Unsee?

Adrian

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I took my seat beside Sienna.

"What do you mean, what am I doing here?" she shot back, a little too sharp, a little too defensive.

I didn’t have time for this. My gaze flicked to Natasha. "You’ll take care of her, right?"

She gave a firm nod before shrugging off her bartending apron and disappearing into the back.

I scanned the room, subtle but efficient, and my guys nodded in silent confirmation. We dodged the ambush.

Minutes ago, I had just returned from an international business event—something about cultural unity, whatever the hell that meant. My liquor company had been handpicked to create a limited edition release for the upcoming summit. Good for business. Great for credibility.

But just after the contract signing, Michael called.

Dominic was making his move.

The bastard had been trying to get his right-hand man back—the one we’d been holding for three days now. And knowing Dominic, he wouldn't come at us head-on. He’d send an ambush instead.

Coward.

I ordered Michael to bring some of the boys here. If Dominic wanted to play dirty, I’d play smarter.

I pulled out my phone, texting Mug—my other right-hand man. They should be arriving soon with Dominic’s guy. But before that, I needed Sienna gone.

"You’re quiet," she noted, her voice softer this time.

"What would you have me say?" I exhaled, signaling to the bartender a few feet away. He wordlessly handed me my cigar.

"Well, there’s a reason you asked."

I took a long drag, letting the smoke curl around us.

"Sienna, I’m having someone escort you back to the hotel we met at. I need you to wait for me there."

"What?" Her eyes went wide, and I chuckled, amused.

"No. Why? How? Why would you think I’m here for you? I came because it was fun last night."

"Alright then. There’s no fun here today, Sienna. There could be if you wait at—"

"No. What the hell is that?" she cut in, grabbing her bag and turning to leave.

Natasha reappeared, nodding slightly as Sienna made her way to the door. But just before she could step out, Michael appeared beside me.

"Dominic’s here. And he’s not here to talk," he murmured.

I exhaled sharply. "Bring in his guy."

"Sienna," I called out.

She froze mid-step, her posture stiff. But it wasn’t my voice that stopped her—it was the nearly lifeless body Mug was dragging in. Her face paled.

I crossed the room in three strides, grabbing her wrist and spinning her toward me. Her body collided with my chest, and I held her there. She didn’t push away. Too shocked.

"Underground," I ordered, and Mug immediately changed direction, hauling Dominic’s guy toward the back.

"He’s dead," Sienna whispered, barely audible.

"He’s not. Just tired." I kept my voice calm. "Now, we need to get you out of here. Fast."

That seemed to jolt her awake. Her entire body tensed, her breathing sharp.

"What the fuck was that? Where the hell am I? A crime ring? You just killed a man!" Her voice rose, sharp enough to make every guy in the room turn.

I sighed. "Just do as I say, Sienna. I don’t have time for this tantrum."

"Tantrum? I just saw a dead body! Look at all of you—you look like criminals!"

Right then, a gunshot cracked outside.

Instinct kicked in. I grabbed her and threw her over my shoulder, her body twisting in protest.

"Put me down!" she yelled, fists pounding weakly against my back.

I ignored her, signaling the boys. A barrage of gunfire erupted from our side, answering the attack. A body tumbled inside the bar, collapsing at the entrance. Blood streamed in a thin line toward my feet. I stepped aside.

"Bastards," I muttered under my breath. The exchange kept going. I kept moving.

Reaching the bar island, I set Sienna down, but the moment her feet hit the ground, she gasped.

"Blood. Help."

I gripped her chin, forcing her to look at me. "The way you survive is silence, firecracker."

She trembled, hands shaking as they clamped over her mouth.

I turned back to the battleground.

Dominic’s men had forced their way inside, though many of them now lay in pools of their own blood.

"I really didn’t want a messy Wednesday, Dominic. I just needed to talk."

My voice carried across the chaos. Dominic himself was hiding—using one of his men as a shield. I spotted him but pretended not to.

"Shut up. I wasn’t the one who initiated the attack that day!" he shouted back. "That guy with you acted on his own."

I let out a slow breath. "Then why are you here? If the boy acted alone, let him deal with his karma."

"Your men wouldn’t stop threatening me."

"That’s because I got some very interesting information that completely wrecks your little defense here."

Silence. Then: "What?"

I smirked. "That boy said you contacted the Exiled. That you reached out to my worst enemy. That you were planning to hand me over."

Dominic stiffened. "Why the hell would you believe him?"

"Maybe because his description of your plan was…incredibly detailed."

I signaled to Mug. He aimed in Dominic’s direction and fired. A loud yelp echoed as one of Dominic’s men crumpled.

Gunfire erupted from the remaining five in front of him.

I sighed. "This is getting annoying."

My men responded instantly, dropping all five of Dominic’s frontmen. Their screams of pain filled the air as they hit the ground, writhing. Mug strode over, grabbed Dominic, and dragged him forward.

I walked to the bar, perched on a stool, and exhaled.

"Now that you’re ready for this conversation… lock him up with his boy. Underground. And clean up this mess." I gestured lazily at the floor—at the groaning, bleeding bodies scattered across it.

Rubbing my temple, I turned back to Sienna.

She had her phone out. Recording.

I chuckled and snatched it from her hand, tossing it to the closest guy. "Melt it."

Sienna’s eyes went wide. She stumbled back like I’d grown horns.

I stepped toward her. She screamed.

"You shouldn’t have seen this if you’d just left earlier," I said, grabbing her wrist. "Now, let’s go."

"Go where? People died! I swear, I won’t say anything—I promise—I’ll keep my mouth shut—"

Words tumbled out of her in a panic as she kept backing up, pressing against the wall like she expected it to save her.

I sighed, impatient. Enough of this.

I threw her over my shoulder and headed out.

"They’re dead," she whispered.

"No. They’re asleep." I smirked. "Nothing to worry about."