Camilla’s men spread out across the warehouse like it was second nature, checking the bodies and securing the exits. Rob was bleeding fast. He slid down the wall, breathing hard as Camilla tossed him a medkit. “Still reckless as hell,” she muttered, kneeling to help him without waiting for his permission. I stood frozen for a second, heart pounding, dress torn, body sticky with sweat and smoke. My mind was running, but it couldn’t outrun the ache in my chest. Juno. The ambush. Rob. That kiss. The bullet. Too much. Too fucking much. “You okay?” Camilla asked her without looking up. “I’ll live,” I muttered. “That dress says otherwise,” Camilla smirked. “But you wear it like armor. Respect.” I didn’t smile. “Who the hell are you?” “The one you has been sending you messages”, she replied. Rob answered. “This is Camilla Amato. Former Special Ops. Freelance ghost now. She used to work for the same people I did.” “Until he left me behind,” Camilla added without missing a beat. “St
Before I could comprehend anything at all, Rob pulled me as we ducked the bullets that rained down on us from the surrounding buildings.Great, I led us into an ambush. They were standing by to make sure Juno finished the job.“Move,” Rob said as we ran out of the alleyway into the streets.“I can’t run in heels,” I said.“Then take them off,” he shouted back.“Are you being ridiculous right now?” I said, standing to catch my breath.A hot body didn’t really mean a fit body, and my goddess, I was out of breath from a short run.“I can see you’re not really the athletic type,” he said.He didn’t even give me a second before swooping me onto his shoulder, his hand around my naked thigh as my dress had slipped up a bit.We passed the street, everything almost a blur to me at how fast he was running.Some of the attackers must have stepped out because I heard a bullet whiz by us. Rob took him out, but it was clear we were outnumbered.I was still trying to get my feelings in check since J
BIANCAI stepped into the alleyway and spotted Juno already leaning against the wall, a folder in his hand and that same jittery look in his eyes. At least he showed up. Maybe he actually had something for once. “I usually wait hours for my clients,” he said, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “But you’re very punctual.” “I know. What do you have for me, Juno?” He tilted his head as if trying to read more than what was in front of him. “Red hair and green eyes suit you.” “I didn’t come here for compliments,” I said, glancing over my shoulder. “What do you have?” He smiled like he enjoyed the chase. “The person who sent the message knew about the bombing before it happened. Whether they caused it or were just informed, I can’t say for sure yet. That level of detail will cost more. I’ll need to pay some people.” Of course he needed more money. He always did. He probably already had the answer and just wanted extra for whatever he was hooked on now. His pupils were shaky, and
ROB POVThe message from earlier still burned brightly in my head. The mistake the sender made was using a traceable number. It was none other than that pathetic bastard, Jason. Of course he used a traceable number. He wanted me to know it was him behind the message.Fucking idiot.I sat on the balcony with my laptop open beside a half-empty glass. I had lost count of how many drinks I had, and I was too far gone to care. The only thing that mattered was the video playing in front of me. I kept replaying it like it held the answers to every question burning in my head.That kiss. I had been checking through the CCTV footage every night since our attack and I came across it. The video of our garden kiss. I deleted it of course, no one else is allowed to see that. But I transferred it to my laptop first.I watched it again. And again. And again.There was no adrenaline this time, no fight or flight. No alcohol. No chaos. It had been quiet. Calm. Real. And she kissed me.Bianca Marcello
I heaved a sigh of relief as I entered the bedroom and shut the door behind me. What the actual fuck? This time, I had no excuses for actually going through with it. I kissed Rob. Not by accident. Not in a haze. I let it happen. My phone screen lit up and I checked it. Jason again. He had been calling for a while now, blowing up my phone while I was busy letting my body betray everything I swore I wouldn’t feel. While I was busy kissing Rob of all people. I called him back. “Hey boss. I missed your call,” I said, keeping my voice light even though I felt anything but. “I heard you went out of town. Your vacation leave,” he said. “Yeah. Just wanted to take a break.” “You should have told me. I could have gone with you,” he added. I scoffed, unable to help myself. “Really? Aren’t you at the hospital?” “I am. You didn’t check in on your poor boss.” I couldn’t tell if he was actually sad or just acting. Rob had said Jason had direct communication with the Broker or someone close
I woke up the next morning to find the bed empty and cold. I had no idea why it made feel the way I did, but it did. I freshened up quickly, slipped in my lenses, and wore a simple floral dress with a single strap before heading downstairs for breakfast.Instead of breakfast, I saw Rob and his uncle talking with some papers on the table with his back to the stairs. “Ah, here comes the princess,” Victor said. Rob turned to look at me, and my heart jumped. I almost missed a step but caught myself just in time. How could be go back to normal when we almost kissed. Not just that, I almost kissed him. Me! I almost kissed Rob.The explosion, him finally opening up coupled with everything, it was too much.“Hey,” he said, standing and reaching for my hand as I stepped off the last stair.I nodded back, unable to speak with my heart thundering so loud I felt he could hear it. He was staring at me like he was trying to figure something out. “I’ll have them bring down breakfast”, Victor sa