4. Hideaway

~ COLTON's POV ~

Large and lavish parties were not an unfamiliar thing for Colton Rhodes. From the moment he was born, he was thrust into the spotlight of a luxurious lifestyle. Not only that he was blessed with such wealth, but he was also sharp, intelligent, and good-looking. This proved to be a deadly combo. He became the epitome of New York’s high society, the poster boy for the young one percent.  

At just twenty-one years of age, Colton had become a celebrity in his own right. He hung out with Hollywood starlets and rock stars and flew in private jets to have trips in private islands and yachts. He was always surrounded by friends and followers, and girls were always lining up at the door. Colton, of course, didn’t let this go to waste. For the past five years, he dedicated his time to a life of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. He did whatever he wanted, wherever he wanted, and with whoever he wanted.

Unfortunately, all that came crashing down last year with the news of his father’s death. Although he wasn’t ready, Colton had no choice but to step up and take over his father’s multi-billion-dollar empire. It was a huge responsibility for someone who was barely legal to drink alcohol. A lot of people expected him to fail, but just like anything else in his life, Colton always found a way to get what he wanted.

Behind those icy blue eyes and boyish smile, Colton was a cunning and cold-hearted businessman. He learned everything he knew from his father and his grandfather before that. All the men of the Rhodes family left this earth with a formidable legacy, and Colton planned to do the same. He was going to start making his mark in the world through this first lethal mission: killing Henri Ascott and ending his empire.

Just several generations ago, the Ascotts and Rhodes were mortal enemies. They were two large families who were fighting over business territories in the state of New York. Both families were determined to become the most powerful family in the city. Political wars, billions of dollars, and even blood were shed through this fight. 

After decades of fighting, the two families finally put aside their differences and called a truce during Colton’s father’s reign. His dad and Henri Ascott made a pact to keep the peace and divide their territories. This was New York City, after all. There was more than enough room for two powerful billionaire families to live in.

During this peaceful time, everything seemed to be going great. The Rhodes family focused their attention on the business instead of the war, and they became even more wildly successful. Henri Ascott must’ve been unhappy about this because his empire’s growth didn’t peak as much as the Rhodes. Using Colton’s father’s trust against him, he must’ve figured out a sneaky way to kill Edward and made it look like an accident.

Colton’s jaw clenched instinctively every time he remembered this story. His father was his hero. He wasn’t going to let anyone get away with murdering his father and stealing his legacy. With a fire burning in his heart, Colton didn’t think twice about taking over leadership and leading this deadly mission. 

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Colton was going to give the Ascott family a taste of their own medicine. He successfully slipped through the back door of the Plaza Hotel after bribing some of their bodyguards. Once inside, it was up to him to isolate the target and finish his mission as stealthily as he could.

Colton walked with conviction in his steps. He was feeling steady and calm. He had a mask covering his face and his favorite gun on his side. This is going to be fast, he thought to himself. Slipping through the crowd of people holding champagne glasses under the crystal chandeliers, Colton found his way to the backstage area where he knew Henri would be. 

Once he arrived backstage and behind the curtains, Colton found a spot where he could be unseen, but he caught the sight of Henri from the sidelines. He was standing before the curtains with another person next to him. It was a girl.

Colton drew his gun out slowly. It was dark behind the curtains so he had to make sure he aimed at the right person. He closed one of his eyes to get a better look through the gun’s point of view, but instead of aiming the mouth at Henri’s chest, Colton found himself looking elsewhere. His eyes were drawn to the girl standing next to Henri. 

This girl was a sight to behold. She had long blonde hair and beautiful green eyes. Her golden dress cascaded down her slender body and she had this smile that somehow put a lump in his throat. Colton felt his grip on the gun loosening involuntarily.

Damn. Focus, Colton, focus!

Shaking off the thought, Colton tightened his grip on the gun and pulled his composure. He was aiming for Henri’s heart again, but right before he was about to pull the trigger, the curtains suddenly rose up, revealing the sea of people before them.

“Please put your hands together for Miss Sierra Adeline Ascott, escorted by her father, Henri Maximillian Ascott!” the emcee announced and the whole room erupted in claps and cheers.

Colton took a step back immediately, swiftly hiding behind the poles so Henri couldn’t see him. His hand fell to his side and his chest was beating like crazy. He almost had him, but he was a second too late. Henri and the girl had already walked out.

Shit! I need to find another way!

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Colton wasn’t leaving the party before his mission was over. He slipped back into the shadows and waited for another opportunity where Henri would be alone. Unfortunately, this proved to be a difficult task because there were hundreds and thousands of people in attendance and Henri was always surrounded by his guests. 

Colton soon realized that this was no normal party. This was actually a cotillion for Henri’s daughter. Through his research, Colton knew that Henri had a daughter who was eighteen years old, but he never knew what she looked like until today. 

Sierra Adeline Ascott, Colton remembered that name. There was something about her that made him lose his focus back there. She was beautiful, sure, but it was more than just that. Colton was always surrounded by beautiful girls left and right. Sierra was not just beautiful, but there was something about those eyes and the way she smiled that did something inside his brain.

“What the hell was that?” He thought to himself. “Damn it, just focus!”

Colton cursed at himself for being too slow. If he didn’t lose his focus before, his job would’ve been done by now and he’d be on that private jet already. But instead of that, he had to spend the next hour scouring the hotel in and out for a chance at Henri Ascott.

Colton watched in the shadows as Henri went on to dance with his daughter. He was supposed to be watching Henri, but his eyes kept going back to Sierra. She was blushing at something Henri said and Colton found himself smiling. He didn’t mean to smile, but he enjoyed watching her. Every little move she made was mesmerizing to him. He didn’t even know how. 

Goddamn it, I gotta get outta here!

Colton was losing his focus again and he needed to pull it together. He decided to step away and wait out in the garden. Anyway, it was useless following Henri around inside the ballroom, he thought. There were too many eyewitnesses in sight.

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Colton waited for another half hour outside the party. He knew that Henri was an avid smoker, so it was only a matter of time until he went out of the ballroom to have a smoke. Colton sneaked through the shadows and found a cozy spot in the lower-ground garden, right below a big willow tree. The ballroom was located on the second floor and there were balconies facing the garden. The moment Henri stepped out to have a smoke, Colton would have a perfect shot.

It was a full moon that night and the air was cool and breezy. Colton’s gun was at the ready as his eyes remained set on the second-floor balcony. He waited and waited and waited for what felt like an eternity, and just when he was about to give up, he saw a shadow approaching one of the windows of the second floor. 

That’s it. It must be him!

Colton gripped his gun tighter and his finger was at the trigger. The window slowly opened and Colton narrowed his eyes at the person behind it. But instead of seeing Henri, Colton saw Sierra’s face leaning out of the room. 

Sierra was taking a deep breath of the open air and a smile crept up her soft lips. Colton was once again entranced. His gun lowered instinctively and he just watched her with eyes wide open. He noted how the wind was gently blowing on her face and her skin shone brightly under the cool moonlight. Colton swallowed hard as his heart began to beat faster and faster in his chest. No matter how much he told himself to turn away, he couldn’t stop looking at her like he was under some kind of spell.

It’s like seeing an angel in the flesh.

“Ahh!!!”

Suddenly and without warning, Sierra’s body stumbled out of the window and she was falling headfirst to the ground with a loud shriek. Everything happened so fast, Colton didn’t have time to think. His body acted out of reflex and he raced over to her, catching her right before she fell.

“I got you,” 

Colton wrapped his arms around her body and let her fall onto his chest. His back fell and hit the ground and she was on top of him. Colton even heard a crack, maybe he’d broken a bone or something, but he didn’t care. He didn’t feel any pain.

Their faces were only an inch away from each other and all he could feel were her breaths hitting his cheeks. And at that moment, Colton’s heart literally stopped beating.

Oh, fucking hell.

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- - - - To Be Continued. - - - -