Chapter 5: Dakota's POV

I blink.

Then blink again. It must’ve been a full 30 seconds of pure emptiness in my head, because that’s how I cope. Forget everything for as long as I can.

In this scenario, it’s not that long.

“Aren’t you going to say anything?” there’s still that coy grin on his stupidly handsome face.

My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. No words. How can I deny something so oddly specific? How can I lie my way out of it in this state? He already knows how terrible a liar I can be.

So, I do the only logical thing that comes to my mind.

I turn around and leave the office.

He doesn’t give chase. Not at first.

My head spins, and the murals on the walls seem to jeer at me.

‘You haven’t lasted a week and you’ve already been found out!’ they cackle. ‘A failure!’

“Fuck me.” I breathe as I stumble out of the main house, desperate for some air before I pass out.

‘You’re family’s blood will never be avenged!’ the house screeches as I step out into a patio and clutch the nearest railing for support. I feel like throwing up. Not in fear…or in nervous wretchedness, but in pure disgust for myself.

For how easy I was to read.

I hate myself, and as soon as my vision steadies, I try to still the storm in my head as well.

“Come on…think, Lilith. Think, Dakota…” I force my eyes open and lock them unto the doors of the main party hall.

Storm in, steal a gun from a guard, aim it at Javier and fire.

Two shots to the chest, one to the head, just like field training had taught us.

But even I know that it’s a suicide mission, and I would have given it more thought if it was guaranteed. Javier isn’t a mob boss because he stands around waiting for a bullet to sink itself into his chest.

And he’s no longer the chubby, sluggish kid sneaking me caviar from his family dinner more than a decade ago. He’ll move. And I’ll die.

For nothing.

Just like my family.

Not worth it.

My mind, heart and body knows that the only reasonable thing to do is to turn around and run as far away as possible. Because as soon as Javier hears who I am, he’ll want to finish what he started - the end of the Hayes bloodline.

My heart beat now matches my legs, trotting down the hallways as fast as I can. Into my room. Gathering my things.

I take only what is necessary - anything that can fit in a duffel bag, because I know I would need to run.

Fuck the rest.

But the more I move…the more subtle I try to be…the more lost I am. The house is big. But beyond this overwhelming main building, there are others. I haven’t been here long enough to know of other exits, and it makes sneaking around futile.

After what feels like decades traversing the labrynth of buildings and hallways, my vision contorts, colors blend and my knees buckle. I barely make it to a concealed corner when I drop on my knees, damn near shattering the bone and crawl the rest of my way into the shelter.

Don’t cry, don’t cry. Lilith, do not cry!

But my body doesn’t listen, and the tears fall regardless. They’re silent, but they still count as weakness to me, and when I undertook this mission, I promised not to show weakness, even in the face of death.

But failure hurts way more than death, doesn’t it?

Self regulation is something I’ve always been good at, so, as soon as my breathing can’t be heard, I stand up, ready to face death and failure.

If Javier is going to catch me and murder me, I’ll spit at his face before I take my last breath.

My feet paddling against the stone walkway isn’t the only thing I hear, though. Everyone should be at the party, distracted by the nude girls and drunk men to be out here, and yet, someone is following me.

The end is near. Probably one of Javier’s goons have caught up to me. I turn around, ready to fight. I’m not going to be easy to take down.

But there she is…black hair, eccentric beauty and much different from the last time I saw her. Her complementing black dress stops just below her knees, but it flows enough to give her free motion. She crosses the distance between the both of us in seconds.

I buckle, bring my hands to my face and prepare for an attack, but she grabs my hands and pulls me down the hall like a spoiled child about to receive scolding in private.

“Isabela, I…”

“Shh!”

She meanders through a few doors and finally, we’re in open air again, but this time, all the buildings are behind us, the main one far behind.

Then she lets go of me.

“This part of the estate is not gated because there’s a lake behind it. But if you follow water to the wall, you should climb over easy,” she speaks with her thick accent and very slightly broken English.

“You’re…” I exhale. “You’re helping me…why?”

She shrugs. "I like you. Besides. If one of us makes it out of here, it’s always a good thing. You’re new. Nobody will miss you.”

She turns around and leaves before I can really thank her, and I look to where she pointed me too. I shouldn’t waste this opportunity.

I buck it in the direction she pointed, but I don’t get far. What feels like a freight train crashes into me from the side.

What the -

“Holy fuck, Kota! You’re so fucking fast!” Esteban breathes as the both of us recover, but he doesn’t stand up from pressing his weight on me.

Fuck.

“Thought you were going to get away, didn’t you?” he laughs.

“I’ll fucking kill you here. No one would be here to witness it,” I sneer.

He laughs again. “It’s perfect. No one would hear you scream either, kota.”

I’m fucked…again.