Another sleepless night... they have been happening too often recently. Today I was tossing and turning a few times and waking up at least 3 times screaming or crying and covered in sweat. I wish my mom could hold me one more time and tell me that, whatever I am doing, all those nights when I'm taking care of stuff in the underworld, will finally start making some sense. I need to be strong, for her and Layla, for Diego and my dad, but mostly, for myself.
I am meeting one of my trusted associates, my dad's ex-employees - Derek, he helped me on multiple occasions, mostly when I need to push someone to talk but without losing my shit, which usually ends with me killing the bastards. Derek - ex-soldier, a trained pilot and boat captain, he was serving in marines for a short period.
Originally from an army family, both parents are in the US army. 3 siblings, two older brothers, ex-marines, 1 younger sister, the only one who wasn't a soldier, and more like a consultant. After serving his country, he came back to use his skills as security and private bodyguarding. Hired by my dad as a private bodyguard for me (I was 10 at the time), and he was 34. Since then he became like a second dad to me. Especially since my father was usually busy with work. Derek became good friends with my mom. I was 16 when he started to teach me how to shoot a gun, how to throw knives, how to disable many different locks and bombs.
I became a perfect assassin/spy but still had a conscience and whatever I did, I was taught to use my head and heart. And now, since I became Ruby, Derek became my right hand and partner and keep me in check whenever I need him.
He is like my guardian angel who always makes sure I won't end up in jail. Seriously, I don't know what I would do without him. He is an Afro-American, his skin colour is like those 60% dark chocolate, experienced in all types of defence, guns, and knife throwing. He knows quite a lot about computers, but he never tells me too much. He always says that I am the Hunter and he is just my IT guy who also knows how to defend himself. His sense of humour is cracking me up, big time, but I owe him my life.
I told Derek to meet me in one of our safe places, we are using all sorts of abandoned buildings, or sometimes renting any warehouses or rooms for secret hideouts. Throughout the years, you wouldn't believe how many locations we had to trash or even burn down when our identities were compromised.
We always make sure though that no human or any living thing would get hurt. As soon as I stepped into one of our secret rooms, which we mostly use for security Intel so it has few monitors installed within the space, that we rented inside this big skyscraper I was welcomed with the nickname I always hated the most.
"Hello Ruby"
"Ohh fuck off Derek, I told you not to call me that, it is so cliche"
"Well I like it, I am your partner in crime, I should be able to have a nickname for you," Derek said with a visible smirk forming out on his lips.
"You better tell me if you have any good news" I answered pointing out my fingers on all the stash of papers that were lying on the desk.
"I'm afraid you won't like it" - Derek answered me with a visible concern on his face. Every time he does that. His forehead crinkles in a few places and he looks much older than he is.
"Come on Derek, you're scaring me..."
I started looking at him and let me tell you, I haven't expected what I was about to hear.
"He's back Aaliyah... The Serpent is back"
This sentence was like a knife through my heart. The Serpent was one of the most dangerous man in the underworld. No one knew much about him, mostly, whatever you heard on the streets. Gun and human trafficking, drugs, and multiple brothels. He was also a ghost, for about 5 years no one knew where he was, he just disappeared one day and now he's coming back. Question was, why?
Throughout the years, since I started 'working' my other lifestyle, many of the Serpents men on the streets were seriously pissing me off. I was the reason most of them were put in jail or, sometimes, killed when they were meddling into something they shouldn't. I'm not sorry though, as a bigger percentage of these scumbags deserved whatever came for them. Still, some of them had families, and for that, I am sorry, because of the fact of who I am, some of these kids grew up without fathers or mothers.
There was a slight hint of guilt within me and that was when I decided to create this secret account in the fake name, but something related to my father's business so he would pay some money for charity every month. It wasn't a big money, but still, enough to at least help some of the families that needed it more than for example Gloria who was using my family's money a few times a week to buy new purses or pair of shoes. That bitch was doing my head in every time she did that.
And my father was oblivious to anything that she was doing and most of the time, not knowing, he was letting her use his cards to buy unlimited kinds of trash. Most of the things she bought, she didn't even end up using, which then landed in the trash. In my opinion, the trash should go in the trash and that's where the all-mighty Gloria should go. But hey, that was just my opinion.
"It can't be, he vanished, we looked for him for 5 years, he was nowhere to be found, everyone thought he died," I said to Derek. I was honestly scared. The way that I wasn't really scared of practically nothing, Serpent was someone that I wouldn't mind not meeting, ever.
"That's not over yet, I heard on the streets that he has a son and he wants him to take over" Derek continued.
"Serpent has a son?! That's a good one - this sentence itself made me chuckle - Who would want a scumbag like him to be a baby daddy?"
"As far as I know, he knocked up some stripper in one of his clubs but then he took the baby from her. The kid was raised outside of the city with grandparents, but Serpent wants to step down and his son is about to take over everything".
As soon as Derek finished his sentence I noticed that he put his hands into fists and became nervous but still managed to hold his position and the expression on his face was numb.
"Over my dead body. I won't let him ruin the city again!"
"Aaliyah, we are talking about the Serpent for God's sake. He is the bloody killer, a snake, you don't stand a chance against him"
"I won't go after the Serpent you dick, I will take care of this son of his. I will do him a favour, he won't know when and where but, mark my words, I will finish him"
I don't think, I've ever been more scared and excited at the same time. Serpent was bloody scary, Derek was right, I couldn't just go after him, he was the most dangerous man in the city, maybe even the whole world, but the fact that he has a son, who hasn't been around, only makes it more realistic, now I know, hopefully, that I found his weakness and as soon as I will kill the son, I will go after the father if it's the last thing I will have to do.
Later in the afternoon, I left our hideout after receiving a message from my brother that my dad wants to talk to me in his office. It was urgent. As soon as I arrived I just informed the secretary about being present and not even waiting to be announced I strolled inside.
"I came to see my dad, is he in his office?"
"Miss? Miss? Where do you think you're going?" she shouted but I completely ignored her.
When I opened the door Diego was sitting by the window, he noticed me straight away and nodded in my direction. Dad on the other hand was on the phone, hasn't even acknowledged me. We waited about 20 minutes talking to each other and then when Dad finished his call, he turned his head to me and said.
"There you are, I see that Diego gave you heads up"
"Hello daddy, what was so important you couldn't tell me at home? "
"Well... one of my clients, who just came back to the city, wants to do business with us again, but he also asked for a favour that I have to take care of"
"Daddy you're scaring me"
"His son asked for your hand in marriage and I said yes. This family is very powerful and this kind of unity will help us for the future too"
"I said yes. I said yes". My dad kept talking and the only words I heard were: I said yes. Marriage. Arrangement. Unity. Prison. He took my freedom for love, my daddy?! My mind was blank, I stood there and I completely froze in place until Diego shook me off. And then the first words that came out of my mouth in a rather aggressive tone were.
"YOU FUCKING SOLD ME OFF!!!!?"
"Language young lady!"
"I am not going to be someone's puppet sir, I'm outta here!" I shouted back at him and then I ran out of the office. I felt betrayed and about to cry but I hold it in. I heard dad shouting after me but it was already a faint shout.
"Come back here Aaliyah, this instant! Aaliyah!!!"
Diego's POV
Hearing the dad practically strip my baby sister out of her choice made me furious. I always thought that our father had some morals but since mom died and he married Gloria, he changed. He became cold and selfish. But this, this is the next level. Before, he never did anything that would connect her with his businesses. I, on the other hand, knew of some, but I still haven't accepted most of it. It was too dark for me, too many bad people. And now, when I think that he just crossed a line here with Aaliyah, that he chose to bring her into this world, he made my blood boil.
"Not cool dad, she's your daughter, how could you? I don't recognize you anymore. Not since mom died".
"Go back to work Diego!"
"Nah, I better go check on Lia, don't expect me to come back home tonight".
As soon as I spat the words at him, I run out of the office after Lia. She had a bit of a head start, so I just hope I will be able to find her before she will do something stupid. And unfortunately for me, she was always better at any hide and seek game we were playing.
Aaliyah's POV
How could he? Mom would never allow it, she wouldn't even think about it. She always told me the story of how my parents met, how in love they were. She always wanted the same for me and Diego. She said that, whenever I will feel the spark, I will know that I found my true love. It's not that I was looking for it, no, I was always more "wait & see" kinda girl. But, what my dad did, broke me. I know that technically he didn't take money for it, but he stripped me out of my freedom to fall in love. I know I have to get out of this somehow, but how?
I went to the only place where I could find peace now. I had to see my mom. Maybe small talk with her will do me a favour. I arrived at the cemetery just before it started getting dark. I made sure to bring her favourite flowers too, white lilies. She loved them. She was the only one. I always thought they had a too strong a smell, I'm more of sunflowers kinda girl, unusual, but that's who I am. I was already heavy crying.
"Hola mama. I know you can't answer me, I just, need you right now. My life is falling apart. Daddy agreed to... To... Argh, I can't even say it out loud. I wish I could touch you again. I miss you, mama, you would know what to do...". I decided to sit on the ground next to her tombstone. I don't even know when but I fell asleep and I had the strangest dream ever.
I was still at the graveyard and I couldn't believe what was happening. Right there before my eyes, my mom appeared or her ghost, or angel, it didn't matter. I needed her and she came. What happened today was the first time since she died when I felt lost. She was probably so disappointed in me because of my second life.
After all, I kill people, they are bad people, but still, I don't care about their life or the feelings of their loved ones. I just pull the trigger. And seeing her in my dream felt so real and immediately I felt guilty. Because mom knew me as this sweet innocent girl and I'm a complete opposite now.
I was scared of her reaction but when the only thing that she did was to hug me, she surprised me but at the same time I was so grateful that the first thing she thought about was to hug me. I knew that this wasn't really that it didn't happen but I didn't care, I was glad that my subconscious gave me that dream at the moment I needed it most.
When I woke up it was past 3 am. I was still in the graveyard. As soon as I checked my phone I had multiple messages from Diego and Derek, and even a few from dad. I called Diego straight away to let him know that I'm ok but also to inform him that I won't be coming home tonight. He made me promise that I will meet him for breakfast in the morning.
After that, I went to one of my safe houses. It was a small cabin in the woods, I texted Derek to meet me there, he wasn't very happy to be awakened but as soon as I promised to buy him a drink, he agreed on the spot. There were just too many things we had to plan for ahead. Right now, not only Serpent was on my mind, but also this fucking arrange marriage...
Unknown POV
I arrived in the US a few minutes ago. The journey from Italy was long, mostly because I had to make a stop for the last contract that I had. I was finally free of obligations to this fucker that was giving me contracts for all his enemies that he wanted to get rid of and it's not like I'm even surprised, he knew I was the best when he hired me but throughout the years he was greatly abusing my patience but at the same time, with each new contract the money he was offering was much bigger which was the only reason why I was taking all of them.
I knew that at some point I will want to leave this life behind me. I was thinking so many times though, what kind of another career a man like me could have. All I knew in life was fighting and killing. I had no family to teach me something other than that.
Now I'm over 30 and for the first time, I am the one deciding what to do next. No more contracts and no more useless deaths and blood on my hands. Or so I thought. When I checked into the hotel I was staying for the night I went to the nearby bar. It was pretty packed already but I still managed to get a drink, mostly because this cute bartender was eyeing me up and down since the moment I came in.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind some one-night stand, as I haven't fucked anyone in over a month and I was starting to feel thirsty for some action but I wouldn't want to settle for the first woman I saw. That was the least of my problems. I was someone who could have any girl I would set my eyes on. I didn't have to even test that out, the second I stepped on the dance floor, I was in the centre of attention.
It took just a moment, and there was this blonde chick grinding on my leg and not gonna lie, I liked it, even though she wasn't my type, that wasn't the case for my dick, because the moment her bum started swaying, the bulge in my pants started getting hard and it seemed like she didn't need much more convincing because just a few seconds later I found myself in one of the cabins in men's toilet and we were forcefully kissing and then she got on her knees and started sucking me off.
I wasn't gentle, I never was. Or I never wanted to be for anyone. This wasn't a problem to her, it was like she knew I stopped focusing on her, so she grabbed my hand, placed it on her head, and forced me to thrust into her throat much harder, which I did straight away.
I was fucking her mouth hard and deep, it felt amazing, I thought to myself, this is what I needed. And when I heard her choking I slowed a bit to give her time to compose herself. I was very close to orgasm but I wanted to wait a little bit more, see what she's gonna do. And I wasn't disappointed.
She started simultaneously masturbating my dick and sucking it too and when I started to shake and my big guy started to uncontrollably pulsate in her mouth, I loaded her throat with my juices, and to my surprise, she sucked me off until the last drop. What happened next though, completely took me off guard.
"That would be $100 sugar," she said while extending her hand to me and that statement itself made me mad. Was she a fucking prostitute?!
How did I miss that? I guess being tired with jetlag and horny at the same time isn't such a good combination. I knew that I won't pay her but at the same time I wouldn't want to have another problem on my hands of her pimp or whatever. So I just did the only thing I could in this situation. I showed her who is the alpha.
"Ohh no sweetheart, you came onto me, which means, you wanted to suck me more than I wanted to fuck you. You're not even my type. You can blame it on the big guy" I said looking her straight in the eye. I was easily towering over her.
Even with high heels, she might have been a maximum 5ft 4 while I was easily 6ft 6. She started cursing me and when she slapped me and wanted to slap me again straight after I caught her hand and spun her around so her filthy face would face the cabin wall. I pinned her hands over her head and whispered into her ear.
"Listen bitch, I am not someone you want to mess up with, I can fuck you hard, but you won't get any money from me, you got it, and because you were very bad you will have to beg for it, I can sense your arousal, you're already wet down there. So, do you want me, or you don't?
Last chance, because when I leave this cabin you won't ever see me again". I could hear her panting, while I was whispering to her ear I was stroking her pussy that was wet with her juices already, it was obvious that she wanted me inside her. You don't have to be a genius to know that sort of thing. When I was about to lose the grip on her hands I heard.
"Fuck me please, I beg you. And don't hold back".
It was music to my ears, mostly because he was ready again, and looking for another pussy at this time would probably lead me to masturbate in my hotel room and I wanted to avoid doing that at all cost. I ripped her panties off, took my pants down and I thrust inside of her faster than she managed to say fuck.
She was so wet that my dick slide into her so easily and a few seconds later I was fucking her harder and harder. After a while, I told her to put her hands in front of her for stability and she obeyed, and then I put a finger into her mouth so she could suck it for a while.
When I felt her pussy walls tighten around my cock it was time, and before I had time to change our position she screamed that she was cumming so I did the same and our liquid started leaking out of her hole and later created a sticky crust on her legs. I started gathering my stuff and when I was about to leave she grabbed my hand and asked
"Will I ever see you again?"
I burst out laughing and spat in her face "Oh God, I hope not. It was a one-time thing sugar" and then I left the toilet. I ordered one more drink, downed it quickly, and left the bar feeling satisfied. The worst thing was that this night was about to become my last peaceful one, I just didn't know it yet...