5

Devinity 

I stared at the empty spot in front of me. One minute I had a gun pressed to my back and the next I’m wondering if I imagined the whole thing. 

A book my father wrote?

This has to be a joke. 

Why did it have to come up now after so many years? 

Then there was Reign Garcia. 

The entire Chicago knew who he was. The most feared mafia leader in and out of the state. I heard stories about him; terrifying ones but coming in contact with him wasn’t on my bingo card. At the same time, the rumors didn’t do any justice to his looks. If we had met under different circumstances, then maybe..

Get yourself together!!

The front door opened and I jumped in shock. My heart rate calmed a little when I saw it was just Vincent stumbling in. 

“Deprived wives are the best.” He exclaimed, kicking off his shoes to the side. I rolled my eyes at his comment. I quickly hid the gun I had under the blanket before he noticed.

“So I’m guessing you had a blast.” I said, my voice was a little shaky in the end but I had to maintain a straight face. 

How do I explain to my best friend whose priority was sex that I almost got killed and our lives were in danger?

“Not only did I have a blast, I actually did..”

“Okay, okay that would be all.” I said before he ended up making my ears bleed with a vivid description of his escapades. 

He laughed and headed up to his room.

I let out a deep sigh. Staying in this place was dangerous. If Reign found me then chances of every other person knowing about this location was high. Chances of being ambushed this night was also high.

“Consider my proposal; you work with me willingly or die in the hands of the next person that finds you.”

Reign’s words flashed through my mind. Trusting him was out of the question. What were the odds that he won’t dispose me the moment he found what he was looking for yet he gave me options.

***

The sound of gunshot made me spring out of my bed. I quickly grabbed my revolver from underneath my pillow and rushed out. I heard voices downstairs and slowly tiptoed to Vincent’s room but he was nowhere to be found. I checked his bathroom and walk-in closet but he wasn’t there. 

“Come downstairs or your boyfriend loses an arm.” Someone said in a singsong tone. I tucked the gun in my sweatpants and covered it with my oversized shirt. I walked downstairs only to see Vincent with blood on his lips.

“Vincent! Are you okay?” I said, running to his side.

“Who are these people?” He asked, his voice was strained and I realized he was hurt in other places. I felt anger cloud my vision and I turned to the grinning man beside Vincent.

“What the actual fuck do you want from me? I don’t have any stupid book you’re looking for!” I yelled, pushing him backwards. 

“So you do know what we want?” He said, his grin increased. I felt something press the back of my head and I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me what it was. “Now, hand it over and everyone will be happy or we’ll do it the hard way.” He stepped closer to me, so close that I could feel his stupid breath on my face.

Before I could stop myself, my knee came in contact with his crotch. A sense of satisfaction washed through me as he doubled over in pain. The man behind me pressed the gun aggressively to my head and I knew he couldn’t kill me, at least not yet.

The front door suddenly opened, grabbing our attention. One of the armed guys left Vincent’s side to check it out. After a few seconds, we heard a gun shot and the other men rushed to see what was wrong. I ran up to Vincent to check his injuries.

“How do you know these people?” He asked and my stomach churned in guilt.

“I don’t know them. I’ll tell you about it later. We need to get out of here first.” I said. I tried to help him stand but he winced in pain. 

“It’s just a few bruises here and there.” He said.

Some men entered the living room, looking around in alarm. They looked different from the ones that held us hostage earlier. “Are you okay?” One of them asked and I almost rolled my eyes. “Thank God boss asked us to keep watch.”

“Boss? Who sent you?” I asked, although something in me knew it was..

“Reign.”

I scoffed in disbelief. I couldn’t believe he sent people to protect me. It was suspicious. Reign Garcia wasn’t nice.

“Those guys were part of the runt of the the mafia world but if they could find you then it’s only a matter of time before this house is blown up.” 

I weighed my options. I was pretty sure that other mafia groups would think twice before trying to abduct me from Reign and I also had a plan of my own. I could use Reign’s connection to my advantage. He’d have more intel.

“I want to meet Reign.” The younger man nodded his head like he saw it coming. 

“Help him up.” He ordered and two other men walked towards Vincent and I.

“Call him here.”

“What?” His eyes widened in shock. I gave him a pointed look to show I wasn’t joking. “He might not..”

“Ask him to come.” I repeated and he slowly nodded his head. 

My heart pounded wildly. I didn’t want to give off the vibe that I was desperate to use his influence but what if he decided not to act nice anymore? Reign’s lackey stepped out to the side, probably to call him.

“You don’t mean Reign Garcia, right?” Vincent whispered, scooting closer to me on the couch.

“The one and only.”

“Holy fuck. How did you get yourself in this mess?” His hand went round my shoulders and I leaned my head against his chest. 

I have a lot of explaining to do.

In less than ten minutes, the front door bursted open and there he was in all his glory. He had to be at least 6’4. His hair was jet black and was cut short but not too short. One thing that drew me to him was his caramel eyes which were oddly soft for someone of his rank and personality.

“I don’t like him.” Vincent whispered. 

Reign must have had the same feeling as his glare was fixed on Vincent.

“You didn’t have to send people to protect me.” I said but his gaze didn’t move from my shoulders, specifically Vincent’s hand.

“So why did you summon me here?” I almost forgot what his voice sounded like. Something in me squirmed in excitement but I had to push it back.

I have to get it together.

“I might know a number of vacation houses that nobody else knows about and some private locations. I’ll take you there and if we find the book, you can have it. In exchange..” I rolled my eyes at the smug look on his face.

“I’ll protect you.” He stated like it was the most obvious reply. It was the only sane reply but I wasn’t going to waste my options. I didn’t want him to know that he had the upper hand

“What? No.” I spat like it was the most absurd thing I’ve heard. “I can handle myself.” He nodded in mock belief. Even the men with him chuckled.

“So what do you want?” He asked. 

“Help me find the people that killed my family.” I held my breath and waited for his reply.

“Done.” He shrugged. To my surprise, he didn’t see it as anything, I had to try another luck. This time I doubt he would actually listen to me.

“One more thing,” I quickly added, looking at my injured best friend. “Vincent will come with us.” 

“What?” Vincent whispered but I faintly elbowed him. I couldn’t afford to leave him here knowing that this house was already mapped out. 

“Deal?” 

“Deal. Pack your bags.” He said. “Levi, help him up.” The man beside him who I recognized as the same one from the night before nodded and walked towards us. Vincent glared at him but let him help him up.

I stood up and watched them walk upstairs. Vincent pointed at his room and they both disappeared behind closed doors. I felt a presence beside me and before I could turn, Reign grabbed my forearm and spun me to face him.

“Tell me Cíelo, is he your boyfriend?” He growled. I tried to shove him but his grip only tightened.

“What’s it to you?” I spat and he chuckled. It wasn’t a chuckle one let out because they found something funny but one a psychopath let out before a kill.

“Mi Cíelo, the next time I see hands around you and they’re not mine, I’ll burn him alive.”