L...Lucas?
"Not so fucking smart as you think, huh?" he growled and pressed the gun further into my neck. The cold metal hurt the delicate skin, but I gritted my teeth, not giving him the satisfaction of seeing me wince.
I cursed my dark window tint to the depths of hell.
"Do not fucking move or I will blow your brains out all over this fucking seat. Who do you work for?" Lucas asked harshly, and the small hairs on my nape stood up. Dominic's words came to mind instantly, and I clenched my fists. You die before you snitch.
"Myself," I said confidently, and the gun was removed from my neck. For a second, I thought he believed me, but he grabbed my jaw with one hand and turned my head to face him. I kept my composure when my eyes landed on him.
Lucas was scary and impulsive. A bullet could be released into my skull right there, and nobody would know.
"Don't play cute with me. Tell me who the fuck you work for." He snapped and tightened his grip on my face. I did not say anything, and he roughly let go of me. I grabbed my jaw and moved it side to side. That hurt. I watched as he climbed over to the passenger seat while keeping the gun pointed at me.
It was almost comical.
He grabbed something from his jacket pocket and began screwing the object onto the tip of the gun. It was a silencer, and that was when my heart started pounding even harder.
Was I going to be killed in the parking lot of a gym? I had imagined my death to be far less eventful than that.
"I would say we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but honestly, both ways would be easy," Lucas said slowly and leaned forward once again. My keys were still in my hand, and if I was quick enough, I would get him right in the carotid artery, but I did not want to take the chance.
"Speak," he demanded.
I did not say anything.
Lucas reached over at lightning speed and pulled the back of my hair, exposing my neck. He pressed the gun right below my chin, and he was so close that I could feel his breath. I made the mistake of whimpering when agony shot through my scalp, and Lucas smirked at seeing me in pain.
"Drop that." He nodded his head toward the key in my hand and cocked the gun. A sick feeling formed in my chest, and I hesitantly let go, feeling all hope of getting out alive diminish.
"I'm not going to ask again. Who the fuck do you work for?"
"Myself," I said through a clenched jaw while maintaining an unwavering stare with him.
Lucas groaned out loud before pulling the gun away from my neck. My eyes widened when it was replaced by his lips, and a tremor of disgust racked through me.
"Get the fuck off of me!" I yelled and tried to push him away, but he was too strong, too powerful. I reached for the handle of the door and shakily tried to open it.
"Open that door and you are dead." He warned, and I could see he meant every single word. His eyes were glossy, and his pupils were heavily dilated. He looked high on something.
"You think you can steal from us and get away with it? You little bitch. Who the fuck do you think you are?" Lucas laughed, but the humor was lacking.
I struggled to breathe as the air caught in my throat.
Dominic had mentioned that Lucas was second in command to a cartel drug lord, and it turned out to be my own flesh and blood. My throat felt like a golf ball had formed in it.
"What the fuck. You are his daughter?" Lucas asked in shock and quickly sprang away from me, putting space between us.
The fire in my chest was blazing, but at the same time, I felt like I had no reason to be angry. I breathed in heavily, and the backs of my hands fell down to my lap.
"She is my daughter." My father, the Colombian cartel boss, spoke hastily and sullenly.
"What the fuck," I whispered.
How could I have been so oblivious? Why was I surprised? The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. My mother changing our surnames from Valencia to Haynes, obviously wanting to cut all ties with him.
PMy mother forbidding me from seeing my own father because it was dangerous. My mother demanding that we only speak English in her household.
Lucas got out, and I felt my body finally slump down onto the seat in relief. How was I going to explain who I worked for without causing more complications?
I collected the fallen key from the floor of the car and stuck it into the ignition, not wasting a single second before speeding out of the lot.
My phone rang from inside my gym bag, but I ignored it. It stopped but rang again and again until eventually I pulled over to the side of the road to answer whoever was calling.
"What?" I yelled at the private number, feeling beyond irritated.
"Ouch," Dominic said, sounding hurt, and I sighed, letting my head fall back on the headrest.
"Why the fuck is your phone on private?" I asked a bit more harshly than I meant to.
"I'm sorry," I apologized before he could say anything. Guilt consumed me. I was never the one to let my anger get the best of me, and Dominic was not about to be my punching bag. "I did not mean to speak to you like that," I said dejectedly.
"It is fine. What is wrong? Are you okay?" Dominic asked worriedly.
"Just... where are you?" I asked and watched the cars speed past me.
"I am at your apartment waiting for you, angel." He said, and I felt my heart sink.
"Okay. I will be there soon." I muttered before switching the call off and getting back onto the road. Every five seconds, I kept glancing at the rearview mirror or side mirrors in case anyone was following me.
When I finally reached my apartment door, Dominic was leaning beside it. When he saw me, he pushed himself off it, and a big smile on his face. It calmed me instantly, but I unlocked the door and quickly stepped inside. I shut it behind Dominic and locked it before throwing myself into his arms.
"Baby... what is wrong?" He asked and stroked my hair as I firmly wrapped my arms around his waist. The warmth of his body and his scent was all the comfort I needed.
"Let's talk." I took his hand in mine and led us to sit on the couch. He was looking at me with concern in his eyes, and underneath the dim light of my living room, they almost seemed black.
"Ah fuck, you are done with me, are you not?"
I thought he was joking, but the seriousness on his face said otherwise. My lips tilted up slightly, and I shook my head.
"No," I reassured him and turned my body to face him. I was momentarily distracted by how good he looked in his grey sweatpants and plain black hoodie, but I rid myself of those thoughts immediately.
"What is the name of Lucas's boss?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
He looked at me in confusion. "Alarico Valencia."
"You are rivals?" I questioned, feeling dread and anxiety rush through me.
"We have been for years, angel. Can you tell me what is going on?"
Oh, for fuck's sake.