Chapter Six
Don’t Blink
*TWO MONTHS LATER*
My mind has not settled since that night.
His lips on mine. The way he gripped my body with such control.
..I fucking hate him. The fact that he had the audacity to kiss me.
He wants to play mind games but I refuse to be a part of them.
I am La Sirena for fuck’s sake, not some weak minded girl.
Preparing myself for today's meetings, I dress in a red long sleeved blouse with ruffles on the neckline. Complimenting the top, I pair it with a black pencil skirt and matching ankle high heels. Adding jewelry to finish off the look before leaving my room, I head to the garage. I pull my keys off the wall and call out for Token; he rounds the corner while wagging his tail. With a pat, he and I climb into my car and make our way to the office. Pulling into my VIP parking spot, I step out of the car and beckon Token to follow. We head towards the doors of my family’s metallic business tower.
The expansive privacy windows only add to the reflection, blinding you with rays of light that dance off of it.
Entering the lobby we earn shocked expressions from onlookers.
I mean, who wouldn't stare at the sight of an almost one hundred pound dog walking into an office building?
We enter the elevator swiftly and I play with his two inch thick studded collar out of boredom.
The doors slide open and we glide towards the meeting room.
With my hand on the door I look at Token.
"Give em’ hell, boy."
In one swift motion the doors swing open and we enter the room in strides. I earn confused and even scared looks; I smirk at the thought. Finding my place at the head of the table next to my father, all eyes are on me.
"Everly, why do you always do this?" My father groans frustratedly while rubbing his eyes with one hand. His exhaustion for my antics is duly noted.
I smile at him before responding coolly, "For dramatic effect. Well… and incentive of course." My father rolls his eyes in response.
I shoot Token a look, a clear order behind it. He lays down without hesitation. Settling in my seat and situating my belongings, I turn my full attention to the table of men before me.
"Let's get started. Shall we?"
"Yes. You all have joined us for this meeting to discuss alliances built during the gala. George, please start for us." My father’s voice carries with authority. A short, stumpy man carries the conversation for a while.
I tune in and out until my ears perk at the name Mikaelson. "I'm sorry. What did you say?" All eyes turn to me.
"My apologies Ms. Beretta. We were discussing the treaty presented to us by the Mikaelson family." My eyes go wide as all thoughts travel to Blake. Was this his doing?
"Who requested this?! What are the clauses?!" I question him forcefully.
His response is cut short as my father's secretary bursts into the room, approaching him with haste. He whispers into his ear far too low to make out the words. A smirk grows on my father's face as confusion rests on mine, leaving my curiosity to grow.
My father abruptly turns to me, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"This should be interesting."
Seconds later the doors open and Dominic Mikaelson comes striding in.
I am in utter shock as I take in his appearance.
His salt and pepper hair is laid back smoothly.
He runs his fingers through the strands while approaching the table, leading me to question if this movement is a nervous habit or done on instinct.
It is at this moment that I take notice of his vantablack suit and the situation before me settles; The Don of the French Mafia stands mere feet from my father.
"Dominic. To what do we owe the pleasure?" My father stands before shaking his hand.
"Roman. I heard you would be discussing our treaty during this meeting and I found it the perfect time to state my case." His words only deepen my confusion. My eyes never leave him as he finds an open seat across from me.
"Since all the board members are here, I think that would be appropriate. Go ahead." My father beckons just before reclaiming his seat.
"An idea came to me the night of the gala, one that would end the hostility between our families. Our children have chemistry; That much was clear when they shared a dance. There's a common enemy on the horizon and in order to eradicate them, we would like to form an alliance." He finishes.
"How do you figure this plan will be executed?" There is a guarded tone to my father’s voice.
Dominic's brows furrow while pondering the thought.
His face stills as if he had an epiphany. "Make them partners, of course. Your daughter is the femme fatale. My son is well known for his own skillset as well."
“Forgive me… but Blake? What is he known for outside of partying and spending his inheritance?” My father questions.
He chuckles in a way that feels familiar to me, though I can’t place where. “He has many talents and hobbies.”
I finally speak up. "What exactly is the goal here?” Dominic smirks but somehow it doesn't meet his eyes.
"You two work together to dismantle the cartel."
I scoff and begin laughing hysterically. "You think I would believe that the man I danced with at the gala is capable of such necessities?"
He nods slowly. "He’s well proven in the field; believe me. Would this be a problem?" I wouldn’t believe this prick as far as I could throw him, which is pretty far to be fair.
I have a moment of clarity. If I partner with him, we may be able to hunt Ghost together.
"Fine. I'll do it." Gasps fill the room.
"Great, I have already drawn up a contract. All you have to do is sign it." He slides a packet over to me and without thinking, I sign. He scribbles his own signature down before returning his attention back to me.
"Oh and Everly? I had wanted to mention something to you. It's silly really. Just a minor fleeting thought..." My inquisitive mind ponders.
"And what's that?" I ask. He smirks again, but this time something is different. The once warm expressions are no more.
“You never really appreciate the night sky until you are forced to look up at it, huh?”
His words hit me like a splash of cold water.
All sound is choked from my throat as stars and darkness clash behind my eyes, wielding me back to the very first night when I met Ghost. A memory filled with a dark angel painted in the galaxies.
His glacial gaze haunting my final consciousness.
The full moon creates a crown of lunar glow behind his head.
The figure’s ethereal voice paints its lips with my name.
Why would Dominic say such a thing with no meaning unless… ?
Before I can speak we are interrupted by gunfire in the distance. The large doors explode open and the room fills with smoke. The blinding cloud forces us to squint in an attempt to assess the on coming danger.
We pull our guns and without hesitation take fire. Shoot first, ask questions later as they say.
“Token, kill!" I screech over the gun fire. He launches forward, hardly recognizable within smoke as he grabs an enemy. The canine makes quick work of downing the attacker before moving on to another. Their screams fill the air just as motion beckons me to follow its path.
Blake's father crouches across the table from me, firing his weapon at the oncoming assault.
Just as I internally comment on his marksmanship, he groans while clutching at his abdomen.
His body involuntarily collapses from the trauma.
Without thinking, I vault over the table to crouch beside him.
Blood seeps through his black shirt, only leaving a subtle shine in its destruction.
I pull off my blouse, not bothering to consider the social implications of me in only my bra.
With my shirt in hand I apply pressure to the wound.
He grunts in response, looking down at where his obvious pain originated from.
“I’ve been hit.” He says in disbelief; his eyes wide from shock.
“It happens to the best of us. You are going to be just fine. Don’t go dying on me now.” I chuckle, offering a supportive smile.
“Dominic’s been hit. We need to get out of here NOW!” I shout to the surrounding men, inferring that we need to wrap this shit up sooner rather than later.
I hear a cough come from next to me. Looking over, I find Dominic coughing up blood. He looks at his hand and then to me, fear evident in his eyes for the fleeting moment before they roll back. He gurgles and gasps just as his eyes close. His body begins to relax ever so slightly.
“Fuck! No, no, no. Don’t you do that!” Amidst the panic, I check his pulse and it’s absent.
Like a well oiled machine, my mind calms within the chaos.
Going through the mental steps, I start chest compressions.
There’s no fucking way I’m letting him die.
If he does, Blake likely won't help me track down Ghost.
I don't realize the gunfire has stopped until my father’s hand touches my shoulder.
He says something about moving Dominic to a vehicle, though his actual words don't meet my ears.
I nod and continue chest compressions as his body is put on a small table and carried out with me at his side.
Whether it be shock or muscle memory, I don't stop.
“Drive!” My father screams from beside me as we are loaded into an SUV. The vehicle races off into the city, traveling towards the closest hospital. Who the fuck attacked us? Why did they do it at that exact time? Things just got a whole lot more complicated.