Dogs barking.
Guns firing.
Birds chirping and coyotes howling.
Go. Go. Go.
Finally, my luck ran out. I stumbled on a rock, and because it was near the cliff, over I flew, rolling in the process as everything I came in contact with painfully dug into my skin and face. It felt like an eternity until my body landed, plastered right near the road. I lay still as my eyes watched the night sky filled with thousands of stars and fitful breaths escaped my lips.
The last thing I remember thinking was that it was a really awful way to die at my young age, and I hadn't accomplished any of my dreams. What did people do when someone or something came to take them away?
Then numbness and oblivion overtook me, and I welcomed it, because it brought such needed relief.
Over.
Everything was finally over.
Rosa
Wrapping my hands tightly around the black Beretta Brigadier .40, I pressed the trigger and it fired loudly. The bullet hit right in the middle of the target, creating a deep hole through which light streamed.
Fire. Fire. Fire.
No matter how many times I pulled the trigger, I always hit the target. When Damian took me under his wing nearly five years ago, he, Connor, and Luke made it their mission to teach me everything about self-defense.
A memory of four years ago came to mind.
"On the side," Connor shouted, as I dipped my head from the onslaught of the punching bag flying right at me and several plastic knives that were thrown my way. I managed to slide to the side just as he instructed. Next, I climbed the rope, pulling myself up despite the blisters throbbing on my palms, and I started to swing fiercely then dropped onto the mattress, landing on my feet, my hands at my sides. Glancing at the clock, I bent my arms at the elbows and danced a few salsa steps. Five seconds faster than the last time.
The kick behind my knees came out of nowhere. I lost my balance and ended up on the floor, my eyes glued to a stain on the ceiling.
"And you are dead." I glared at Connor, who stood above me. His muscled body was on full display in his workout shorts and tee, which stuck to his sweaty torso. His short blonde buzz-cut hair attracted the sunlight. His emerald-green eyes shone with satisfaction and displeasure at the same time.
"It's not fair. My training ends at this point."
Shaking his head, he took a sip from the water bottle he held. "Darlin', you should always be ready. You never know when danger is lurking. Learn to stay focused until the mission is over."
Frowning in confusion, I questioned, "What missions, man? I'm not planning to become an FBI agent, you know. Just learn self-defense." Connor was in the FBI and helped Damian solve his case. Both Connor and Frankie were kidnapped by the same child-prostitution trafficking ring, and they probably would've faced the same fate had it not been for Luke and the twins.
After my tragic story-and they didn't even know half of it-all three men decided it was crucial for me to learn how to take care of myself. So three times a week, Connor brought me here, some old gym owned by some ex-military guy, and he provided much-needed action training. Three other days each week, I worked out at home, building muscles and strength training, while Luke gave me his notorious lectures about not forgetting to be a woman in all this.
Connor shrugged and pointed his index finger at me. "Remember, Rosa, when it comes to self-defense, there is no such thing as too much."
"This girl is on fire," a voice said behind me, snapping me from my memory, and loud enough for me to hear despite the headphones I was wearing. Ignoring his words, I continued firing the gun until he finally stepped into my vision and stopped me. "Is that a way to greet me, Rosa?" Damian wore jeans covering up his cast, a black shirt, and a boot. His hair had grown a bit longer, so he shoved it back in a messy man-bun.
All-in-all, he looked good.
Unfortunately for me, he was almost identical to Dominic, which right then didn't really make him my favorite person in the world.
Like at freaking all.
"Are you ignoring me?"
Taking off my glasses and headphones, I raised my brow and flashed him a million-dollar smile. "Whatever made you think so?"
His eyes narrowed, and he pointed a finger at me. "Cut the bullshit. I'm here to talk."
Turning my head from side to side, I searched for Sapphire and Kristina, but the field and terrace of the house were empty. "You came alone?" It was hard not to notice the disbelief in my voice.
He chuckled and then sat on the nearby bench, patting it for me to follow suit. "They're home. I needed to speak with you alone." Sighing heavily, I joined him but still refused to hold his stare, so I just focused my attention on the beautiful rose garden my dad had at his New York mansion.
The mansion was located thirty minutes from the city on several acres of land, enough for all Dad's favorite hobbies and his constant guests.
He had fountains, flowers, and arches along with marble statues in his garden. Everything was surrounded by black and red roses, my mom's favorite. The grass was as green as emeralds and so soft to the touch. The effect was the same as lying on thousands of silky sheets. A round alcove stood right in the middle, covered in orchids that grew in the greenhouse a few feet away. Our butler, Bob, cared for them and made sure they blossomed.
The firing range was located at the far end, closer to the house in case something happened. Dad's pigeons lived in a special cage farther into the garden. They were all white, and he allowed them to fly freely, as they always came back. He could spend hours with them, whispering something, and probably reminiscing about old times.
Part of me suspected he kept it all the way it was and took care of it religiously, because it was Mom's dream and her design. He still couldn't move on, no matter how much he tried. As a child, I found it romantic. As an adult, it broke my heart. Living in the past sucked. Didn't he need love?
"We're leaving for North Carolina tomorrow."
Damian's words snapped me back to our conversation, and I turned my head to him. "So soon?" While I knew about their desire to go back, I thought we'd have more time to explore the city together with Sapphire. She promised to show me around, and advise me on some good places for food and books.
"Kristina misses Jason." I barely contained my laughter, remembering her obsession with her friend. The four-year-old legitimately thought they'd end up together, and needless to say, Damian didn't like it at all. "And what she wants, she gets. We'll come back in about a month or two, and then you'll have time to go shopping with her or whatever the fuck you guys planned to do."
Nodding, I stayed silent, because, for the first time, the weight of the whole situation crashed over me. For the last five years, Damian had been the only constant in my life, the one person who protected me and always had my back.
He became my brother, and now he was moving on to be with his family, because his revenge was finally over. On a level, for me, it was the end of an era. "Well, that's great." My voice shook a bit, but I tried desperately not to show him. It wasn't that I didn't want him to be happy or that I had a stupid crush on him as Dom had thought, but for so long, he was the only family I had. The only actual person who understood my hopes and dreams, the one who never thought any of it was impossible.
"Yeah, I can't wait to start my life with my girls." He was silent a beat, and then said, "I was in Houston. Visited my parents' graves. Dominic was there too." My heart stilled and then pushed against my ribcage.
Dominic was still in the States? Since I hadn't heard from him in the last three days, I assumed he went back home.
Licking my dry lips, I asked, "When is he going back?" Even an outsider could understand from the pitch of my voice how interested I was in the answer, let alone him.
"Soon," he replied curtly, and honestly, in that moment, I really wanted to smack Damian.
Was it so hard to help a girl out?
We grew silent once again, and I didn't understand what we were doing when he stood up and motioned for me to do the same. Furrowing my brows in confusion, I did what he asked, and immediately his arms closed around me in a squeeze so tight I could barely breathe. "Rosa, no matter where I live, you will always have me as your big brother. One call, girl, and I'll be here." My eyes watered at his words, and I hugged him closer, for a second closing my eyes and basking in the knowledge that he'd always be there for me. Until he said those words, it felt like I was losing him.
"Thank you," I whispered, and after a second, he leaned back and his thumbs gently removed the tears sliding down my cheeks.
"Another thing."
Wiping my nose with my sleeve, I studied him through blurry eyes. "Yeah?"
A mysterious smile appeared on his face. "Dominic is my twin, but if he hurts you, I will kick his ass. Remember that."
Waving my hand in denial, I replied quickly, "It's a nonissue. He gave up, and Dad is against it anyway. Plus, I'll be too busy with med school for all this drama." Damian tilted his head back and laughed loudly, which unsettled me, then pressed a kiss against my forehead as he shook his head.