Page 67 of Gemini
“Not without me.”
They turned back to me in sync.
“It’s too—”
“Leslie, I swear if you say it’s too dangerous, I willscream. You aren’t leaving me here alone. This man knows where my sister is so you’re going to take me to him,” I demanded.
Before they could argue, Miranda appeared.
“Well, well, miss a cozy hallmark moment, did I?” she said, smirking.
Lez didn’t answer her back, he only stared at me. “If anything happens to you, I’ll probably go on a killing spree, you realize that, right?”
I gave him a sad sort of look. “I know. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
Dom went over to Miranda and showed her his phone. She read his words then glanced up at me, her smile widening. “Sure thing, boss.” She winked at me and disappeared. Dom signed something at Leslie and he inhaled deeply.
“Alright. But you stay in the car, you hear me?” He pointed a finger at me. “Don’t get out no matter what.”
“Fine.”
“Let’s go.”
Dom’s car roared down the freeway. The rain had turned into a fine mist making the visibility more difficult, but that didn’t faze him as he sped past several cars. Behind him Lez kept up in the van with Gemini members following. I didn’t make a sound as we raced toward the west side of the city, my hand trembling as I gripped the handle of the car door. My heart raced but outwardly I remained calm.
Dom took an exit ramp off the highway and swerved down another road, his tires screeching. I felt the tension in himtoo, that sharp focus on his target. I could imagine just how incredibly efficient he and his brother would have been in a special ops mission, that collective determination to see the job done and let nothing stand in their way. I was grateful that power was to help me instead. I didn’t dwell on everything Leslie had said, at least not yet, but I felt a weight lift from me the further we went, an amazing euphoria filling up the empty space in my heart.
I was theirs. And they were mine.
Dom started to slow as he turned down a darkened side street. As we came up to an abandoned park, he pulled into a small lot. Leslie’s van stopped closest to a row of trees while the other cars parked along the street. A couple men jumped out from the back of the van, their faces covered by hoods, black scarves over their mouths. Men from the other cars joined them, their guns and knives shining in the car lights. Dom hopped out and popped open the trunk. As I opened my door, Leslie came storming over with Leo beside him.
“The place is just past the trees,” he pointed. “We shouldn’t be long but if anything happens, Leo is going to drive you out of here. Understand?”
I nodded. Leo came over to the driver’s side and slid in. I noticed he had a walkie on him that matched the one Leslie now sported on his belt. Dom came into view and handed Leslie gun clippings and what I could only describe as a mini submachine gun. The reality of the situation hit me as Leslie stashed it in on his person. He then took a creepy orange mask with a jagged grin and sinister eyes. Dom carried a similar mask in black. Before they put their masks on, I reached out and caught the sleeve of Leslie’s jacket.
“You swear you’ll get out of there if anything goes wrong,” I said, low and serious.
Leslie leaned in, taking hold of the back of my neck gently. “I’ll do my best for you, baby.” He smirked as I frowned, then he kissed me. I kissed him back, biting down on his bottom lip. He groaned softly as we separated. As he licked his lip, I gifted him a sly little smile.
“Great, now I’m gonna be hard.”
I laughed and pushed him away. “Go. Both of you. Get back here fast. That’s an order.”
Leslie saluted me. Dom reached out, brushing his hand along the side of my face in a comforting gesture. I gripped it and gave him a smile before he and his brother donned their masks and slipped away.
I watched them disappear, one of their team standing by the van to wait. I tried to not let the anxiety eat at me as the clock ticked away. Leo put on some music and lit up a joint, offering me some but I declined.
Staring out into the wet night, I was itching to leave the car and start pacing. Instead, my leg was jack-hammering into the floor of the car as my knee shook. Eventually my leg started to hurt and I had to stop. I started rubbing my hands, then biting my nails. I glanced at the clock and it had been fifteen minutes. I didn’t hear any gunshots or shouts. I didn’t see any movement in the trees. I feared the worst, ready to see cop cars speeding down the street toward the building. Or worse—Serpents. When it hit the twenty-minute mark, I turned to Leo.
“Do you think something—” I started to say. Then I gasped, my hand gripping on the handle ready to bolt out the door as I saw a group emerging from the trees. Leo put out his hand, stopping me.
“They’re back,” he said.
The group rushed into the lot, and I could see the black and orange masks Leslie and Dom adorned. Behind them their team dragged a man with a bag over his head to the van and quicklydeposited him into the back. A few joined him inside before shutting the doors while Leslie immediately got into the driver. Dom and the rest of their crew rushed for their cars. Leo traded with Dom, slipping into the back seat while Dom shut the car door and shifted into drive. Quickly I fumbled with my seat belt as he jerked the car back then flew out of the lot, gaining speed.
I managed to look over at him as he swerved around a corner and saw a splatter of blood on his shirt.
“Dom,” I said in a panic.
