us about. I returned to my position against the wall, and signaled for Rebel to take out the two on the right. She flipped me off with a scowl, and I knew her well enough to understand that meant she would rather take out all four herself. I raised my eyebrow at her before I took out the two knives strapped to my thighs, and quickly pushed myself off the wall and sprinted towards the guards.

One thing I have over Rebel is speed. She’s rather careless, and I’m much faster and deadlier than she is. The reason they call me Ghost, is because one second I’m there, and the next I’m gone. I specialize in assassinations, attacking from the shadows. My targets never see me coming, and that’s just the way I like it.

I quickly ran in between the two guards on the left. I stabbed one in the neck with both knives, killing him instantly. I turned around and stabbed the other guard in the heart. I spun in a circle as I neared the remaining two guards. While spinning, I stabbed the guard on the side of the neck, and finished my spin so I was facing Rebel. I twirled the blade in my free hand so it was facing behind me, and swung my arm out to the side, stabbing the final guard in the heart in one fluid motion.

I looked at Rebel and smirked as I pulled my knifes out of the guards simultaneously, and their lifeless bodies fell to the ground.

“Killjoy.” Rebel scoffed as I put my knifes back on my thigh holster, and took out the hacking device Fox made for the mission.

It was about the size of a credit card. The device was all black, and had a screen covering most of its surface with a button on the top right side of it. I held it up in front of the device, and clicked the button with my thumb.

Green numbers started appear on the screen as it cracked the code for the vault. I waited patiently for the last number to appear, and once it did, the vault’s locks started moving one by one.

Eventually, the circular door opened slightly. I put the device away in my messenger bag, and opened the large metal vault. Inside was millions of dollars, all lined up and boxed perfectly for the taking.

To the right side was high profile client vaults, where they keep their prized possessions hidden away from the world. Each private vault was a bit smaller than a shoe box, and embedded into the wall, only accessible by a key.

Rebel and I quickly walked into the vault, and closed the large metal door behind us. We walked up to the back wall, and I grabbed the modified spool of wire.

“Ghost, grab the dispensing mechanism, and place the spool to the center of it. Attach it to the wall and click the green button.” Fox explained.

I looked down into my messenger bag, grabbing the mechanism, and did exactly what she said. The dispensing mechanism looked like a mini frisbee with a large indent in the middle of it. I placed the spool in the center, and pressed it against the wall. As soon as I clicked the green button, it shot the wire out in every direction, covering it completely.

I slid my finger across a small portion of the wire to activate it, and watched as the entire surface of the wall started to glow a bright red. The thick cement disintegrated as the wire burned through it. On the other side of the wall, Fox and Storm stood there waiting in front of an open dump truck parked in the alleyway behind the bank.

They walked inside of the vault, and started to quickly grab the boxes of cash and toss them into the truck.

“We have exactly 190 seconds before the guards make their rounds again.” Fox said as she grabbed a box and flung it into the truck.

“That’s all the time we need.” Rebel said as she grabbed another box.

We emptied out almost the entire vault, and still had 30 seconds to spare. I bent down to grab another box, but was distracted by a $1000 band of money hitting me in the face.

“Money slap bitch!” Rebel laughed as she grabbed a box and threw it into the almost full truck.

“Fuck off and focus for once.” I growled as I bent down. I grabbed a box and lifted it up, but immediately dropped it as soon as I saw a familiar name on one of the private vaults in front of me.

Benji Okanowa

“ 15 seconds!“ Fox called out as she jumped in the back of the vehicle, securing the cash and strapping it into the back of the trunk.

I know I should have jumped into the vehicle with them, but I just couldn’t help myself. I grabbed my knife and quickly lodged it into the top of the private vault, trying to pry it out of the wall.

“10 seconds! Come on Ghost!” Fox screamed as Storm hopped into the drivers seat of the truck.

“Go without me.” I exclaimed as I still fumbled with the private vault. Fox nodded before the dump truck closed, and drove off as I mentally counted down in my head. I heard men outside the metal door as I still struggled to get the vault out of the wall.

I heard a click from the vault door just as the box dislodged from the wall. I quickly grabbed it and tossed it in my messenger bag before grabbing my gun from my thigh. The vault door swung open, and four guards appeared, one of them I recognize as the man who gave us directions to the bathroom.

Before they could even draw their weapons, I shot all four of them between the eyes with deadly precision. I ran out of the vault and into the alleyway, where Rebel was waiting for me. She was on her motorcycle, looking at me with a smirk and her eyebrow raised.

“Why didn’t you leave with them?” I asked as I hopped on the bike and started the engine. Police sirens wailing in the distance.

“And let you have all the fun? Fuck no.” She smiled as we both put on our black helmets and sped out of the alley and onto the street.

“Most of Dubai’s police force is headed your direction. A fleet coming from the south and another coming from the west.” Fox said through my earpiece.

“Commencing Plan B.” I said calmly as Rebel and I weaved through traffic.

A wave of super cars with their sirens blaring were headed towards us from our left, and we made a sharp right turn into a small alleyway. We sped through the narrow path, and emerged on the other side, where the other fleet of police cars was waiting for us.

We neared an intersection, the stoplight facing us was red as cars drove in front of us. Rebel sped up in front of me, doing a wheelie and maneuvering through cars driving past us. A semi truck was approaching from our right, and I quickly grabbed my gun and shot out three of the wheels, causing it to start swerving out of control.

It started to flip over as it made its way over to the center of the intersection. I leaned to the left on my bike, putting my gloved hand down onto the pavement below me for support as I slid beneath the semi truck before it rolled over onto its side, blocking the police cars behind me.

I pushed my hand off the floor as I leaned to the right, centering my motorcycle. I looked behind me to see the fleet of cop cars crashing into the semi truck, blocking the entire intersection and causing the wrecked cars to pile up.

We continued to swerve in between cars as we neared the rendezvous point. We made a left at an intersection, only to see the other fleet of police vehicles headed straight towards us. The freeway was below us to our left, and we revved our engines as we headed directly towards the dozens of cars, their sirens all blaring.

When the vehicles were only a few meters away from us, we made a sharp left turn, narrowing avoiding getting ran over. We drove through the wire gates that lined the edge of the street, and drove off the edge, sending us flying down forty feet and onto the freeway below. My motorcycle fishtailed as my wheels hit the street. I leaned to the right, and quickly regained control of my bike as I maneuvered through traffic.

“Chopper, 6:00.” Fox said through our earpieces.

I looked in my rear view mirror to see a helicopter up above, the machine guns in the front aimed directly at us. I swerved to the left while Rebel swerved to the right as the bullets started to rain down on us. We weaved in between lanes, a barrage of bullets hitting the pavement behind us.

A few meters ahead of me, I spotted Storms dump truck. Everything was going exactly as planned. We were nearing a tunnel, and Rebel and I sped up until we were in front of the dump truck, making it look like we passed it.

We entered the tunnel, making the chopper unable to see or fire at us. Rebel and I quickly hit our brakes as Storm opened up the back of the dump truck. A ramp came down, allowing us to drive into the back of the trunk.

We quickly sped into the vehicle, skidding to a stop near Fox, who was sitting in a leather chair in front of a desk bolted to the floor. The six computer screens on the desk were all displaying street camera views of the perimeter. The back of the dump truck closed just as we emerged out of the tunnel.

“ We lost eyes on the targets! I repeat, we lost eyes on the targets!“ The police radar from Fox’s computer speaker called out. Fox turned around in her chair and raised her eyebrow at me and smirked.

“Mission accomplished.” Fox said as she smiled.

“Ohhhh girl! It’s been a minute since we’ve been in a police chase.” Rebel exclaimed as she took her helmet off and smiled widely.

“Our missions usually never escalate to that. What happened back there G?” Fox asked curiously as she tilted her head.

“Just got a little distracted is all.” I said calmly as I took my helmet off.

“I heard being slapped in the face with a wad of cash can do that to people.” Rebel said as she laughed and I rolled my eyes.

“Where to boss lady?” Storm called our from behind the wheel.

“Safe house 4.” I said as I started to walk up to the front of the dump truck.

“Aye-aye captain.” Storm said as he gave me a goofy smile and saluted me.

I gave him a slight smile as I sat down in the passenger seat, my messenger bag on my lap. I zoned out, ignoring the jokes and banter of my crew around me as my mind was completely consumed by the contents of the private vault that rested on my lap.

Chapter 6

** DAMON POV **

6 hours later in Manhattan, New York…

We spent what felt like forever, mindlessly looking through the files Angelo found, only to reject most of them.

“Hooker.” I said annoyed as he threw the file to the floor.

“15? Too young.” Angelo chimed in as he threw his file.

“68? Too old.” I scoffed as he tossed the file in my hand.

“Jesus Christ this woman is hideous.” Gio cringed as his file joined the pile on the floor.

“This one has ‘fuck you’ tattooed on her cheek.” Angelo stated as he raised his eyebrows and tossed his file.

“Purple hair and blue eyebrows. Fancy.” Angelo said with a bored tone as he discarded his file.

“This isn’t even a woman?” Gio said with a confused tone. Angelo looked over to the file is his hands and furrowed his eyebrows.

“Well he was born a woman.” Angelo shrugged as Gio tossed the file over his shoulder.

“Mother of… 15? Really?” I hissed as I threw the file.

“Angelo what kind of shit is this?!” I growled as I stood up angrily.

“These are all the files of females with a criminal record. You asked me to find a Fatale, which is a deadly woman. This is exactly what you asked me to find!” Angelo said in frustration as he threw his hands up.

“This,” I said while picking up the box, which contained only a handful of files, and shoved it in Gios face. “This is what you call a Fatale? These are petty criminals and prostitutes. None of them will work!” I yelled as he threw the box on the floor, documents flying everywhere and adding to the mess we called a living room.

My hands found their way to my temples as I looked down, closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew finding a good Fatale would be difficult, but this is just causing me a fucking migraine.

I opened my eyes and was about to give Angelo the ass whooping of a lifetime when I spotted a file at the bottom of the pile. Documents covered most of her grainy photo, allowing me to see only half of her face. The only thing I could see clearly was her ashy blonde hair. It reached her shoulders, and bangs covered her forehead. Even though the rest of her face was a blur due to the low quality street cameras, I could tell this woman was enticing.

I bent down, moving files quickly until hers was in my hands. I opened it out of curiosity.

JANE DOE

Last known location: Paris, France

Age: Unknown

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

DOB: Unknown

“Angelo, what’s the deal with her?” I said as I stood up, turned around, and tossed the file onto the table. Angelo and Gio sat up from their seats and leaned forward, examining the blurry picture with confusion lacing their features.

Angelo quickly grabbed his tattered laptop from the side of the table, and started typing rapidly. The laptop itself was outdated, but the software was of his own design. His eyes read the information on the screen as his eyebrows furrowed.

“Looks like the French police department tried to apprehend this Miss Doe three months ago.” Angelo said as his eyebrows furrowed even deeper as he continued to read.

“On what charge?” I asked curiously as I sat down and grabbed a cigarette and lighter from my pocket. I flicked the zippo, and brought the flame to the end of the cigarette as I took a deep breath.

“That’s the weird part. She didn’t actually commit a crime. She was the victim of an assault.” Angelo said as he tilted his head in confusion.

“According to the reports and street surveillance cameras, she was attacked by three drunk men in an alleyway.” Angelo continued to read as his expression hardened.

“Then why is she categorized as a lethal woman if she’s a victim?” I scoffed as I ashed my cigarette into a cup of cold coffee on the table.

“Because apparently, she ended up killing all three of them with her bare hands. One had his skull smashed in, one with a broken neck, and the other was choked to death.” He stated, making me quickly sit upright.

“Well damn.” Gio said in surprise.

“When cops tried to bring her in for a statement, she disappeared. The only evidence they have on her is the video footage from the street cameras.” Angelo said as he tilted his head and scratched his chin with his thumb.

“Pull up the video.” I ordered as I walked over to him. He started typing quickly, until a video popped up on his screen. Gio leaned over curiously with his eyebrow raised.

He clicked play as I inhaled the smoke from my cigarette, and I watched as the blurry image of appeared of a blonde haired woman. She was walking down a dark, narrow alleyway, wearing a long white trench coat, a black turtleneck, and thigh high boots, sunglasses hiding her eyes. Her hands were in her pockets as she strolled through the ally.

Even in the poor resolution, I could see how her hips swayed seductively and her head was held high. I could tell by her body language that she was a woman that oozed confidence.

She walked past a group of stumbling men, who were yelling at her and trying and call her over to them. She paid them no mind as she continued walking. One of them said something to her that made her stop in her tracks. She turned over to them and said something with a scowl on her face. The men obviously didn’t like what she was saying to them, and their eyebrows furrowed in anger.

She turned around, as one of the men stepped forward and smacked her ass… hard. The group of men laughed as she lifted the neck of her sweater over the lower half of her face as the men started to walk towards her.

The rest was like a blur. She moved quickly and agilely as she turned around and roundhouse kicked one of the men in the side of the head, making him slam into the wall head first. With her leg still in the air, she swung it across and hit the other man in the head, making him also smash his head against the wall.

She stepped forward, and kicked the third man in the knee, making it pop backwards and causing him to fall on the floor. She spun behind him and twisted his neck, breaking it.

One of the men rose from the floor and lunged at her. She quickly maneuvered around him and gripped the back of his head as she repeatedly slammed his face into the brick wall. Even with the poor resolution of the footage, blood was still seen as it gushed out of his skull.

She released the grip on the mans head and he fell lifelessly to the floor. She turned around and agilely dodged a sloppy punch that was thrown at her. She punched him in the ribs, making him hunch forward and gripped his neck the same time she kicked his legs out from under him.

He fell backwards, and her grip on his neck never faltered as her body followed him down to the ground, now kneeling down over him. She watched as the life drained from the man, who I recognize as the one who slapped her ass. She stood up, and dusted her trench coat off nonchalantly as she didn’t just murder three grown men effortlessly.

She walked down the alleyway, passing the street camera with her face still covered as she looked down at the ground, moving out of the range of the cameras.

“What the fuck did I just watch?” Gio breathed as his eyes were wide, staring at the computer screen.

I didn’t even notice my mouth was hanging open until my cigarette fell out of my mouth and onto the table, burning it and adding yet another mark onto the wood.

All three of us were too in shock to even care that the cigarette burned completely through the shitty wooden table as we all tried to process what we just watched. I cleared my throat, snapping me out of my trance, and stepped on the cigarette on the floor, stopping it from burning the carpet further.

“Rewind it to the beginning and play it again.” I said as I continued to stare at the screen.

Angelo nodded, and reversed the footage to the part where the woman walks into the alleyway.

“Pause it.” I ordered making Angelo click a button and freeze the frame.

“Zoom in on her face and see if you can sharpen the resolution.” I said. He quickly typed away as the resolution began to get clearer and clearer, eventually revealing the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on.

She has an upturned nose, and what appears to be piercing hazel eyes. Her lips were plump and pink, complimented by her narrow jawline and high cheekbones. She barely had any makeup on, displaying her natural beauty.

“God damn she’s hot.” Gio said as his eyes widened.

“Easy on the eyes, that’s for sure.” Angelo said as he nodded.

“She was last seen in Paris?” I asked as I continued to look at the goddess that graced Angelos screen.

“Appears so.” Angelo said as he also looked at the image.

“Then we’ll start there. Use your facial recognition software and cross reference this image with all the street cameras in France.” I ordered as I stood up straight.

“On it.” Angelo said as he typed away rapidly.

“I think we found our Fatale, boys.” I said smiling, my body filling with anticipation to meet this lethal beauty.

Angelo was typing furiously on his keyboard. It was so old, that the letters were faded completely. The software popped up on the dirty and cracked screen as it instantly searched for our Fatale throughout Paris.

“Got a hit.” Angelo said after a few minutes. He pulled up the footage to show our mystery woman walking into a hole in the wall bar called Trou de Glorie.

“Wait a minute.” Angelo said as he furrowed his eyebrows and opened up a new screen that was filled with numbers in a vertical line changing rapidly.

“Someone’s trying to counter hack me and shut my software down.” Angelo said with a hint of confusion in his voice as he started typing away.

“Well stop them.” Gio said as he sat down on the stained couch.

“No shit what do you think I’m trying to do.” Angelo scoffed.

“Who’s trying to shut you down?” I asked as I furrowed my eyebrows.

“I don’t know but whoever this is… is fucking good. Really fucking good.” Angelo said as he smirked. He’s always enjoyed a challenge.

“Better than you?” I said as I raised my eyebrow at him.

“Not a chance.” He said as smirked. “I just kicked them out of my software. Should I send them the middle finger, or a twerking donut?” He asked as he looked at me seriously before turning to Gio.

“Oh middle finger, all day.” Gio said with a serious tone.

“I was thinking the same thing.” Angelo said as he nodded and clicked a button on his screen. I rolled my eyes in annoyance at their immature behavior. My best friends were the most intelligent idiots I know.

“Pack your shit boys, were going to Paris.” I said as I stood up while Angelo and Gio high-fived.

Chapter 7

** GHOST POV **

Meanwhile in Dubai…

“The First Abu Dhabi Bank was robbed today, the culprits stealing $342 million dollars. Police tried to apprehend the suspects, who they believe are also responsible for the string of robberies that have been striking the largest banks in the world over the past few months. Over a billion dollars has been stolen-”

I clicked the power button on the remote, turning the television that was mounted on my wall off. I always hated watching the damn news anyways. Like the rest of our home, my desk was neat, not a single item out of place, my severe OCD won’t allow me to live in a pigsty. The furniture was lavish, and the walls were adorned with expensive artwork. I tossed the remote onto my pristine modern grey desk and leaned back into my leather office chair.

We have multiple safe houses all over the world, dozens in each country and city, but this one has always been one of my favorites. I sat in the office of safe house 4. The lights were dimmed, the majority of the light coming from the soft glow of the moonlight that shined through the large windows.

It was a lavish penthouse that overlooked the beautiful city, giving me a perfect view of the Burj Khalifa surrounded by the city lights below. I’ve always loved the hustle of city life, never knowing how some people can be so content living in the country surrounded by nothing but trees, never ending darkness, and unbearable silence.

I like to come here as often as I can, the view soothing my mind and troubled soul. Usually, it works as my muse, a cure to my frenzied thoughts and a catalyst for my strategical creativity… but not tonight.

I grabbed a cigarette from the top drawer and lit it as I stared at the sleek white vault in the center of my desk, my journal sitting to the right of it just in case. I exhaled the smoke into the air as my mind raced with possibilities.

Benji Okanowa. Benji. Fucking. Okanowa.

Was this a trap?

Did I act too impulsively?

Is he toying with me?

Did he know that we’ve been the ones behind these massive heists?

Did he plant this vault there to lure us in?

I should have left it alone.

I shouldn’t have grabbed it.

You just couldn’t be happy with the millions…no you just had to be a selfish motherfucker, didn’t you?

My thoughts ran wild as I grabbed my lock picking tools from the top drawer, holding them tightly in my hands. Just as I was about to start picking the lock, I heard footsteps rapidly approaching from outside my door.

I quickly grabbed the box, threw it in the bottom drawer of my desk, and locked it before my door swung open, revealing a slightly flustered Fox.

“G, we need you to come talk some sense into Rebel…again.” Fox said as she rolled her eyes.

“What happened this time?” I said seriously as I quickly stood up and we both walked out into the hallway that was covered with beautiful and detailed artwork.

“We ordered pizza to celebrate the fact that we’re now billionaires, and her pizza’s burnt.” Fox said to me as she raised an eyebrow.

“Fucking Christ.” I said under my breath as we heard the sounds of a furious Caribbean woman coming from the living room.

We turned the corner to see the pizza man standing against the wall, his arms out to his sides as he cried hysterically while looking at a screaming Rebel in front of him. Storm was nonchalantly watching Guardians of the Galaxy on the plush couch, casually ignoring the chaos behind him.

“I waited 45 fucking minutes for my food to get here, and you try to give me this shit? Look at this!” She screamed as she opened the pizza box and shoved it towards the delivery mans face, causing him to cringe.

“You really expect me to eat this sad excuse of a fucking pizza?” She said as she closed the box and tossed it to the side roughly. My eyes followed it as the box hit the floor, and my OCD started screaming in annoyance at the disorganization. She pulled out her gun and aimed it at the now wailing man.

“Rebel,” I said calmly. “This would be the fourth delivery driver you’ve killed this month. If you shoot him, your cleaning up the mess by yourself.” I stated as I walked over to the box on the floor and picked it up, placing it down onto the granite kitchen counter. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out a water bottle.

“Agreed.” Storm called out from the couch, his eyes still glued onto the TV, his arm causally draped over the back of the furniture.

Rebel scowled at me for a moment, before looking back at the cowering delivery man. She fired her gun, shooting the bullet dangerously close to the mans head as it narrowly missed his ear, putting a hole in the light grey wall.

“You’re lucky I don’t feel like cleaning up tonight. Speak a word of this and I’ll slice your throat while you sleep. Now get the fuck outta here before I change my mind.” She said as she motioned to the front door with her gun.

He slowly moved away from the wall, his eyes watching Rebels every move. She lunged forward quickly, her feet never moving, as she taunted the poor boy. He screamed and ran out of the room as Rebel smirked.

“Whatta bitch!” She laughed as she walked over to the pizza box that was now on the counter and opened it.

“You’re patching that up.” I said as I raised my eyebrow at the fresh bullet hole that now adorned our wall.

“Yeah yeah. Calm your OCD mind down, will ya?” Rebel said as she grabbed a slice of her meat lovers pizza and took a large bite.

“Hmph. It actually tastes a lot better burnt.” She said with a smile after she swallowed the food.

“You psycho bitch.” Storm said as he turned around to face us.

“Oh stop it! You flatter me.” Rebel said playfully as she took another bite of the crispy burnt pizza, making me chuckle and shake my head.

Being the oldest out of the crew, I always made sure to take care of everyone. A year ago, we were on the streets of Russia, nothing to our names except the clothes on our backs. We survived by pick pocketing, preforming petty crimes, dine and dashing, and breaking into unoccupied houses. I quickly took charge, and started to become the mastermind behind our heists. I’ve led, planned, and executed every single robbery we’ve done, utilizing everyone’s strengths to complete them flawlessly.

We’ve been through so much together, that we were much more than a crew. We were family. I trusted them with my life, and they trusted me with theirs. Any one of us would gladly take a bullet for the other.

Fox’s phone chimed loudly, and she pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it with a furrowed expression on her face. I knew her well enough to know that something was wrong.

“What is it?” I asked calmly as I tilted my head in curiosity.

“Someone’s trying to track you.” She said as she quickly walked out of the living room and towards her office, all of us following closely behind her.

“What else is new? Someone’s always trying to track her.” Rebel said as she grabbed a cigarette from her pocket and lit it.

“This is different, I’ve never seen these IP addresses before.” She said as she opened the doors of her office while her eyes were locked on her phone.

She quickly sat down at her desk, which had four large computer screens adorning the top of it. She designed all of her computers herself, making them some one the fastest and most sophisticated softwares in the world. On the wall in front of her was a large TV screen, which she hooked up to display the information from the computers.

Rebel, Storm, and I all sat down on the white, decorative chairs in front of the TV screen, watching as Fox started typing vigorously on her keyboard. The screen in front of us came to life, rows of numbers rapidly changing towards the side. Behind it was a satellite view of the world.

“So who’s trying to find me?” I said as I leaned forward, my elbows resting on my knees.

“I’m not sure yet. But they’re using top grade equipment and software to try and scan your facial structure and compare it to street camera footage in Paris.” Fox said as she continued to type viciously.

“Paris? I haven’t been in Paris for months.” I said as I raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah you haven’t been back there since those guys called you a raging whore and smacked your ass before you killed them all.” Storm laughed as he recalled the events from three months ago.

“You act like those fuckers didn’t deserve it.” I said as I shot him a deadly glare, causing him to wipe the smile off his face.

“Their digital trail says they accessed your file from the international police database, where Paris was listed as your last known location.” Fox stated as the numbers on the screen continued to change at a rapid pace.

“This is the footage they’re seeing on their screen.” Fox said as she clicked a button on her keyboard. The TV screen shifted into a street camera view of me walking into a hole in the wall bar, sunglasses on my face, and my body covered by a long trench coat. It was the bar I went to right after I killed those men.

“Who’s seeing this footage?” I asked seriously as I watched the screen.

“I’m trying to breakthrough their fire wall right now, but this fucker’s software is the most advanced I’ve ever seen. There’s no way we’re dealing with just an amateur.” Fox said in frustration as she she continued to type rapidly, her eyebrows furrowed as she continued to look at the screen in front of her.

“What?! Someone’s smarter than my dear sister?! I never thought I’d see the day.” Storm said dramatically as he stared at his twin sister with his mouth agape.

“Fuck off.” Fox growled in frustration she continued to type on her keyboard with a scowl on her face.

“I’m trying to counter hack into their system and shut them down, I think I almost got it.” She said as her expression softened. She hit a key on her keyboard and looked up at the TV screen.

The screen suddenly morphed into a middle finger, spinning around in a circle. A ear piercingly loud computerized voice started to chant “FUCK YOU” repeatedly, making us all cover our hears.

“What the fuck is going on Fox?!” I yelled over the noise.

“FUCK! Who ever it is just kicked me out of their system! I can’t access it!” She screamed as she quickly ran over to the wall and unplugged her computer, making the screens go black and the room fall silent again.

“…Do you think it’s them?” Storm asked quietly, breaking the tension in the room. No one has ever been able to prevent Fox from infiltrating their cyber security before.

“No. I would have recognized the IP address immediately. Whoever it is a highly trained and skilled. Maybe an agency, or another professional facility that has access to some of the most up to date equipment in the world.” Fox said seriously as she stood in the corner, her hands crossed in front of her chest.

“Looks like we’re dealing with some professionals. What’s the plan G?” Rebel said as everyone looked at me as I sat back in my chair. It was silent for a moment as I mentally ran through different scenarios.

“Get the jet ready tonight. We’re going to Paris.” I said calmly with an emotionless expression painted across my face as I stood up and started to head towards the door.

“The only lead they have on your location is Paris. Shouldn’t we be avoiding the people trying to track you down? Why would we meet them there?” Storm asked as he tilted his head in curiosity.

“I’m going to find out why they’re tracking me.” I said as if stating the obvious as my hand gripped the door handle.

“And how are ya goin’ to do that?” Rebel asked in an amused tone, as if she already knew the answer to her own question.

“Find them before they find me.” I said as I smirked and walked out of the room.

Chapter 8

**DAMON CARBONE POV **

The flight to Paris was worse than any form or torture I could imagine. First class was completely full, so we had to fly economy. I was the unfortunate soul that was lodged between Angelo and Gio on the seven hour and fifteen minute flight.

Within the first hour, they managed to annoy me so badly, that I slammed their heads into each other, gaining the attention of an undercover Warden on the plane. So I spent the remaining six hours, with my hands zip tied behind my back sitting next to the Warden in the back of the plane.

I’m not sure which pissed me off more: The fact that this particular warden had no idea what personal hygiene meant, and smelled like shit, or the fact that Gio convinced the Warden that I was mentally challenged, and he believed him immediately.

We walked through the foreign airport, and I couldn’t help but smile. We weren’t in our home country of Italy, but we were in Europe, and it was the closest I’ve been to home since I was exiled five years ago. The food, the culture, the architecture, the woman, the cars, everything was better in Europe. The United States has nothing on this incredible continent.

We walked through the airport and grabbed our bags. It was difficult to smuggle guns, ammo, and the other weapons we needed through customs, so we were only able to grab one handgun, a knife, and a clip of ammo for each of us. I lifted my suitcase off the conveyer belt effortlessly while I made a mental note to pick up more weapons before we went to the bar, but Angelo’s phone starting ringing loudly, bringing me out of my thoughts. He pulled it out of his pocket and unlocked it, and I watched as my friends brown eyes went wide.

“Boss, I just got alerted that our Fatale just walked into Trou de Glorie. She’s alone.” Angelo said seriously as he showed me his phone.

I looked down at it to see the blonde haired beauty opening the large red door to the bar, and looking directly at the street camera before slowly walking inside. It was as if her hazel eyes were staring right into my soul, making me sharply intake a breath.

“Do you think she was the one who tried to shut your system down?” Gio huffed as he struggled to carry his over packed bag off of the conveyer belt. He dropped it onto the smooth floor, and it landed with a loud thud before falling over.

“Most likely. In the footage from the police department, she avoided looking into the cameras, and now she’s looking directly at it.” Angelo said as his eyebrows furrowed.

“She’s baiting us.” I stated as I started to walk towards the exit, Angelo and Gio following closely behind.

“So what are we going to do?” Gio asked as we reached the side of the street. He flailed his arms in the air rapidly, trying to get the attention of some of the taxi’s passing by. The drivers would look at him, and ignore the obnoxious gesture as they drove past him.

“Fuckers!” Gio growled in annoyance as he walked over to a tree, bent down, and picked up a large rock.

“We go to the bar, stay low-key, and have a conversation with her.” I shrugged while Gio quickly walked over to us, and threw the rock across the street, aiming it at a taxi cab. The rock hit the windshield of a taxi driving by, shattering the glass, and causing the car to skid to a stop while honking their horn loudly, creating a scene.

“Low-key huh?” Angelo said as we looked at our best friend as he quickly walked over to the taxi.

“Besides, how are we going to convince her to help us?” Angelo said as we watched the taxi driver get out of the car and start yelling at Gio in French.

“It’s not like we can just walk up to her and say, ‘Hi, you don’t know us and we don’t know you, but can you pretty please help us gain control over one of the largest and most deadly Mafias in the world?’” Angelo said as he puffed his chest out and imitated my deep voice. We grabbed our bags and walked towards Gio and the screaming taxi driver.

“We’ll play it by ear.” I said calmly as we opened the trunk of the Taxi, and placed our bags inside as Gio continued to scream at the man.

“Such a marvelous plan.” Angelo said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes and closed the truck of the car.

“ME. NO. UNDER. STAND. YOU!” Gio screamed in the face of the French driver as he gestured with his hands dramatically, trying to communicate to the driver.

“Speaking slower and louder won’t make him understand you either, Gio.” I said calmly as I walked over to them.

“Monsieur, je suis désolé pour mon frère. Il est mentalement défié. Nous allons payer pour le pare-brise et doubler notre tarif.”(Translation: Sir, I’m sorry for my brother. He is mentally challenged. We will pay for the windshield and double our fare.) I said smoothly as I calmed down the furious taxi driver. It seemed to work, and the driver stomped towards the car and got in the drivers seat, slamming the door shut and making the car shake.

“What did you just say?” Gio asked as he opened the backseat of the car.

“Just that you’re mentally challenged.” I said as a shrugged and smirked while got in the front seat.

“Fucking asshole.” Gio muttered as Angelo laughed as they slid into the leather seats.

We quickly dropped off our luggage to the hotel, grabbed our guns, and made our way to the bar which was conveniently located only fifteen minutes away from where we were staying. We paid the driver double the fare and gave him extra money to fix the windshield before we watched him speed off into the distance.

I looked at the familiar red door, and anticipation coursed through my body. It was midnight, and the streets of Paris were glistening underneath the moonlight. It was much to quiet for my liking, not a single soul occupied the streets.

I walked towards the large red door, and opened it to reveal a dark and smokey bar that looked much classier on the inside than it did on the outside. A piano player was situated towards the back of the bar, the spotlight on her as she played a smooth jazz melody that filled the air. Patrons crowded the room, making it difficult to locate our blonde beauty within the sea of people.

I slowly started to make my way to the bar, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of our Fatale. We finally reached the bar, and was greeted by a woman who wore more makeup than necessary. We sat down at the bar top, and placed an order for three whiskey neats as we continued to look through the crowd of people.

“Haven’t seen you around here before.” The woman sitting next to Gio said over the music. She had a thick Caribbean accent, and her hands and arms were covered with intricate tattoos.

“Come here often?” Gio said as he turned his full attention to the woman as he smirked at her. Angelo and I rolled our eyes, knowing that our friend is a sucker for bronze skinned women, and that it was now up to us to continue our search.

“Is that suposto be a pick up line?” The woman asked as she furrowed her eyebrows and sipped on her drink, which I assumed to be scotch on the rocks.

“Only if you want it to be.” Gio said as she smiled at her, making me face palm myself at his nonexistent attention span. Throw a beautiful woman in front of him, and he’s a goner.

“You really expect me to fall head over heels for that pathetic attempt of flirting?” The woman laughed as she threw her head back in amusement.

“Well that pathetic attempt made you laugh, so I guess I’m doing something right.” Gio said as he raised his eyebrow at the woman.

“Alright, touché smooth guy. Where you from?” She asked as she turned over to face us.

“New York. I’m Gio by the way. These are my brothers, Damon and Angelo.” Gio said as he pointed to us before he grabbed his drink and turned on his stool to face her.

“Rebel. Nice to meet ya.” She said as she raised her drink slightly and took another sip.

“So what brings you to Paris, Gio?” She asked as she raised an eyebrow at us. Angelo and I paid no mind to their conversation as we continued to scan the room, with no luck.

“Business. We’re here looking for someone, a regular here actually.” Gio said as I shot him a glare. He could never keep his mouth fucking shut when it came to women.

“Really? I’m here quite a bit, maybe I can help ya. You got a picture?” The woman asked as she smiled and tilted her head.

Gio looked over at me, and I hesitated for a moment before I nodded at Angelo. Something about this woman made me feel uneasy, but if she brought us one step closer to finding our girl, then I had no choice. He quickly pulled out his phone out of his pocket, and found the picture of the blonde beauty. He held out his phone, showing the strange woman the picture as we watched her raise an eyebrow and tilt her head to the side.

“Hmm… I actually just saw her.” Rebel said as she looked back up to us and Angelo put his phone away.

“Where?” I asked, my full attention on the woman who was sipping her drink again.

“She usually isn’t out here in the main area. She always goes to the back, I saw her walk through that door a few minutes ago. If you hurry, you might still be able to catch her.” Rebel said with a smile as she put her now empty drink down and pointed to a black door at the end of the bar.

“Thanks for your help.” Angelo said as he looked at me and nodded.

“Well my dear, it was a pleasure.” Gio said as he grabbed her hand gently, and attempted to kiss the back of it.

“Don’t. Touch. Me.” Rebel said slowly as she emphasized her words and quickly retracted her hand while giving Gio an annoyed look before turning around on her stool and walking away.

Gio stood up with a smirk on his face before he looked over at us. We all stared at the black door before I made the first move to walk towards it. I quickly maneuvered through the crowd of people, Angelo and Gio struggling to keep up behind me. I grasped the handle of the door and flung it open.

It led to the dimly lit alleyway behind the bar. I walked out, and looked around while I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. Angelo and Gio walked out behind me, and the door slammed closed behind us. I heard two loud grunts come from behind me, followed by two bodies hitting the floor. I turned around to see our blonde beauty looking at me with a smirk on her face.

“Looking for me?” Her silky and seductive voice said before she punched me in the face, making my spiral into the dark abyss of unconsciousness.

Chapter 9

** GHOST POV **

I sat in the large, dim basement of Safe House 37, leaning back in the metal chair with my legs crossed as I twirled my favorite blade in one hand. I was sitting directly in front of the three unconscious men, who were chained by their ankles and hanging from the ceiling with their arms tied behind their backs.

Storm, Rebel, and Fox were sitting behind me around rectangular steel table. Fox was typing away on her laptop trying to find information on the men, while Storm and Rebel were playing some sort of card game to pass the time.

“G.” Fox said, her feminine voice echoing throughout the barren room. She slid her chair back, the scraping of metal against cement breaking the silence.

“I found two of their files.” She said as she walked over to me with her laptop. I placed the computer on my thighs as my eyes started to scan over the first file, which didn’t contain much.

ANGELO ROSSI

Last Known Location

: Manhattan, New York

Age

: 26

DOB:

02/20/1992

Height:

6’0

Weight:

175LBS

Birthplace:

Geona, Italy

Address:

40 E 7th Street

Occupation:

None Listed

Criminal Record:

None

I looked up from the picture on the file and recognized him as the tannest man out of the three, hanging on the far left.

He had dark and sharp features: a pointed nose, sharp jawline, and a neatly trimmed beard. The brown eyes I saw in the alleyway complimented his black styled hair. He was toned, but looked like he was the least muscular out of the three. With no police record and hardly any information available on him, he must be intelligent. Perhaps good enough with computers to erase any incriminating information on his file, making me believe that he was the one who kicked Fox our of their software.

“The next one had his police record hidden…very well hidden. I had to do some major digging to find all of it.” Fox said as she raised her eyebrow. I scrolled down to the next file, and recognized the picture as the man who was hanging on the far right.

GIOVANI D’MARIO

Last known location:

Manhattan, New York

Age:

27

DOB:

07/05/1991

Height:

6’1

Weight:

200LBS

Birthplace:

Geona, Italy

Address:

40 E 7th Street

Occupation:

None Listed

Criminal Record:

Public Intoxication/ Public Indecency/ Assault/ Assaulting a Police Officer/ Vehicular Assault/ Possession of  an Illegal Firearm/ Possession of an Illegal Weapon/ Harassment/ Threatening a Police Officer/ Disturbing the Peace/ Battery/ Solicitation/ Evading Arrest/ Vandalism/ Shoplifting/ Boating DUI (BUI)/ Bribery/ Arson/ Larceny/ Insubordination/ Escape from Lawful Custody/

I was listening in on the conversation he was having with Rebel in the bar, and his cocky and overly confident demeanor leads me to believe that he is the idiot of this little trio. I looked over at him, and saw this his mouth was hanging open and his brown hair was slightly covering his eyes. Even unconscious, he still looked like a goof. He also had a beard, which wasn’t as well kept as the smarter one. Looking at his long list of charges, he must be reckless, temperamental, and impulsive. He could even be dangerous if he thought before he acted, which he obviously didn’t if he was caught for so many stupid crimes. He was fit, and had scars lining his knuckles, probably making him a good fighter.

“And him?” I said to Fox as I looked up from the screen and stared at the third man.

He was by far the most attractive out of the three. He had dirty blonde hair, that was styled, yet wavy. His jawline was sharp, and his nose was slightly upturned. His lips were full, and surrounded by the stubble of his beard. The man was wearing a white dress shirt, and underneath the soft material, I could see the dark outline of tattoos covering his arms and chest, traveling almost up to his neck and down to his hands. Even while he was unconscious, he still held a deadly demeanor, and had a scowl on his face.

“No record, no files, nothing. It’s like he doesn’t even exist.” Fox said as she tilted her head and grabbed the laptop I was holding out to her. I stood up, and walked over to the attractive man. I bent down to examine his face closer as I tilted my head in curiosity. When his piercing blue eyes met mine in the alleyway, I almost hesitated. Almost, but not quite. He had a scar on his right eye, that traveled from underneath his thick brow to beneath his eye, a similar scar that a rumored assassin has as well. The other two men live in New York, so it could be a possibility…

Noise from beside me took me out of my thoughts. I turned over to look at the goofy man, who was stirring and mumbling something about coffee as a scowl took over his face.

“Wake them up.” I ordered to Fox as I stood up and walked back to the table, where Storm was moaning in pain as he folded his deck in defeat. I grabbed a pack of Marlboro’s, and hit the box a few times against my palm before taking a cigarette out and lighting it. I placed the pack and the lighter in my pocket before walking over to my seat in front of the men, watching as Fox placed smelling salts in their faces.

One by one, the men came back to consciousness. The smart one quickly looked around at his surroundings, while the idiot started to roughly pull on his restraints while grunting. The attractive one in the middle remained composed, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine. I calmly took a long drag of my cigarette, still making eye contact with handsome blonde.

“Seems like you three have been working awfully hard trying to locate me.” I said as I took another drag of my cigarette and blew the smoke out slowly.

“Why?” I asked. The men remained silent as they watched me, except for the idiot. His eyes were locked on Rebel. He smirked at her cockily and winked, making Rebel groan in annoyance behind me.

“Can I kill that one first?” Rebel scoffed as she leaned against the table and crossed her arms while nodding at the goofy man.

“Sure.” I said nonchalantly as I inhaled the smoke from my cigarette again. Rebel smiled as she quickly walked over to the idiot, who’s eyes went wide. She cocked her fist back and was about to throw a punch when the attractive one spoke out.

“We came here to make a business proposition with you.” His said, filling the room with his baritone voice. Rebel looked at me, awaiting orders. I stood up and walked towards the handsome man in the middle of the trio.

“And who might you be?” I asked as I looked down at him.

“ Il Mietitore. “ He said calmly as he looked up at me, his face was red from the blood flowing to his head. I heard Fox typing away rapidly on her laptop, most likely searching for his files.

“You got another one of those?” He asked as he nodded at the cigarette in my mouth. Feeling generous, I bent down and took the cigarette from my mouth and held it up to his. He inhaled deeply while staring at me, and blew the smoke to the side. The stubble on his face caresses my fingers, and his tantalizing masculine scent made my heart slightly flutter, a feeling that was rather foreign to me. His face was unreadable as an emotionless expression painted his face.

“I’ve heard rumors of Il Mietitore.” I said as I stared at him. “ A ruthless assassin that kills without remorse, and always escapes undetected. Yet here you are, chained by your feet and completely helpless.

Do you really expect me to believe that you’re the man behind the string of murders happening in the United States?“ I asked in disbelief, his face remained hardened as he took another hit of the cigarette, his lips gently grazing against my fingertips.

“My last kill was Oliver Dean. CEO of Dean Enterprises. Killed him on 27th street in his Lexus and cut off his head. The one before that was Miguel Rodriguez. He was a corrupt judge that was working in Washington DC. Killed him in his penthouse on Cherrywood Street and left his body in the backyard by his pool. Look it up.” He said calmly as he nodded at Fox. After a few seconds of Fox typing rapidly, she looked at me with furrowed eyebrows and nodded, verifying that what he was saying was correct.

“So what does a notorious assassin want with me?” I asked as I tilted my head in curiosity, pulling my cigarette away from his mouth and bringing it up to mine.

“Like I said, a business proposition.” The attractive man said as he continued to look at me. Confidence dripped off his words, and I can tell he was a man that was use to getting what he wanted.

“I’m listening.” I said as I took another hit of my cigarette and bit it between my teeth while I continued to bend down so we were face to face.

“We need your help to take over the Italian Mafia.” He said seriously, making Storm, Fox, and Rebel chucked slightly behind me.

“Not interested.” I said as I stood up and started to walk away. Being involved with anything regarding the Mafia would cause unwanted attention to me and my crew, something I wasn’t willing to risk.

“Name your price.” He said, making me stop in my tracks and look over his shoulder.

“And what do you think you can possibly offer me that I don’t already have?” I said as I raised my eyebrow at him.

“Anything you want. Just name it.” He said again, his confidence never faltering.

“I don’t dabble in Mafia affairs. Like I said before, I’m not interested.” I said as I started to walk away, my footsteps echoing throughout the basement.

“How about a favor.” He said in a deep voice after a few moments. I stopped mid-step and turned around to face him.

“A what?” I said as I raised my eyebrow at him.

“A favor. It seems like you and your colleagues here work alone, no? You help us take over the Italian Mafia, and I’ll owe you one favor. Anything you want, within reason of course, and you would have the entire Mafia at your disposal.” Il Mietitore said, peaking my interest as his friends looked at him with confused expressions on their faces.

“What makes you think you they’ll just let you walk in and claim the title of their Don?” I asked as I stared at the man in front of me.

“Because I’m Damon Carbone. The rightful heir to the Italian Mafia.” He said seriously, making me raise my eyebrow. Fox was typing away, the sound of her fingers clicking against the keyboard filled the tension ridden air. 

“Damon Carbone was killed five years ago in Geona.” She said as she walked over to me with her laptop in hand. I grabbed it and looked at the man on the file. He looked innocent, and had long hair that reached down to this shoulders. Not a single scar or tattoo adorned his body, but I could still see the resemblance to the deadly man in front of me.

“What can I say, I’m a tough motherfucker to kill.” He said as he shrugged.

“So if what you’re saying is true, why don’t you just go back to Italy and claim your position as Don? Why would you need my help?” I asked curiously, my strategic and over analytical mind racing with scenarios on how this could be beneficial to us.

“My cousin, Martino Carbone, challenged me for the title. I was weak back then, and he nearly killed me, and to the world, they thought I was dead. I stayed undercover in New York as Il Mietitore, planning my revenge for five years.” He explained. “I need your help to seduce and capture Martino. So I can kill the bastard once and for all and take back my title that was stolen from me.” He said as his expression turned into a deadly one as he talked about his past. I stared at him, thinking through my options.

Having the entire Italian Mafia at our disposal could be beneficial… and it could be the only opportunity where we have enough man power to take them down once and for all. To finish what was started so long ago, and destroy the fuckers that have been haunting us. 

“So, do we have a deal?” The attractive man said as he raised his eyebrow at me. Rebel, Storm, and Fox watched me as I took one long drag of my cigarette before I dropped it to the floor and stepped on it. I slowly walked towards this so called Damon, and bent down so we were at eye level again.

“Give me a minute to think about it.” I smirked before I connected my fist to his head, knocking him out cold. The other two men started to loudly verbalize their objections before Rebel and Fox knocked them out.

“Ghost, you can’t seriously be thinking of helping them, right?” Fox said quickly as she looked at me with a confused expression on her face, anxiety lacing her voice.

“We should not get involved, G. We have no business dealing with the Mafias.” Rebel said as she looked at me with a deadly glare. But I knew her well enough to know that behind her intimidating demeanor, was fear.

“It’ll put us on their radar. They might find us.” Storm said as he stood up from his chair, worry hidden behind his voice.

I felt nothing as I watched my crew get eaten alive by fear and anxiety, and for a moment, I felt slightly uneasy, but that moment passed even quicker than it came. I bent down, and grabbed my messenger bag from underneath the table. I threw it onto the top of the steel table, the playing cards from Storm and Rebel flying off and onto the floor from the impact. They walked closer to me, watching as I dug through my bag and took out my journal and placed it softly on the table, making their eyes wide.

“I took this from the last heist we pulled, and opened it last night.” I said as I reached in my bag and pulled out the private vault, placing it firmly on the table. Their eyes fell onto the name adorning the front of it, and they all took a cautious step back as if it was going to explode.

“No.” Rebel breathed with wide eyes. “No, no, no.” She muttered as she continued to take a few steps backwards.

“What the fuck have you done?! They could be tracking us right now!” Storm yelled as he ran his hand through his hair, Fox was standing next to him, her chest rapidly rising and falling in anxiety.

“We’re going to help them take control of the Italian Mafia. This will be our favor from them.” I said as I reached for the lid of the box.

“NO! If we help them, it’s almost a guarantee that they’ll find us!” Storm yelled in frustration and fear as he glared at me.

I ignored Storms outburst, and lifted up the lid of the box, displaying dozens of documents neatly placed inside. I took the stack of papers and threw them onto the table, making the neat pile scatter messily onto the tabletop. Rebel, Storm, and Fox sharply gasped when they saw that the files contained pictures, information, and details of our exact locations and whereabouts over the past three months.

“They’ve already found us.” I said in a deadly tone, as my eyes fell upon a black and white picture of me smoking on the balcony of Safe House 4.

Chapter 10

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

“No. We’re not doin’ this. Have ya lost your mind?!”

“They’re out there. Which means that K’s still out there.”

“Ghost, you’re going to have to face the reality that K’s gone. You have to move on. I know it’s hard, trust me, but you have to face the truth.”

“If they’re still out there, that means K is too.”

I heard the whispers fill the air as I slowly regained my senses. I closed my eyes, pretending to be unconscious as I continued to eavesdrop on their hushed conversation. 

“It’s too dangerous. If we get too close, you know what they’ll do.”

“Would you rather us spend the rest of our lives hiding? Waiting for them to inevitably come for us again?”

“She’s right. We can’t spend the rest of our lives constantly looking over our shoulder.”

“They’ve found us, it’s only a matter of time.”

“Sister, this is too dangerous. It’ll never work.”

“But what if it does, brother?!”

“Shhh… keep ya voice down. You’ll wake them.”

The whispers came to a halt as I continued to act as if I was unconscious. I heard someone mutter something inaudible, as I listened to footsteps coming closer to me. The smell of lavender and flowers filled the air around me, consuming my senses as I fought the urge to take a deep breath to inhale the heavenly aroma. 

“I know you’re awake. No need to pretend anymore.” A deep and seductive voice whispered in my ear. Her British accent made my body tense as her lips gently grazed my ear. I opened my eyes and looked to the side to see the blonde beauty bending down next to me, her lips still hovering over my ear. She smirked before pulling away, her warmth replaced by a chilling coldness as she stood up. 

I watched as she walked in front of me, standing in front of her crew as she looked at them. Each one of them nodded at her slightly before she turned around and pulled out her gun. She cocked it and pointed it right at me, her hazel eyes meeting mine. On the outside, I remained composed, but I couldn’t help but feel anxiety coursing through me. 

“You have yourself a deal, Mr. Carbone.” She said with a serious expression on her face before she quickly brought her gun up higher and aimed it at the chains above my ankles. She shot three bullets in rapid succession, breaking the chains with a single bullet and making Angelo, Gio, and myself fall face first onto the floor. The impact woke up Angelo and Gio, who both groaned in pain on the cement. 

“This is Rebel,” The blonde beauty said as she pointed to the Caribbean woman I recognized from the bar. She smirked and saluted us as she leaned against the table. 

“Storm,” She said as she motioned to the muscular man standing in the corner of the room. His arms were crossed and his face was hard as he nodded at us. 

“And Fox.” She said as she nodded with her head to the woman next to her, who smirked and waved. 

“And you are?” I said as I got to my knees and stood up slightly, struggling with the restraints on my wrists. 

“Ghost.” She said coldly as she looked down at me. 

“What’s your real name?” I asked out of curiosity. 

“Ghost.” She said calmly as she raised her eyebrow and started walking towards me. She got behind me and bent down, grabbing my restraints while Fox and Rebel did the same to Angelo and Gio. 

“If I find out that you’re lying to us, in any sort of way, I will not hesitate to slice your neck.” Ghost whispered as her lips pressed against my ear slightly, making goosebumps rise all over my body. 

“I’m going to take these restraints off, Mr. Carbone. Don’t do anything stupid.” She whispered again as her hands worked on the handcuffs that bound my wrists. I nodded just before she freed me, the handcuffs dropping to the floor with a loud thud. Angelo and Gio were freed as well, and they were on their knees, rubbing their sore and red wrists. 

Ghost walked in front of me, her ass a few inches from my face as I attempted to use as much self control as I can manage. She was by far the most beautiful temptress I have ever encountered in my life. I gulped as she continued to walk away, her hips swaying with each step she took. I’ll have to keep myself under control around her. She’s a Fatale, a woman who knows what power she holds, and I cannot afford to become one of her many casualties. 

I watched as she walked over to the table, bent down, and grabbed a sleek black messenger bag from the floor. She threw it over her shoulder before she looked at me with her eyebrow raised. She held my gaze for a moment, before turning back around. 

“Come with us.” Ghost said, her back still facing me as she walked towards the door in the back of the room, the rest following silently behind her. “And don’t touch anything.” She said sternly as the door opened to reveal an elevator. 

Angelo, Gio, and I quickly stood up and followed them to the elevator. All seven of us jammed into the elevator, our shoulders touching. I held my breath as the mesmerizing scent of Lavender and flowers filled my nose. 

I looked down to see that the blonde beauty was slightly in front of me, her plump ass gently pressed against my hip as we all crammed into the small elevator. I stared at the numbers that lined the top of the elevator to distract me from every single primal and unholy urge that was flowing through my body. 

“So, Rebel. Tell me a little bit about yourself.” Gio said confidently as he looked over to Rebel, who was standing next to him closely, the top of her head only reaching his shoulder. 

“There you go with those corny ass lines again. You don’t need to know nothin’ bout me, boy.” Rebel scoffed as she rolled her eyes.

“Aw come on baby, don’t be like that.” Gio said as he smirked playfully. Rebel’s eyes widened in anger as she slowly turned her head towards Gio. Storm and Fox started to chuckling under their breath while Ghost bit her full lip to suppress a laugh. 

Rebel quickly stepped in front of Gio, and pushed him against the wall, pushing us and making everyone stumble due to the close proximity. Ghost fell towards me, and my back hit the wall. Out of instinct, I wrapped my arms around her waist to prevent her from falling, pressing her close to my body. Storm fell onto the floor, and Fox stumbled into Angelo in the corner, making both of them roughly hit the wall. 

“Call me baby one more time, and I’ll chop off your member and stick it so far up your ass that you’ll be cumming in ya own mouth.” Rebel threatened in a deadly tone as she pressed her forearm against Gios throat. 

“Woah, slow down there Caribbean Queen. I just met you and you’re already talking about making me cum? At least take me out to dinner first.” Gio breathed as Rebel scoffed and increased the pressure on his neck. 

The elevator chimed, and the door slid open to reveal a very luxurious penthouse. It was modern, and looked as if it was professionally decorated. Expensive artwork lined the walls, and the windows displayed a breathtaking view of the Eiffel Tower, the lights shimmering and illuminating the sky.

“Get over yourself, pretty boy. Next time you talk to me like that, I’ll break your fucking face.” Rebel growled as she gripped Gio’s shoulders roughly and shoved him out of the elevator, making him fall onto the marble floor. She mumbled something about him being an asshole under her breath, before she stepped over him and into the living room. Storm, Fox, and Angelo quickly walked out of the elevator. Angelo bent down, extending out a hand to our groaning friend who just got publicly rejected.  

I heard Ghost clear her throat, and I looked down to see her still in my arms. He hand rested on my forearm for support as she looked up at me with her eyebrows furrowed. I quickly dropped my arms and she proceeded to walk gracefully into the lavish living room. We followed them down a wide hallway and into a large office, which was also immaculate. Everything in this penthouse was fucking immaculate. 

“Oh my god.” Angelo breathed as his eyes widened at the sight of the four computer screens sitting on top of a desk in the corner. He quickly walked over to them, and tried to touch the high tech screen before his hand was smacked by an angry looking Fox.

“What part of don’t touch anything don’t you understand?” She said as she shot him a glare as she walked behind the desk and sat down in a leather chair. 

“I couldn’t help myself. It’s just…so beautiful.” Angelo said as he continued to look at the high tech screens and hard drives in front of him. 

“Ohhh what’s in here?” Gio said as he walked up to a trunk in the corner. He quickly opened it and pulled out a small spool of wire. He pulled some out, and examined it curiously as his finger ran across the smooth black material. 

“Stop!” Storm yelled as he ran over to him and tackled him to the floor, causing him to drop the contraption. The wire started to glow a bright red, and quickly burned through the grey wood on the floor completely, until it fell through and landed on the carpet on the floor below. 

Who the fuck are these people?

Suddenly, the sound of a bullet pierced the air, making us all stop in our tracks and freeze. Rebel was standing behind Ghost, who was sitting back in a leather chair at the head of a long glass conference table. Her eyes were focused on the burn mark on the pristine floor and her eyebrows furrowed. 

“Stop touchin’ our shit and sit down!” Rebel screamed as we all quickly took a seat around the modern table. It was silent, as all eyes were on Ghost as she continued to stare intensely at the burn mark that now decorated the wooden floor. Rebel rolled her eyes, stood up and grabbed a book from the bookshelf. She walked over, and dropped the book over the burn mark, covering it. 

“Better?” Rebel asked with her eyebrow raised.

“Remind me to get someone to come by and fix that hole immediately, and also to patch the new hole in our ceiling.” Ghost said with annoyance as she nodded her head. 

“Why’d you do that?” Gio whispered to Rebel as she took a seat next to him. 

“She wouldn’t be able to concentrate with that big OCD brain of her.” Rebel scoffed as she leaned back and crossed her arms. 

“So.” Ghost said, bringing her attention back towards us. She reached in her pocket, and grabbed a cigarette. She brought it to her mouth and lit it. 

“What exactly is your plan, Mr. Carbone?” She mumbled as the end of the cigarette ignited. She grabbed a glass ashtray, and pulled it in front of her as her eyes locked onto mine. I cleared my throat as everyone turned their attention to me while they listened intently. 

“Martino is known as a womanizer. So one of you ladies will seduce him, kidnap him, I’ll kill him, and become the new Don. Simple and easy.” I said as I leaned back in my chair and rested my arms on the armrests. It was by far the comfiest chair I’ve been in in years. 

“…Simple and easy?” Ghost said as she leaned forward onto the desk, leaning on her elbows while our gazes were locked. Her face tilted down slightly as she raised her eyebrow. 

“Let me get this straight,” Fox called out from behind her computer screens. “You guys came all the way here to ask Ghost to just seduce and kidnap a Mafia Don?” She said with her eyebrows raised in disbelief. 

“Yeah, pretty much.” Angelo said as he shrugged. Silence loomed over the conference room as all eyes were on Ghost, awaiting her next words. 

“You aren’t very strategical, are you Mr. Carbone?” Ghost said with boredom apparent in her voice as she took another long drag of her cigarette. 

“I’d like to think I am.” I said as I leaned forward and rested my arms on top of the table while I looked at the pack of cigarettes in front of her. She grabbed it and slid it across the table to me along with the lighter as I heard Rebel scoff from her seat. 

“How long has Martino been in power?” She asked nonchalantly as she took another drag of her cigarette. 

“Five years.” I mumbled as I lit my cigarette. 

“Has the hierarchy within the organization changed? New capos, underbosses?” She asked as her hazel eyes stared at me from underneath her long eyelashes. 

“Yes. He has completely replaced everyone since he took over.” I said before I inhaled the smoke from my cigarette, wondering how she knows so much about organized crime. 

“His distributors and suppliers. Have they changed as well?” Ghost asked as she tilted her head slightly. 

“Yes. Some of them were overthrown, others have had their children take over.” I said as I was wondering where this was going. She looked down at the glass ashtray in front of her, and tapped her cigarette against the rim, letting the ash fall down gracefully. 

“So what makes you think that even after you kill Martino, that the Mafia would even accept you as their leader?” She said with boredom in her words as she looked down at the ashtray. 

“I’m the rightful heir, they have too.” I said as my hands clenched into fists and my gaze on her hardened. 

“They won’t give a fuck who you are, Mr. Carbone.” She said as she held the cigarette between her fingers, her face held no emotion and her words were cold. 

“Strategic relationships are the key to making a Mafia successful. You have no loyalty amongst the Capos, or anyone who is currently in the Mafia for that matter. The distributors who run and supply the operation won’t feel secure partnering with someone who they don’t know, and could potentially cut ties, refuse to sell to you, and ultimately cut the money funding the entire operation. If Martino’s supporters don’t kill you after you get rid of him, the Mafia would crumble into nothingness from lack of funds and supplies.” She said as she looked up at me and brought the cigarette to her mouth again. 

“So what are you suggesting?” I said, her words making me come to the realization that taking my rightful title as Don is going to be harder than I thought. She made valid points, things that would have taken me months to figure out, and she did it in a matter of minutes. 

“In order for you to rise up to Don, the Mafia would temporarily have to fall, under Martino’s leadership of course.” She said calmly as she exhaled the smoke into the air. 

“I’m… not following.” I said as I raised my eyebrow at her.

“It’s quite simple, really. We target his main suppliers and have them pledge their loyalty and allegiance to you. When the time is right, we’ll have all of them cut ties with Martino, throwing the Italian Mafia into chaos and putting the blame on Martino’s leadership. Then we’ll target his most loyal Capos and underbosses, and kill them all. You redeem yourself by killing Martino in front of the entire Mafia, save the day by getting the distributors to start supplying to the organization again, you get what you’ve been wanting for five years, and we get our favor.” Ghost said nonchalantly as she held the cigarette between her perfectly manicured fingers. 

“Any questions?” She said as she leaned back in her chair and rested her arms on the armrests. The room was silent, as we all processed her plan. It was practically flawless: create enough chaos in the Mafia, and I come in and look like the man who saved them when we were really the ones who caused all of it. 

Genius. She’s a fucking genius. 

“When will we get started?” I asked, breaking the silence as I raised my eyebrow at the blonde beauty. 

“Now.” She said coldly as she put out her cigarette in the ashtray.

Chapter 11

** GHOST POV **

I’m usually level headed, never letting my emotions come to the surface. I’ve learned many years ago what happens when you make decisions based on emotion, and the result is disastrous and painful, a memory that I longed to forget.

Many years ago, I learned how to be able to detach myself from how I was feeling and only create a surface level connection with my emotions. It was this detachment that made me strong, made me able to make difficult decisions in the blink of an eye without my emotions interfering. It’s what made me a great leader, and an even greater killer. 

I use to envy my crew, and their capacity to feel emotions on such a strong level. But the longer I was around them, I realized that feeling emotions was more of a curse than it was a blessing.

Granted, I could still feel some of emotions. I could feel happy, but not elated. I could feel joy, but not bliss. I could feel sad, but not depressed. My feelings could only impact me a fraction of what they should be able to, and lasted for what I felt to be only a few seconds. Except anger. That, I felt to the fullest if not more intensely.

Out of all my emotions, fury and rage were the only thing that could completely consume me, but I didn’t mind. Feeling such a strong surge of emotion made me feel human, a somewhat delightful change from the constant numbness in my soul. But over the years, I’ve learned to control that primal side, never letting it claw its way to the surface to reveal the monster that I truly am.

But as I looked into Damon’s piercing blue eyes, I realized that this man makes me feel…uneasy. Not uneasy in a distrustful kind sense, but more so uneasy due to the fact that whenever I’m around him, an undecipherable mix of emotions stirs within me, a mix of emotions I’ve never encountered before.

Granted, he is attractive, very attractive, and the normal biological response from a female would be to get flustered or maybe nervous in the presence of a handsome man, but that’s a reaction that I have not experienced. I’ve been around dozens, if not hundreds of attractive men in my lifetime, and I’ve yet to see the day that one of them peaked my interest, or made me feel anything at all for that matter.

But around Damon, I felt something attempting to resurface within me, emotions that I’ve buried down deep into the dark abyss of my soul. In the elevator, when he wrapped his arms around me, I momentarily felt as if my body was about to explode, that my stomach was fluttering from his touch, his smell, and his closeness. The emotion lasted only for a moment, but it left me feeling more confused than ever. I couldn’t imagine if I felt that at it’s highest intensity like others do… I think I’d vomit.

“Fox, pull up every file you can find on Martino’s operation and his colleagues.” I ordered as I tore my gaze away from Damon’s, reaching for another much needed cigarette.

“No need. I have the information we need on my laptop. We just need to go to the hotel and grab our suitcases.” Angelo said as he looked over at Fox.

Rebel and Storm stood up, and exited the room. They quickly returned with three suitcases in their hands, and threw them on the floor next to the table. It was obvious the bags have been ransacked, clothing stuck out on the side, and one was even half opened. The men raised their eyebrows at this invasion of privacy as Storm and Rebel smirked.

“You went through our things?” Gio asked in disbelief as he placed his hand on his chest to pretend that he was hurt while he stared at Rebel and Storm. 

“Had to make sure you weren’t hiding anything.” Storm said nonchalantly as he shrugged.

“Would have never taken you as a boxer kinda guy. You look more like a brief boy.” Rebel said to Gio before she clicked her tongue and took her seat next to him.

“Boxer are far superior to briefs. If you want I could show you why?” Gio said as he raised his eyebrow at Rebel.

“Keep dreamin’ fool.” Rebel said as she rolled her eyes. I’ve known Rebel for years, and I can tell she’s loving the banter Gio throws at her, even if it looks like she hates it.

Angelo stood up and started to dig through his now messy and disorganized suitcase until he found an old and outdated laptop. He picked it up, and put it on the table. Fox walked over curiously as she sat down in the seat next to him.

“Need the wifi password?” Fox asked curiously as she eyed the cracked screen and tattered computer curiously.

“Nah. I just hacked into it. I hope you don’t mind.” Angelo said as he smirked.

“Were you the one who kicked me out of your software?” Fox asked as she raised her eyebrow at Angelo.

“Yes ma’am.” Angelo said as he continued to type furiously on the computer.

“And you were able to do it… with that thing?” Fox said as her eyebrow furrowed as she looked at the outdated computer with a disgusted look on her face.

“Mhmm.” Angelo said with a smirk as he looked up at her briefly before he continued to pull up the files.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? I got out hacked by a guy using a 2001 Dell laptop?!” Fox said in disbelief as she ran both of her hands through her hair, making everyone start laughing at her expense.

“If it makes you feel any better, I’m using an operating system I designed myself.” Angelo said as he looked over at her.

“Let me see this shit.” Fox said with annoyance in her voice that someone was better than her. She quickly grabbed the laptop and placed it in front of her as she examined the software.

“Wow. This. Is. Insane.” Fox said as he mouth was agape and her eyes widened as she typed away, examining Angelos work.

“You don’t need a fancy hard drive or a high tech screen to run a good system.” Angelo said as he smirked at her. “Check this out.” He said as he reached over and started clicking something.

“Ahem.” I said as I cleared my throat and took another drag of my cigarette. “The files?” I said calmly as I raised my eyebrows at them.

“You can dork out over softwares later. We have a task to focus on.” Storm said as he glared at Angelo.

“Right. On it.” Angelo said as he smiled innocently and continued to pull up the information.

The screen behind us came to life, and dozens of files stared to appear on the screen in rapid succession. The files contained pictures, descriptions, bank statements, everything and anything from the past five years. You can tell they really did their research.

“The Italian Mafia has three main sources of income outside of their legal businesses: Drugs, Women, and Guns.” Damon said as he turned his chair to view the screen mounted on the wall.

“Not stereotypical at all.” Storm scoffed as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

“Most of their profits come from selling illegal arms, then drugs, and lastly human trafficking. Where do you want to start?” Angelo said as he looked between Damon and I. I couldn’t help the disgust that I felt when he said human trafficking.

Typical egotistical males, selling women as objects for their sick and twisted pleasure, those chauvinistic motherfuckers.

“Lets start by getting their arms dealer on our side, then we’ll handle their narcotics. I want to save the human trafficking for last, so I can destroy the entire fucking operation.” Damon said sternly as his hands balled into fists on the desk at the mention of trafficking.

“Why would you destroy one of the most profitable industries within the Mafia?” I asked in curiosity.

“My father never believed in hurting women or children. Trafficking is a barbaric and disgusting business that Martino started after he took over. I refuse to take part in it, not matter how fucking profitable it is.” He growled, making me smile slightly. It’s not very often you find a man with that kind of mindset. I felt the uneasy feeling within the pit of my stomach at his words, and quickly pushed them to the side.

“I like you already.” Rebel said as she smiled at Damon, Fox nodding in agreement.

“Alright then, guns first.” Angelo said as some of the files cleared away from the screen, revealing a picture of a very sophisticated woman.

She was slender, and had high cheekbones. Her long black hair complimented by her ocean blue eyes. In the picture, she was wearing a black sunhat that hid half of her face. She was middle aged, but looked as good as a super model.

“This is Amelia Thorn, the woman who took over the gun trade three years ago. It was previously ran by her Uncle, Ronaldo Thorn, but she killed him in his own home, shot between the eyes with his own gun. We’re going to have to get her to pledge her loyalty to Damon somehow.” Angelo explained.

“Any details on her?” I asked as I took another hit from my cigarette and leaned forward.

“She’s forty-three.. Lives in Los Angeles, California… Widow… Has one child…He’s twenty years old…” Angelo said as he scrolled through the records.

“Tell us about her son.” I ordered as I ashed my cigarette. Angelo started typing away and a picture of man popped up on the screen. He had tattoos on his neck, and a scowl on his face. He had similar features to his mother, black unruly hair and blue eyes.

“Axel Thron. Was apart of the family business. Was heavily involved in their drops and shipments, but got into a bit of trouble last year. Police caught him with five shipments of weapons at the harbor, and now serving a life sentence a federal penitentiary near LA.” Angelo said as he pulled up his mugshot.  

“We’ll negotiate a deal with Miss Thorn then.” I said as I took a long drag of my cigarette. 

“She doesn’t really seem like the type of woman you can just visit and have a friendly conversation with.” Gio said with his eyebrows furrowed.

“Trust me, she’ll be begging to make a deal with us.” I said as I stared at the image on the screen.

“Why’s that?” Angelo said as he tilted his head in curiosity.

“We’ll just make her an offer she can’t refuse.” I said seriously. Gio, Angelo, and Damon looked at me skeptically for a moment as they processed my words.

“We have to be careful, she’s one of the most dangerous women on the planet.” Angelo said seriously, as Fox, Storm, and Rebel tried to hold in their laughter at his last sentence.

They failed miserably, and started busting out laughing to the point they were in tears. Angelo, Gio, and Damon looked at them with their eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Hold on, hold on, give me a- BAAAHH HAHAHA!” Rebel said as she attempted to speak. She was hunched over on the conference table and her hand slammed against the glass repeatedly as her booming laugh echoed off the walls.

“HAHA The most danger- HAHA!” Storm bellowed as he gripped his stomach from laughing so hard.

“Oh my god AHAHA!” Fox laughed as she wiped a tear from her eye. I smirked, amused at my friends as they howled with laughter as I took another drag of my cigarette.

“Mind filling us in one what’s so fucking funny?” Gio said as he raised his eyebrows at the three.

“Because THE most dangerous woman on the plant is sitting at the head of this table!” Fox said in between laughs.

Gio, Angelo, and Damon all looked at me with serious expressions on their faces as I took one last drag of my cigarette, and blew the smoke in the air.

“Didn’t know ya were makin’ a deal with the devil, did ya?” Rebel said as she continued to laugh.

The boys continued to stare at me while my crew’s laughter started to die down. I looked Damon in the eyes as I put out my cigarette on the ashtray and smirked.

“Storm, get the jet ready. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow to pay Miss Thorn a little visit.” I said as I leaned back in my chair and smiled.

Chapter 12

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

“You three are free to stay here for the time being. I’d recommend getting some rest.” Ghost said before she quickly walked out of the conference room, the door closing loudly behind her.

“Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms.” Fox said as she stood up from her chair. We followed her out into lavish hallway, and looked around in awe of the pristine and well decorated home that made ours look like a complete and utter shithole.

“This will be your room, Damon.” Fox said as she walked in front of a large white door. She turned the modern silver handle to display a massive room with floor to ceiling windows, displaying the beautiful streets of Pairs below us. There was a king sized bed in the center of the room with black and grey silk bedsheets. The bathroom connected to it was filled with black marble, and had an empty walk in closet, a large bathtub, and a shower with shower heads lining the wall.

“Angelo, your room is to the right, Gio’s to the left.” Fox said as she pointed to the rooms next to mine.

“Any chance you got a gym in this place?” I said as I dropped my suitcase down and started rummaging for my workout clothes. It became a routine of mine to train right when I wake up, and before I go to sleep.

“Down the hall, to the left, big red door, you can’t miss it.” Fox said as she smiled and walked away.

Angelo watched as he figure disappeared down the corridor before he walked inside and shut the door behind him.

“Are you sure we can trust these people?” Angelo asked in a quiet voice, his furrowed eyebrows as he leaned against the door.

“Have they given us a reason not to?” I said as I continued to look through my messy suitcase for my other Nike shoe.

“We don’t even know their real names.” Angelo said as if he was stating the obvious.

“Formalities.” I said as I lifted up the shoe I found and tossed it with the pile of workout clothes laying on the floor next to me.

“Yeah brother, relax. We’re staying in a house filled with three lethal and sexy woman. If anything, we hit the jackpot!” Gio said as he smirked and sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Damon,” Angelo said, ignoring Gio’s immature but true comment.

“Don’t you think it’s strange that these people are invisible to the world, yet have so many resources at their disposal? They’re highly strategical, and extremely specialized, hell, you saw what that wire did in the office. All I’m saying is that there’s something off about these people.” Angelo said, worry in his voice.

“Brother, that was the point, no? Find a Femme Fatale, and we did. I understand your concern, and I haven’t ruled out the idea that they could be using us. But until they give us a reason not to trust them, let’s not jump to any conclusions.” I said as I grabbed my clothes and walked into the bathroom. I quickly changed into my work out gear as I thought about what Angelo was suggesting.

“Just be careful around them. We still don’t know what favor they want from us.” Angelo said in a serious tone after a few moments. I walked out of the bathroom and nodded at him before leaving the room and heading towards the gym.

I could already tell these people lacked remorse, and were extremely good at calculated attacks and plans. It seems like Ghost was the mastermind, Rebel was the enforcer, Fox was the cyber security, and Storm… I don’t know what Storm is yet.

I’m good at reading people, and so far Ghost has done everything I’ve predicted so far. They’re obviously involved in some sort of illegal activity to have the funds that they do, and there way to wealthy to just be contract killers. I had to make sure to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior indicating that they’d betray us.

I pushed open the large red door to the gym, and my eyes widened. It had everything and anything I could ever possibly need. Multiple punching bags hung from the ceiling. Treadmills, weights, and rowing machines were placed orderly throughout the middle of the room. To the left, was a shooting range with two lanes. Towards the back was a large, black boxing ring, that was elevated above the ground. This gym was an assassins fucking dream.

“What are you doing here?” A familiar seductive voice said from the corner of the room.

Ghost was glistening with sweat, and wearing a white sports bra and black cropped yoga pants. Her knuckles were bandaged up as she stood in front of a swinging punching bag.

“Apparently doing the same thing you are.” I said calmly, making her nod as I walked over to the bench behind her. I grabbed the white tape and started to tape up my hands.

“Good timing, I need a sparing partner.” She stated as she walked over to the boxing ring in the back of the room.

I followed her after I taped my hands, and jumped up onto the platform, the lights from above casting shadows on our faces as we squared up and circled each other. Ghost’s calm demeanor morphed into a deadly one, like a lion hunting its prey.

“Don’t hold back.” She said in a serious tone before she lunged at me.

“Don’t worry darlin’. I won’t.” I said as I blocked a punch she threw at me.

The woman was fast as hell, I’ll give her that. She moved agilely as she threw punch after punch at me. I barely blocked and avoided the jabs she threw in rapid succession. I was able to push her back, and create some distance between us.

“Stop holding back. I want to see if Il Mietitore lives up to his reputation.” She said as she lunged towards me again.

She was the quickest fighter I’ve ever seen. Her moves looked more like she was dancing around the ring, making every jab and kick look effortless. She threw a right hook, which I blocked, then a rapid left hook to my ribs, making me hunch over.

I grabbed her shoulder and attempted to knee her in the chest, but she quickly placed her hands on my knee and pressed it away from her body before it could hit her. I grabbed her by the back of her neck, and pulled her head down, making her fall to the floor. She quickly rolled onto her side and swiped my legs out from under me, making me fall to my back.

I jumped back up onto my feet, making her miss the punch aimed for my face. Her fist connected with the ground of the boxing ring, filling the air with a loud thud.

We both quickly got to our feet, and I threw a kick at her ribs, hitting them and making her eyes go wide with surprise. I took this opportunity to punch her in the face with a quick jab, hitting her cheek and making her head turn to the side.

I threw another punch at her, and she caught it with the fastest reflexes I have ever seen. She turned her body, and launched me over her back, making me fall to the ground.

She stood over me as her hazel eyes met mine. She brought a thumb up to her busted and bleeding lip, and gently grazed it. She looked at her thumb, which was covered in blood and raised an eyebrow, as if in curiosity.

“Ghost.” A Caribbean accent called out from the front of the room. We both looked over to see Rebel leaning against the wall with her arms crossed and her eyebrows furrowed.

It was as if they had some sort of unspoken conversation as they looked at each other. Eventually, Ghost nodded, and she walked out of the ring without another word. I leaned forward, so I was sitting down in the ring with my elbows resting on my knees, looking at the ground as I steadied my breathing, and was surprised when a towel was thrown at my head. I caught it mid air, before it could hit my face, my eyes never leaving the boxing ring’s black floor. I turned to see Rebel standing near the ring, looking at me with a curious stare plastered across her face.

“You’re better than I thought.” She simply stated as she crossed her arms.

“I only got two hits in.” I breathed as I furrowed my eyebrows. She was better than I could have ever imagined.

“No normal person has landed a hit on Ghost for seven years. You’re better than you think.” She said seriously before turning around and walking out of the gym, slamming the door on the way out. I furrowed my eyebrows as I processed her words.

…Normal person… seven years? That’s impossible.

I spent the next few hours doing my typical regimen: weight training, cardio, then finishing it off with the punching bag. I threw a quick jab at the bag, making the lavish punching bag split open, its contents spewing onto the gym floor.

“Fuck.” I breathed as I looked down at the mess surrounding my feet.

I put my shirt on, and started to wander around the house, looking for anyone who could point me in the direction of the cleaning supplies. It was one in the morning, and darkness filled the penthouse. The sounds of my footsteps were the only noise that pierced the silence that loomed over the air.

I turned a corner, about to give up on my search and call it a night, when I saw a light coming from a cracked door at the end of the hallway. I tilted my head curiously as I quietly walked towards it.

“…trying to track……already in Paris….” I heard faint mumbles coming from the other side of the door. I silently inched closer until I had my back against the wall next to the door, trying to hear as much of the conversation as I could.

“Are you positive?” I heard Ghost’s voice say in a serious tone.

“Yes. It was their IP address.” A feminine voice, which I assume was Fox, stated.

“How much time can you buy us?” Ghost said calmly.

“I’m bouncing the signal of our location off of the satellites, making us appear in different countries every second. It’ll take them about one day to get a solid signal on us.” Fox said.

“I’ll be back.” Ghost said as I heard her stand up.

“Fuck no! You know what will happen to you if they-” Storm called out in frustration.

“They won’t.” Ghost said quickly, cutting him off.

“We’re coming with ya.” Rebel said sternly.

“You three wouldn’t stand a chance, and you know it.”
Ghost said coldly.

“Fox, make sure you bounce the signal until we leave tomorrow. Once we land in California, make it appear to them that we’re still here in Paris.”
Ghost said calmly, her British accent piercing the obvious tension that was in the room.

“Ghost…” Rebel whispered, her brazen and tough demeanor hidden behind worry.

“Don’t wait up.” I heard Ghost say after a few moments of silence.

Her footsteps rapidly approached the door, and I scurried down the hallway and turned a corner before I heard the door creek open wider. I quickly walked down the hallway and nearly ran into my room and closed the door softly. I stood there, with my back against the wall, as I heard Ghost’s quick footsteps pass by my door.

---

I tossed and turned in my bed as the conversation I overhead consumed my mind. It’s been two hours since then, and the house has been dreadfully silent.

Who’s tracking them?

Why are they tracking them?

…And why are they so afraid?

They didn’t even flinch at my offer of helping me take over one of the largest Mafia’s organized crime has ever seen. They remained relaxed and composed at the thought of arms dealers, drug lords, and human traffickers, yet, something or someone out there is hunting them down, and the thought of them being caught strikes fear deep within their souls.

I tossed the bed sheets off of me, and reached for my glass of water on the nightstand. I groaned when I saw it empty. I grabbed it and walked through the hallways, the cold marble against my bare feet making me drowsiness vanish in an instant. I waked into the kitchen, not bothering to turn the lights on and walked over to the fridge to refill my water.

I froze when I heard fumbling from outside the front door. I heard a set of keys hit the wood a few times before finally hitting their mark. The locks turned slowly one by one, as I stood in the kitchen, cloaked within the darkness. The lights from the city below were still shining brightly, illuminating the room slightly.

The door swung open, and I saw Ghost stumble inside. She was holding an AK-47 in its case with one hand, as her other hand gripped the door handle, supporting her weight as her back hunched over. She took a wobbly step forward as she closed the door behind her gently. She dropped the case in her hand, making it thud against the floor, her sporadic breathing filling the air.

She took slow and shaky steps towards the living room. She opened her stained white trench coat, and pulled out a medium sized blade, which she dropped to the floor, the loud clang of the steel hitting the marble.

Ghost continued to drop three more knives onto the tile as she slowly made her way across the room. She eventually reached a black decorative chair, and flopped onto it, exhaling heavily as she relaxed her body. Her back was hunched slightly, her arms were limp on the armrests, and she brought her legs up lackadaisically and crossed them on the ottoman in front of her.

“Fuck, that was exhausting.” She breathed, barely above a whisper as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a packet of Marlboro Reds. She slowly opened the box, pulled one out, and lit it. She inhaled deeply, before throwing her head back and closing her eyes as she exhaled.

I slowly stepped over towards her until I was standing right next to her, watching as she took deep breaths with her eyes still closed. As I got closer, I noticed that she was drenched in blood. Her white trench coat almost completely crimson from the stains. Large splatters of blood decorated her flawless face and hair.

Her eyes shot open as she noticed my presence, and she quickly grabbed a small knife that was resting in a holster around her thigh. She sat forward and pointed the blade at my heart, her eyebrows furrowed angrily as she looked up at me.

I didn’t flinch, and remained unfazed at the weapon pointed directly at me. Her posture relaxed and her scowl turned into an emotionless stare as soon as she recognized who I was.

My eyes scanned her body, looking for the injury responsible for the amount of blood seeping into her clothes, until eventually my eyebrows furrowed in confusion at a realization.

The blood wasn’t hers.

Chapter 13

GHOST POV

Fucking hell. Can’t a woman just come home after a massacre and just relax? Why did this attractive man have to be here, and why did he have to be shirtless at that?

The location of the warehouse Fox sent me had 20 armed men, ready and waiting to make their move on us. It took a bit longer than expected, but I executed all of them. I wasn’t hurt, just exhausted after a long day. The rigorous workout I did before the massacre left me physically and mentally drained.

When I stumbled inside, I knew Damon was in the kitchen. His masculine scent was one that I couldn’t miss, but due to my utter exhaustion, I opted to just make it to the chair instead of engaging in conversation with him. I thought he would just leave, but to my surprise, he was now staring at me, completely unfazed and relaxed at my knife was aimed at his heart.

His constant composure made me uneasy. Ever since I’ve met this man, he has always remained even keel. When he was in the basement, he was calm, collected, and even asked for a damn cigarette. A request which I foolishly obliged. He was skillful in negotiation, and acted completely calm even when I could have easily killed him… a reaction that someone who just got kidnapped forcefully would not have. It made me wonder what was really going on through that mind of his.

His piercing blue eyes were locked on mine as he stood over me. Damon was wearing only a pair of black sweatpants. His low cut V was prominent, and his chiseled six pack abs appeared even more defined as the dim lights highlighted his muscles. I may not feel emotions as strongly, but my body still biologically responds to arousal, and the sight of him in front of me made my heart flutter slightly and a heat spread through my body.

“You going to put that away or what?” Damon said with boredom in his voice as he raised his eyebrow and looked down at the blade slightly touching his inked bare chest.

I looked at him for a moment before I lowered my blade and put it back in its holster. I leaned back in the chair and turned my attention to the window, getting lost in the city lights as I placed my feet back on the ottoman.

“Looks like someone had fun tonight.” He smirked as he sat down next to me, kicking his feet up next to mine on the other side of the ottoman. He stretched his arms up, and placed them behind his head as he looked down at the city below us.

“Something like that.” I breathed before I took a drag of my cigarette that was still burning in my other hand.

“Can’t sleep?” I asked curiously as we continued to look ahead of us.

“I’m an insomniac.” He said nonchalantly as I saw him shrug in the corner of my eye.

“Looks like we have something in common, Mr. Carbone.” I said as I turned my head to look at him.

“May I?” He said as he pointed to the cigarette in my mouth. I placed it between my fingers and held it out to him. His large and calloused hands grazed mine, sending a shiver down my spine. I looked at the intricate designed lining his arms, and my eyes fell upon the tally marks that lined his inner arm, going from his wrists all the way up, covering the entire space.

“Tallies? Interesting choice of tattoo.” I said as I raised my eyebrow and Damon took the cigarette in his hands.

“They represent all of my kills.” He said casually as he took a long drag of the cigarette.

“How many?” I asked as I raised my eyebrow.

“1,734.” He said almost immediately.

“Impressive.” I said as I smirked.

“That’s usually not the response I get when I tell a woman I’ve slaughtered almost 2,000 people.” He chuckled as he looked over at me with a smirk.

“If that’s your go-to pickup line, I’d highly recommend you try another one.” I laughed.

I’m usually the only one awake during the early hours of the day, and having someone here to talk to felt… somewhat nice. It was a pleasant change from the loneliness I’ve become accustomed to.

“That bad?” He laughed as he handed me my cigarette back while I chuckled and shook my head.

“Absolutely horrid.” I smirked before I took a drag on my cigarette.

“So how did a woman as beautiful as you end up in the world of crime?” He said as he raised an eyebrow at me.

“Beautiful usually isn’t the reaction I get from a man when I’m drenched in blood.” I said as I raised an eyebrow right back at him.

“It suits you. Really brings out your eyes.” He said playfully, causing me to chuckle at our twisted and fucked up conversation. Only two cold blooded murders can talk so casually about killing and find it amusing.

“I’m starting to think you’re slightly deranged, Mr. Carbone.” I said as I looked at him curiously.

“And why is that?” He said as he smirked.

“I’ve had three opportunities to kill you, yet here you are sitting next to me completely unafraid.” I said before I took a drag of my cigarette.

“I knew you weren’t going to kill me.” He said calmly as he looked at me.

“What makes you so sure about that?” I asked curiously.

“Multiple reasons.” He said before holding his hand out for the cigarette. I reached over and handed it to him, leaning forward so we were about a foot away from each other’s faces.

“You had every opportunity to run once you knew we were tracking you, but instead, you intentionally baited us and looked straight at the street camera knowing that we were watching. I knew that Rebel was there to relay information about where you were because as soon as she saw your picture, her body language changed. I knew you were waiting for us in the back alley, but I went out there anyways.” He said calmly as his fingers traced my wrist and worked its way down to my fingertips, our eyes locked the entire time.

“How did you know I wouldn’t kill you in the alleyway?” I asked as I furrowed my eyebrows, listening intently to his words.

“You only kill when necessary. If you were a mindless murderer, you would have killed those three men in the alleyway a few months ago when they first said something to you. Instead, you ignored them, and attacked once they provoked you.” He explained as his fingers grabbed onto the cigarette. I tried to hide my surprise at his accurate assumptions, I never killed unless I absolutely had to.

“As you saw earlier, I could have easily blocked your attack in the alleyway, but once I saw Angelo and Gio unconscious instead of dead, I knew you had no intention of killing us. If you did, you would have snapped their necks instead of knocked them out. So I took the punch, and let you take us in for what I assumed would be questioning.” He said as he smirked and took a hit of the cigarette, still looking me in the eye and not moving from his position.

“When I saw you only had three colleagues with you, I assumed you three worked alone in whatever illegal activities you do, so I knew you’d jump at the opportunity to have an entire Mafia army at your disposal. At first, I thought you were all assassins, but judging by the private jet, high tech equipment, and luxurious penthouse you four have, I’m assuming it probably has to do more so with robberies, which, coincidently have been happening over the past year, no?” He said as my eyebrows furrowed and he smiled smugly.

“I may not be the most tactical, or strategical, but I’m very skilled at reading people, and you are no exception my dear. I know with certainty that you’re not going to kill me, because if you wanted me dead, you would have already done it in those three chances you had.” He said confidently as he raised and eyebrow at me.

I couldn’t help but feel uneasy at the fact that he could read me like a damn open book, and that I did everything that he assumed I would. He gathered all of his accurate judgments on me just by watching a surveillance video, and examining his surroundings. Acting oblivious and aloof when the entire time he knew exactly what he was doing.

Part of me wanted to slice his throat, while the other part of me was wildly impressed.

“There’s more to you than what meets the eye, isn’t there Mr. Carbone.” I said as I looked at him and raised my eyebrow.

He simply smiled widely, before he brought the cigarette to his mouth and took a long drag of it as his eyes never left mine. He exhaled slowly, filling the space between us with smoke.

“You have no idea, love.” He said after exhaled and put the cigarette out on the glass ashtray that was sitting on top of the table in between us.

Chapter 14

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

“And for the last time, Batman is the worst hero out of all of them. He’s just a millionaire with deadly toys.” Gio’s loud voice woke me up from my slumber.

“And that’s why he’s the best! He’s the most realistic, you fool!” Rebel said as she rolled her eyes.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked at them from across the table. We were on their luxurious and spacious private jet en route to California. The interior of the plane was sleek, modern, and lavish. I was sitting directly across an arguing Rebel and Gio, while Fox and Angelo were discussing different operating systems and softwares in the computer, where there was a desk and a computer adorning the top of it. 

I spent last night talking and laughing with Ghost until the sun rose, and that woman’s personality is as mesmerizing as her appearance. I didn’t find out much about her past, and whenever I asked, she skillfully changed the subject and avoided that topic of conversation. We kept the topics lighthearted and pleasant, a relaxing and carefree conversation that I felt we both needed. I tried to find out as much about the mysterious blonde beauty that I could, but ended up with more questions that ever before. I found out that she was strategic as hell, always coming up with multiple plans for one heist, and at least three to four backup plans, just in case. 

She told me all about how her thought process works. How she thinks of every exit, entrance, guard, objective, cameras, every variable possible, and pieces them together like an intricate puzzle. Hearing her speak about how she thought left me completely in awe of her intelligence. I was more of a think in the moment kind of man, a mindset that she completely didn’t understand. 

“How much longer until we land?” I asked, my voice hoarse from just waking up. 

“Dunno. Ask the pilot.” Rebel said as she glanced over at me. “Through those doors.” She said as she pointed a finger down the narrow hallway that led to a pair of black double doors. 

I nodded before I got up and walked down the lavish hallway. I pushed open the doors and was surprised to see that Storm was sitting behind the controls, flipping switches and flying the plane with ease. 

“Hey, how much longer until we’re there?” I said as I sat down to the left of him, examining all the high tech controls and navigation system. 

“We’re starting our descent in a few minutes.” He said, placing both hands on the wheel, turning the plane slightly. 

“So you’re their pilot?” I asked, trying to figure out what Storms role was in this crew. 

“And their driver, mechanic, and vehicle expert.” He said with boredom in his tone, his eyes locked on the sky in front of him. Something glimmering underneath the sunlight caught my eye, and my gaze fell upon the gold wedding band on Storms finger. 

“I didn’t know you were married?” I asked with my eyebrow raised in curiosity. 

“Was. Was married.” He said, his tone was cold and his hands tightened around the wheel. 

“What happened?” I asked as I tilted my head towards him. There was a moment of silence, as Storm’s jaw clenched. 

“Something I never want to talk about again.” He said with a pained voice as he looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. 

How many secretes are these people hiding?

“Understood.” I said as I put my hands up in surrender. 

“Might want to take your seat man, we’re going to be hitting some turbulence before we land.” He said as he flipped a few switches on the dashboard. I nodded slightly before walking back out into the sitting area. 

I saw Ghost sitting in the corner of the plane. Her eyebrows were furrowed and her entire attention was focused on a small black book in front of her. I grabbed my duffle bag from my original seat, walked over to where she was sitting, and slid in the seat across from her. She quickly closed the book in front of her, and looked at me with her eye slightly wide. 

“What are you reading?” I asked with my eyebrow raised. 

“Nothing important.” She said coldly as she bent down and placed the book in her black bag underneath the table, her eyes never leaving mine. 

“Once we land in California, we’ll head straight to Thorn’s estate.” She stated, changing the subject as she looked out the window, admiring the clouds below us with her hand placed under her chin. The plane shook slightly from the turbulence, making her blonde hair sway. 

“It’s rather rude to stare, Mr. Carbone.” She said softly, her gaze was still focused out the window. 

“Staring and admiring are two different things.” I said smoothly as I leaned forward onto the table. She looked down, before her hazel eyes met mine. 

“Well keep your admiration to yourself.” She said as a small smile formed on her lips. I felt the planes altitude drop slightly as it started to descend closer to the city. 

“It’s rather difficult to when there’s a beautiful woman sitting across from me.” I said as I smirked. 

“Haven’t you ever heard the rule not to mix business and pleasure?” Ghost said in a low voice as she leaned forward onto the table, breaking the silence and mimicking my body language. The plane suddenly jolted as the wheels hit the ground, making Ghost lose her balance and start falling to the side. 

I grabbed her arm quickly and pulled her closer to me, preventing her from falling while our faces were only inches apart. 

“Sometimes it’s worth it to break the rules.” I whispered as I looked into her eyes. Her breathing quickened as she stared up at me with those mesmerizing hazel eyes. Ghosts lips parted slightly, and I looked down at her full lips before looking at up at her eyes again. 

The plane came to a halt on the tarmac, and she quickly stood up, grabbed her bag, and walked towards the exit without another word. I smirked victoriously before bending down and grabbing my duffle bag, when I noticed the book she was reading was tucking away inside of it. She must have accidentally placed it in my bag instead of hers. I examined it closer to see that it was actually a journal, that was tattered with the cover was slightly torn. I’m assuming it was her journal at that due to how quickly she tucked it away when I came near. 

I know the gentleman-like thing to do would be to return such a personal and intimate belonging, but instead I found myself tucking it away, hiding it underneath the clothes in my bag before zipping it up and walking out of the jet, hoping that it would help me unraveling the mystery of this captivating blonde beauty.

Chapter 15

** GHOST POV **

Confusion. Attraction. Frustration. Arousal. Anxiety. Nervousness… Strange. I’ve simply just felt strange since I first saw him unconscious and hanging upside down in the basement of Safe House 37. 

Damon Carbone was evoking things within me that I would have never imagined, and I’ve yet to decipher if those feelings were beneficial or not yet. I sat in the passenger seat of the Range Rover, still trying to collect myself after I exited the jet. Whenever I was around him, my OCD and strategical mind calmed into nothingness, and it made me feel uneasy. It’s as if my brain stops functioning around him, and if that kept up, it would lead to my ultimate demise for not just myself, by the crew I call a family as well. So I distanced myself from him, ignoring the brief jolt of emotions that would temporarily arise whenever I was in his presence. 

“So what’s the plan?” Gio asked from the backseat. I looked in the rearview mirror to see that Damon was already staring at me. 

“We go in, talk to her, and make a deal.” Damon said calmly as his eyes continued to look at me. 

“That is the worst plan I have ever heard in my life.” I said slowly as I glared back at him. 

“Ghost, not everything needs an intricate scheme or a detailed plan. Sometimes things are more simple than they appear.” Damon said as he raised his eyebrow at me. 

“She’s one of the largest arms dealers in the world, and you just want to go and talk to her?” Rebel scoffed as she rolled her eyes. 

“She deals with my cousin, and we share the same last name. She wouldn’t kill or turn away someone who she does business with. So yes, I’m just going to go in and talk to her.” Damon said confidently. 

“Ghost, what’s the real plan?” Rebel said as she crossed her arms, and all eyes fell on me. 

“Since Damon is so confident that he can pull this off, why don’t we just let him.” I said coldly as I grabbed a cigarette from the cup holder. He was deranged, completely insane to even think he can just walk into the estate to talk to her. 

“Thank you.” Damon smirked at the same time Rebel exclaimed “Are you kidding me right now?!” 

“Since you’re so adamant about walking into this blind, let’s see how well it goes. We’ll hook you up to a mic, and monitor the conversation from the car. If shit hits the fan, we’ll come in armed and ready, which will most likely happen.” I scoffed as I lit the cigarette and inhaled a deep breath. 

In the slim chance that his ridiculous plan will work, we’ll solidify the deal and be one step closer to getting our favor. If it fails, Damon dies and these strange mix of emotions I’ve been feeling with die along with him. It’s a win win for me. 

“This is ’bout to be a shit show.” Rebel said as she scowled and looked out the window. 

“We’re almost to the estate.” Storm said as he turned a corner. 

“Here, put this on your shirt.” Fox said as she handed Damon a small mic. He grabbed it and examined it before he attached it to the inside of his collar. 

“And don’t fuck this up.” I said as I smirked at him from the rear view mirror. He furrowed his eyebrows at me in annoyance before the car came to a stop. On the other side of the street was a large mansion. It looked like a damn castle. Behind the large steel gate was a long road surrounded by grass that led to the front door. The estate was encapsulated behind a tall brick wall, guards patrolling every inch of the mansion. 

“Good luck, you’re going to need it.” I said as I exhaled the cigarette smoke out of the window, slightly excited to prove his thinking process wrong. Damon grabbed the handle of the door and slid out of the car. He started to walk towards the gate, only to be stopped by ten guards who all aimed their automatic rifles directly at him. 

“He won’t even make it through the gate.” I chuckled as we watched the situation unfold. 

“I’m here to speak with Emilia Thorn.” I heard him say confidently through my earpiece. 

“And who the fuck are you?” A guard called out as he cocked his gun. 

“Damon Carbone.” He said coldly. 

One of the guards grabbed his phone out of his pocket and held it to his ear. I heard him say Damon’s name to someone on the other line, before hanging up and putting his gun down. He walked over to Damon, and started to pat him down for any weapons. 

“Come with us.” A guard eventually said as they led him inside the large steel gate. It opened up slowly, and Damon walked inside, surrounded by the guards behind him. We watched as they walked across the yard, and into the mansion. 

Shock coursed through my body, my mouth hung open and the cigarette between my lips fell down onto the leather seat. 

This fucker just…walked right in? No plan. No strategy. He just… fucking walked in?

“Well look at that.” Angelo said as she smirked at me. 

“Let’s see if he can seal the deal.” I scoffed as I continued to look at the lavish estate. 

---

**DAMON CARBONE POV **

The guards led me through the mansion until I was standing outside a pair of wooden double doors. A guard walked past me, and opened the doors to reveal a modern office. A woman, who I assumed was Amelia, was looking out of a large window with her back turned to me. I stepped into the office, the guards following closely behind, until I was standing in the center of the room with my hands behind my back. 

“What the fuck does that prick Martino want now?” She growled in annoyance and anger as she continued to look out the window. 

“I’m not here on behalf of Martino.” I said calmly as I continued to look at her. She turned around slowly, and looked over at me. She was older, but still an attractive woman for her age. Her piercing blue eyes contrasting with her jet black hair. I never came here with my father, only been apart of conference calls during negations, but she seemed somewhat familiar for some reason. 

“And who might you be?” She said simply as she crossed her arms. 

“Damon Carbone. Martino’s cousin and the son of Ricardo Carbone.” I said confidently as I looked at her while she furrowed her eyebrows. 

“Ricardo’s son died the day of his funeral. What sick game are you playing at, boy?” She said as she scowled and her guards once again raised their guns towards me. 

“I almost died.” I corrected her, emphasizing my words.

“I’m here because I’m going to overthrow Martino.” I said honestly as she continued to glare at me. “And I need your corporation and help in order to do that.” I said as I walked over to a chair near her, and sat down. The guards rifles still following my every move. 

“I can already tell you harbor negative feelings towards my cousin from the way you spoke to me when you thought I was one of his representatives. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if the Italian Mafia underwent a change in leadership, no?” I said calmly as I leaned back in my chair. She stared at me with her eyebrows furrowed as she processed my words. 

“And how would I play into your little plan, child?” She said curiously after a moment of silence as she motioned for her guards to lay down their weapons. 

“Pledge your loyalty to me instead of Martino. When the time is right, cut off the shipments of weapons you supply to him, only temporarily of course. Once I kill him and gain control of the Mafia, business will resume as usual if not increase in profitability.” I said seriously as I looked at her. She raised an eyebrow at me before she started to laugh loudly, her feminine voice filling the tension filled room as I continued to glare at her seriously. 

“You think you can come in here and demand my loyalty? You are out of your mind if you think I would purposely sabotage one of the largest accounts I have, even if only ‘temporarily’.” She scoffed as she looked at me with a deadly glare. 

“You must have a death wish coming here, boy. Especially if you’re trying to overthrow the largest Mafia in the world, heir or not.” She said in a deadly tone as she walked closer to me. 

“I’m a man who makes a fair trade, Miss Thorn. I am not coming in here to demand, but more so, offering you a proposition.” I said as I tilted my head and raised my eyebrow.  

“Nothing you can ever offer me will change my mind.” She scoffed as the guards raised their weapons at me again. 

“Not even your son?” I said as I raised my eyebrow and looked at her. Her expression changed from a scowl to a worried frown. Her eyebrows furrowed and her body tensed at the mention of him. I had her exactly where I wanted her. 

“Leave us. Now.” She demanded towards her guards. They quickly obliged, scurrying out of the room and closing the door behind them. She stared at me, with her hands balled into fists. 

“What have you done to Axel?” She growled through her teeth, her face filled with worry that was hidden by her furious exterior. 

“It’s not what I’ve done to him, it’s what I can do for him.” I said confidently as I lifted my chin up slightly. 

“I’ve done everything within my power to get him out of jail, and nothing has worked. What makes you think you can do what I’ve been trying to do every single day for the past year?” She scowled as she crossed her arms. 

“You pledge your loyalty to me, follow through with freezing Martino’s weapons supply, and I’ll break your son out of jail.” I said calmly as I stood up. 

“You really do have a death wish don’t you?” She said after a few moments of silence with her eyebrows furrowed. 

“It’s only a death wish if I know I can’t succeed. So no, I do not have a death wish.” I said as seriously as I stood in front of Amelia. 

“Alright Mr. Carbone, you have yourself a deal. You bring me my son, unharmed, and if you survive, I’ll help you overthrow Martino.” She said as she held her hand out to me.

“ Unharmed , Mr. Carbone.“ She emphasized with her eyebrow raised. 

“You have my word. Pleasure doing business with you, Miss. Thorn.” I said as I grasped her hand and shook it firmly as I smirked.

Chapter 16

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

“Are you fucking kidding me? I can’t believe you made that deal!” Angelo yelled in frustration as we walked into a beach house Ghost called “Safe House 201”, whatever the hell that means. 

I haven’t had the time to inform Angelo and Gio that we were partnered with four of the most successful and elusive criminals in the world, so when they overhead my deal with Miss Thorn, they instantly started to lose their shit. The crew was unfazed as usual, already planning on how to break her son, Axel out of jail. 

“This is absurd. We’ve been running from the cops our entire lives, now you want us to break into one of the most secure facilities in America? What the hell is wrong with you?!” Gio said as ran up beside us. 

“Oh stop being a lil’ bitch, will you?” Rebel said from behind us, giving Gio a scowl. 

“Conference room.” Ghost simply said as she walked past us with a cigarette in her mouth. 

“Damon, you’ve had a shit ton of horrid ideas, but this one is by far your worst.” Angelo whispered to me as we walked a few feet behind the crew, who was mumbling and already planning for the job. 

“You remember those robberies that have been happening all over the country?” I whispered to him, boredom lacing my tone. 

“Yeah? What about them?” Angelo said quietly. I nodded towards Ghost, Rebel, Storm and Fox, then looked back at him with my eyebrow raised. 

“No shit.” Gio said beside us as his eyes widened. 

“So it’s going to go just fine, brother.” I said as I patted his back roughly before walking through the door to the office. We all took our seats around the wooden conference table as Fox and Angelo sat beside each other behind the desk in the corner. 

Fox pulled up all of the files on Axel and the penitentiary, filling the screen on the wall with details on everything: files on the guards, the facility blueprints, the security breakdown, a street view covering a 10 mile radius from the prison, fucking everything. 

“Let’s get started then, shall we?” Ghost said as she took a long drag of her cigarette and walked in front of the screen, her eyes darting and scanning all the information in front of her. 

7 Hours later…

“Does everyone understand the plan?” Ghost said as she leaned back in her chair. We’ve been in here for hours, only taking a break when Rebel ordered pizza, which ended up taking longer than expected because she shot the man in the head because her pizza wasn’t burnt enough, so we had to wait until she cleaned that shit up to continue. 

“Which one? Plan A,B,C, or D?” Gio’s groaned in exhaustion as he slammed his head against the desk. 

“All of them.” Ghost said as she glared at him. She took the time to come up with a detailed and intricate plan, then took it upon herself to come up with three backup plans. They rolled out a whiteboard, and for hours I watched as Ghost mapped out and drew her perfectly throughout plans in her flawless penmanship. 

“Fox, make sure you send the annotated copies of the plan to this fool.” Rebel smirked as she looked at a groaning Gio. 

“We’re going to hit the penitentiary tomorrow night at 7:00 sharp. It’s late, I’d recommend everyone get’s a good nights sleep, we’re going to have one hell of a day tomorrow.” She said before she stood up and exited the room without another word. 

We all went straight to our room, mentally exhausted from memorizing detailed information and strategies. I entered my lavish guest room and locked the door behind me. I threw off my shirt and tossed it into a hamper in the bathroom. I reached in my duffle bag and grabbed some sweatpants, when my hand grazed the cover of the journal hidden at the bottom of it. 

I moved the clothes out of the way and grasped it in my hands. I walked over to a chair placed in front of the doors to the balcony, and flopped down on the plush seat. 

I carefully pulled back the cover as to not rip it anymore than it already is, and was surprised to see messy penmanship filling the pages. I squinted my eyes as started to decipher the first page of scribbly writing:

Day 1

I don’t know where I am. I don’t remember how I got here. I don’t remember anything at all. I woke up in a hospital bed placed in a cold and empty room. Did I get hurt? The only thing in here was a black backpack, with this journal inside. I hid the journal under my pillow before they took the backpack away. Whenever I try and ask the doctors what happened, they just ignore me. I was hoping they would call me by my name, so I would know it, but they just keep referring to me as 002. I tried opening the doors, but they locked me in. What the hell is going on?

Day 4

They finally let me out of the room, and told me that I was going to my bedroom. Did I live here before?  The walls of my room were cement, with six small beds in the corner and a tiny bathroom attached. 

As soon as I walked into the room, they closed the door and locked me. 

There were no windows, no paintings, no clocks on the wall…nothing but concrete. I couldn’t tell if it was night or day, so I’ve been keeping track of the time passed by counting seconds until they formed hours. Hopefully I’ve only been here for four days…

Day 5 

I got a roommate today, they told me to call her 001. She doesn’t talk much. We’ve been locked in the room until they bring us food, which usually isn’t that good. Just chicken and vegetables with a glass of water. 

Am I ever going to leave this place?

Day 10 

They took us out of the room and separated us. The hallways were empty, no one here except for me, 001, and a bunch of men and women in lab coats. They threw me in a bright room, and strapped me to a chair. A few doctors came in, and rolled in a cart full of tools. They hooked me up to a heart monitor, and my vitals were displayed on a screen next to me. They tortured me, and recorded the data on a computer. They 

beat me, electrocuted me, and cut my skin with knives. It felt like I was in that room for hours, begging them to stop, until they finally put a cold blue ointment on my wounds. They unstrapped me, and carried me back into my room, where I just laid there and cried on my bed. It was a long time before 001 came back, carried in my a doctor and placed gently on her bed. I’m assuming she went through the same thing I did, except the marks on her skin were much worse than mine. 

What are they doing to us?

Day 15

We got another roommate today, his name was 003. He was a talkative boy, which annoyed 001, who still kept to herself. 003 said he didn’t remember anything before coming here either. Every night they took us out of our room, and separated us. With each day came a new torture technique, today was burning my skin. It was four hours before they put the blue ointment on my skin, and tossed me back into my room. I don’t know what kind of medicine they’ve been putting on me, but it makes my skin heal by the next day. 003 was already in the room when I got back, cuts up his arms and burn marks from being electrocuted, just like the first time they took me to that room. It was 3 more hours until 001 came back. Her skin was almost deformed from the third degree burns she had all over her body. She always came back with worse injuries than me. 

Day 25

When I returned back to my room after another session, I found 003 dead in his bed. I screamed and cried, alerting the doctors outside our door. They walked in and took him away without another word. 001 came back 3 hours later, the doctors carrying her and throwing her onto her bed. I told her 003 was dead, and she just closed her eyes and went to sleep. 

I’m going to die here, aren’t I?

I closed the journal and placed it back into my duffle bag, hidden beneath my belongings. My skin was crawling from reading those journal entries. I walked out onto the balcony and lit up a cigarette, deeply inhaling before I let out a breath. I leaned up against the rail of my second story balcony, resting my elbows on the cold metal. 

The moon was reflecting off of the dark ocean in front of me, lighting up the beach as the stars illuminated the sky. A few hundred feet in front of me was Ghost, her back was turned towards me as she was sitting in the sand with her knees pressed to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. She was just staring out into the ocean, as still as a statue as the waves crashed in front of her, lost in the abyss of her own mind. 

What the hell happened to you, Ghost?

Chapter 17

** GHOST POV **

“I still don’t understand why I have to be the one to do this.” Gio groaned in annoyance, his voice blaring from the speakers in the van. 

“You’re the only one out of all of us with an extensive enough criminal record to get into the penitentiary.” I said as I watched him walk down the street from the screens in the van. Storm was in the drivers seat, and Angelo was in the passenger side. I was in the back with Damon, Rebel, and Fox as we watched the screens intently. 

Damon sealed the deal with Amelia better than I could have imagined. The man never ceases to surprise me with his intellect and negation skills. I’m normally never proved wrong, but I was surprisingly impressed when Damon was able to pull off the deal by just winging it. 

Plan A was simple: 

Gio commits a simple crime, they see his record, they book him and he has access to the other prisoners. He’ll find Axel, explain to him the situation, start a riot during dinner, and slip out at the exit we will secure. I’ll be in a car to pick them up, we transport Axel to a boat Storm and Fox are waiting in, deliver him to his mommy, and we get Thorns alliance. Simple shit. 

Now we were sitting in a black van Storm and Fox modified. It had screens build into the side of it, lining the inside of the wall. All of them were displaying the different camera angles of Gio, so we can keep an eye on him. We gave Gio a micro ear piece, that fit in his ear without being noticed, so we can communicate with him once he was in the prison. He will be booked under a fake name and social security number, so they couldn’t trace him once he escaped with Thorn. All he has to do now is get arrested. 

“Why can’t one of you guys do this again?” Gio’s said as he looked both ways before crossing the street, walking towards a group of guards from the prison that were on their lunch break. We made sure we were a few blocks away from the penitentiary. 

“For the hundredth fucking time, none of us have a record. The penitentiary houses some of the worst criminals in the world. If one of us were to get arrested, then they’d just transfer us to a smaller jail. No stop asking questions and break the law idiota .” Damon said in annoyance as he leaned forward and held down the button that allows Gio to hear what we were saying. The van was tiny, so our arms were overlapping as they rested on the small table, the closeness causing my body to fill with heat. 

“Remember Gio. It has to be a SMALL crime. If you do anything excessive, they’ll throw you in solitary, and you won’t have access to Thorn.” I said as I pressed on the button in front of me. I was leaning against the table, causing Damon’s hand to graze my thigh. I sharply inhaled a breath at his touch, a motion that did not go unnoticed by him. 

“Aw, do I make you nervous, bambino ?” He said seductively in my ear as his fingers started to graze my knee that was under the table. My body filled with emotions stronger than I’ve ever felt, overwhelming me and my senses. 

“Fuck I can’t think of any crimes on the spot. What should I do?” He said as he walked closer and closer to the group of guards. They were standing outside of a coffee shop, talking in front of their police cruiser. 

“Oh for christ’s sake. Just do anything to get you arrested.” Rebel said in an aggregated voice. 

I was too distracted by Damons fingers slowly traveling up my thigh to even care what she was saying. Our eyes were locked as his hand kept traveling up my leg at a tantalizing pace. Everyones eyes were locked on the screen, so everyone was unaware of what was happening between us. Damon leaned over, so his lips caressed my ear. 

“Your body responds to me so well, baby.” He breathed as his fingertips neared my hip. I bit my lip to suppress a moan, not even trying to fight off the attraction I felt for him. He smirked as his fingers traced up my hip slowly, getting enjoyment from teasing me. 

“Excuse me, officer?” Gio’s voice rang through the speakers. Damons hands were inching slowly towards my core, which was throbbing with need and desire.

“Yes? What can I help you with?” I heard one of the officers say to Gio.

Damons hands were almost to my core, when I placed my hand over his, causing our fingers to interlace and stop him from moving any further. I looked over at him, with my lips slightly parted and saw his eyes dilate from attraction and arousal. His gaze fell down to my lips for a moment before they went back up to my eyes.

A loud gunshot rang throughout the car, forcing us turn our attention over to the screens. Gio was holding a gun in his hand, and one of the officers was on the floor, blood pooling beneath him as he held onto his crotch while screaming in pain. 

“How’d I do?!” Gio said enthusiastically as he smiled at the street camera before he was tackled violently to the ground by the other two officers and handcuffed. 

“GIO WHAT THE FUCK! SHOOTING A COP IN THE DICK IS NOT A SMALL FUCKING CRIME!” Rebel screamed angrily as she held down the button while Fox rubbed her temples in frustration. Storm was gently hitting his head against the steering wheel repeatedly while Angelo threw his head back and groaned in annoyance.

“You said to do anything!?” He whispered as he was placed in the back of the police cruiser. 

“MAYBE PUNCH HIM IN THE FACE, OR MAYBE VERBALLY ASSAULT HIM, NOT FUCKING CASTRATE HIM WITH A BULLET YOU FOOL!” Rebel screamed as she threw one of her hands up while the other was still holding down the button. 

“Well maybe you should have been more specific then, huh?” Gio whisper screamed in annoyance as the police cruiser drove off with their sirens blaring. 

“Well, Plan A is fucked. Moving on to Plan B.” I said as I rolled my eyes, thankful that I predicted that Gio would be the one to fuck this up somehow. 

“On it.” Storm called our from the drivers seat as he and Angelo quickly exited the car. I looked down to see that mine and Damon’s fingers still intertwined underneath the table. I quickly lifted my hand from his, and tried to focus on the task at hand. 

We watched through the cameras as Storm and Angelo dragged the now unconscious and dickless man to an alleyway. They stripped him of his clothes before putting a bullet through his head. They ran back to the van, and slid into the seats. 

“Here you go.” Angelo said nonchalantly as he tossed the officers uniform into the back of the van. 

“Fox, make sure those street cameras malfunctioned, and didn’t record any of that.” I said as I rubbed my temples and rested my elbows on the table in front of me. 

“Got it.” She said as she started typing away. 

Storm sped out of the parking lot, and started driving back to the house. I looked at Damon to see that he was still staring at me, or admiring as he called it before. His hand was resting on my upper thigh as he smirked at me. Usually, these emotions disappear as fast as they arrive, but for some reason, they were lingering longer than anticipated. I don’t know why, but I let his hand rest there for the entire drive home without any objection.

Chapter 18

DAMON CARBONE POV

We had some time before we had to break Thorn and Gio’s dumbass out of jail. I took a very cold shower, hoping to calm my frenzied body after my little exchange with the blonde beauty. She was tantalizing, and I found myself thinking of her more. It was as if I had a pull towards her, to be near her. She was like an enigma, as soon as I got close, she pulls away further than before, and I just can’t help myself from falling further and further every time. 

I got dressed, and decided that I’d get some reading done from Ghost’s journal. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I read, and I was desperate to find out more about what she’s been through. I reached in my duffle bag and pulled it out. I took my normal seat next to the balcony, and started reading the messy writing:

Day 42

We got a few roommates today: 004, 005, 006, and 007. Seems like there’s a pattern with our names. The torture sessions continued, and I haven’t been able to write considering my wrists were sprained. Even though the days passed, everything is still the same. We’re taken out of our rooms, we get tortured for a few hours, the doctors record and write things down during the session, then I return to an empty room, and 001 comes back a few hours later. I’m hoping these roommates survive, especially 004, she’s the friendliest out of the group, and I enjoy having someone to talk to. 

I found out that just like me, they had no memory of any events before waking up in a hospital bed. 

Day 54

007 died in his sleep today. 

Day 58

005 and 006 didn’t survive the burning session, they died shortly after they were escorted back to our room. 

Day 62

They pulled myself, 001, and 004 out of our rooms for the sessions like usual. Except 004 never came back. Now I have no one to talk to. 

Day 237

I’m finally back in my room, 001 nowhere in sight. I never thought I’d be so happy to see these damn concrete walls again. I saw that I had 4 new roommates, but at this point, I didn’t even bother learning their numbers. They locked me in a freezing basement. With no lights, no warmth, no bed, no bathroom, nothing but darkness and scraps of food every few days. I thought I went mad, completely deranged. At first I was scared, so fucking scared. I haven’t had human interaction 175 days, 4200 hours, 252,000 seconds. 

I don’t know what’s worse: being engulfed in the darkness, or embracing it. 

I heard footsteps outside my door, and quickly hid the journal back in my duffle bag. My door swung open to reveal Angelo who had his eyebrows furrowed. 

“You good?” I called out as I stood up. 

“A little fucking nervous, but other than that I should be fine.” He said as he ran a hand through his hair. 

“Wanna go for a walk to calm your nerves?” I asked as I raised an eyebrow at him. Angelo use to have anxiety attacks as a child, and we would always walk around the estate until he was calm. 

“Abso-fucking-lutely.” He said quickly, making me laugh. Angelo was trained in fighting, but no where near my skillset. I was always the one who went on assassinations, sometimes Gio, so I couldn’t relate the the anxiety he must be feeling right now. That feeling died years ago. 

“Alright, let’s go.” I said as I walked over to the door, the thoughts of what I just read swimming through my mind. 

** GHOST POV **

Plan B: Aka Save the Dumbass. 

I planned it for when Gio inevitably fucks up Plan A. The first step was to steal a guards uniform. Since I’m the stealthiest, I’ll pose as a guard, after Rebel tailors the outfit to fit me of course. Fox will get me the identification needed in order to get into the facility. I’ll make my rounds, locate Thorn, start a riot, and get Gio out of solitaire on the way to the other exit we will secure. Damon will be waiting in a car for us, and we will sneak out of there undetected, meet the crew at the rendezvous point where they’ll have the boat ready, then deliver him to his deadly mama. 

I exhaled the smoke from my cigarette as I stood on my balcony as I waited for Rebel to finish the alterations, admiring the view of the sunset in front of me. I loved watching the blue sky ignite into hues of red and orange. Sunsets represented the transformation light turning into darkness, and the result always left me in awe of the beauty. It’s as if chaos has to erupt in order to make the transition, something I could relate to. 

I heard footsteps approaching from behind me, I turned over my shoulder to see Fox leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed in front of her. 

“So you and the heir, huh?” She said as she smirked and raised an eyebrow at me. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I said in an emotionless tone as I turned my attention back to the sunset in front of me. 

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Fox chucked from behind me. “You act different around him, in a good way too.” She said playfully as she walked up next to me. She leaned forward and rested her hands on the railing in front of us.

Silence stretched between us as we watched the fire in the sky start to diminish into darkness.

“If what I think is happening, you’re probably overwhelmed with what you’re feeling, huh?” She said calmly as she continued to look in front of her. 

“I feel like there’s something crawling in my stomach whenever I’m around him. It’s nauseating.” I mumbled as I took another drag of my cigarette. 

“That’s called butterflies, Ghost. That’s completely normal.” Fox giggled as she looked over at me.

“My God.” I breathed as a scowl took over my face. “People really feel like this all the time?” I said as I furrowed my eyebrows in disgust. “How do people function whenever they feel this nauseated?” I said, verbalizing my thoughts. 

“Only whenever they think or are around a person who they have a crush on… or love.” Fox explained as she smiled and looked off towards the shore. 

We saw Angelo and Damon walking along the shore, their hands in their pockets as they were discussing something and laughing loudly. The smile on Fox’s face lingered as she watched Angelo, while my eyes were locked on Damon. 

“I don’t know how I feel about him.” I whispered, the thought making me feel uneasy as I stared at Damon, who threw his head back and laughed loudly at what his friend just said. 

“Well, what do you feel?” Fox asked as she looked over at me curiously. 

“In general or around him?” I mumbled as I took another drag of my cigarette. 

“In general you probably still feel nothing, right?” She said as she tilted her head in curiosity. Fox has always been the smartest one out of all of us, her intelligence hidden behind her quiet demeanor. She’s always been the easiest to talk to and has been somewhat of a therapist to me considering our pasts. 

“Yes.” I confessed after a few moments. 

“And around him?” She said as she furrowed her eyebrows. Damon looked over and his gaze caught mine. He shot me a smile before he looked down at the ground, and continued walking down the beach. 

“Anxious, Nervous. Accelerated heart rate. Slightly protective, and worried for his wellbeing. Happy, a little of what I think would be feeling carefree. And these…. butterflies as you call it. These feelings last much longer than what I’m use to, almost as if they’re always lingering.” I said explaining everything I was feeling as my eyes stayed glued to the attractive man walking across the shore as I inhaled the smoke from my cigarette again. 

“Imagine if you saw him with another woman. How would you feel then?” She asked curiously. 

“Furious. Jealous. Murderous.” I said as I scowled. 

“It’s official. You have a crush on Damon.” Fox said as she smiled. 

“Crush? Why does that sound so painful.” I cringed as I exhaled the smoke into the air. 

“Because sometimes they are. It’s a stage where you like someone, on an intimate or physical level, most of the time both, but nothing is confirmed. So you’re left wondering if the other person feels the same about you. So it’s a sort of a…purgatory in relationships.” She said as she looked out into the now dark sky. 

“Sounds horrifying.” I said nonchalantly as I inhaled smoke from my almost out cigarette. 

“Ghost, it’s okay for you to feel emotions again.” Fox said seriously as she looked at me. 

“That’s easy for you to say, your emotions came back.” I whispered as I walked over to the table and put out my cigarette and walked inside the penthouse without looking back.

Chapter 19

** GHOST POV **

I walked into the penitentiary, my earpiece placed discretely in my ear, as I scanned the identification card on the scanner. It beeped loudly as the light beneath the card turned green, earning me a nod from the security guard and the door to open.

“I’m in.” I whispered when I was out of earshot from the guard. I walked through the door to see two stories lined with cells. There was a concrete path that went through the middle, and had cells filled with prisoners on both sides of it. The sounds of prisoners screaming, chanting, and yelling filled the air as I starting walking down the pathway.

“Fox. What cell.” I said as my eyes scanned the area. Thanks to my photographic memory, I already memorized the entire floorpan of the prison.

“1032.” Fox said immediately in my ear piece.

I quickly made my way down the walkway, nodding at other guards as I passed them until I stood in front of cell 1032. There were two other men inside the cell, both extremely muscular, and their eyes were locked on me. Their biceps were the size of my face, and tattoos covered their bodies. One even had a tattoo of a gun on his right cheek.

I looked over to see Axel sleeping soundly in a bed in the corner. I grabbed the baton on my belt, and slammed it against the steel of the cell wall repeatedly until he jolted out of bed.

“Such a pretty guard.” One of the muscular men said slowly with an evil smile.

“It’s been a few years since I’ve been with a woman.” The other said as he looked me up and down.

“Oh Ghost, please tell me you’re going to kill those fuckers.” Damon said through my earpiece, the edge in his voice making me smirk slightly.

“Axel Thorn?” I said as I started to reach for my keys, ignoring the vulgar comments from the other inmates.

“You… Do I know you?” He said with his eyebrows furrowed and his voice laced with confusion.

“No.” I said calmly as I put the key into the lock with one hand, and grabbed my knife tightly in the other.

I turned the key and and quickly lunged inside, I stabbed one of the men in the throat, making him fall to the floor gasping while trying to stop the bleeding. The other man threw a punch at me, which I ducked and avoided. I swung the blade across his stomach, cutting it open before I reached up and stuck the knife into the side of his throat. As his lifeless body fell, I pulled my blade out of his neck before his body hit the ground.

“Your mother sent me.” I said calmly as I put my blade back into its holster.

“How do I know you’re not lying? I haven’t -” He said quickly, still looking at me with his eyebrows furrowed as before I cut him off. I let out a groan of frustration while he was talking before I quickly stepped towards him, gripped his neck, and slammed him into the wall.

“Listen here you little brat. You have two options: Die in this fucking cell, or come with me. You choice.” I said in a deadly tone as I tightened the grip around his neck.

“Thorn said to return her son back to her unharmed , Ghost.” Fox said calmly through my earpiece. I scoffed, knowing that she was watching me through the cameras.

“Okay, okay!” He breathed before I released my grip on his neck.

“Follow my every order, and keep up.” I said coldly as I started to make my way over to the entrance of the cell. Axel quickly followed, staying close behind me.

“Got the target. Open up the cells once I’m near the exit.” I said in my ear piece as I grabbed my baton.

“Opening in 3…2….1.” She said. I picked up my pace, and reached the end of the pathway as soon as her countdown was completed, all of the cells in the prison opened up, and the inmates ran chaotically out of them.

The guards started pouring out from doorways, trying to get a handle on the chaos. I grabbed my baton and threw it at the head of one of the guards in the center of the room, starting the riot. It was like the bullet heard around the world, and after his unconscious body hit the floor, the prisoners and guards started to attack each other, giving us the opening we needed to slip out unnoticed.

“Gio, your door should be open now. Walk out of cell, and turn left.” Fox explained very slowly through the ear piece. We heard silence on the other end.

“Gio, come in!” Damon said on the other line as Axel and I continued to run down the hallways towards the exit.

“G, we have a problem.” Rebel groaned on the line.

“What. Now?” I growled as we turned another corner.

“Gio’s asleep.” Fox stated in an annoyed tone.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?!” I yelled as I turned back around and made my way to solitary.

“Fuckin’ idiot.” Angelo groaned in anger.

“He’s your friend.” Fox retaliated.

“Can’t I just leave him here?” I growled as I ran down a hallway and opened a door.

“Oh stop with the whinin’, you’re almost there anyways.” Rebel said rather quickly, annoyance in her tone.

Fury filled my body at Gio’s stupidity, and I mentally made a strategic list of how I could kill him 6 different ways before I turned the last corner, and saw two guards standing in front of Gio’s cell, looking at me with wide eyes. I didn’t break my stride as I grabbed two knives from my belt and stabbed them both in the necks. I quickly pulled out my blades before I ran into the cell.

I scowled in annoyance as I saw Gio’s laying on his stomach, drooling onto his pillow with his arm hanging off the side. I quickly ran up to him and punched him in the head roughly, but not enough to knock him out. I’m not going to carry his ass out of here.

“Hey dumbass, wake up!” I screamed as I punched him again. He was startled by my assault on his head, and rolled out of bed and landed flat on his back.

“If you fuck up this plan too, I will kill you with my bare hands.” I growled before I heard boots shuffling by the door.

I turned around to see four guards running into the room. With my blades still in my hands, I ran up to them until I was in the middle of the four of them, and made my arms into an X on my chest as I did an Aerial. While I was inverted, I straightened out my arms, slicing two of the guards in the thighs while my foot hit a third guard in the face, making all of them fall to their knees. I quickly turned, and kicked the front of the fourth guards knee, breaking it, and making him fall on his knees as well. With both blades in my hands pointed outwards, I spun around in a circle, slicing all of their necks twice, before completing my spin.

“Jesus christ.” Gio breathed behind me as the bodies hit the floor.

“And that’s how it’s fucking done folks.” Damon said proudly, I can practically see the smirk on his face as he said it, causing me to chuckle slightly.

“Come on. We’re running out of time.” I said as I ran out of the door.

“Damon, are you in position?” I asked as I continued to run quickly down the corridors.

“Waiting right here for you, babe.” He said cooly. I couldn’t help but bite my lip to prevent a smile from spreading across my face at his nickname for me as those butterfly things filled my stomach again.

“Ghost, they just gained control of the riot, they’re placing the prisoners in their cells now, you have to hurry.” Fox said quickly as I opened a door and ran down a hallway, Axel and a huffing Gio following closely behind.

“How much time do I have.” I asked as I increased my pace, having to restrain myself because of the two idiots struggling to keep up behind me. I looked to my left to see a dozen guards looking at me down a corridor.

“Stop!” They yelled as they started running after us.

“Nevermind.” I growled in annoyance, realizing that I was out of fucking time. We were running down the last long corridor as I heard them cock their guns.

“I disabled the emergency exit alarm, you’re good to go. Make sure the target is not harmed.” Fox said calmly as I grit my teeth at these useless men.

I slowed down my pace as I grabbed the two guns on my belt. I pushed Gio and Axel in front of me before I turned around and started shooting at the guards. I killed six of them in a manner of seconds, all my bullets landing perfectly in the center of the foreheads, buying us some time.

We reached the exit, and Axel pushed it open before we ran though it. Damon was waiting in the driver seat of an all Black Range Rover, the passenger seat and the back door open and waiting for us.

I ran into the passenger seat while Gio and Axel got into the back. This was one of the cars Storm modified. He hooked up a large screen to the dashboard that took up most of the space. The engine was upgraded to a V12, and he added in every kind of upgrade you could do.

The remaining guards positioned themselves at the door and started shooting at the car, the bulletproof glass blocking their shots. I saw one of the guards grab his radio and request backup as Damon sped away from the facility, ramming through a wire fence to get to the exit.

“You a good driver?” I asked skeptically as I looked over at Damon, who looked more relaxed than ever.

“The best.” Damon said playfully as he raised an eyebrow at me.

“What are you talking about? I puke every time I’m in the car with you.” Gio said in the backseat as he put his seatbelt on, put his hands together, and closed his eyes.

“Gio, what the fuck are you doing?” I asked in confusion.

“Saying a prayer, now shush.” He said as he opened his eyes and glared at me for a moment before closing his eyes again.

“They manually closed the exit, I can’t override it!” Fox growled in frustration as we saw the tall metal doors of the exit starting to slowly close.

“Damon, all of the cars controls are on the screen. The nitrous is the symbol on the bottom lefthand side.” Storm called out in our ear pieces.

“The bomb emoji? Seriously?” Damon laughed, not fazed at all from our circumstance.

“That’s the one.” Storm called out as he chuckled.

Damon quickly clicked the nitrous, and we jolted back from the rapid increase in speed. We barely made it out of the facility, the steel doors scraping against the side of the car before he drifted the car and made a sharp right turn.

“I’m liking what you did with this car. I gotta pay you to do my Porsche back home.” Damon said as he smiled.

“A Porsche? What kind?” Storm asked, his voice laced with excitement.

“918 Spyder. All black. Carbon fiber accents. Added in a cold air intake, shock absorbers, nitro, and upgraded the exhaust.” Damon said calmly as he continued to weave rapidly through traffic.

“Dude yes! I’d love to work on your car, especially if it’s already modified.” Storm said. He sounded like a fangirl gushing over her favorite boyband.

I looked in the rear view mirror to see a fleet of cop cars pursuing us. Their red, blue, and white lights illuminating the dark street. Thanks to Gio’s little catnap, we gave them enough time to find us, ruining the plan… again.

“Looks like Plan B is shot to hell. Commencing Plan C.” I said as I looked behind me and gave Gio the meanest death stare I could, making his eyes go wide slightly.

Chapter 20

** GHOST POV **

Plan C: The backup to the backup plan in case Gio somehow fucks up further. 

In the case that Plan B is commenced and compromised, Plan C is for when we are being trailed by cops. Originally we would just take a straight route to the harbor undetected, and deliver the target to the boat. Since that plans fucked, Rebel and Storm are going to take another car, meet us at the rendezvous point, and we deliver the package once we get an opening. 

“You’re going to have to get us far enough away from the cops so that we have a 5 second window. Can you do that?” I said to Damon as I grabbed my two guns from my belt and cocked them. 

“Easily.” Damon said as he drifted another corner. 

“Damon, I downloaded the route to the navigation. Just follow the path and Rebel and I will meet you at the drop off point.” Storm said through the line. 

“Got it.” Damon said calmly as he continued to speed through the city. The navigation screen showed a path full of intricate turns throughout the city. I reached down into the center console and pulled out another gun.

“Redeem yourself.” I growled as I threw it at Gio, how caught it perfectly and smiled. 

I opened the sunroof, and stepped onto the center console so my upper body was out of the car. I brought both of my arms up, guns in hand, as I started shooting rapidly. 

I shot four drivers in the head with ease, sending their cars swerving off the road. One of them started to roll over, causing two more cars behind it to crash into the destroyed vehicle. 

“Hold on babe.” Damon said as made a sharp turn, making me lose my balance slightly. He wrapped a muscular arm around my thighs in order to keep me in place. 

Gio was practically hanging out of the window and shooting out the tires of other vehicles with ease, making them swerve and crash into other cars. Even though he was a moron, he was a hell of a shot. 

We were headed towards an intersection, and just as we were about to cross it, three armored trucks came at us from different directions. With Damon still holding onto my thighs, he quickly hit his breaks, and turned the car, doing a 360 degree spin while driving around one of the armored trucks to his right. I held onto the roof of the car while it spun wildly. As soon as the car finished its turn, he floored it, causing the back end of the Range Rover to fishtail as he sped down the street. 

The armored cars rammed into each other, before quickly backing up, and speeding towards us. The outside of their cars were bulletproof, and the guards inside had AK-47’s, aimed right at us. I ducked back into the car for cover as bullets rained down on us as they got closer. 

“Fox, please tell me there’s something powerful enough in this car to take down those trucks?” I said over the gunfire, Gio sat back in the car as he reloaded his gun. 

“Of course. In the glove compartment, you should see a small black box. Open it.” Fox said seriously as Damon drifted another corner. I did what she said, and when I opened the small box I saw dozens of small disks laying inside. They were thin, and fit into my palm perfectly. On the top of the disks, was a circular light that was green. 

“What the fuck are those things going to do?” Gio yelled as Axel was looking at them with a bewildered expression on his face. 

“G, it was automatically attach to whatever surface you throw them at.” Fox explained as I took a disk in my hand. I rolled down my window to see an armored truck speeding up behind us. I looked at the approaching car in the side mirror before I tossed the disk, making it fly backwards and stick to the front of the car. 

I saw the green light on the disk flash red as soon as it attached to the front of the armored truck. Within a second, the disk exploded, and the front of the armored truck blew off, sending the armored truck flying backwards into the air. 

“Fancy.” Damon smirked, his demeanor was still deadly calm as Gio and Axel looked back at the explosion with wide eyes. The armored truck blocked the road, buying us some time as we continued down the long curvy road. 

“G, we’re nearing the rendezvous point.” Storm called out in my ear piece. Up the road, we saw a black Escalade speeding towards us on the other side of the road. 

“Jump on my command. Do not fuck this up.” I scowled as I looked back at Gio. 

He nodded before opening the door while the car was still speeding down the street. Gio grabbed Axels arm, who had his eyebrows furrowed. I looked ahead and saw that Rebel opened up the backdoor to their car. 

When Storm’s car neared us, he drifted his car, so that the his back wheels skidded to the right while Damon drifted towards him, making the front of his car go towards the right as well. Damon and Storm drifted in a circle, until the backdoors were lined up perfectly, giving us an opening for Gio and Axel to jump into Storms car. 

“NOW!” I yelled as Gio grabbed Axel and they both jumped into Storms Escalade, falling onto the backseat. The backdoors closed due to the momentum from the drifts. The boys completed their turns, doing a donut. Damon straightened out his wheel, speeding down the street in our original direction while Storm was headed the opposite way. 

“Drop complete. We’ll meet you at the harbor.” Rebel said through the mic. 

“Got it.” I said as we maneuvered through the city. Since we lost the police chasing us, all we had to do was take a different route to the harbor. I watched as Damon skillfully drove through the city with ease, drifting corners and maneuvering the narrow streets as if it was nothing. 

“Shit G. All of the Los Angeles police department is headed your way.” Fox said quickly. 

“Plan D, baby?.” Damon asked as he raised an eyebrow while still looking at the road. 

“Plan D.” I said as I cocked my gun, too distracted to scold him for his new little nickname for me. 

Plan D:

Police keep pursuing us, we take the roads by the cliff, get them off our backs while we kill them, and make it to the harbor. Easy. 

Damon took a sharp left turn towards The Cliffs, a scenic drive that was only a one way road. It took us around a mountain that overlooked the ocean below us. The perfect place to pick off the cops one by one. 

He sped down the road while I took my position out of the sunroof. I grabbed two disks in my hands, and threw them at the two closest cars to us, hitting both of them on their roofs and making him explode and crash into a third car in between them, sending them flying off the cliff. 

Behind those two were the armored trucks. I grabbed a handful of disks and started to fling them at the cars, making the device stick to the front bumpers, hoods, and roofs the cars. 

Explosions went off sporadically behind us, destroying multiple cars, and taking out the armored cars completely. I grabbed my gun and started to shoot the guards that were driving the vehicles while Damon continued to drift through the difficult path. 

“G, we have a problem.” Fox said in a low voice.

“What now?” I growled as I shot one of the drivers in the head, making his car turn sharply and fall off the edge of the cliff. 

Four helicopters started to rise up from the side of the cliff, all their guns pointed directly at us. 

“Jesus Christ.” I breathed as I jumped back into the car, avoiding the bullets that rained down on us. This was not part of the plan. 

“Plan E.” I screamed over the loud booms of gunfire.

“Plan E?” Damon said in confusion. There was no Plan E.

“Do whatever it takes to fucking survive.” I said as I grabbed two disks. Damon reached the end of the scenic path and sped onto the main streets, swerving rapidly through traffic as the helicopters continued to shoot at us. 

Once their bullets ceased, I stuck my upper body out of the sunroof, and threw two disks as hard as I could, successfully hitting two helicopters. They exploded, sending the blades of their propeller hurling towards us. Damon quickly sped up to avoid the car getting hit with the debris that fell from above. His eyes rapidly scanned the tall buildings surrounding us, before he turned into a parking garage. 

“What the fuck are you doing?” I said frantically as he sped through the levels of the parking garage, dozens of police cruisers following closely behind us. 

“Do you trust me?” He said as he drifted a tight corner and ascended up another ramp. 

“Damon-” I said as I watched the police lights behind us get closer and closer 

“Do you trust me?” He said again with an edge in his voice. He turned another corner as we continued to drive up the levels of the garage while he looked over at me with furrowed eyebrows.

“Yes.” I said as I looked at him. Our eyes were locked for a moment before he turned his attention back onto the road. 

“How many more explosives do we have?” He asked as we neared the top floor. 

“Three.” I said as I looked down at the almost empty box. 

“Perfect. Hand them to me.” He said as he held out his hand. I placed the disks in his palm, wrapping my hand over his as I held it tightly. 

We drifted into the top floor of the parking garage, and Damon floored it, heading straight towards the edge of the building. He rolled down his window and thew a disk at the concrete barricade in front of us, causing it to explode before he hit the nitrous and sent our car flying off the edge of the building. 

We were headed straight towards the rooftop of another parking garage a few hundred feet away from us. I grabbed the dashboard and prepared for impact as we flew through the air. While still in the air, he quickly grabbed another disk, and threw it at the concrete barrier on the other building, destroying it and creating a clear path so we can land. 

The car skidded as we roughly landed onto the roof of the other building. Damon quickly gripped the wheel and drifted into the parking garage. He sped towards a row of parked cars, and slammed on his breaks. He quickly got out of the car and ran towards a black Audi S7 that was parked near us. 

I got out of the car as he elbowed the window, shattering it, before he reached in and unlocked the doors. He pulled out a knife with one hand and started to hot wire the car as I grabbed the weapons in the Range Rover and walked towards him. 

“How did you know we were going to clear that jump?” I asked angrily as I stood next to him. 

“I didn’t.” He said seriously as sirens were wailing in the distance as the Audi S7 roared to life. 

“You what?” I said furiously as I glared at him. He stood up and dusted off his pants before turning around to face me. 

“I didn’t.” He said as he smirked at me. 

“You reckless motherfucker!” I said as fury consumed me. I threw a punch at him, which he blocked with ease. 

“You could have fucking killed us!” I screamed as I threw another punch at him face. He grabbed my wrist before he pulled it down and behind him. He wrapped an arm around the back of my neck before pulling me closer to him and smashing his lips against mine. 

My anger was soon replaced with shock as his soft lips dominated me. I stood there, trying to process what was happening as his lips were pressed against mine. Eventually, I gave in, and my tense body relaxed slightly under his hold and my eyes closed while I leaned into the kiss. 

The sirens in the distance started to grow louder, and he pulled away from the kiss as he looked at me with a serious expression painted on his face. He quickly turned around and got into the drivers seat. I took a deep breath as I quickly walked over and got into the passengers seat. 

Damon smoothly pulled out of the parking spot, and drove past the Range Rover. He rolled down his window and threw the last disk over his shoulder, making the device attach to the side of the car before he stepped on it and sped towards the exit of the garage. 

“I would never let anything happen to you.” He said seriously as he placed a hand on my thigh. We watched as the Range Rover exploded behind us and cop cars sped past us, while a wave of emotions flooded over me like a tsunami.

Chapter 21

** GHOST POV **

My chest feels like it’s about to explode. My lungs feel constricted. My stomach feels fluttery. My mind is hazy. My lips are still tingling. It feels like fireworks are going off in my heart, making it beat faster than normal. Over all I feel…pleased? No that’s not the right word… maybe…happy? No I felt a sliver of happiness before, this is much different… much stronger than that. It’s pleasant, but it also has a hint of anxiousness… and nervousness? 

What the fuck is this feeling? What the fuck is going on?

Usually, whenever I feel emotions, they’re short lived, and dull. As if I know that they’re there, but I can’t feel them… I haven’t been able to feel anything for years. It’s as if my mind recognizes the emotions, but my body refuses to feel them. Whenever I’m around Damon, that’s when it’s the strongest, the most prominent, and whenever I’m away from him, I start feeling… sadder… perhaps longing? Until eventually, every feeling fades away into the abyss of nothingness I have become accustomed to. But whatever this is, whatever emotion that Damon Carbone has evoked inside of me, is gnawing at me, lingering longer than anything I have ever felt. 

Before I met him, I felt nothing at all. But ever since I saw him, that’s when I started feeling… strange. The elevator incident was the first time I had a surge of feelings that I could actually experience, but it was short lived and went away almost instantaneously. It was the first sliver of emotion that I felt in years. 

During our late night conversation in Paris I felt somewhat… carefree? And that emotion took about ten minutes to fade once I left to go take a shower. 

In the airplane, I felt…flustered…. and nervous? I was anxious for half an hour around him until that faded. 

In the van… I felt… attraction? Need? Perhaps desire? I avoided him for hours until the mission, and the feelings went away in about forty-five minutes. 

The more I got to know this reckless, optimistic, intelligent, confident, calm, brazen, and deadly man, the more I’ve noticed that these feelings were slightly appearing, even without his presence. 

I stood on the second story of the boat, watching as the moon lite up the seas around us. I was leaning forward my elbows resting on the handrail as I tried to decipher the emotions I was feeling. It was a two hour boat ride from the harbor to Thorn’s estate, and I’ve spent the last hour and forty five minutes in solitude, trying to figure out why this lingering emotion in my chest still remains. 

I took another drag of my cigarette as I took a deep breath, exhaling the smoke and watching it dwindle away in the wind as I tried to come to a logical conclusions as to why I’m feeling so overwhelmed… but I couldn’t. For the first time in my life, I had no idea what was going on… and it petrified me more than anything else in this world. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” A familiar deep voice called out behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Damon walked towards me, a smirk on his lips. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn’t even hear him come up here. 

“My thoughts are worth millions. You’d need more than a penny.” I chucked as I turned back around. I heard his footsteps behind me coming nearer, until he was right next to me. He placed his hands around the rail and leaned forward as silence stretched between us. 

“How do you do it?” I whispered as I stared off into the distance with my eyebrows furrowed. 

“Do what, babe?” He said as he looked over at me with his eyebrow raised. 

“Stay so optimistic? You’re always so calm, and confident that everything will work out in your favor.” I said as I looked over at him. 

“Because things always will work out in my favor.” He smiled at me before I smacked his arm gently. 

“I’m serious.” I laughed. 

“You know, when my cousin Martino sent me flying off a cliff, I thought I was going to die. When I woke up in a hospital a few days later, I was honestly upset that I didn’t. “ He said as he leaned his elbows down on the rail and looked off into the distance with a slight smile on his face. 

“The only remaining family I had died, the title of Don was taken from me, and I was exiled from my home and forced to go off the radar. That was one of the hardest times in my life. I felt miserable for years, until revenge and anger consumed me until I felt nothing else, making my life feel like an endless torture I couldn’t escape.” He said as his slight smile still lingered on his face, the breeze making his hair flow in the wind.

“So what changed?” I asked curiously as I listened to his story intently. He grabbed the cigarette from my hand like he always does, and took a long drag before exhaling. 

“I never worry about the outcome of things because I finally came to the realization that if it’s meant to happen, it will. If it’s not, it won’t. Simple as that.” He said calmly as he shrugged and looked back towards the sea, flicking the cigarette off the edge and into the water. 

“Aren’t you bothered that those things happened to you though?” I said in confusion. 

“You can’t focus on your future if you’re living in the past, babe. And on the contrary, I’m grateful that all those horrible things happened to me, because if they didn’t, I wouldn’t be who I am today and I would have never met you.” He said as he continued to look off into the distance. We sat in silence, listening to the waves of the sea as I tried to process what he just said. 

“Have you ever been in love before?” I asked him curiously, making him raise his eyebrow. 

“Have you?” He asked turning his head to face me. 

“Not that I know of.” I answered honestly. He looked at me for a moment before a smirk started to form on his lips. 

“Well to answer your question.” He said after a few moments, he pushed off against the rail and stood up straight and took a step back. 

“I’ve never been in love, but I think I’m starting to know what it feels like.” He said in a low voice as he stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. My body felt like exploding from his words and his touch. I felt a pull towards him, like a moth to a flame, and I leaned back into his muscular chest and tilted my head. 

“And what does that feel like?” I asked curiously as I placed a hand over his forearm. 

“That you miss them when they’re not around, and can’t get enough when they’re near.” Damon said as he rested his head on my shoulder, both of us still looking out into the distance, watching as the dock started coming closer and closer. 

“That every little thing they do captivates you, from what they say, to how they walk, to how they talk, to how they think. Every little seemingly minor thing they do now becomes significant, and draws you in, consuming your thoughts until there’s nothing left but that person.” He said, barely above a whisper as his grip around my waist tightened slightly as we watched the boat dock in the harbor. A wave of unknown emotions flooded through me, making my breathing sporadic and my heart rate increase drastically. 

“She must be a lucky girl.” I breathed as his chin moved slightly making the stubble on his face graze my shoulder, causing a shiver to jolt up my spine. 

“More like I’m the lucky guy.” He whispered as he turned his head so his nose was grazing my jawline. He kissed my cheek softly, making me close my eyes and savor his touch as a soft moan escaped my lips. He pulled away after a few moments and headed down to the first floor, where the crew was now exiting the boat, the warmth of his body now replaced by the cold breeze. I stood there against the rail, perplexed and still thinking of what he just said to me as I continued to look at the ocean around me with my eyebrows furrowed. 

Fuck. I think I’m falling in love with Damon Carbone.

Chapter 22

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

“Unharmed and alive. Just like I promised.” I said as he walked over to Amelia with Axel. 

Angelo, Gio, and I were outside the front doors to the estate, watching as Amelia and Axel ran to each other and Amelia embraced her child tightly with tears streaming down her face as she sobbed rather loudly.

“My son. I’m so happy you’re back home.” She said as tears streamed down her face. 

“I missed you too, mom.” Axel said as he wigged out of her tight embrace. 

“Thank you. All of you for saving my son.” Amelia said as she looked over at us while wiping some tears from her eyes. 

“It wasn’t just us.” I said as I nodded to the car where Storm, Fox, Rebel, and Ghost were inside watching our every move. 

“Can I thank them? Please, you all did more for me than you could ever comprehend.” Amelia said as she regained her composure. I nodded slightly, and motioned for them to walk over to us. 

They quickly got out of the car, and as they came closer, I heard Amelia gasp loudly. I turned around to see that her eyes were wide, and her attention was focused behind me. I turned around to see her staring directly at Fox and Storm, who noticed her glare and had confused expressions painted on their faces. Eventually, the crew stood beside me, all of their eyes locked on Amelia with serious expressions on their faces. 

“Does she seem familiar to you?” I heard Fox whisper to who I assume was Storm. 

“…Kinda.” Storm whispered as Amelia continued to stare at them. 

“Jax…Natalia…” She breathed as she slowly walked closer to them, causing them to take a large step back. Ghost and Rebel quickly stood in front of Amelia protectively, blocking her from taking another step closer. 

“Sorry lady, you must have us confused with someone else.” Storm said seriously as he stepped slightly in front of Fox. 

“My…my apologies.” Amelia said softly as she shook her head slightly, pulling herself out the daze she was just in. “You two just remind me of… never mind.” She said before turning around and walking into the estate. 

“Mr. Carbone, please, come with me so we can discuss the details of this new alliance.” She said as she walked into the house without looking back, her son following closely behind her. I nodded at the crew once before walking up the steps of the lavish mansion and making our way to her office in complete silence. 

She shut the door behind her, and her face held one of confusion. Her eyebrows were furrowed, and her eyes remained locked onto the wooden floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the room. I cleared my throat, gaining her attention and causing her to look up at me surprised. 

“So Miss Thorn,” I said as I sat down on the chair. “I need to make more preparations before we commence our plan. Once I give you the word, you will halt Martino’s shipments, and temporarily cut all business ties you have with him. After I take over, the shipments will return to normal.” 

“Understood.” She said as she walked over to the long window in the corner of the room. Axel sat down in the chair next to me, his eyebrows still furrowed in confusion as he stared off into space. Silence spread throughout the office as I sat there watching Amelia with my eyebrow raised. 

“Miss Thorn, are you alright?” I asked as I stood up from my chair. 

“Yes.” She said as she slightly turned towards me. “Just a… little surprised is all.” She said as she looked down at the ground with a pained expression on her face. 

“How do you know Storm and Fox?” I asked seriously as I walked closer to her. 

“Oh… is that what they go by now?” She said as a sad smile stretched across her lips before she looked out of the window again. 

I walked over to her until I was standing beside her. I looked out the window to see that we had a perfect view of the crew. Rebel and Gio were arguing about something, Angelo was standing next to a giggling Fox, while my blonde beauty and Storm were both smoking a cigarette with a serious expression on their faces. 

“You didn’t answer my question, Miss Thorn.” I said as I stared at my blonde beauty, making my heart flutter slightly. 

“It’s been years… 5 to be exact. They look so grown up now…” She said as her face held a somber expression. I turned my head and looked over at her to see her eyes slightly watering.

“My husband died 15 years ago. He was one of the most intelligent men I’ve ever met in my life. Had an unhealthy fascination with cars and gadgets.” Amelia said as she turned around slowly and started walking to her desk. 

“He was a widow before he met me, and already had children…twins. A boy and a girl. There were troublemakers when they were younger, always coming up with crazy inventions and contraptions from household objects, it was obvious they got their intelligence from their father.” She said with a sad smile as she opened the drawer of her desk. 

“After their father died, they wanted to continue on with his work. The boy went on to be a mechanic, a brilliant one at that. The girl found her fascination with weapons and engineering, she was always a bit smarter than him.” She said as she rummaged through the drawer and eventually pulled out a picture. 

“They moved out when they were 17. They had bigger dreams than arms dealing could provide for them, and I respected their wishes and let them go. They kept in touch frequently. The boy even telling that he met a girl, that he wanted to marry, and brought her over with their friends one time. They had a close group of friends, and they were practically inseparable. But after their 20th birthday, I never heard from them again. I sent private investigators, contacted their friends, used every resource I could to try and find them, but it was as if they just vanished.” She said sadly as she walked back over to me, her eyes locked on the picture in her hand. 

“This was the last picture I have of them, all of them. It was 6 years ago. Their names were Jax and Natalia Riveria.” She said as a tear fell down her cheek and she held out a tattered photograph in her hand. 

I grabbed it gently and examined it. It showed a Fox, leaning against the front of a car with it’s hood propped open and a cocky smirk on her face and her arms crossed in front of her. She looked young, lively, more confident, and carefree. Storm was under the hood of a car, his face covered in grease as he was hunched over. His hands were straight and placed on the side of the car, supporting his weight as his head was under the hood of the car. He was looking at the camera with a large smile on his face, a smile that I have yet to see in real life. 

I examined the photograph further, and in the background was a large group of people, drinking, laughing and having fun. But a familiar looking blonde woman caught my eye. Her back was faced towards the camera, and her wavy blonde hair reached her waist. I couldn’t see any details of her face, but in her hand was a smoking cigarette, and she was leaning against a table. I looked out the window to see Ghost taking a drag of her cigarette as she leaned against the car, and looked back at the image with my eyebrows furrowed. 

This picture was of Storm, Fox, and Ghost from 6 years ago.

Chapter 23

**

DAMON

POV

**

“Man, that chicks a little crazy huh?” Storm said as he raised his eyebrow and continued to drive down the street. 

“Yeah she kinda freaked me out.” Fox agreed as she nodded her head and furrowed her eyebrow. 

“Bitches these days.” Rebel said playfully as she smiled widely and leaned forward so she was leaning against the center console. 

My mind was racing with the information Amelia gave me as we drove to one of their safe houses. I tuned out the rest of their conversations as I stared out the window, watching as we passed by the beach in a blur. 

Was it really them? Or do they have look doppelgängers somewhere in the world? It had to be them, it literally looked exactly like them. So why was Ghost in the background? If that was their step-mom, how come they can’t remember her at all? How did they not recognize Axel? What are these people hiding?

The car came to a stop in front of the beach house, and we all exited the vehicle. Amelia gave me a copy of the picture, and I hid it in my jacket pocket. I was the first one up the steps to the beach house, quickly walking up the concrete walkway until I reached the door. I froze for a moment when I saw that the lights were off, remembering that I turned them on before we left. Everyone behind me was laughing at Gio’s expense, while I took out my gun from my waistband. 

I looked over at them as they walked up the steps to the house, everyone oblivious except for Ghost, who had her eyebrows furrowed as she also noticed the lights on. I held up my hand to everyone, getting their attention and halting their conversations. I nodded towards the window, then my gun. Their carefree demeanor shifted into a defensive one, as everyone readied their weapons. 

I kicked the door down to see at least 15 men, dressed in all black with masks on their faces aiming their weapons at us. I quickly ran inside, avoiding the bullets that were being shot at me, and shot 4 of them in them in between the eyes before I jumped behind a couch. I grabbed the bottom of it, and flipped it over, using it as cover. 

Everyone else was outside the building, avoiding the bullets that were aimed at them. I quickly reloaded my gun, and peeked out from behind the couch. I lifted my gun, and shot on of the guards in the legs, before shooting him in the head, I quickly shot another guard next to him in the heart, and shot a third guard in the head. 

They now aimed their guns at me again, and I dipped behind the couch for cover as I heard their footsteps get closer. Ghost ran into the house, and started to fire at them with two guns in each hand. I heard bodies fall to the ground as the gunshots continued. I rolled out from my position on the couch and started to fire at the remaining guards. 

I saw a guard aiming at Ghost, but she was too busy shooting at the men on the other side of the room to notice. I aimed my gun at him, and growled in annoyance once I saw I was out of ammo. I quickly sprinted over to him and kicked the guards arm the same time Ghost turned around. The guard dropped his weapon and threw a jab at me. He was quick as hell, but I managed to avoid his punch. I threw a kick to his ribs making him hunch forward before I grabbed his neck and twisted it, killing him and making his lifeless body fall to the floor. 

I looked around to see that the once beautiful beach house was trashed and destroyed. Bullet holes adorned the grey walls, the furniture was destroyed, and the house looked like its been ransacked before we arrived. Whoever attacked the house were defiantly professionals. They were quick, agile, and trained to perfection. 

Ghost bent down to one of the bodies on the ground, and lifted up his mask. She looked at his face for a moment with her eyebrows furrowed before turning the body over with her foot. The rest of the crew entered the house with their guns up as they scanned the room. Rebel, Fox, and Storm walked over to Ghost, who was staring at the back of the mans head with an emotionless expression on her face. 

“Damon, can you and the boys check the rest of the house please?” She said in a low voice while her eyes remained glued to the back of the dead mans head. 

“On it.” I said with my eyebrows furrowed in curiosity. I decided that clearing the house was more important than figuring out what captivated her attention, so I nodded at Gio and Angelo as we walked down the hallway. 

As we cleared the rooms, we noticed that Storm, Fox, Rebel, and Ghost’s rooms were ransacked, their items thrown all over the floor, even their mattresses turned over. Our rooms remained untouched, everything in their rightful place. When Angelo and Gio were clearing my room, I quickly grabbed my duffle bag and let out a breath of relief to see that the journal was still there, completely untouched. 

While Angelo and Gio were clearing the remaining guest rooms, I went to go clear the conference room. I walked up to the door slowly, with my gun in hand. I took a deep breath before kicking the door down with excessive force. As soon as I entered the room, my gun was knocked out of my hand and a man dressed in all back and a mask threw a right hook at me. I ducked and hit him in the stomach twice before kneeing him in the face. I saw two more men in the corner of the room, attempting to steal Fox’s computer. I ran over to them and roundhouse kicked one of them in the side of the head, making him fall over onto the table. 

The other man tried to kick me in the ribs, but I caught his leg in midair and twisted it, making him scream in pain. I pulled his leg closer to me as I punched him in the face, making the impact even stronger from the momentum. He fell to the floor unconscious as the other man took out a large knife from behind me. He lunged at me, trying to stab me, but I quickly moved to the left, avoiding the blade, before I reached around his arm with one hand and grabbed his wrist with another. I placed my hand on the inside of his elbow and pushed it towards me, making it bend while I took my wrist and shoved the blade into his throat, making him gurgle and fall to the floor. 

The third guard ran towards me, and I stepped up on the conference table and jumped off, punching him in the face and taking him to the ground. I grabbed his neck, and snapped it, killing him before he could do anything else. 

I looked up to see Ghost watching me from the doorway. Her lips were parted slightly and her eyes were wide as she looked me in the eyes. Rebel ran in after her, and had the same shocked expression on her face as she saw the three dead bodies in the conference room. 

“They were trying to take the computers.” I said calmly as I stood up and wiped my blood hands on my shirt. 

“I’ll have Fox destroy it.” Ghost said after a few moments of silence. “Grab your stuff. We’re going to a hotel.” She stated before glancing at the bodies once more, and walking out of the room. I followed them out of the conference room and made my way to my bedroom. 

“WHAT THE FUCK.” I heard Ghost yell frantically. My heart dropped as I knew exactly what she was looking for. 

“WHERE IS IT?! WHERE THE FUCK IS IT?!” I heard Ghost scream before a shatter echoed down the hallway. 

“Ghost, we don’t have time to look for it. We have to go before more show up.” Rebels voice said quietly. 

“THEY CAN’T HAVE IT. THEY CAN’T FUCKING HAVE IT! YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY HAVE IT!” Ghost screamed. I’ve never heard her so frantic or angry before. The hallway filled with the sounds of furniture slamming into the wall and glass shattering. 

“G, if they have it, then we have to leave here as soon as possible.” Rebel said, urgency and worry now filling her voice. 

I quickly grabbed my things from my room, making sure to hide the journal underneath my clothes, before walking back out into the living room, where everyone was waiting for me with their bags in their hands. Ghost was already outside near the car, pacing impatiently as she smoked a cigarette and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. 

“Ready?” Storm asked as he looked over at me with an emotionless expression painted on his face. 

“Yeah. Let’s go.” I said, trying to ignore the guilt that filled my body. Everyone quickly walked in front of me and out to the car, where they popped the trunk and started to load up their things. 

I looked back one more time, trying to quickly look for any clues as to who these attacks were, when I noticed something rather peculiar. All of the men and women who attacked us were laying face down on the ground, their masks were all pulled off, and the back of their necks were slashed open. I looked closer to see that the gashes on the back of their necks were fresh. 

“Damon, come on.” Angelo called out from the car. I quickly walked out of the door, and ran down the steps. I threw my bag into the trunk of the car before I hopped into the backseat next to Angelo. 

The car was silent as Storm started to pull away from the house, and once we were at a safe distance away, I noticed that Fox pulled out her phone and started typing rapidly. 

Angelo, Gio, and I jumped as an explosion went off behind us, rattling the ground beneath us and filling the air with an ear piercing boom. I looked back to see the beach house completely destroyed, chunks of wood and debris falling from the sky, and whatever remained was on fire. 

Who the hell is after you, Ghost?

Chapter 24

** GHOST POV ** 

We drove three hours south in an attempt to get them off our trail. Fox was working relentlessly trying to figure out how the hell they found us, while I was wondering how the hell Damon was able to kill them…10 of them to be exact. 

When we arrived at the lavish and expensive hotel, I stayed behind and went directly to the bar with Fox and Rebel before going up to my room, craving a much needed drink. 

“Whiskey neat.” I order at the bar top. The bar was dark and dim lit. The large floor to ceiling windows eased my mind as I looked out into the view of the ocean. It was still nightime, and the sun would be rising in a few hours, so the ocean was shimmering underneath the moonlight.

“Well this day turned into a shit show, didn’t it?” Rebel said before she downed a shot of tequila. 

“Worse.” Fox said as she also took a shot of Jack Daniels. 

“We need to speed up this mission so we can get our favor, and handle this once and for all.” I said as I took a large swig of my whiskey. 

“G, I think we should tell them what’s happening.” Fox said with her eyebrows furrowed as she spun on her bar stool to face me. 

“Absolutely not.” I said as I finished my drink in one go. 

“Why not? You saw the way Damon fought? He took out 10 of them, 3 of them with his bare hands. They didn’t even land a punch on him.” Fox said as she tilted her head slightly. The bartender came back and replaced our drinks without another word. 

“Yeah, G. He even landed a punch on you.” Rebel said as she raised her eyebrow and downed another shot. 

“He what?! When?” Fox said in a surprised tone as she furrowed her eyebrows. 

“Not important. We can’t drag them into this mess. The less they know, the safer they are.” I said as I downed my entire glass in one gulp. 

“Careful G, you know what happens when you drink too much.” Fox said as she looked at me with an eyebrow raised. 

“Yeah, you might actually get laid for once.” Rebel said before she laughed obnoxiously. “Yo bartender, bring us 9 more drinks, will ya?” She yelled as she leaned over the countertop. 

“Fuck off Rebel.” I scoffed as I rolled my eyes. 

“What? I’m tryin’ to get laid tonight. It’s completely natural.” Rebel said as she shrugged. 

“Cough cough Slut.” Fox said under her breath, making me chuckle. 

“When men go hoeing around they get praised for it, but when women do, we get scolded. What the fuck is up with that?” Rebel said as she rolled her eyes. “And don’t act so innocent when you’ve already fucked Angelo.” Rebel said as she smirked and raised her eye at a now blushing Fox.

“You what?” I asked curiously as I smirked at her evilly. “Wow Fox, didn’t think you had it in you.” I said as I raised my eyebrow and sipped my whiskey. 

“It just sort of…happened.” Fox said, her face was bright red. “If either of you tell my brother I’ll slice your throats in your sleep.” She said seriously. 

“Ohhhh someone’s in loveeee!” Rebel teased as she threw her arm over Fox’s shoulder. 

“Oh cut it out.” Fox groaned as she threw Rebels arm off of her. 

“What about you and Gio, huh?” Fox said as she smirked at Rebel while I continued to drink myself in oblivion. 

“I dunno about him yet. He’s an idiot, but he also gives off that kinda big dick energy, you know what I mean?” Rebel said as she grabbed another shot glass and downed it. 

“No. I don’t know what you mean.” I said with a bored tone as I continued to down my drink. 

“Oh you know what I mean girl. The kinda swag and demeanor a man has that just screams to the world that he’s packing a big package.” Rebel said before her and Fox burst out laughing while I chucked and shook my head. 

“Who knows, maybe I’ll get drunk enough tonight and make all of dreams come true.” Rebel said before she winked and downed another shot. 

“You two are too much.” I said as I continued to shake my head. 

“Girl, you are not one to judge considering you and Damon kissed in the middle of a police chase!” Rebel said as she threw her head back and laughed. 

“Yeah what’s the deal with you and him, huh?” Fox said as she smiled and raised her eyebrow at me. 

“Yeah, what’s the deal Ghost?” A deep and familiar voice said playfully behind me, causing a wave of unpleasant emotion to flood over me. I felt my cheeks heat up, and for the first time that I can remember I think I feel…embarrassment?

I turned around to see Damon standing behind me, with his elbows on the bar top as he leaned forward. He had a smirk on his face and his eyebrow raised in amusement. The red glow from the florescent lights highlighted his perfect bone structure and sharp jaw. I saw Storm, Angelo and Gio enter the bar behind him. 

“That is none of your concern Mr. Carbone.” I said as I took another sip of my whiskey, finishing the entire thing. He smiled at me as he discretely placed a hand on  my upper thigh. 

“Aw baby, I thought we were past formalities.” He said as he winked at me and gave my thigh a quick squeeze, making heat flood through my body. The bartender came over to us, as well as the other boys, and they all ordered Scotch on the rocks. 

We stayed in the bar, getting belligerently drunk. I couldn’t even focus on their conversations due to Damons hands caressing my thigh the entire night, getting dangerously close to my core before he would pull away, making me sigh in sexual frustration. I could tell he enjoyed teasing me because every time I would bite my lip or adjust my sitting position, he would smirk over at me. He wasn’t even paying attention to anyone else but me, talking to me and occasionally whispering how beautiful I looked in my ear. We laughed and talked about a variety of light hearted topics as his hand stayed glued to my thigh the entire time. 

I found out that he loves horror movies, and finds them quite amusing due to the lack of realism, just like me, but he also enjoys comedies because sometimes we all just need a good laugh. He has an obsession with Mexican food, Carne Asada in particular, and would eat it everyday if he could. He’s known Gio and Angelo practically his entire life, and even though they could be immature idiots, he’d take a bullet for them. He prefers cats over dogs because their independent and less clingy, just like me. He loves art but hasn’t had the time to go out and buy any pieces, and would one day love to own a museum, yet  another thing we have in common. 

I’ve never felt this kind of need before, this intense longing and desire for another person’s touch and presence. My body was in a frenzy as he continued teasing me underneath the bar top. My body was so sensitive that even crossing my legs created some much needed friction that I enjoyed. I couldn’t take this torture he was putting me through anymore. I needed a release, and I honestly needed it now, preferably an hour ago, but now would be nice. 

“I think I’m gonna get some rest.” I said standing up quickly, making Damon pout slightly. “I’ll see you all in the morning.” I said as I nodded towards my drunk friends who were now singing along to “This Is What You Came For” by Rihanna. 

I quickly grabbed my duffle bag, and practically ran to the elevators. I made my way up to my room, slid the card key in, and walked inside. I went into the bathroom, and started a bath before I started to strip out of my clothes. I needed to take my mind off of Damon, and this burning desire I felt coursing through my veins. 

Once the tub was filled, I reached for my phone and played the song “Bad Intentions” by Nikyee Heaton, before I got into the scorching hot water, my tense muscles relaxing as I lowered myself further inside. I leaned my head back against the edge of the rail, closed my eyes, and let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. 

The smooth beat filled the air, playing loudly as I tried to control my thoughts that were centered around the captivating Italian heir. I found my fingers gliding down my body, imaging that it was his. 

I pinched my nipple slightly, making a soft moan escape my mouth before my other hand trailed further down my body until it reached my throbbing core. I started playing with myself, pretending it was Damon as I moaned his name softly. 

I slid two fingers inside of me, arching my back as pleasure consumed my body. I moved them in and out of me slowly, as I started to imagine Damons cock pounding into me.  I increased my speed while bringing my other hand down to rub my sensitive clit, as the melody of the song filled the room. 

I felt my climax building rapidly from the built up sexual tension, and I soon found myself moaning his name loudly as a climax ripped through my body. My back was arching and my breasts were out of the water, the cold sensation adding onto the pleasure my body was experiencing. 

I bit my lip and smiled as I rode out my orgasm, my body starting to relax into the water, as Damon consumed my mind. Suddenly the song came to an end, filling the room with silence once again. 

“If you wanted me to fuck you, all you had to do was ask, baby. Even though watching you pleasure yourself is the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” I heard a deep voice say seductively from the doorway. My eyes shot open as I lifted my head up at the same time my hands covered my naked body. 

An overwhelming surge of emotions shot through me… and I recognized them as horror, embarrassment, and humiliation as I saw Damon leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed in front of his chest and a smirk on his face.

Chapter 25

**

 GHOST

 POV **

“What the fuck are you doing in my room?” I growled in anger as I continued to cover my soaking wet body.

“Enjoying the view?” He shrugged as he smiled playfully.

“Damon!” I swerved through my teeth.

“Darling, you’re in my room.” Damon said with a smirk on his lips as he held up a room key. “Well, my bathtub if you want to get specific.”

I quickly got up and grabbed a towel while Damon’s eyes stayed locked on my every move. I wrapped the towel around me as I walked out into the bedroom.

I immediately grabbed the phone sitting on the nightstand next to the king sized bed, and dialed the number for the front desk. I held it to my ear while Damon walked out and flopped onto the bed.

“ Thank you for calling the front desk. How may I- “ A feminine and annoying voice said on the other line. 

“You double booked my room and now there’s a strange man here that won’t leave.” I said in a cold tone, making Damon look at me with furrowed eyebrows before he stuck his tongue out playfully, his cheeks slightly flushed from the amount of alcohol we consumed downstairs. 

“ I’m so sorry ma’am, did you want us to send security to your room? “ She asked as I flipped Damon off with a scowl, causing him to laugh.

“No it’s fine. Just fix this room situation.” I said in annoyance as I heard her typing on the other end.

“ I’m so sorry about this ma’am. There seems to have been a mix up, and we booked another guest in that room tonight as well. “ She said after a few moments. 

“Yes, I can see that. I don’t know how you guys fucked this up when you literally had one job.” I said as I rolled my eyes.

“ I apologize ma’am. It appears that we are fully booked for the night as well .“ She said, making me groan in annoyance and slam the phone down, ending the call.

“Well?” Damon said with his eyebrow raised.

“Looks like I’m stuck with you for the night.” I groaned as I walked over to my duffle bag. I bent down and gripped the towel to make sure it wouldn’t fall. I quickly rummaged through my things until I found my silk nightgown. 

“You say that like it’s bad thing.” Damon said as he smirked at me and stood up.

“It is.” I said seriously as I stood up and started walking towards the bathroom.

“Don’t lie. You were just thinking of me while you were-” He started to say before I slammed the door, cutting off his sentence. 

I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration before I changed into my gown. It was short and the silk clung to my skin, and it was my favorite thing to sleep in. I mentally cursed myself for not bringing anything else that was more appropriate, but I never expected to be sharing a room with Damon. 

I took a deep breath before I walked out of the room. Damon was shirtless, and wearing a pair of joggers. He was laying on the bed with his arms over his head and his legs crossed in a relaxed manner. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” I asked as I stood in front of the bed with my arms crossed. 

“Relaxing on my bed.” He said as his eyes were still closed and a smirk graced his face. 

“You’re either sleeping on the floor, or the chair in the corner.” I said seriously.

“I’m 6’3. You really expect me to sleep in that small ass ch-” He said as he opened his eyes and stopped talking when he saw me. His eyes widened slightly and I saw his chest rise quickly from the sharp breath he took. 

“You’re not sleeping on the bed with me.” I said seriously before walking over to my side of the bed. His eyes locked on my body the entire time. 

“Sorry babygirl, but this is my room too, and I’m not sleeping anywhere but this bed.” He said as he continued to look at me with an eyebrow raised. 

Not wanting to argue, I rolled my eyes and climbed into the bed after I turned off the lights. I grabbed a few pillows and created a barricade. Once there were four pillows lined up horizontally between us, I turned around so my back was facing him and rested my head on the pillow.

“Night.” I said in an annoyed tone before I closed my eyes. 

After a few moments of silence, I heard Damon shuffling on the other side of the bed, followed by the sound of four pillows hitting the floor. I felt his muscular arms wrap around me, and pull me closer to his him. My body fit perfectly against his, the curves of our figures lining up perfectly as if we were made for each other. He rested his chin on my bare shoulder and nuzzled his face in the crook of my neck. 

“Goodnight, baby.” He whispered before he kissed my cheek, making me close my eyes to relish in the peaceful feeling. He stayed nuzzled in my neck for a while, before his breathing started to get more relaxed, and his hold around my waist loosened only slightly, indicating that he was asleep. I closed my eyes, feeling more comfortable than I have ever been, and let sleep take over me. 

---

I was in a different room again, strapped to the chair. The bright lights from above burning my eyes. The room was completely white, and doctors surrounded me. 

“Subjects vitals are stable. Starting the injection at 100mg.” One of the doctors said as his eyes remained glued to the high tech screen displaying my heart rate and blood pressure.

“What the hell is that? Don’t come near me with that shit!” I yelled as a doctor came closer to me with a syringe full of red liquid. 

But it was no use, my hands and legs were bounded to the chair. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t escape. I couldn’t do anything. The doctor injected the red liquid into my arm, and it felt as if fire was flowing through my veins. I yelled and screamed, but the burning sensation only got worse. 

“After 100mg subjects vitals continue to be stable.” The doctor in front of the screen said. 

“Increase the dosage to 200mg.” Another masked doctor in the corner said with his hands behind his back. 

The doctor came towards me again, and I thrashed and screamed in my chair. He injected my other arm with the red liquid again, making the burning intensify. 

“Rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure still stable.”  The doctor called out. 

“Increase dosage to 500mg.” The other doctor ordered. 

I felt another pinch as the syringe went into my arm again, and my body started to convulse rapidly. Foam started to come out of my mouth and my head fell limp to the side. Everything started to blur as I heard the heart rate monitor flat line. 

“Ghost!” I heard a voice call out. 

“GHOST! WAKE UP!” The voice yelled again. 

---

My eyes shot open and out of instinct I threw a punch out in front of me. Damon was hovering over me, shaking my shoulders roughly. He dodged the jab I threw at him and grabbed my wrist and held it over my head, pushing it against the mattress. 

“You’re okay. You’re okay.” He said as my breathing was sporadic and my body was drenched in sweat. 

“You were having a nightmare.” He whispered as he cupped my cheek and continued to shush me in a calming manner. 

Relief flooded through me as I looked around the room and saw that we were laying on the bed in the hotel room. I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, and leaned my forehead against the crook of his neck as I breathed deeply. 

I’ve had this nightmare hundreds of times, but it never felt so real. Before, I felt like I was just watching it, like a movie playing on a screen, but this time, I actually felt it. I felt the fear, the anxiety… the death that almost overcame me. I felt every emotion. I felt everything. 

“You okay?” He whispered as his thumb stroked my cheek. I felt wetness on my face, and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. 

“Don’t cry, it’s okay.” Damon said in a pained voice as he continued to caress my cheek with his thumb. I can’t remember the last time I cried, and this feeling was foreign to me. This anguish, this sadness, this hopelessness, it was something I’ve never experienced before. 

Damon pulled back slightly and his piercing blue eyes met mine. His eyebrows were furrowed in concern and his lips formed a slight frown. He slowly leaned down and kissed me gently. 

I felt a wave of relaxation and calmness flood over me, washing out all the negative emotions that previously plagued my body. I closed my eyes and leaned into the kiss, enjoying every second and savoring the feeling. After a few moments, he pulled back slightly, so our noses were touching as he stroked my hair. 

“I promise that as long as you’re with me, I’ll never let anything happen to you.” He whispered as he pulled me to his chest and rolled over so he was laying on his back, while my head was resting on his chest. I nodded my head slightly as I nuzzled my face in his neck, inhaling his masculine scent as my body started to relax. One of his muscular arms was wrapped around my waist, while the other was cradling my the back of my head. 

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to think that he could protect me. I wanted to think that everything was going to turn out okay. I wanted to stay here in his arms forever, feeling safely tucked away and hidden from the world. But I knew that was nothing more than wishful thinking. 

They’ve found us, and they’re hunting us down, and once they find us, nothing in this world could protect us.

Chapter 26

** DAMON CARBONE POV ** 

I watched as everyone stumbled into Angelo’s hotel room. Rebel had sunglasses on and her hair was disarrayed as she sipped on a coffee. Storm was looking at me with a blank expression on his face with his eyes slightly closed and his arms crossed in front of him as he leaned back in a chair. Fox was rubbing her eyes, and her hair was up in a messy bun. Angelo was just staring at his computer and yawning, while Gio was the perkiest of all, grinning widely with an unusual upbeat attitude on this hungover morning. 

I woke up extra early, and snuck out of bed to make sure I didn’t wake up Ghost. I brought her up breakfast, coffee, and two Advil, just in case she had a bit of a hangover. The thought of her nightmare haunted me all morning. She was screaming profanities and curses, while tossing around violently in her sleep, a view that disturbed me to my core. I needed to know what happened to her, and something inside of me tells me that her journal holds the answers to my questions. 

We now sat in Angelo’s dark hotel room, brainstorm on our next moves as we contemplated our options. 

“We need to hurry this plan along.” Ghost stated as she walked over to the curtains and opened them widely, letting the bright light fill the room and making everyone groan in pain as they covered their eyes. She seemed perfectly calm and normal, not hung over or affected by the bright lights as she stood by the window with her arms crossed in front of her, looking well put together as usual. 

“Here’s the info on the next two suppliers.” Angelo said as he typed away. The television screen in the center of the room lit up, and showed two files side by side. 

“On the right, we have Jason Marquez. The leader of the drug cartels in Colombia and the main supplier for the Italian Mafia. On the left, we have the man in charge of the largest sex trafficking ring in the world, Tommy King.” Angelo explained. The room fell silent, and Ghost, Storm, and Fox’s eyes fell onto Rebel, who stared at the screen with a blank and dangerous expression on her face. 

“Tommy King, huh?” She said in a low voice as she narrowed her eyes. 

“Yup. Located in Cambodia.” Angelo said as Ghost continued to look at Rebel with a serious expression, as did Fox and Storm. She stood up and walked closer to the screen. She crossed her arms and furrowed her eyebrows as she stared at the man, as if her mind was running wild with thoughts. 

“Jason’s father worked very closely with my father, they were best friends. If we can win over Jason, I’m sure we can get his alliance without any violence involved. As for King, I want him and his entire operation burned to the fucking ground.” I said smoothly before I sipped my coffee. 

“I want King.” Rebel said in a deadly tone as she continued to stare at the photo with a blank expression on her face. I couldn’t help but catch the edge in her voice, which was darker than usual. 

“Then you can have him.” Ghost said in a deadly tone as she walked over to the plush chair next to me and took a seat. I grabbed a pack of Marlboros from the table next to me, and pulled out a cigarette. I brought it to my mouth, and lit it, inhaling deeply. 

“We’ll split up. Half of us go to Colombia, while the other half goes to Cambodia.” Ghost continued to say as everyone nodded slightly in understanding and agreement. My blonde beauty held out her perfectly manicured hand to me, and raised her eyebrow. I smirked as I handed her the now lit cigarette, which she brought to her mouth and took a long drag of it. 

“I’ll go to Cambodia-” Ghost started to say before Rebel cut me off. 

“No. I want him all to myself.” Rebel said as she looked over at me with her hands clenched into fists. Something was off about her demeanor, and I tilted my head to the side as I read her tense and uncomfortable body language. From the way her entire presence changed as soon as she heard that name, I’d think she has some bad blood with Mr. King. 

“Ghost and I will go to Colombia then. It’ll be a peaceful discussion with Jason, and you guys will need the man power in Cambodia.” I said, causing Rebel to nod slightly before she turned her attention back onto the screen. 

“Alrighty then. Jason is having a get together, a gala of sorts, where he will be inviting his closest circle. Seems like after Jason took over for his father, he and Martino got into a couple of… disagreements about business, and Martino isn’t particularly fond of Jason, so he won’t be there. I can hack into their systems and get you two on the guest list, then you’ll have to figure out something from there Damon.” Angelo said. I looked over at Ghost and she nodded before she handed me back my cigarette. 

“Pull up Tommy’s home.” Ghost ordered as she leaned forward on her seat, her elbows rested on her knees as her hands were interlaced with one another. 

Angelo quickly started typing, pulling up blueprints, security cameras, and all the information on Tommy King that he could find. I watched as my blonde beauty’s eyes scanned over the screen, knowing that in her mind, a thousand different scenarios were happening at the same time. I couldn’t help but stare at her in awe and admiration as I watched her strategically plan out how to assassinate King. She was a damn goddess with a dangerous mind, a lethal combination. 

Eventually, she held her hand out to the side towards me, her eyes locked on the screen. I handed her the cigarette, our fingers brushing gently, before she stood up. She brought the cigarette to her mouth, and exhaled before she was standing directly in front of the TV. 

“Best point of access is here. I’m assuming you don’t want to do this mission stealthily, right?” She said in a low voice as she turned over her shoulder to look at Rebel as he finger pointed to a door on the right side of the building. 

“Fuck no. I want as much destruction and chaos as possible.” Rebel said in a deadly tone as she narrowed her eyes. 

“So you’ll enter from the main entry way then. Use Fox’s explosives to take out the gate the guard posts in front of the mansion. Rebel will enter using the front door with Gio as backup. Fox and Angelo will enter through the back and kill anyone that they see. Storm, you’ll stay out front and handle the guards in the courtyard. Tommy will most likely head to the safe room, which I’m assuming is in this area here.” Ghost said as she pointed to a room on the second story of the mansion. “Either Fox, or Angelo will remotely access it, and get you in. You can take it from there.” Ghost said before she looked over at Rebel, who just simply nodded. 

“We’ll leave as soon as possible. You guys take the private jet, we’ll take a regular flight. Good luck.” Ghost simply stated as she looked back at the screens and crossed her arms.

“Alright. Let’s get this shit started!” Gio said happily as he rubbed his hands together in front of him. We all stood up and started to walk out of the room before Angelo pulled Ghost and I aside. 

“Hey, be careful around Jason. He’s quite…eccentric… and known to get high on his own supply if you know what I mean.” Angelo said in a low voice. 

“He’s the worlds largest drug dealer, that doesn’t surprise me.” I said as I shrugged. 

“His parties are…unorthodox to say the least… so just watch out.” Angelo said with his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at us. 

“How unorthodox?” Ghost said as she tilted her head curiously. 

“..You’ll see when you get there.” Angelo said as he gulped.

Chapter 27

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

We arrived in Colombia around midnight, and Jason’s lavish party was tomorrow night, so we had some time to go to our rental house for the time being. Ghost was adamant that we stay somewhere that wasn’t tied to either of our names, so we rented a house for three days. My blonde beauty said she wouldn’t stay in a house without floor to ceiling windows, so I found a house that was completely made of glass, and visible from the outside. It was secluded, and had a perfect view of the beach beside us. I was overjoyed when she told me she loved it, and even gave me a genuine smile. The sight made my heart flutter. 

I walked past her room and was relieved to hear that her shower was still running. I quickly walked over to my room and locked the door. I grabbed my duffle bag before I entered the bathroom, and locked that door as well. I sat down on the toilet, and grabbed the journal from my bag and quickly started to scan the pages. 

Day 365

001 came back today, she was gone for a while, maybe a few months. She seemed… different, and just kept staring at me with her eyebrows furrowed. Everyday we would always get another roommate, due to the fact that every roommate that we’ve had so far has just…died. Either they couldn’t handle the torture sessions, or they died down in the basement. One of them even went insane…267 was his number I think. He was here for a month before he grabbed a gun from a guard and shot himself in the head, guess he thought death was better than being here.

…and I’m starting to think he’s right. 

Day 384

As usual, we were taken from our rooms, and separated. I’ve come to realize that everyone receives the same torture sessions, and they were preformed based off of how long they’ve been here. I noticed it when I saw one of our new roommates with the same cuts on her arms I had the first week I was here. The room they took me to was different than the one I was use to. It was all white, and smelled sterile, like a hospital. They strapped me to a chair, and injected me with some sort of red liquid. It burned my veins, and I felt as if my entire body was going to combust into flames. I kept screaming, and yelling, trying to get them to stop, but they kept increasing the dosage. I remember flatlining for a bit… until they shocked me back to life. I couldn’t help the sting of disappointment I felt when I heard my heart rate return… 

They should have let me die. 

Day 401

The injections continued… and our roommates kept dying during their sessions. I didn’t even bother to make conversation with the new ones anymore, they were just going to die anyway. Whatever they’re injecting me with, they keep upping the dosage everyday. It makes me feel… numb. Painfully numb. As if I can’t feel anything. No sadness, no despair, no fear, nothing at fucking all. 

Day 415

They keep injecting me with that shit. I feel like my soul is no longer present within my body, and all that’s left of me is just a hallow shell of the woman I use to be…whoever the hell that is. Today they injected me with something else… a black fluid. They stuck it in my arm, and ordered me to cut myself with a knife. I refused, and they injected more into me… over… and over again. It was different from the red liquid. It didn’t burn, but it made my consciousness fade. Like I couldn’t control my own decisions anymore. Eventually, I gave in to their command immediately, and cut my wrist with the knife on command. I was so numb from the red injection that I couldn’t feel anything. 

Day 430

Everyday, they kept injecting me more with the liquids, and now the red one doesn’t even burn anymore. After they injected me with the black one, they’d always ask me to harm myself. I tried fight it off… it’s as if that black liquid possessed me to do things that I didn’t want to. No matter how hard I tried… the result was always same. 

Day 478

001 talked to me for the first time today. She asked me if they started my injections yet. She asked me how I felt… and I told her I felt nothing. Nothing at fucking all. 001 told me to fight it. That I’d build up a resistance to it, that’s why they keep injecting me with more everyday to find out how much my body needs in order for me to stop resisting. She told me to fake it, and do whatever they ask me to do, even if I don’t want to, that way, I won’t lose myself completely. 

Is she… trying to help me?

Day 520

I kept doing what 001 told me to. After they’d inject me with my normal dosage, they’d always ask me to inflict some sort of pain on myself. It was hard at first to fake it, but once I did what they asked, they stopped injecting me. 001 was right.

Day 545

001 told me to do whatever it takes to survive, before we were taken from our rooms. Today they injected me with the same dosage they have been for the past month or so. Afterwards, they took me to a different room. A larger one, with other people inside. They were wearing masks, and were dressed in black. I was instructed to fight back, before I was pushed into a room. I was jumped, and the people in the room started to beat me. It was strange, as if their punches and kicks were in slow motion, and I could dodge them easily. Like I could see and plan out every attack before they made it. I did what 001 told me, and ended up killing all five of them with my bare hands.

Day 567 

001 has been giving me pointers with everything, and told me what they’d do to me before we were taken from the room. Apparently, she’s further ahead of me in the sessions that they’re putting us through, much further ahead. I asked her why she’s helping me, why she’s preparing me. She told me that I looked familiar for some reason, and that she didn’t know why she was helping me, but she just felt the urge to. I was grateful for her though. Without her, I would be blindsided by every session, but having her by my side made me feel…safer. Made me feel like I wasn’t alone in this horrid place anymore. Made me feel like I actually had a friend. She was practically my savior and guardian angel in this hell we call a home. 

I quickly shut the journal and put it away as soon as I heard the shower water stop. I walked out of the bathroom and tucked my duffle bag underneath the desk in the corner before I walked out of my room. As soon as I walked into the hallway, I saw Ghost standing in the living room with a medium sized package in her hands. 

She was wearing a tank top and shorts, and her blonde hair was soaking wet and slightly curly. Her face was free of makeup, and she looked like an absolute goddess. My eyes trailed down to her arms, and I noticed that on her arms, were marks, hundred of jagged scars. She’s always dressed modestly, always wearing a jacket or a turtle neck. I didn’t even notice them last night because she quickly turned the lights off. My eyes trailed further down to see that her thighs were covered with similar scars, and the sight made my blood boil at the thought of someone hurting her… or ever her hurting herself on someone else’s command. 

“Angelo sent this for you.” She said in an unemotional tone as she tossed me the box which I caught with ease. I looked down at it while I reached into my back pocket to pull out a knife. I opened the package quickly to see that it was a new tattoo gun, the man knew me too well. 

“Perfect.” I said as I smiled and took out the tool, making Ghost look at me with a raised eyebrow. I walked over to the kitchen island, and placed it down on the marble countertops. I went to the sink and washed my hands as Ghost sat down at the island and eyed the tattoo gun curiously. 

“What are you doing?” She finally asked as I dried my hands. She was leaning against the counter with hands resting under her chin. 

“Adding to my tallies.” I stated as I sat down next to her and took out the white and black ink that were in the package. I plugged in the gun, and placed it on a paper towel I grabbed. She watched me curiously as I took off my shirt, and placed it on the counter and out of the way. 

I turned on the gun, and lifted up my arm. I found an open space by my elbow, and started to add the tallies of all the men I killed during this mission to take down Martino. I added at least twenty tallies, filling the space completely. 

Ghost watched with curiosity as I put the tattoo gun down, and wiped off the excess ink from my arm. 

“May I?” She asked as she grabbed the tattoo gun from my counter while I nodded. She cleaned off the black ink from the tip of it, and used the white ink instead. 

I watched as she looked at her arms for a moment before looking down and lifting her shirt slightly so that it was bunched around her waist. I watched with my eyebrows raised as her hand grabbed the waistband of her shorts and pulled it down slightly, reveling the waistband of her red lace panties and the skin of her hip. 

She turned on the gun and started to lean back as she pressed the needle into her skin. Her face didn’t even flinch or grimace at the needle pierced her skin. I tilted my head as I watched her expressionless face while she focused on whatever she was drawing. After a minute or two, she put down the gun and wiped off the excess ink. 

I looked over to see a name that was now tattooed on Ghost’s hip:

Kylie Stone

The name was written so it when Ghost looks down, she can read it from her perspective, but to everyone else looking at her, it would appear upside down. It was small, but large enough to see it clearly. Due to the white ink, it was discrete, and you had to look closely to see it. 

“Who’s Kylie?” I asked curiously as Ghost stared down at the tattoo with a small smile. 

“Someone very important to me. Someone who I never want to forget.” She said quietly as she looked over at me. Without another word, she covered the new tattoo on her hip, and pulled down her shirt. She stood up, and walked out of the living room without another word. 

Is Kylie Stone…001?

Chapter 28

GIO POV

“Yeah, we’re on our way there right now.” Rebel said as she talked to Ghost over the bluetooth in the SUV. 

We were decked out and ready for war. We were wearing bulletproof vests, helmets, pants, I felt like a gangster version of the Terminator. All of us had assault rifles in our hands, and ammo strapped to our belts. This is going to be one fucking fun mission. 

“Well be careful. We’re about to walk into Jason’s party. Let me know once you’re done.” Ghost said calmly. 

“Copy that.” Rebel said as she loaded her assault rifle with bullets. She seemed more tense than usual. 

Just the other day, she was knocking on my door with a playful expression on her face before she fucked me and rocked my world. The woman was a goddess, and nearly ruined every other woman for me with her skillful mouth. I’m trapped and I know it, no one could ever please me the way this Caribbean queen could. But ever since she heard the name Tommy King, she’s been distant. Not just from me, but from everyone, and her uncharacteristic seriousness was starting to worry me.  

“One more thing Rebel,” Ghost called out, making Rebel raise her eyebrow slightly. 

“Make that fucker suffer.” Ghost said in a deadly tone before she hung up the phone, filling the car with silence. Rebel had a deadly expression on her face, not even smiling at the words her friend just told her. 

“We’re pulling up to the gate.” Storm called out as he reached for his mask that was laying on the center console. The car came to a stop around the corner from the house, and Storm turned around to look over at Angelo. 

“I swear to God if anything happens to my sister under your watch, I will rip you apart limb by limb.” Storm said in a deadly and dangerous tone as he glared at Angelo. I saw Angelo gulp slightly. At first he wasn’t afraid of Storm, I mean hell, none of us have seen him in combat before. But since he’s now fucking and kind of dating his sister, the man is petrified of him. 

“Nothing will happen to her.” Angelo said confidently as he looked at Storm, then a nervous looking Fox. 

“Make sure of it.” Storm said before he put on his black bulletproof helmet. We all did the same, covering our faces, as we started to roll up to the large steel gate. The mansion was massive, two stories just like in the blueprints. 

 I was thankful that we were just barging in and shooting everyone in sight, I was never good at memorizing all of Ghosts intricate and crazy detailed plans. 

“How about a little music to cut the tension, yeah?” I said playfully, trying to lighten the mood. Everyone was acting way too serious. I clicked the radio, and Free Bird by Lynryd Skynyrd started to play… the perfect song for a damn massacre. To my surprise, no one turned it off. Storm was even tapping his gloved finger to the beat of the song on his steering wheel.

We pulled up to the front of the gate, and Storm grabbed his gun from the cup holder. It already had a silencer on it as he gripped it tightly and aimed it towards the guard walking towards us. Fox was in the front seat, and gripped a few of those explosive disks in her hand, ready to blow up the gate. 

An armed guard eyed us curiously as he started to walk towards Storms window. The SUV was limo tinted, so they couldn’t see any of us inside. He tapped on the window twice with his gun, and Storm raised the gun up so it was at the top of his window. He rolled it down just enough for the tip of the gun to stick out before he shot the guard in the face, making him fall to the floor. 

Fox quickly rolled down her window, and threw the disks at different parts of the front gate, destroying it and sending debris scattering everywhere. Storm sped through the destroyed gate, and drifted to a stop in front of the front door. We all opened our doors with Free Bird still blasting though the speakers. 

I followed Rebel to the front of the house, while Fox and Angelo started to make their way to the backyard. I saw Storm grab two automatic rifles from the back as he took them in both hands and started to shoot down the guards in the yard. I have to admit, I underestimated the little fucker because he was shooting with deadly precision, and taking them all out quickly.

I ran in front of Rebel, and kicked down the door, making sure to keep her out of danger as much as possible. As soon as the door hit the ground, we were met with at least forty guards, all with their weapons aimed at us. I quickly started shooting them between the eyes, while Rebel was taking them down with immense skill. 

I ran straight into the crowd of guards, and shot one in the face before I spun and kicked the gun out of the hands of a guard behind me. I wrapped my arm around his neck and pulled him close to me, using him as a shield from the bullets flying directly at me. I felt the bullets piece his skin as I bent my arm and shot a three men to my right. I continued shooting as I used him as a shield, until I eventually kicked him away from me, and bent down. I slid my feet across the floor, knocking a guard down in front of me before I shot him in the head. 

I noticed that Rebel was in the corner of the room, shooting guards like it was nothing. She ran across the room, leaving a trail of lifeless bodies in her wake. Eventually, the room was cleared, and we started to run upstairs. Guards were running towards us on the stairs and we shot them between the eyes as we ascended up to the second story. 

“Front yards cleared.” Storm called out over our mics. 

“Backs cleared, we’re planting the explosives around the house now.” Angelo called out as the sound of a gun firing rang in the background. 

“Where the fuck is the safe room?” Rebel said in a deadly tone. 

“Storm, we’re going to need you to get on the computer and direct her. All you have to do is click the space bar and it’ll unlock the safe room.” Fox called out on the mic. 

“Alright on it.” Storm said as I shot a guard running towards us. 

Rebel and I continued to clear the floor, mercilessly killing everyone that stood in our path. A guard came out of one of the rooms, his gun aimed directly at Rebels head. She bent down and rested her hand on the floor as she lifted up her legs and wrapped it around the guards arm. She rotated her hips, which caused him to fall to the floor with Rebel kneeling above him. She shot him in the head twice before standing up and continuing down the hallway. 

Rebel was one of the best fighters I’ve ever seen. She was quick, and every shot was accurate. Even her hand to hand combat skills were superb. She really was one hell of a woman. 

“Angelo, I need your password.” Storm called out over the mic. 

“Uh…yeah no problem… its F-0-x-Y L-@-d-Y-69…” Angelo said nervously, and I couldn’t help but laugh at his embarrassment. 

“Foxylady as in Fox my FUCKING SISTER?!” Storm growled over the mic. 

“Noooo of course not… nonsense.” Angelo said as he laughed nervously. 

“You’re a dead man Angelo, A FUCKING DEAD MAN!” Storm growled in anger.

“The room.” Rebel said in annoyance as she shot two men that were running towards us, completely clearing the hallway. 

“Door to your right. I just unlocked the safe room, it’s behind the bookshelf.” Storm growled. 

Rebel ran to the correct door, and slammed it open with her shoulder. The office was empty, and papers were scattered everywhere. Rebel ran over to the bookshelf and knocked it over roughly. The book shelf slammed against the floor, and the books flew all over the disarrayed office. Behind the bookshelf was a large metal door. 

“Gio, stand on the side of the door.” Rebel whispered through our earpieces. I quickly ran over and pressed my back against the wall and held up automatic rifle up with my finger resting on the trigger. 

“Do not kill King. He’s mine.” Rebel said in a deadly tone before she opened the door and quickly pivoted her step so she was leaning against the wall beside me. 

As soon as the door opened, bullets went flying throughout the office from the guards inside the safe room. We waited for a few moments for the gunshots to cease before Rebel ran into the room. I followed behind her closely, and saw that there were six guards in the safe room and a cowering Tommy King in the corner of the room. 

Rebel shot the men to the right, while I handled the men to the left, we made quick work of them, and soon their lifeless bodies fell to the floor, and the room was filled with silence and with nothing but gun smoke hovering in the air. 

I looked over to see Rebel walking over to Tommy. She dropped her automatic rifle, and pulled out a handgun from her belt. He was sitting on the floor, with his knees tucked into his chest. His eyes were wide with fear as his breathing was sporadic. Rebel walked in front of him, and pointed her gun at his head. 

She reached for the bottom of her black helmet with her free hand, and lifted it over her head before dropping it on the floor, causing a loud thud to fill the room. 

“Remember me, Tommy?” Rebel said in a serious voice. Her hair fell over her shoulder, and sweat covered her forehead. Her expression was cold, and her demeanor was deadly as she stood over the cowering man. 

“Ahhh… the little Caribbean girl. How could I forget you?” Tommy said as a wicked grin stretched on his face. 

“The little girl that killed two of my men after I slaughtered your parents in front of you.” Tommy said as he started to laugh evilly. I saw the grip on Rebels gun tighten as her face morphed into a scowl. 

“Tell me, how was it in London? Did you get a lot of good clients? Make me a lot of money?” He said bravely as he stared at her as he laughed. 

“Why did you kill my parents?” Rebel said in a tone that held no emotion.

“Aww you don’t remember?” Tommy said as he smirked. Seeing him toy with her like this and hearing what he did to her made me want to go over there and strangle him until he takes his last fucking breath. 

“I don’t remember anything.” Rebel simply stated as she still continued to glare down at Tommy. 

“Owed me money. A lot of it. Wanted to send you off to America for a better life. Killed them and then took you. How ironic, isn’t it?” Tommy said as he raised his eyebrow at Rebel. 

“Thanks for the clarification.” Rebel said before she shot him in the leg. He yelled out in pain as she shot up his thigh until she shot his dick. He screamed loudly before she shot him in the face. She continued to shoot him, over and over again, until her clip was empty and his face was unrecognizable. She dropped her gun on the floor and started to walk towards the door without another word, leaving me alone with my thoughts in a room full of lifeless bodies. 

I looked back at King, or what’s left of him at least, and I couldn’t help but wonder what demons were lurking in my Caribbean Queen’s past.

Chapter 29

**

GHOST

POV

**

“Make that fucker suffer.” I said to Rebel before I hung up the phone.

I looked over to Damon who had his eyebrow raised at me before he held bent his arm slightly, and held out his elbow. I smirked at him before I grabbed the inside of his elbow, and we began to walk further inside the lavish ballroom.

I was wearing a long red dress that hugged my curves marvelously. It was a spaghetti strap dress, and had a slit going up the thigh. Damon picked it out for me, and as much as I hate to admit it, the man has great taste. We gained access to the party easily, thanks to Angelo and Fox, and we were now inside focusing on our search for Jason Marquez.

A server passed by us, and I gracefully grabbed a glass of champagne as one walked by. I went to take a sip of the expensive drink, before Damons hands went over mine, stopping me from drinking it.

“Be careful. You never know what’s actually in that drink love.” He whispered in my ear. I looked around the room to see that everyone was happily downing the champagne, and slightly swaying with glazed and blood shot eyes. I nodded at him and placed the champagne back on the tray as we continued across the room.

“Found him.” I said as I spotted Marquez talking to a woman at the bar. He was leaning against the bar top with a large smirk plastered on his face.

“Let’s make our introductions, shall we?” Damon said smoothly as he guided us through the crowd of drunk and oblivious patrons until we were at the bar standing next to Jason.

“Mr. Marquez, I wanted to introduce myself. Damon Carbone.” Damon said confidently as he held out his hand to Jason, who looked away from the beautiful woman he was talking to and raised his eyebrow at Damon curiously.

“Carbone? Any relation to that prick Martino?” He said loudly, causing a few people around us to chuckle, Damon included. Martino must be one hell of an asshole to create so much bad blood with his suppliers.

“Blood relation, is all. But other than that, I’m not particularly fond of him.” Damon countered smoothly. He was standing up straight, and looked rather intimidating in a suit and bowtie.

“Well anyone that isn’t a friend of Martino’s, is a friend of mine.” Jason said as he smiled and shook Damons hand firmly.

“Good to hear that.” Damon said as he raised an eyebrow and smiled at Jason.

“And who might this ravishing woman be?” Jason said as he looked over at me with his eyebrow raised curiously. His eyes traveled up and down my body before he walked in front of me.

“G.” I said calmly as I looked at him.

“Giana? Gloria? Gina?” Jason said as he tilted his head.

“Just G.” I said as I gave him a small smile. He grabbed my hand, and I felt Damon tense up next to me. He flipped it over so that my palm was in his and kissed the back of my hand, his lips lingering longer than what is socially acceptable.

“Well lucky for you, G is my favorite letter of the alphabet.” He said as he smirked and raised an eyebrow at me. He was a younger man, probably not even in his thirties yet. He had tan skin and sharp features. His hair was perfectly styled, not a single hair out of place. I have to admit, he was rather attractive, but no where near Damon’s level.

“And how do you know this beautiful woman?” Jason asked Damon as he continued to hold onto my hand gently while his brown eyes were locked on mine.

“She’s my fiancé.” Damon said as he wrapped an arm around my waist protectively, causing Jason to raise an eyebrow and let go of my hand. Damon’s words made my heart flutter rapidly as his hand gently squeezed the curve of my waist.

“I do have something I would like to discuss with you Mr. Marquez. Is there a place that’s a little more… private?” Damon asked, taking Jasons attention off of me momentarily.

“Oh of course. And please, bring your lovely wife as well.” He said as he smiled and turned around. He smacked the ass of the woman he was previously talking to as he passed her, making me raise my eyebrow at his brazenness.

He led us to an elevator, and nodded at the guards. They let us pass, and used a keycard to open the metal doors of the elevator. We stepped inside, and Jason hit the bottom floor.

“So what would you like to discuss, Mr. Carbone?” Jason asked as he looked at me instead of Damon.

“A proposition. I hear you’re not to fond of Martino, no?” Damon asked as he held me closer to him.

“You heard correctly.” Jason said as he laughed. A chime filled the elevator, and the doors slid open to reveal a large room.

It was dark, and had red fluorescent lights lining the floors. Women were walking around naked and serving drinks to patrons who were sitting on couches. Some men were receiving blowjobs on the couches, while some women were even pleasing each other on the floor while others watched. Moans filled the air as dozens of people were having sex on every possible place they could, and soft music played in the background, adding to the sexual and dark ambiance. When Angelo said that Marquez was eccentric, this wasn’t what I had in mind.

“Let’s talk more about this in my office.” Jason said as he walked out of the elevator. Damon and I exchanged confused glances as we followed Jason through the room. Both of us kept our eyes forward, trying to ignore the sexual intercourse that went on around us until we finally reached a door in the back of the room. Jason opened it, and behind the thick wooden doors was a lavish and dim office.

We walked in hesitantly, and Jason closed the door behind us, filling the room with silence. He walked over to his desk, and sat in a leather chair behind it.

“So what’s this proposition, Carbone?” Jason said seriously as he leaned back in his leather chair and brought a hand underneath his chin and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

“I’m planning to overthrow Martino, and take control of the Italian Mafia.” Damon said as he let go of my waist and sat down in a black leather chair in front of Jason’s desk. He leaned back, and placed his ankle on his knee. I stood behind him, and placed my hands on his shoulder, playing the perfect part of his fiancé.

Jason looked at him for a moment, lowering his chin and raising his eyebrows in disbelief before he finally broke the silence.

“You share Martino’s last name… how do I know this isn’t a trap? To see if I’d agree then kill me off for betraying our alliance?” Jason ask as his face hardened.

“Because I’m Ricardo’s son, and rightful heir to the Mafia, I’m the cousin that Martino tried to kill 5 years ago.” Damon said seriously as he stared at Jason. The tension in the room was thick, and Damon’s shoulders were riddled with knots. I started to massage his shoulders gently, and I felt his body relax underneath my touch.

“Hmm interesting. So your the man who’s death shocked the world of organized crime.” Jason said as he tilted his head to the side.

“Exactly. In order to overthrow him, I’d need your help.” Damon said as he leaned back into my touch.

“Go on.” Jason said as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the desk in front of him, glancing at me, and then Damon.

“When the time is right, you’ll cut off your shipments to Martino, only temporarily. Once I kill him, and take over, business will resume as normal between the two organizations.” Damon said confidently as he rested his elbow on the armrest and placed his hand underneath his chin.

“That’s quite a lot your asking for, Mr. Carbone. How long would I have to freeze the shipments?” Jason said as he furrowed his eyebrows, eating up every word Damon said.

“A week. Max.” Damon said as he continued to glare at Jason.

“We’d lose millions.” Jason said as he slightly shook his head and stood up.

“You’d lose millions in exchange of getting rid of Martino. I’d say it’s a fair trade.” Damon said as he tilted his head.

We watched as Jason walked over to the corner of the room. He opened a cabinet to reveal a dozen bottles of expensive liquor. The room was filled with silence as we watched him grab a glass and fill it up with liquor. He took a large gulp of it before turning over towards us.

“I’ll make you a deal Mr. Carbone. I’ll help you take down Martino, if you let me fuck that pretty little fiancé of yours.” Jason said as he stared at me with his eyebrow raised and a smirk on his lips. My eyes widened slightly while Damon tensed immensely underneath my hands.

Chapter 30

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

Headshot? No, too easy. 

Decapitate him? Not easy enough. 

Slice his neck? Not painful enough. 

Break every bone in his body? Sounds good… but pretty time consuming. 

We sat there in silence, as I glared at the fucker who is using my blonde beauty as a fucking bargaining chip in this negotiation. 

How important is this fucking negation anyways? Do I really need this prick’s alliance? I’m sure we can continue on with our plan with him fucking dead. 

I felt Ghost’s hands tense slightly on my shoulders as Jason licked his lips as he stared at her. 

Yeah, I can definitely figure out an alternative. 

I was on my feet within a second, sprinting toward Jason. I punched him in the face, slamming him into the wall and breaking his nose. I grabbed a bottle from the still open cabinet, and smashed it over his head, shattering it and piercing his skull with shards of glass. I slammed my forearm against his neck roughly, pushing him back up against the wall as I held the shattered bottle towards his neck. 

“The fact that you have the audacity to even ask me that, shows that you are no man I would want to partner with.” I growled as I started to inch the glass closer to his neck. 

“Wait, wait wait wait wait wait!” Jason screamed as he threw his hands up to his side in surrender. 

“I-I-I was kidding! Geez… can’t you take a joke my friend?” He said as he laughed nervously, eyeing the glass that was aimed at his throat. 

“You really expect me to stand there and not defend the woman that holds my heart?” I whispered as I continued to glare at him. 

“It’s fine, it was just a bad joke, we’re all good!” Jason said frantically as he started to shake underneath my arms. 

“Does it look like I’m fucking laughing?” I said as I tilted my head and stared at him with a serious expression on my face. 

“Y-Y-You can’t kill me! You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t need me!” He said as he furrowed his eyebrows, begging for his life like the bitch he is. 

“Come to think of it, your operation can’t run if their leaders dead, no?” I said as I raised my eyebrow, and causing him to breath sporadically. 

“Now, this is what you’re going to do. You’re going to look my girl in the eyes, and apologize.” I said as I moved to the right slightly, so that Jason had a clear view of a smirking Ghost. 

“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry! Now if you would please tell your husband to let me go, I’d greatly appreciate it.” He started to say quickly and he stared at my blonde beauty. 

I looked over at her for a moment, and her beautiful eyes met mine before she smirked and raised her eyebrow, nodding slightly. 

I immediately started to stab Jason in the stomach repeatedly with the glass bottle, causing his blood to splatter all over the office. I continued to stab him until his body was unrecognizable, and looked more like a pile of meat than a human. Eventually, I was holding his lifeless form against the wall. I let go of my forearm around his neck, before tossing the bottle to the floor, making it shatter completely. 

I walked over to Ghost, who was staring at me with her eyebrow still raised in curiosity as I wiped my bloody hands on my suit jacket. 

“You know you just fucked up part of the plan I worked so hard to create.” She said in a seductive voice as she walked over to me, meeting me halfway across the office. 

“I regret nothing.” I said as I smirked at her and grabbed the back of her neck. I pulled her towards me and smashed my lips against hers, savoring the feeling of her plump lips against mine. 

Her petite hands grabbed my bloody suit jacket, and pulled me closer to her as I wrapped my arm around her waist and closed any space remaining between us. It was a marvelous, magnificent, fucking extraordinary feeling to have her in my arms. It’s as if this woman consumed my every being, every single fiber of my body and mind, and I’d do anything to make sure she doesn’t stray to far away from me every again. 

Even the thought of her touching another man, or even someone looking at her in a lustful way, made me go off the edge of insanity. As long as I’m fucking alive, no one will ever hurt her, and I swear to fucking god that I’ll find anyone who has ever done this woman wrong, and make sure I personally send them to meet Satan myself. 

“Did you mean what you just said to him? That I… that I hold your heart?” She asked quietly as she pulled away slightly and looked down at the blood on my jacket. I put my hand underneath her chin, and lifted her face up so she was looking me in the eyes.

“I meant every fucking word my love.” I said as before I leaned down and kissed her lips again. It was much more passionate, needing. As if we depended on each other for oxygen as our tongues moved in sync. 

“You never cease to surprise me, Mr. Carbone.” Ghost said as she pulled away slightly from the kiss and looked up at me. 

“Let’s get the hell out of here, babygirl.” I said as I looked down at her and smirked. She smiled back at me, and smoothed out my jacket before nodding. I took her hand and brought it up to my lips, kissing it gently before interlacing our fingers together and leading us out of the now bloody office. 

The lights in the other room were so dim and the patrons were so distracted that no one even noticed our presence, let alone the blood we were covered in. I spotted an emergency exit towards the far right side of room, and quickly maneuvered around the room until I pushed the door open with my shoulder. 

I quickly led us to our car, and opened the passenger side door for her, making sure that she was secured and settled, before I closed the door and quickly walked to the drivers side. I weaved in and out of traffic, wanting nothing more than to take this gorgeous woman beside me to my room and fuck her until all of Colombia knows my god damn name. 

I looked over at her to see that she was already staring at me. Her lips were slightly parted and her legs were crossed tightly. She brought her hand to my thigh, and squeezed it, causing my body to tense and a low moan to escape my mouth. I floored it, impatiently wanting to just get to our fucking destination already. 

The car skidded to a stop in front of the house, and I quickly walked over to Ghost’s side, opened the door, and carried her bridal style into the house, causing her to wrap her arms around my neck and throw her head back as she laughed loudly. I fumbled with the keys to the door as she started to pepper kisses on my neck. She’s usually not this affectionate, but in all honestly, I was not complaining one fucking bit.

I finally got the damn door open, and walked inside as I looked around the house, scoping the area just in case. I carried her to my room, bending my head down and kissing her the entire way. Our tongues fought for dominance as I stumbled throughout the house, trying to get to my room as quickly as possible before I bust in my pants. 

I kicked the door open with my foot, not wanting to take my hands off this incredible woman in my arms. I walked over to the bed, and laid her down gently. I hovered over her as I kissed her again, memorizing every inch of her mouth with my tongue as she moaned, making my pants tighten even further. I hovered over her, and her eyes trailed down to my jacket before she started to chuckle lightly. I looked down to see that I was drenched in Jason’s fucking blood. Even in death, he’s still fucking up my plans. 

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” I whispered as I kissed her quickly on the lips before walking over to the bathroom. I turned on the shower, and quickly stripped off my jacket, tossing it in the hamper knowing that any kind of mess or disorder will send my loves OCD mind into a frenzy. I stripped off the rest of my clothes before getting underneath the water in the spacious shower. I frantically washed my hair, cleaning it of the blood and watching as the clear water turned crimson as it touched my skin. 

I heard the bathroom door open slowly, and I turned around with my eyebrow raised in curiosity. I was relieved to see Ghost walking in, her flawless body wrapped in a short white robe. She walked over to the shower door and opened it, as she looked at me with a lustful look on her face while I turned around to face her. She kept her eyes locked with mine as she slowly pulled the string of her robe, letting it fall off her shoulders and onto the floor. I suddenly forgot how to breath as my eyes trailed down her gorgeous naked body.

Chapter 31

**GHOST POV **

Fuck…. fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuckity fuck. 

I feel… nervous…anxious…but extremely… excited? 

I was standing outside of the door, pacing as I started to rethink this sexy plan of walking into the bathroom and initiating something that I knew I could never go back from. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t attracted to his possessiveness and protectiveness. He stabbed a man repeatedly just because he suggested doing something sexual with me… he didn’t even touch me. 

His words echoed throughout my mind: You really expect me to stand there and not defend the woman that holds my heart?

He said he meant it… every single word. But the real question is… does he hold my heart? And how the fuck would I be able to tell? I’ve never been in love before… I think? What does it feel like? Am I feeling the right things? How can you tell? Is it more of a verbal thing or an unspoken thing? I understand now why Fox called it a crush because I feel like I’m getting crushed underneath my fucking anxiety. 

I heard the shower door close loudly, and I jumped slightly in surprise, the anxiety in my body made my instincts heighten. I pulled out my phone, and quickly pulled up google, hopelessly trying to find some sort of answers. 

Love

• 'lev\ - noun

(1) strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties 

I suppose that I do feel some sort of affection towards him… which is strong for me I think. 

(2) attraction based on sexual desire: affection and tenderness felt by lovers. 

I looked down at my short robe that covered my naked body, my soaking wet core indicating that the sexual desire and attraction is there. 

(3) Affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests. 

I’ve never admired anyone as much as I admire Damon. We have dozens of things in common, and even the things we don’t I’ve seen him compromise in order for us to keep the peace. So that’s true I suppose. 

(4) An assurance of affection 

Well…. if killing a man with his bare hands isn’t an assurance of affection… I don’t know what is. 

Without thinking, I pushed open the door to the bathroom. I held my breath as I saw Damon’s naked body behind the steamy glass of the shower door. He looked over his shoulder, and his frantic movements stopped as soon as his eyes met mine. 

I walked over, and opened the door to the shower. He turned around, revealing his bare and naked body to me. His manhood was erect and proud as the sounds of the water hitting the tile pieced through the silence. 

His dick was much bigger than I could have ever imagined. The length and thickness were mind blowing, and I felt as if he was going to tare me to shreds with his size. 

I looked him in the eye, as I slowly pulled the string of the robe. I dropped my arms, and let the robe fall off my shoulders, revealing my naked body for Damon. His body tensed, and I saw his cock harden even further as his eyes traced my naked body. 

He grabbed my hand, and pulled me into the shower with him. Damon wrapped a muscular arm around my waist, and smashed his lips against mine. I gasped as I felt his hard on push against my stomach, and Damon took that moment as an opportunity to plunge his tongue into my mouth. The skin to skin feeling accompanied with the hot water flowing down our skin filled my body with euphoria. 

He bent down, trailing kissed down my chest until he gripped the back of my thighs. He lifted me up, making me wrap my legs around his waist. Damon started to pepper kisses on my neck as he turned and pushed me into the cold marble wall. 

The water continued to fall down on us as he started to kiss further and further down my chest. He licked around my nipple teasingly, making me moan loudly and throw my head back. He let out an animalistic moan as his hand trailed down my body. My breathing started to become heavy as his hand started to rub my clit roughly. 

I moaned out in pleasure loudly, as my breathing shallowed become a pant. He kissed my lips as he slowly slid a finger inside of my awaiting core. I moaned louder into his mouth, and he let out a deep groan as he pulsed his finger inside of me. 

“Holy fuck you’re tight.” He breathed as his finger started to move faster and faster. My body started to convulse as he added in another finger, stretching me out as he continued to please me. His thumb found my clit, and he started rubbing it in circles, and I felt my climax start building throughout my body. 

My screams of pleasure started to echo off the walls of the small and steamy shower. Damon was staring at me, and my body was squirming, my hips were moving in sync as I started to rub against his fingers, trying to speed up the release I so desperately needed. 

I felt the walls of my core started to clench around his fingers. I threw my head back as I felt my orgasm starting to come closer, and closer. 

“Fuck I can’t wait anymore.” He growled in a deep voice. Just as I was about to come, he quickly removed his fingers, and slammed his hard cock inside of me filling me up completely and making me scream out as I came around his insanely large dick. It felt as if my insides were ripping, and the mix of pain and pleasure were taking over my body in the best way possible. 

“Fucking christ. Are you a virgin?” He asked as he looked at me with wide eyes. I quickly closed my eyes tightly and he stopped his pace and stared at me. 

Fuck… I’m a virgin? Are you fucking  kidding me right now?! 

“Fuck I’m so sorry.” He said in a voice full of concern as he cupped my face and leaned forward, securing me against the wall as my legs were shaking around his waist. 

“If I knew, I wouldn’t have been so rough.” He said as he looked at me with regret evident in his face. I continued to come around his cock, and I whimpered as I started to grind against his hips. 

He instantly closed his eyes and leaned his head back as he groaned in pleasure. My juices covered his hard cock as I clenched and pulsed around his length. 

“I want it rough.” I breathed as I continued to bounce up and down his cock, the pain I felt now morphing into the most euphoria and pleasurable experience I have ever known. 

I didn’t have to tell Damon twice, and he immediately gripped my ass tightly, squeezing it roughly as he started to pound into my pussy relentlessly. He was like a caged animal, and his rapid and deep thrusts made my orgasm feel never ending. 

He spun us around, so he was now leaning against the wall. His hands were still squeezing my ass roughly, and he bent his legs slightly as he started to move my hips up and down while he was fully inside of me. 

“Holy fuck babygirl.” Damon groaned as he grit his teeth. I started to scream as another climax started to build within my body. 

“Oh god Damon… Yes yes yes!” I started to scream, causing him to increase the pace and start pounding my pussy again. 

“Shit scream my name again baby. Scream my fucking name.” He growled as he continued to increase his pace as he thrusted into me. 

“Damon, fuck Damon… oh Damon god yes!” I yelled as I threw my head back and violently came all of his hard cock plowing into me. 

He started to moan loudly as my pussy tightened around his cock. I felt his dick harden inside of me, before he quickly let go of my ass, and placed me on the floor. I got on my knees in front of him as he started to quickly stroke his length as he looked down at me. 

His hot cum started to squirt all over my bare chest as I moaned at the erotic sight and feeling. Spurt after spurt, he emptied himself all over my breasts and neck, breathing sporadically as he let out a deep, and low groan while looking at me below him. I arched my back, happily accepting his cum onto my body as I threw my head back and moaned at his hot cum hit my breasts. 

I felt a surge of emotion… strong than anything that I’ve ever felt before. It was happiness, pleasure, contentment, joy, longing, desire…. and…love. 

I’m in love with Damon Carbone.

Chapter 32

** DAMON CARBONE POV **

Our next two targets, Martino’s Capos and underbosses were going to be attending a nightclub opening in London, and we decided to meet the rest of the crew there. Since I executed Jason, we’d have to speed up our plans while their organization was figuring out who their next leader will be. It worked in our benefit actually, and they froze all shipments until everything was sorted out. 

The soft hum of the planes engine filled the air in the quiet and empty first class cabin. I looked down at my blonde beauty in my arms, and couldn’t help but smile. Ghost was nuzzled into my body, her head was leaning against my arm and a peaceful expression was painted across her flawless face.

I spent all night making love to her, making her scream my name over and over until she lost her voice and the sun came up. It was the most amazing night of my life, and I knew now that I would never willingly leave her side ever again. She was incredible, insatiable, and the passion and desire we shared last night consumed me in every possible way.

I kissed her forehead gently, making her stir slightly in her sleep. I slowly removed my arm from her grasp, making her frown in her sleep as she nuzzled into the seat instead. I smirked as I looked at how the sunlight caresses her skin and made her blonde hair glow. I grabbed my duffle bag from under the seat, and quickly walked to the bathroom. I locked the door, and quickly took out the tattered journal that was hidden underneath my clothes.

I adored this woman, and part of me wanted to give her the journal back and face the repercussions like a man. The internal torture I felt knowing that I’m intentionally breaking her trust is slowing killing me by the second. However, another part of me wanted to figure out what demons were lurking in her past. She was different than anyone who I’ve ever met before, and guarded her past and secrets from the world. I needed to find out everything I could about her. I needed to find out who put the love of my life through this unspeakable torment. I opened the journal softly as guilt flowed through my heart.

Day 602

One of the new recruits went crazy today. He attacked me in my sleep after he killed the rest of our roommates. I woke up to him strangling me. I thought I was going to die, and in all honesty, I couldn’t but feel slightly… happy. I haven’t felt anything in since they started the injections, but the thought of death made me almost want to smile. He woke 001 up with my yells, and she jumped out of bed and snapped his neck in front of me. She’s gotten rather protective over me since she started talking to me. The guards heard the commotion, and dragged 001 and his lifeless body away.

Day 632

I’ve been getting new roommates everyday… everyone eventually dying during their sessions. 001 still hasn’t come back, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty at the fact that she could be dead because she saved me. If only I was strong, then I wouldn’t need her to protect me… and my only friend would be here. The trainings were much harder now… and without her here helping me through them… I feel like I couldn’t do it…. what are they doing to you 001?

Day 657

001 finally came back, and I felt something. I felt a sliver of happiness and despair as I watched them drag her limp and bloody body into the room. They threw her on the bed, and after they left, I ran over to her. She looked at me, and told me to go away, before rolling over on her side and going to sleep.

Day 690

The tests continued, and I’m glad that 001 still gave me pointers. It was always the same, I’d either get jumped, or told to kill or assassinate a target. She stopped talking to me as much, only responding with nods, and one word answers. She’s always been an intense woman, but since she came back, she’s been much more closed off than usual. We got a new roommate today 2742, and when they dragged her into the room, she killed one of the guards with her bare hands. I think I’m going to keep my distance from that one.

Day 715

2742 has lasted longer than most roommates. Every night she’s in the room before I am, and I watch as she lays silently, a hard expression etched on her face and her skin covered in wounds.

Day 730

It’s been two years since I woke up in here… no one is coming for us, are they?

Day 743

When I was dragged out of the room today, I didn’t put up a fight. Instead, I went willingly, surprising both myself and the guard.

Day 782

Training was different today… very different. I wasn’t forced to fight anyone… instead, I was learning code. They set me up in an empty room, and put patches onto the sides of my forehead. I had to follow a program exactly how it was written. If I made even the slightest mistake, volts of electricity burned into my temples.

Day 823

We lost another roommate today, 2756.

Day 859

2742 came back in critical condition, I’m not sure if she’ll make it through the night.

Day 874

Today I realized that this program they were having me memorize was teaching me to hack past security systems. Today I was so efficient that I was only shocked 7 times.

Day 883

Today I was only shocked 4 times.

Day 901

Today I wasn’t even shocked at all. 

Day 976

They brought me into a different room today. It was a pure white area, with a vehicle in the center. A man over the intercom stated that I had 60 seconds to Hotwire it, then a timer began on the wall. I had no idea what I was doing, so needless to say, I was punished severely.

Day 994

I was dragged into the room after another series of punishments. I looked around the dark room to see 001 in perfect condition, 2742 covered with bruises, two new roommates and an empty bed. The male roommate looked up at me with confusion, and asked what they were doing to me. I simply turned over and went to sleep, ignoring his question.

Day 1005

4521 and 4522 were dragged back into the room after their training. Like me, they had similar burn wounds like I did when I first got here… except they had burn marks on their temples, just like the ones I have today. Are they switching up their training regimen?

Day 1010

4521 asked me if they have me working on the car. I simply nodded. He asked me if I have been able to figure it out, and I just looked down at my bruises and burns. He then went into detail, telling me how to do what they wanted… is he helping me?

Day 1011

I did what 4521 said… he was right. It worked.

Day 1043

Working with cars has gotten easier. Punishments happen less frequently now because 4521 has been helping me every night.

Day 1047

001 has been distant recently.

Day 1100

4522 spoke to me for the first time. I found out that she was undergoing the hacking training I went through. What’s going on here?

Day 1185

Before training, they injected me with a red liquid. As I prepared for the procedure, I was surprised when they handed me the syringe, and instructed me that I will now be self administering it from now on.

Day 1220

001 spoke to me today. She asked if they have me self administering yet. She told me how she began doing it herself about a week or so prior. She’s been skipping dosages, leaving small amounts in the syringe and discarding them whenever possible. She advised me to do the same.

Day 1225

I have been doing what 001 suggested. Since the administrators haven’t been monitoring me as closely, I’ve been giving myself roughly 4/5 of the dosage. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I don’t feel so… numb anymore.

“Damon?” Ghost whispers from the other room, her voice coarse from just waking up. I quickly take the journal and shove it into my jacket before flushing the toilet. I opened the door and walked back to my seat, where Ghost was groggily sitting up as she ran a hand through her golden hair.

“Good morning my queen.” I said as I bent down and kissed her forehead, making a shy smile creep onto her lips.

“When do we land?” She asked as she looked up at me with her doe eyes.

“Soon darling, soon. Get some rest.” I said calmly as I sat down and held her close. She adjusted in her seat, and laid her head onto my lap and closed her eyes once more. I looked down at this marvelous woman, and began running my fingers gently through her hair, making her body relax even more.

I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and my heart raced as I saw the faint outline of what looked like a rectangular patch on her temple. I clenched my jaw, someone tortured her, stole years of her life and transformed her reality into a living hell.

Whoever did this to you, I will make them pay Ghost. Even if it’s the last thing I fucking do.

Chapter 33

GHOST POV

I took a deep breath as I walked out of the jet and grasped the handrail. There was a cool breeze that caressed my face. I opened my eyes to see another jet across the tarmac, a jet that I happen to recognize as one of our own. I heard the crew yelling about something behind the doors of the jet, and as much as I enjoyed my solitude with Damon, part of me was happily anticipating the return of the noise and excitement of the crew. 

My eyes wandered down the runway and towards the city in the distance. London. My… home? I have the fucking accent so I must be from here, right? There has to be something in this city linking my past to the chaotic life I now live. In all honestly, I’ve been avoiding London like the plague, but if being here means I can provide a peaceful life for myself, the crew… and Damon, then it’s a risk I’m willing to take. 

“Fuckin’ finally!” Rebel yelled out as the doors to their jet opened and the stairs descended, effectively pulling me out of my thoughts. Rebel walked down the stairs and threw her dufflebag carelessly onto the tarmac as I began to walk towards her. She quickly closed the distance between us and tossed her arms around my shoulders, and squeezed me so tightly that it nearly knocked the wind out of me. 

“Nice to see you to Reb.” I breathed. I was never one for physical affection, and being in this close of proximity with someone other than Damon made my skin crawl, yet I found myself reluctantly hugging her back. I felt Rebel flinch slightly, before she pulled away and stared at me with her eyebrow raised. 

“Damon, what the fuck did you do to her?!”  Rebel said before looking at me with a slight smile and walking away. “She’s broken!” She said as she raised her hands up in the air. Damon simply chuckled as he threw me a smirk that made my heart race before stepping off the jet and onto the tarmac. 

“DAMON!” Gio screamed as he pushed Angelo down the stairs of their jet, making him scream out a spew of profanities. 

“DAMON! OH DAMON I MISSED YOUR FACE SO MUCH!” Gio screamed as he jumped to hug Damon. Damon simply rolled his eyes and quickly side stepped Gio, making him nearly face plant on the concrete. 

Hearing Gio’s wailing voice made me realize how relaxing the past few days have been without him here, suddenly making me miss the solitude and silence dearly.  

“He got a little clingy after the whole ‘me almost dying’ incident a few years ago.” Damon said as he raised an eyebrow and looked over at me. I gave him a small smile, feeling the blush creep up into my cheeks as I remembered our time together, earning me a wink from Damon. 

There was something about Damon, something that made me feel safe, something that made me feel… loved maybe? I’m not sure what it was, but I felt so connected to this man, mentally, emotionally, and now physically. Part of me is worried that I’m becoming too close to this man, after all, we haven’t known each other that long. Yet spending every single day together for the past few weeks has been the happiest time of my life, at least, as far as I can remember. Honestly, I can’t imagine myself with anyone else. 

“I WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU.” Gio yelled as he grasped Damons leg, latching onto it. 

“Jesus Gio, we weren’t even separated a week.” Damon said as he rolled his eyes. 

“If you all are finished with your little reunion, we have to get moving. Now.” Fox said sternly as she and Storm walked out of the jet, serious expressions etched on their faces. Fox looked directly at me, and I instantly knew something was wrong. I walked over to her, stepping over a still wailing Gio in the process, and meeting her halfway on the tarmac, Storm following close behind. 

“What’s wrong?” I said seriously and my expression hardened. 

“This IP addresses popped up right before we landed.” Fox said as she quickly pulled out her phone.

“Is it them?” I said in a low voice, my heart pounding in my chest.

“No. I don’t recognize the address, but someone is trying pretty damn hard to find you.” Fox said as she furrowed her brows. 

“Deja Vu.” I said under my breath as I looked over my shoulder to see Damon scolding Gio while shaking his leg, attempting to get the human man child off of him. “How are they trying to find me?” I asked as I looked back at her. Fox quickly typed away on her phone, and I watched as her eyebrow slowly raised as she read the information on her phone. 

“Looks like they’ve been searching for you for the past year.” She said as she looked up at me. “They started looking into the bank heists we pulled… then they pulled the street camera footage from our little jail break in California.” She said as she turned her screen around. On it was a video of Damon driving, while I was sticking my head out of the sunroof, shooting at the vehicles pursing us. 

“Lovely.” I said as I rolled my eyes. 

“What should we do about this?” Storm said seriously as he crossed his arms. 

“Nothing for now.” I said after a moment. “We have to deal with our task at hand first, then after this is all over, we can focus on this… if necessary.” I said as I exhaled and looked over at Damon, who is now smacking Gio on the head, trying to get him to release his grip on his leg. 

“Ghost are you serious?” Storm said angrily before he clenched his jaw. “For the past year someone has been looking for you… which means they’re probably looking for US too.” Storm said defensively as we began walking towards the Range Rover, which was parked in a structure a few hundred feet away. 

“Fox, how many people have tried looking for me in the past month?” I said as I rolled my eyes. 

“Hm… roughly 235 attempts last time I checked.” She said as she looked up to the sky. 

“From where?” I said, unsurprised at the news as I motioned for Angelo to gather Damon and Gio. 

“Different government agencies, mercenaries, guns for hire, pretty much the entire spectrum from law enforcement to assassins have been looking for you.” Fox said as she looked at her Storm. “This is nothing new brother.” Fox said calmly. 

As I looked at the vehicle, something felt off. I looked at the concrete surrounding the car, and noticed faint scuff marks near the passenger seat. I furrowed my eyebrows as I saw some prints left on the handle. Storm loves our vehicles like they’re his own children, he cleans them constantly, and always makes sure they’re ready and prepared before we leave any location. 

“… Alright fine. We’ll just ignore this mystery stalker… for now.” Storm said as he unlocked the doors of the Range Rover as we neared the all black vehicle. 

“GET DOWN, NOW.” I screamed as I grabbed Fox and Storms arms. I turned my body rapidly and began sprinting away from the vehicle. 

“Ghost, what the fuck are yo-” Storm said right before an explosion filled the air. My back felt hot, feeling the flames from the detonation caress my skin. The power form the burst sent us flying forward, and we braced ourselves as we hit the pavement and covered heads. 

“GHOST!” I faintly heard Damon scream over the high pitched buzzing in my ears. I looked around to see the Range Rover ignited, the large flames engulfing the parking structure it was under. Metal debris scraping against the pavement as the wreckage began to settle. I touched my head, and flinched slightly as I felt the warm blood on my forehead. 

Someone just tried to kill us. Someone just blew my fucking Range Rover to shreds. Someone just tried to kill the closest thing I have to a family. 

Someone knows we’re here… and that someone knew where we’d be. 

“Babe! Look at me!” Damon said as he kneeled down next to me, cupping my face in his hands, examining my wounds. 

I glanced over at Fox, who was rubbing her head as she began to sit up, Angelo quickly at her side helping her. She had a few cuts from some metal scraps, but nothing too serious. 

“Fox, get me everything on the fucker trying to find me.” I said weakly before everything went black.

Chapter 34

DAMON POV

“Get them out of here…NOW.” I barked at Angelo and Gio as I surveyed the area. “And so help me God if anything happens to Ghost…” I said in a deadly tone. 

“Got it.” Gio said seriously as he carefully picked up Ghost and began walking away from the wreckage. I reached in my waistband and grabbed my pistol as I cautiously began walking towards the parking structure. 

“I’m coming with you.” Rebel said sternly as she quickly grabbed her own glock from her bag and followed me quickly. From the look on her face, I doubt that she’d take no for an answer. 

I simply nodded and continued to walk towards what was left of the structure while Angelo and Gio got the twins and my love away to a safe distance.

I looked at Rebel as I nodded my head towards the left, signaling her to scope out that side while I handle the right. She nodded once before straightening her arms, readying her weapon in case anything happens. I slowly placed one foot in front of the other, my senses on high alert as cracking of the fire filled the air. 

I looked around the structure, leaned against the wall before I turned the corner. I quickly turned and walked through the archway gun first, and let out a breath as I saw an empty stretch of pavement. 

“Clear.” I yelled out to Rebel as I put my pistol back in its rightful place. 

“Clear.” Rebel grunted as she walked back over to me. 

“I think I saw an extinguisher on the plane. Maybe whoever did this left somethin’ behind?” Rebel said as she looked at me with her eyebrow raised. 

“Doubt anything survived this explosion.” I said as I looked at the flames in front of me. 

“You never know, after all, we survived.” Rebel said before quickly turning around and walking away. 

I furrowed my eyebrows as my eyes scanned the area. Ghost is meticulous, cautious, and organized. She would have never thought this could have happened. She has exit strategies, back up plans for the contingency plans. I’m not sure what is more surprising, the fact that someone had the balls to try and kill her and her crew, or the fact that she didn’t see this coming until the last second. 

I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket, and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. The only people who ever contact this phone are standing a few hundred feet behind me.

I reached into my pocket and grabbed my iPhone, and wasn’t surprised when I saw a blocked number appear on my screen. I let it ring for a moment before finally caving into my curiosity and answering it. I put the phone to my ear, listening for the mystery caller on the other end. 

“Did they like the little surprise I left them?” A voice on the other end said, making me furrow my eyebrows. The man or woman on the other end was using a device to cover their voice, making it sound distorted and unrecognizable. 

“What do you want.” I stated, not bothering to ask who this was. I already knew that if they’re disguising their voice, there’s not a chance in hell they’d tell me who they were. 

“Now, now, Nicholas Blanc, who says I want something?” The voice said, making me raise my eyebrow in curiosity. Nicholas Grey was an alias I had Angelo set me up with a few years ago for a more public job I was handling. “Tell me Nicholas, do you really know who you’re in love with?” The voice said on the other line. 

“Who says I’m in love with anyone?“I scoffed, sounding calm and collected.

“Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?” The voice said, even though it was distorted, I sensed a hint of amusement from the other end of the line. 

A moment of silence passed before my phone vibrated in my hand. I quickly removed the phone to see that I recieved a series of text messages from an unknown number. I quickly opened them, and clenched my jaw to see that someone sent me pictures… all of them containing Ghost and I. One of them was from our getaway in California, and Ghost is pictured standing out of the sunroof while I was driving. There were a few pictures from Columbia, showing me opening Ghost’s door for her, and driving away while she shot me a sly smile. The remaining photographs made my blood boil. They were all of us on the tarmac. It showed me and Ghost looking at each other as we exited the plane… and the last one was me holding her face between my hands after the bomb detonated. I took a deep breath before placing the phone back to my ear once more. 

“You’re playing a dangerous game sending me these.” I said as I tried my hardest not to give away that this fucker has gotten to me. I quickly turned around to see where the photo was taken, and looked over to the vantage point he had when he took the photograph. It was a freeway off in the distance, he must have had some high tech equipment to catch a picture from that distance. 

“Actually Mr. Blanc, I believe you’re the one who’s playing with fire here.” The voice said on the other line. 

“Do you even know anything about this woman? About her past, or even her real name?” The voice said, making me grit my teeth. 

“Oh, you don’t. How… interesting.” The voice said before chuckling slightly. 

“I think it would be best for both of you if you kept your distance from her, don’t you agree?” The voice said, making me clench my jaw. 

“I’d hate to see what would happen to her if you don’t.” The voice said on the other line. 

“You have no idea who you’re messing with, do you?” I said as I looked over to where Ghost was laying with the rest of the crew. I made eye contact with Rebel as I watched her walk over to me with an extinguisher in hand. 

“Unlike you, I know exactly who she is.” The voice said calmly. 

“I wasn’t talking about her.” I said, my voice laced with anger, before I hung up the phone, and placed it in my pocket.

Chapter 35

DAMON POV

“Pacing isn’t going to wake her up any faster, you know that right?” Fox said as she looked over at me with her eyebrow raised. She was sitting in a grey, decorative chair on the other side of the hotel room. 

“And not taking her to a god damn hospital isn’t any better for her health either, now is it?” I snapped at her as I shot her a deadly glare. 

“That’s her rule, not mine.” She said as she shrugged. 

“This is ridiculous. She needs serious medical attention, not rest!” I exclaimed as I threw my hands up in the air. 

“It’s just a concussion from hitting her head, she’s fine.” Fox said sternly as she stood up and walked over to the mini fridge at the bar. “If anything, you need your rest too.” Fox said calmly as she opened the door and pulled out a zip lock bag filled with ice. 

I glanced at the clock: it was already midnight here, but with the constant jet lag from all this traveling, I did feel a bit exhausted. I glanced over in the other room, and saw that Angelo and Gio were passed out on the couch, Storm was asleep on a chair, and Rebel was asleep on the other bed, her arms and legs spread out completely as if she was a starfish. 

“I’ll be fine.” I said as I ran a hand through my hair. 

“Suit yourself.” Fox said as she walked over to Ghost and gently placed an ice pack over a small bump on her forehead. Silence stretched between us as the tension in the air grew thicker. 

“Fox, who was Ghost talking about?” I finally said in a low voice, making her sigh slightly. 

“What do you mean?” She said as she stood up and stared at me with her lips pursed. 

“You know damn well who I’m talking about.” I said as I leaned against the wall behind me and crossed my arms. “‘Fox, find the fucker who’s looking for me.’” I said while making air quotes at her before crossing my arms once more. 

She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath as she looked at down at the ground before looking back up at me with an annoyed expression painted across her face. 

“You’re gonna have to take that up with Ghost when she wakes up.” Fox said sternly as her eyes narrowed. Fox never struck me as an intimidating woman. Granted, her intellect surpasses majority of people in the world, yet she had a soft, gentle demeanor to her. It seems like when it comes to Ghost, or anyone else in the crew for that matter, she was wildly protective of her friends. It made me grateful that she was this loyal to Ghost, yet it also annoyed the shit out of me that she isn’t giving me the information that I need. 

For some reason, I found myself overcome with uncertainty. I would be lying if I said that that phone call didn’t stir some unwanted thoughts. As I looked down at Ghost on the bed, I felt… conflicted. This woman was unlike anyone I’ve ever met before, yet she’s an enigma. Constantly one step forward and two steps back.

She’s helping me and my crew for a simple favor, yet she hasn’t told us what it is yet.

She’s the most skilled fighter I’ve ever seen, yet she hasn’t told me who is after her and her crew. 

We spend an entire night making love to each other. Yet I don’t even know her real name. 

Part of me feels like I was living in a fairy tale, delusional with the idea of Ghost. The idea of this perfect, one of a kind woman. Yet that phone call rattled me to the core. Can I actually trust her? What am I to her? What is going to happen to us after this is all over?

“Take what up with Ghost?” Ghost mumbled as she opened her eyes weary. I pushed off the wall with my heel and rushed to her side. I sat down in the chair next to the bed, and grabbed her hand. As she attempted to sit up, I gently put my hand on the center of her back, and helped her. 

While I was assisting her, Fox grabbed her phone, and gracefully sat down on the other side of the bed. She instructed Ghost to follow her phones movements, as she moved it side to side. Thankfully Ghost was able to perfectly, and my nerves calmed a bit after seeing her responsiveness. 

“How you feeling?” Fox asked Ghost as she stood up and placed her phone in her pocket. 

“Minor concussion from the initial fall. Nothing to worry about.” Ghost said seriously before cracking her neck loudly. “We’ll continue with our initial plan and infiltrate the nightclub. Wake everyone up.” She said in a commanding tone. 

“Got it.” Fox said as she nodded slightly. Her eyes shifted to me, before settling back on Ghost. She quickly turned around, and gently closed the door to the room so as to not wake up the rest of the crew. 

“Hey.” I said softly as I gave her a small smile and stroked her hand with my thumb. 

“Hey.” She whispered. Her hard expression melting into an affectionate, soft one. Suddenly, my previous doubts about her started disintegrating as soon as I saw that beautiful smile of her. But the reality of the grave situation that happened hours earlier came back, rearing its ugly head into my subconscious, making me furrow my eyebrows. 

“My love, it seems like we have something to discuss.” I said as I felt a frown coming to my lips. 

“What is it?” She said seriously as her own eyebrows furrowed. 

“Who’s looking for you?” I asked after a moment, hoping she won’t just dodge the question like she usually does. 

Silence filled the air as she looked at me. Her eyebrows furrowing further, as if she was in a mental battle with herself, a mental battle debating if she should tell me or not. 

“I don’t know.” Ghost finally said as she looked at me with a serious expression. “Someone has been looking for me over the past year apparently. Fox just caught an IP address when she landed in London, so whoever it is… they’re here.” Ghost explained as her eyes hardened. 

“Any clue who it might be?” I asked as I continued stroking her hand gently. 

“Damon, I don’t think you know how many enemies I have. Shit, I don’t even know who most of them are.” She said in a slightly annoyed voice, making me furrow my eyebrows. “I’m just good at disappearing, that’s all.” She said before taking a deep breath. I could tell that she was telling the truth because she seemed rather uncomfortable. 

“… You aren’t going to disappear after this is over, are you?” I asked hesitantly as I looked up at her. 

“Hopefully, I won’t have to.” She whispered as she looked into my eyes. Usually, Ghost is a rock. Always confident, full of bravado, yet she was opening up to me… she was allowing me to see her in a vulnerable state, a rare view that I have come to cherish. But it was the look of fear in her beautiful, doe eyes that made my heart feel uneasy. 

“I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe my love, you have my word.” I said as I brought her hand to my lips and gently kissed the back of her hand, making her smile softly. 

Even though there were unanswered questions still lingering in my mind, I decided that it would be best not to push her. It would be wrong of me to expect her to open up at such a rapid rate when she wasn’t ready to, and as long as I’m around, I’ll give her all the love and support she needs until she feel confident enough to let me fully in. After all, she’s keeping secrets from me, just as I’m keeping a secret from her. 

I didn’t want to stress my blonde beauty out anymore than she already is, so I decided to not tell her about the phone call I received. Angelo might be able to give me more information on it, but until then, I’ll just let her get the rest she deserves. But then my mind went elsewhere:

The journal.

The thought of the journal made my heart swell with guilt. My eyebrows furrowed, and a deep frown came to my lips as I looked at her. 

“What’s wrong?” Ghost asked as she tilted her head slightly and stared at me. 

“Ghost, I have to tell you something.” I said as I looked at her seriously. I took a deep breath, and pursed my lips. 

“Boss.” Rebel said as she knocked on the door, making us both look over at the white, wooden entrance to the room. The door opened to reveal Rebel in a cocktail dress, fully ready for the mission. 

“Yeah.” Ghost said seriously as she looked at her. 

“There’s been a change of plans.” Rebel said as she looked at her seriously.