Chapter Four
Come Get Me, Lucy.
It's that time of the year again. Once a year, gangs from around the world get together to form alliances and treaties.
The one night when blood shed and violence are strictly forbidden.
Personally, I find it chaotic. Forcing enemies into a room where everyone fakes kindness is just ridiculous.
Regardless, tomorrow is the Crimson Gala and I will be in attendance.
Some members spend weeks in preparation for this single night, but here I am the night before window shopping at the local outlet mall.
The question is, how much is too much? Look, cost, or otherwise.
I have decided on an elegant dress shop where I know the owner.
Pushing the door open, I look around the room, my eyes scanning an array of fabrics of all colors and patterns. My eyes fall to a short, nearly white haired woman in her fifties. She’s dressed in a sleek black pantsuit, her neck adorned with pearls.
With a smile I call out, “Vivian!”
"Everly, my dear! It's been much too long. Is it that time of year again?" With smiles we kiss each other's cheeks and I nod in response.
"Yep! So what has that beautiful mind come up with recently?" I inquire. She beams at me and holds her finger up before skipping away. I giggle and find a seat by the dressing rooms.
A young woman with short brown hair approaches me with a glass of champagne. I accept it happily while thanking her. Vivian soon pops out with a large garment bag, beaming with excitement. I know I will love it based on her reaction alone.
"Come, come. Let's get you into this beauty." She beckons me along.
I stride to the first dressing room and undress.
Slipping the dress on, I find it fits like a glove.
It forms my body perfectly and feels like a second skin.
I carry myself to the dressing stage and as I look into the mirror I lose my breath.
This dress is immaculate. It is a red lace material with spaghetti straps, embedded diamonds flourishing the dress.
It has a cinched waistline and ruffled layers that cascade down, splitting open to expose one leg.
The front is low hanging to expose just the right amount of cleavage.
My bust fills the dress perfectly in a seductive yet elegant manner.
The straps cross over my back in an x with the rest of the material forming low on my back. It's absolutely perfect.
"Oh my, it's even better than I could have imagined!" Vivian cheers as she looks at me with tearful eyes.
"No crying Vivian, you're wearing Chanel." I poke.
"I'm sorry. When I made this dress I used your measurements and just knew you would try it on. I never thought you would make it look THIS good though." I smile and nod as I look at myself once more. I throw my black card at Vivian with glee and ready myself for my next destination.
I find myself at Chaos talking to James about tomorrow's festivities. We are arguing back and forth about who is going to look the best, when Ryon and Lucas come waltzing in.
"What are we talking about?" Lucas questions.
"How I am going to look better." James states and I roll my eyes in response.
"That's just not possible. When you see me in my outfit choice, it's over for you bitches." Ryon declares as he pops his hip and snaps.
"Please tell me we won't have another flamingo incident." I beg while rubbing my head.
"Ev, that was a one time thing and I learned my lesson. Flamingos can't be used as a neck wrap...or an entire wardrobe piece." He throws his hands around as if he's trying hard to convince me that he knows better.
"But what about neon teal?" We all groan and shake our heads.
"So do we have any leads on he who shall not be named?" I ask while using air quotes for the last part.
"He's a fucking ghost, dude. It's like he walks through walls or something. The fact that he left you and that boy alive is what confuses me. He's never done that." James looks more unsure as he goes on.
"Like why would he not just try to kill you when he had the blade against your neck? Why go through all the trouble to fight you and risk being killed?" He's arrogant, that's for sure. He likes taking risks and feeling like he has all the control.
"Maybe he likes the hunt. You guys are a dead match. I mean did you see that shoot out? You guys were bullet for bullet. He could have killed you with that first shot and he didn't. He wanted to get you alone, in close quarters."
My mind travels through all the possibilities. His motives, goals, and end game. None of them make any sense. I shake my head in frustration.
"He's going to be there tomorrow night, you know." Lucas interjects while breaking my line of thought.
"There's no guarantee. He's never attended before." I state plainly.
"That you know of. No one knows what he looks like. He could have been at every single one and we never knew.” James comments. I withhold from telling them that I do, in fact, know what he looks like. I have no idea why but I just can’t get myself to say the words.
"Well he's definitely going to be there tomorrow night. Watch your back. Members are traveling tonight and throughout the day tomorrow. You won't see him coming." Lucas's worried expression is not lost on me. I nod, trying to avoid the subject for some reason.
They are all scared for my safety. He won’t do anything at the gala, if he has any honor. From last night, I believe he does. He didn't harm an innocent child. We all take shots and prepare ourselves for the days to come.
I travel home, my mind heavy. Music floods my speakers as I try to distract myself.
Ever since that night, eight months ago, I haven't been able to go a day without thinking about him.
He has haunted my mind during the restless nights while the quiet hours of the day have been occupied with my memories of him.
He consumes me and I have only seen him twice.
Both times ended in parting ways with unfinished business.
Tomorrow I will find him. He won't be able to run from me this time.
I have been inches from his face. I know him in graphic detail.
As I pull into my driveway I see a large amount of vehicles littering the front with people coming and going.
Some carrying boxes and supplies, others clearing the grounds.
Busy bees working to ready the hive for a swarm of wasps.
My mind swirls with fond memories on the drive up as I look longingly at my childhood home, like how the number of pillars taught me how to count.
A tree off to the right has a missing branch where I fell from, breaking my arm for the first time.
I never noticed how it resembles those immense southern manors you read about in romance novels, until now.
I pull slowly into the garage as the door opens.
Cars, trucks, and bikes litter the room with an impressive magnitude.
This room alone is worth tens of millions of dollars.
All paid in full of course. Money was never a concern for this family.
Though with this said, we aren't materialistic.
We work hard for our money. We spend fruitfully towards good causes such as agricultural and housing developments.
We hire the homeless and support them for their work ethic.
We fund many non-profits as well. There is too much money and not enough of it is being fueled towards the right places.
My thoughts are stalled as a low breathy growl echoes the walls. I turn to find a large canine.
"Token, here boy." I call my beloved companion. He approaches me calmly while sitting against my leg, beckoning to be pet.
"Free." I command him to go back to his previous activities.
I walk inside and the house is filled with the same buzz as outside. Sliding through oncoming bodies, I find my way to the kitchen where my mother, Natalia, is busying herself with dinner.
"Mom." I say announcing my presence.
"Oh Everly, I didn't see you standing there. Dinner will be ready shortly. Would you mind telling the boys and your father?" She asks with such kindness, I wonder how she ever got wrapped up in this life.
She is the epitome of grace and love. She lives and breathes family.
She is so unconditionally kind that I am surprised she has made it this far in the Mafia world.
Her soft brown tendrils are partially pulled up, leaving the rest to dance around her as she moves.
I nod while smiling and proceed to speed dial everyone into a conference call.
"Dinner will be ready shortly, don't make mom wait." I state plainly into the phone.
They all chuckle while Anthony asks, "you couldn't have just come and found us?"
“Nope, that would take away from me time. That's what phones are for.” I hang up and head to my room to put away my gown and change into a new set of clothes.
Sitting at the dinner table I am surrounded by my family. They talk amongst themselves about business and pleasure while my mind swirls with the thoughts of a Devil mask and ocean eyes. His scent matches the power he radiates with just his presence.
"Everly? Honey, you've been very quiet. Are you alright?" I look to my mother whose emerald eyes harbor a concerned expression.
"Yes, I am just a bit out of sorts. Nothing I can't handle." I comfort her worried heart to the best of my abilities by painting a small smile on my lips.
"She's worried about him being there tomorrow night." Dillon stares while sending me a pointed look.
What the fuck, man. Can I have nothing to myself? With little brothers, the answer is no.
"You will not be unguarded and he knows the rules. Just be cautious. Remember, we will all be on the lookout . He's never shown before, that we know of, but this year might be different. " I nod in agreement and focus my attention on my meal.
Before I know it, I find myself in bed. My mind races as it has since the night I came face to…
well…mask with Ghost. I slowly fall into a slumber filled with aquamarine eyes, the ocean filling my senses, all while I chase an unknown intruder.
Tomorrow is coming fast and I am ready to dance with the devil.