Page 19 of Come to Head

“What do you want to know?” Oliver’s grating voice came from behind Emilio, but he didn’t lift his head. Soaking up as much warmth as he could of his Bella Isa.

Isa’s hands started moving again, tangling further into Emilio’s hair. “Let’s start with how you and Emilio met.”

“Church,” Oliver said in a monotonous voice.

“Emilio, will you tell me please?” Isa removed her hands entirely, falling back into the couch as Emilio raised his head, watching her carefully.

He ignored the other two men in the room as he recalled one of the worst moments in his life; it was also the shifting point for him. He was 12 and following his sister at his father’s command.

Camila! Where are you? This isn’t funny anymore!He screamed the words in his head at his sister in frustration as he hid in a bush just outside a clearing deep in the woods.

Emilio had been looking for her everywhere. She had left a few hours ago to “meet” someone and his dad had sent him to follow her.

When he eventually caught a break, finding her car parked at the forest’s edge, he made it just in time to see her stepping onto a trail.

For a while, he thought she wasderanged, walking aimlessly into the woods, but then she had made it to a small clearing where a large modern house rested. When she let herself inside, Emilio shook with frustration.

What was she doing out here?

And why was he forced to follow her?

He tried to see her from the inside, but all the windows were covered with just a bit of light escaping around the curtains. At this point he hadn’t delved very far into his family’s business. If he had, he might have known better. Known that this was their enemy’s territory, that he ought to call for help right away.

Emilio stayed at his spot behind the bushes just on the outside of the clearing, doing his best to stay awake. It was nearing midnight now and the moon shone in the sky, trickling through the foliage he hid in.

He heaved a sigh.This was pointless, she’s probably meeting with a boyfriend.

He fell back on his butt, leaning against the tree to his left. He was exhausted; he had gone to school and then soccer practice and now he was out in the woods. He began to blink, long and slowly until his eyes stayed shut.

***

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Emilio shot up from his resting place. He didn’t know how much time had passed, but the moon’s light still trickled down.

He shifted just in time to see the door of the house slam shut. He went to yell at his sister.

But it wasn’t her.

Panic, concern,worry.

It was three men. One of them stepped forward surveying the area and Emilio was able to get a good look at him. He was wearing a suit that was incredibly disheveled and sprayed in red.

Jullian McKell?

The mayor?

Emilio’s heart was beating rapidly in his chest as the second man walked into the moonlight. He blended into the night, dark clothes, cropped jet black hair, charcoal soulless eyes.

Christian York.

Emilio may not have known much of his family’s affairs, but he knew one thing for certain.

Christian York was a dangerous man.

At this point, Emilio was terrified. He sat petrified from his vantage point when the third man moved into view. All of him remained in shadows, except his eyes.

His cerulean orbs found Emilio’s.

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