Midas
Zeus called Odin and me over a few hours ago, saying he had something he wanted to show us. The guy has been obsessively reviewing the footage from the night of Serena’s attack, trying to find anything that will lead us to the guy.
I have tried to stop him, not wanting him to learn about my secret. If they knew what I did, they would never forgive me.
All I have been feeling for weeks is guilt, remorse, and fear. Guilt that I was enough of an asshole to do something as stupid as faking a kidnapping so Serena would come running to us. Remorse that I am the reason she got shot. And fear that this secret will come out and everyone will leave me behind.
All afternoon, I have tried to distract them, keeping them away from Zeus’s computer, but I could only come up with so many excuses that would distract them.
The three of us are sitting in front of Zeus’s desk. One of the screens is a live view of Serena’s room. She invited her friends over earlier. They haven’t done much, just spent the day in her room gossiping.
Her friends asked her how things are going with us. Serena instantly blushed and tried to change the subject, but her friends wouldn’t drop it.
I know we shouldn’t have, but we listened to her tell her friends everything. Every detail. Including my two best friends and my enemy fucking her. Her friends squealed and giggled as she laid out in detail what the three of them did to her.
I wanted to rip my ears off while I was stuck listening to that. Not because I care that my friends got her before I did -it does bother me that Dante did- but because I am no closer to her than I was before.
I know deep down, it’s my fault. I have pulled away from her, and I have seen the hurt in her eyes every time I do. I hate myself for it, but it’s hard to get closer to her when I know what I have done.
Eventually, the girls started talking about other things, and we turned towards the other screen that is filled with the scene that haunts my nightmares. Serena was running from her room, followed by the prospect in a mask. The camera then switches to the kitchen. Serena is holding up a knife as he pulls out a gun and aims for her. Zeus pauses the footage.
“Look. There. Does that tattoo look familiar to any of you?” Zeus points to the guy’s wrist, showing the edge of a small tattoo.
“Yeah. Maybe.” Odin says as his face gets closer to the screen, trying to get a better look.
The tattoo is barely showing, and the image of it is blurry. There is no way anyone would be able to identify it from that small glimpse. Zeus clicks through a few frames, and seconds later, the prospect's sleeve rolls up a little and the tattoo is more visible.
I know the tattoo that he has there, and more of it is shown. You can see most of the blade of the dagger tattoo. I rack my brain, trying to come up with anything to say to throw them off track, but the harder I try, I can’t come up with anything.
“It looks like a dagger. Don’t we know someone with a dagger tattoo on their wrist?” Odin comments.
“I… I… I can’t think of anyone.” I stumble over my words, needing more time to think. More time to make an excuse or find a way to sidestep this. “But that’s not a definitive way to find the guy. What if it’s a fake tattoo or something?”
“A fake tattoo?”
“Yeah. What if it’s not real? A way to hide his identity in case he was spotted by someone. If it’s fake, he could just take it off and no one would be able to tie them to the crime.” My words are shaky as the lie rolls off my tongue. Not the best lie, but it’s the best I could come up with within seconds.
They both look at me like I have two heads, but I can see them contemplating my words. Without being able to see any key features, a tattoo won’t be enough evidence to find the guy.
I could fucking kill that asshole right now. I specifically told him to make sure that none of his fucking tattoos where visible in any way. Why wasn’t he wearing any gloves or anything?
The three of us go back and forth for a while, arguing about the tattoo. I try to move on to a different topic several times, but each time they circle back to that detail. The discussion goes nowhere. Without any idea whose tattoo it is or if it is real or not, there isn’t anything the two of them can do about it.
Now, I just need to keep them away from that prospect or keep his tattoo hidden from them when he is around. Just more work for me to hide this secret that I didn’t even consider when I came up with this ridiculous plan. Fuck. I wish I had thought about this more before being an idiot.
The sun starts to go down, and we haven’t moved from Zeus’s desk for hours. There wasn’t anything else on the footage that could prove who the guy was, which was a relief to me.
We have spent the last fifteen minutes watching the girls hanging out in Serena’s room. Naomi brought up the idea of going to a club in Richmond tonight. Evie and Grace immediately agreed to it. Serena looked excited but a little apprehensive about it.
Evie finally convinced her to go when she reminded Serena that she could always invite Dante out too. Serena laughed, told her no, and that she would want to have a girls’ night.
We all sighed with relief when Serena turned down the idea of Dante going with them. We may not think he is behind this anymore, but I still want to keep her as far away from him as possible. I don’t trust him, and nothing he says or does will change my mind.
We turned the cameras off as the girls started getting changed into dresses or whatever they planned on wearing. As much as we wanted to see Serena naked, none of us were interested in invading her friend’s privacy.
Thirty minutes later, Zeus turned the cameras back on, showing the girls dressed and doing their hair and makeup.
I don’t pay attention to her friends, my eyes only focusing on the girl who has stolen all my attention from the second I saw her. Serena is always beautiful, no matter what she is wearing, but tonight she looks absolutely breathtaking. She is wearing a black lace cropped camisole, a black split hem skirt, black boots, and her leather jacket. Making her look like a sexy dark angel.
My dark angel.
I tuned the girls out as they excitedly yapped about whatever it is girls yap about, until I finally heard the name of the club they are going to, Midnight. The fucking club owned by the Shadow Brotherhood.
We would never be allowed in there, but there is also no way that we are letting our girl in without us. I have heard the rumors about that place. It may look like a club, and it is, but in the basement a lot of illegal shit happens. Mainly, the underground fighting ring or the sex club.
The guys and I quickly changed into some clothes a little more appropriate for the club. Each of us is wearing black jeans and combat boots. Odin put on a white button-down and a leather Jacket. Zeus in a grey Henley. Lastly, I am wearing a black t-shirt, wanting to match my dark angel.
We wait for the girls to leave before heading outside ourselves. We can’t take our bikes, wanting to blend in. Instead, we walk over to Zeus’s house. He opens the garage, showing off his other baby, a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner that used to belong to Pops. He and Zeus would work on it together all the time while we were growing up. Everything Zeus learnt about cars came from Pops. Before he died, he gifted the car to Zeus, knowing that he would be the only one to take care of it properly.
Not that Odin or I mind. We all use the car when it is needed -not that often- but it’s under Zeus’s name. It meant something to him and Pops, and we all agreed that he deserved it more than we. Zeus turns the key in the ignition. The loud rumble of the 535 Hemi motor brings the car to life. Zeus shifts the car into drive, and we head out towards Richmond.
Zeus pulls his car in front of Midnight and hands his keys to the valet. We look around, expecting to find Serena and her friends waiting in line, but they are nowhere to be seen. They must already be inside.
I tap the guys on the shoulder and nod my head towards the bouncer. I don’t wait in lines. They nod their heads, and we walk over. I slip the bouncer a hundred-dollar bill, earning a smile from him, and he opens the door.
The music hits me first. I don’t recognize the techno song, but it has everyone dancing. The place is so dark, you can’t see anything except for the bar off to one side and the dance floor bathed in strobe lights. I look around, hoping to catch a sight of Serena, but I can barely see anything. A growl of frustration builds in the back of my throat.
I glance over at the guys. Both are scanning the area, hoping to spot Serena anywhere, without any luck. I slap their chests, getting them to look at me. I nod in three different directions, letting them know to split up and find her. They each nod in understanding before the three of us break apart and search for her.
Odin walks to the left towards the bar area. Zeus goes right towards the booths and other seating. I walk straight into the crowd of drunk people, gyrating on each other.
People push against me as I push through them. I don’t think people here know me as well as they do in Fallingbrook, but I can see some recognition in their eyes.
I may not have power in the city, but people can sense it from me. I used to relish in the admiration and the way people would fall at my feet if I asked, but not lately. Now, the only girl I want to notice me does, but at the same time doesn’t.
A drunk girl plasters herself to my side, saying something I can’t hear over the music. As I look down at her, I feel nothing but sadness for her. She is pretty. Shoulder-length dark brown hair. Hazel eyes. Nice curves. But she doesn’t do it for me. I will give her credit for being brave enough to come up to me. Too bad for her, nothing will ever happen.
I try to politely ungrasp her acrylic nails from my shirt, much to her dismay. Eventually, she lets go and moves on to someone else.
I keep pushing through the crowd, finally finding my target. Serena is at the back of the dancefloor with her friends. Serena and Evie are dancing together, laughing and just having fun together. She looks so happy. Her smile is bright and infectious. It even brings a smile to my crusty face.
Grace and Naomi’s hands are all over each other as they dance so close together you wouldn’t be able to fit a piece of paper between them. I can see them whispering and kissing each other.
They look happy together.
And now I’m jealous.
Jealous that I can’t be like that with Serena. I mean I can, but I still feel so fucked over what I did. I need to get over all that. I did what I did. I can’t change it now. I need to forgive myself for her getting hurt, but that wasn’t the plan. I can’t fault myself for that.
With that mental pep talk, I take a deep breath and comb my fingers through my hair. I take my first step and halt instantly when I see Dante out of the corner of my eye. Of course, the fucker would be here. Not what I need tonight.
He doesn’t seem to notice Serena yet, thankfully. Dante looks to be in the middle of a heated discussion with an older guy. He looks slightly familiar, but I can’t place where I have seen him before. Not that it matters. The two of them go back and forth for a bit before Dante raises both his hands, clearly done with the conversation. The other guy bows his head before walking away and through a door I didn’t notice at first. Dante shakes his head before turning and walking down a hallway.
The urge to follow him is riding me hard, but I resist and head back towards Serena. She hasn’t moved, still dancing with her friends. I notice a few guys around her casually looking her way, but lucky for them, none are stupid enough to try anything.
She turns so her back is to me, giving me the perfect opportunity. I walk up behind her, tap her lightly on the shoulder. She lightly screams and turns with a fist raised, ready to swing. That’s my girl. Her eyes go wide when she sees me, and her fist drops down.
“What the hell are you doing here?” She screams over the music, but I can still hardly hear her.
I grab her hand and start pulling her towards the exit, just needing somewhere a little quieter to speak to her. I pull my phone out while wrestling with Serena, letting them know I found her and where to meet us. The guys quickly find us, and the four of us make our way to the door. Serena starts pulling against my grip, not wanting to leave her friends behind. I turn around, wanting to explain that I am not making her leave, I just want to talk to her, but as the words start, a man behind us clears his throat.
Serena looks around me and smiles. My hackles instantly rising, knowing who is behind me. I turn and face Dante. His smug expression turns harsh as he glances at my death grip of Serena’s wrist. Serena pulls on her hand, slipping out of my grasp, and places her hands on her hips. Her fierce glare pierces each of us. Anger was glowing in those stunning pale green eyes.
“What the hell are the four of you doing here? Do you have me microchipped or something?”
“No microchip, but that’s not a bad idea,” I comment, earning a scowl from her.
“We will circle back to that later, and how that is never happening. How and why are you all here?”
“Well, I own the club,” Dante adds.
“You own the club?” Serena’s eyes go wide as she looks around.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Rich asshole owns a club. Big whoop. I could own one, if I wanted to. One day. Maybe. But that’s not something I would even want to do.
Dante nods his head. Serena’s jaw falls open and her eyes scan him, trying to find out what other secrets he has. So he hasn’t told her yet? That is information I can use in the long run. A way to get her away from him. My night has suddenly gotten a whole lot better.
None of us bother to give her a reason why we are here. There is no good reason. We know we aren’t supposed to be here, even Serena knows that without knowing why. Nothing we could say right now would justify it. I was hoping she wouldn’t question the whys and just be happy to see us. She would have been if Dante hadn’t had to show his stupid face.
Dante reaches a hand to her, an inviting smile on his face that makes me want to punch him. It’s all an act. I know the true Dante Lupo, and this is not him. I reach out to pull her back towards me, but she sidesteps out of my reach.
Her eyes dart between the four of us before she shakes her head, raises her hands in defeat -maybe annoyance- and walks away. We start following her, calling her name. She turns to us, giving us all a glare, plus a double middle finger, that promises pain if we don’t leave her alone.
She storms off into the crowd of people, leaving us behind.
I turn around and find Dante smirking before he walks away too.
“Are we just leaving her?” Odin asks.
“Not a fucking chance. We give her space, but we aren’t leaving. Keep your eyes on her, but don’t let her see us.”