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More shouts, the words unintelligible.
Was he here?
Vengeance.
Onyx eyes were close, so close, but still out of his reach.Please, get closer.
The trigger was pulled, followed by a loud bang. He cried out, its high-pitched sound the reflection of the agony he carried inside. Around him people were no longer laughing. The table clattered to the ground as they ran, the smell of cigarettes long replaced by burning wood, smoke, and ash.
Nate laid across from him, his body slumped in an unnatural shape, his head blown off by the pistol. He had to move, but his limbs were frozen to the spot. Fractured brain and ripped flesh lay scattered around. And blood, God, there was so much blood.
“Nate…”
He wanted to say something, but scorching heat chased him forward, its licking flames escaping from different places in the bar. He needed to leave—now!—needed to get in that tunnel.
"Viens." While everyone ran for the tunnel, the guy with the mask suddenly reappeared by the door. Smoke escaped through the cracks. Despite the licking flames, despite the urgency, he was waiting. For him. He forced himself back onto his feet when someone let out an animalistic howl from the tunnel. The escape route was cut off.
"Their fate is in your hands." Masked man said. "Much like your own. Are you ready to fight for it?" He turned one last time over his shoulder, to look fear in the eye. And then he ground his teeth and pushed himself off the ground, and ran. Through devastation and fire. Through self-doubt and trauma. He ran away from a toxic past, to an altered present.
ChapterOne
PHOENIX
Two months before
Istill think of it. It haunts me, this memory of being hunted. Of running through a forest in France, through the pitch dark. Sometimes it wakes me up, and I find myself panting and sweating, wondering what would have happened if I’d stopped. If I’d stopped running away, and had surrendered—to my desire to be chased by this guy who’s tricked his way inside my mind.
He would have beaten the shit out of me, right? Would have blamed me for setting up his cousin’s fiancé, for getting Connor Donnelly arrested. Would have put me down, and humiliated me with blows to my face, merciless fists, and spit. Right?
But at least I would have had his attention.
I clear my throat, then swallow bile and misery away. The buds are in my ears, per usual, but I’m too pent-up to listen to any music right now. I’m fucking deplorable, is what I am. That’s why I’m here today, months after my France nightmare, to finish what I somehow started.
Silver and gold. Lace and satin. And pink, everywhere around them, accompanied by their lilac, rose and magnolia scent.
Remember when you were younger, and they’d ask you which season you preferred? I used to say spring, with its early, yet warm sun rays, the cherry blossom being my absolute favorite. They're scattered all around us, twirling through the air, creating a beautiful, pink carpet. Plenty of people have gathered here in the park today to sit under the cherry trees.
Theyhave. The Business and the Void. I watch them preparing their surprise party. Oh, what a surprise it will be. Their happiness makes my eyes sting and my chest tighten. I wish there was someone out there who’d want me enough to grab me by the shoulder and hold me tight, to touch my cheek and smile at me. To tell me that everything is going to be just fine.
But it’s not, is it?
This is the beginning of the end, and there’s no turning back. Not for me. Looking down, I eye the remote control that is linked to the bomb planted inside the black SUV parked behind the families. One click of the button, and I’ll send them all flying.
It shouldn’t kill them, is what they told me. It should simply scare the crap out of them, and make them regret having forced All Saints into signing a shitty deal.
If only.
My eyes lock onto the decor in front of me. Brooklyn Botanic Garden is outside Business turf, but close to Shaolin’s Martial Center, the place run by Charlie and Samuel. Both of them look so lovely together as they organize the set of judogi onto the grass, where Mia’s placing large blankets for their picnic. Brother and sister with their blond curls, identical smiles as they beam at each other. Samuel tops the pile of garments with different colored belts, his dark fauxhawk perfectly slicked as he pats his lover on his ass. Even I can hear Charlie’s squeak from here, and I can’t stop staring when I watch how he jumps Samuel before they both fall onto the blankets, only to be shooed away by his sister, but looking so fucking happy.
Mia. She should never have contacted me. Should never have asked me to look into her brother’s whereabouts. Should never have asked me to leave the folder with information in the port that night. Because I was too late to escape. Finding myself slammed against that shipping container by a guy so strong, dark and arrogant, that I practically swallowed my tongue on the spot. He’d left me a blubbering mess, my mind and body not connecting when they tried to decipher what the hell was happening to me.
Want to know a secret? Everything’s connected. I just haven’t tied up the strings yet.
Swallowing around my thoughts, I let out a heavy sigh. The remote control burns hot in my sweaty palm, and my knees feel sore from the hours that I’ve been laying here in the grass, waiting,pretendingto be just another visitor to the park.
A car double parks right next to the SUV, and a few guys in suits come out with bags filled with towels and cups, plates and cutlery. Someone drops off multiple bags with food and drinks.
Part of me begs for them to see me, toseewhat they make me do, to stop me. Because I can’t stop myself. If I don’t do this…not like this. Ihaveto see him one last time. The thought speeds up the beating of my heart, makes panic swelter inside my chest. He’d better hurry, ‘cause I’m on borrowed time. My sweaty fingers brush against the metal of the remote, and my teeth sink deep into the moist flesh of my bottom lip, while I think of a last-minute way to get out of this situation.
