Chapter 5

I threw the expensive jewelry Damon had given me into the sea, along with the custom-made pistol, box and all.

From now on, I wanted nothing to do with anything that belonged to him.

The Commission banquet came around soon after, and I went as promised.

At the table, Damon shelled lobster for Serena and picked the onions off her plate.

As everyone cheered, they linked arms for a toast. Then he fed her dessert from his own mouth.

A bit of cream clung to the corner of Serena's mouth, and he leaned in to kiss it away.

I kept my head down and pretended not to see, cutting my steak one slice at a time.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Damon's jaw tighten and his expression darken.

When the banquet ended, the guests boarded their shuttle boats and left. I was alone on the floating pier.

Damon came down from the yacht, his voice low and rough. "Want me to take you back on my boat?"

Before I could refuse, Serena ran after him and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. "Damon, my feet hurt... These new shoes are rubbing my feet. Will you carry me back to the cabin?"

Damon didn't answer. He kept his eyes on me.

I knew he was waiting for my answer.

I smiled and shook my head. "No, thanks. My boat's already here."

Damon's face darkened. "Suit yourself."

He put an arm around Serena's waist and boarded the yacht without looking back.

The engine roared, and the yacht carried them off into the dark.

I walked slowly along the harbor's freight walkway and into the abandoned warehouse district, where my family's territory bordered Serena's.

A bright light suddenly shone through a gap between the containers beside me.

Before I could react, a modified black pickup burst out and slammed its front end into my side.

The impact threw me against a rusted shipping container. I skidded a good dozen feet across ground slick with oil and broken glass.

The pickup stopped for half a second. Someone in the passenger seat leaned out the window to look at me.

Then its engine screamed, and it disappeared into the dark.

I struggled to my feet, pulled the signal flare from my thigh holster, and fired it.

Red light tore across the night sky.

Three minutes later, my security team arrived and took me to a private hospital.

The doctor treated my injuries and stitched up the gash on my back. It was deep enough to expose bone.

I was resting in bed when the door swung open. A tall figure stood in the doorway.

Standing straight, he blocked almost all the light from the hallway.

I stared in shock as he came closer, step by step, until the cold scent of gunpowder and cedar surrounded me.

"Layla, didn't you grow up behind the cordon lines?

"Then how did you end up like this?"