Lost in Life

Chapter 15

Nova

I take a sip of my coffee, careful to make my body language appear natural despite my nerves.

This is a stakeout remember.

Shifting my eyes, I study the man responsible for Hollis’ incapacitated state.

He’s big. It’s hard not to notice the sheer size of his frame. My gaze travels over him and I gulp at the thought of going toe-to-toe with the brute.

Fuck, he could probably crush my head with his thighs. Pop it open like those watermelon videos.

I suppress a shudder, turning my attention to my stakeout partner. West has his focus intently on his cell phone, typing out several messages, a sheen on his forehead as his fingers move frantically across the screen.

“All good in the hood?” I ask, leaning back in my seat.

West looks up, confusion on his face as he blinks at me. It takes a concerning amount of time for him to realize where he is, his face flaming as he shoves his phone away. “Oh god, Nov, I’m sorry. I had to…” Trailing off, he looks at our target, his shoulders tensing as he glares at him.

I kick West under the table, returning his attention to me. “Seriously?” I growl, exasperated.

Rubbing his shin, he glares at me. “Ouch.” He grumbles. “What was that for?”

“Um, maybe because you were being really fucking obvious.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “It’s like you’ve never done this before.”

West glares at me, crossing his arms as he pouts. “Oh come on, Nova. You know that’s not true.” Taking a large drink, I close my eyes, my mind flashing back.

I walk past the rich pervert, making sure to sway my ass as I do.

“Hey sweetheart.” He calls out, just as we knew he would.

I stop, looking around before landing my gaze on him. “Who, me?” I feign innocence, batting my eyes at him.

He smiles at me, the expression sending a shiver down my spine. “Oh yes you, darling.” Beckoning me over, he pats the seat next to him.

I quickly scan the room to make sure West is still watching before walking over and sinking into the booth beside Lester Astor. Our target for the evening.

Lester made our list after he got a little too handsy with me on the one date we went on. Just because I agreed to meet up after connecting on one of the many dating apps I’m on doesn’t give the prick permission to grope me. Sure, I use the apps to find guys to steal from, but that’s beside the point.

Lester’s smile grows wider. Running his hand down my arm, he leans over to whisper in my ear. “And what’s your name, sweetheart?”

Bastard doesn’t even remember me.

Plastering a sweet smile on my face, I blink up at him. “Max.” I lie, my lips twitching. West and I agreed when we started this game we would use fake names, because you never know who might make a connection with the young person talking to them and their sudden lack of, well, everything we could get our hands on.

“Well, Max. How about we get out of here?” Lester drawls, his eyes dragging down my body.

I nod, climbing out of the seat. My eyes meet West’s, a genuine smile crossing my face as I watch him slip out of the booth next to us. Turning back toward Lester, I beckon for him to follow me. We make it nearly halfway toward the exit before West gives me the signal.

Releasing a relieved breath, I halt my steps. “Oh, I’ve got to use the restroom.” Before Lester can respond, I disappear into the crowd and out the back door, giggling when I see West waiting for me.

Holding up the fat leather wallet he procured from Lester’s pocket, he smirks. “How bout it Max, wanna get out of here?” He snickers, holding his arm out for me.

I slip my arm through his, my laughter echoing in the dark alley. “Oh fuck yeah.”

The memory fades, reality coming back in slowly as I blink open my eyes. Even though it was only five years ago, it feels like a lifetime has passed since that night. I sigh, yearning for our simple life again. One where the most concerning thing was our miniature heists. Before Mona died and a sadistic man attempted to murder my friend.

Before I can wallow too deeply in my little pity party, I catch the man push away from his table. Straightening, I lean toward West. “He’s leaving.” I mutter.

West glances at him and back at me. “We need to follow him.”

My heart hammers in my chest. I want, no I need, revenge for what happened to Hollis, but I’m also terrified. We’ve done a lot of illegal shit in our short lives, but this? This is crossing a line I never thought I would.

“Are you sure it’s him?” I ask, spinning the paper cup in my hand.

West covers my hand with his, drawing my attention up to him. “Yes.” He assures me, stroking his thumb along the back of my hand. “It’s him. Carver Hayes.”

I nod, slowly blowing out my breath. “Okay, let’s go then.” Standing up, I wait for West to lead the way out of the crowded shop. My pulse quickens as each step brings us closer.

Time for Carver to get a taste of his own medicine.Zayn

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

I watch with an equal mixture of shock and anger as Carver exits the small coffee shop, followed by my magenta haired distraction from the hospital and another kid around her age.

Why is she here?

A sickening feeling forms in my gut, and I’m on my feet and following before I’ve fully thought it through. I shouldn’t be doing anything that might expose me, especially not while there is an actual overthrowing of our society happening, and I’ve just barely survived the chaos as it is. But I can’t let anything happen to her.

Not again.

My heart rate increases as images of the girl’s body in a bloody, disfigured heap flash through my mind. I speed up my steps, nearly running into several patrons in my hurry to catch up. Rushing out the exit, my head whips back and forth as I try to find where they went.

I catch a glimpse of bright colored hair and take off in a sprint, silently begging whoever will listen that I make it in time.

Please. Not again.

West

My phone buzzes in my pocket. Now is not the time for Rex to be demanding payment for holding up his end of the bargain. I’ve been lucky so far that I haven’t had to fulfill my part, but I know that window is closing. And quickly.

I follow closely behind Nova, trying desperately to keep my focus on the task at hand.

I can’t let them down again.

Even after they ripped my heart to shreds, I won’t back down. I’m going to do this for them, show them that I can be trusted, that I’m not going anywhere.

We make it out of the small shop, tailing Carver from a safe distance.

Nova is nervous, I can tell. If this was my first time taking a life, I would be too. As it is, I’m thankful to have had my murder cherry popped already, because I don’t think I could take those nerves on top of everything else.

Carver turns down an alley a few blocks ahead. As we grow closer to the darkened street, apprehension fills me. Taking Nova’s arm, I pull them to a stop. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.” I whisper, darting my eyes around us.

Nova glares at me, pushing my hand off. “Don’t be a pussy.” They snap, continuing forward.

“Nova.” I hiss, but it’s too late as they disappear around the corner. “Fuck.” Muttering under my breath, I take off in a sprint.

Before I can reach them, I watch in horror as a large body slams Nova against one of the buildings. Slinking into the shadows, I slip my knife out of my pocket, my hand shaking with the fury buzzing through me.

How dare he touch them.

“Why are you following me?” I hear Carver growl, his hand snaking around Nova’s neck.

Glaring at him, Nova bites out, “Let me go, douchebag.”

Irked by their refusal to answer his question, Carver tightens his grip. I tense as I see Nova gasp for breath, their mouth opening and closing uselessly.

Come on, West. Do something.

I will my feet to move, but I’m frozen in place, horror filling me as I watch helplessly.

“Let her go.” A deep voice snarls. In my paralyzed state, I didn’t notice the man creep up behind Carver.

Carver laughs as a gun is pushed against his head. “Well hello there.” Tightening his grip again, he chuckles, “Am I about to kill another one of your pets, Zayn?”

The man, Zayn, pushes the gun harder against Carver’s head. “You have five seconds to release her or I blow your brains all over the street.” When Carver doesn’t obey, Zayn growls, “Five.”

They’re too close. I can’t let him pull that trigger. If he does, it’ll kill Nova too.

I sneak closer, my feet finally responding to the screaming of my mind. The sound of Zayn counting down accompanied by Nova’s choked gasps pulls me from my paralysis.

“Four.”

Gripping my knife, I keep my back pressed to the opposite building.

Just a little closer.

“Three.”

The click echoes loudly as Zayn cocks back the hammer of the gun.

Fuckfuckfuck.

“Two.”

Carver laughs again, shaking Nova’s weakening body, their head bouncing against the brick. “One.” He mocks, clearly unafraid of the other man.

Snarling, Zayn tenses, his finger closing over the trigger. “Zero.”

“No!” I scream, launching myself forward and knocking Zayn aside. The bullet meant for Carver ricochets off the wall. Before either man can react to my sudden appearance, I stab my knife into Carver’s side.

Ripping the blade out, I stab into him again and again. His blood sprays out of each wound as I yank the knife out, covering us in the crimson liquid. My vision darkens with each powerful thrust of my wrist. “Let. Them. Go!” I shout, lifting my hand up to press the blade against his neck.

Carver has lost the mirth, clutching his butchered side, blood seeping between his fingers. “Not a chance boy.” He snarls. “I’m going to snap this pretty little neck before you can ev-”

A loud bang sounds, cutting off his words.

Carver slumps to the ground, his grip on Nova finally loosening.

“Fuck.” A frustrated voice sounds next to me. I blink in its direction, my eyes stinging from the blood and brain matter that just erupted from a perfectly placed bullet. “Are you going to move or just stand there, pretty boy?” Zayn growls. Pushing me to the side, he kneels to check on Nova.

In a daze, I watch as he scoops up Nova’s limp body. “Who are you?” I manage to force out.

Glaring down at Carver’s body slumped on the ground, he pulls his phone out and types out a quick message before turning to leave, Nova still held in his arms. He meets my gaze, his eyes saddened as he answers me. “Just another ghost.”

Zayn

Twenty years. Twenty fucking years of planning the most brutal torture possible and it all came crashing down when I saw his hand around her throat.

I went into a blind rage, my body humming with the need to get him away from her. My beautiful distraction.

I was furious when the kid pushed me aside moments before my first bullet could save her. Then I realized what was happening and an immense feeling of gratitude hit me. Up until I heard Carver’s words.

“I’m going to snap this pretty little neck…”

I didn’t think. Carver’s body hit the ground before my mind caught up to my actions.

The sight of his body sent me into overdrive. I quickly gathered the unconscious girl in my arms, shooting off a text to Tavish that I needed clean up. I know it’s not the “new protocol” or whatever, but my frazzled state reverted to old habits.

I need to get her away from here before anyone discovers what happened.

Fuck.

Scanning the area around us quickly, my gaze lingers on the boy covered in Carver’s blood. His dirty blonde hair matted from the crimson liquid. Piercings cover most of his face, but beneath all the hardware, I can see the young kid underneath.

Dragging my eyes down his body, I feel a familiar twinge inside that surprises me. I find myself suddenly needing to protect him, the same instant connection hitting me as I felt with the girl in my arms.

“Come on, pretty boy.” I call out as I resume my exit. Hurried footsteps sound behind me, calming some of the chaos I feel at the need to now hide away not one, but two, people.

“What the fuck am I doing.” I mutter under my breath. Hurrying down the sidewalk, I open the door to my car, gently setting the girl down in the backseat. The boy scrambles in beside her, cradling her head in his lap and whispering comforting words.

Shaking my head, I round the car and climb into the driver’s seat, breathing out a relieved breath as I throw it into drive. My eyes continuously shoot up to the rearview mirror the entire drive to my secluded shack, unable to fight the urge to keep the two in my sights.

My eyes meet the boy’s, his own filled with barely held back tears. “Thank you.” He whispers before returning his attention to the unconscious girl in his arms.

I blow out a heavy breath. I don’t know what I’m going to do, but I do know one thing.

Nothing is going to happen to either of them. Not while I’m still breathing.