Angel With a Shotgun

C I N Q U E

In a giant city like New York, a little death occasionally goes unnoticed.

      When Gavin and I reached our destination, four bodies laid dead in the alleyway. There was a woman with dark curly hair and paled tan skin. Her green eyes were still open. She looked to be in her late forties.

     Adjacent to her, was a curious looking man around the same age. He had dark, straight hair and brown eyes; still open. Next to him was a young man in his early twenties with dark curly hair, his eyes left open, too. I began to hyperventilate when I realized that something about this was so familiar; I just couldn't put my finger on it.

     That wasn't the creepiest part, though. Lying in front of them was a girl who couldn't be more than twelve. She had dark curly hair just like me. Unlike the others, her eyes were closed.

     I gasped out of fear when I realized why this all looked so peculiarly familiar: the victims resembled me and my family.

     "Whoever did this knows something about you. They want to scare you." Jason said once Gavin and I went back to the compound with the information. He also sent individuals to clean up the mess.

     "Well, it worked." I was still shaken up. Gavin had a protective arm around me while I cried.

     "I'll bet it's one of Victor's minions." Laura inquired.

     "Why? Who even is he?"

     Jason sighed, "Well, I guess you'll need to know now that you and your family are literally in danger from him."

     "But my parents are already dead. The only people left here are me and my brother Chase. And he's at college."

     "What was the report?" Gavin asked.

     I stared at him. "They died in a car crash when our car randomly flipped over."

     "Are you sure it was random?"

     "Yeah, why wouldn't it be?" I gasped, looking at all of them when I realized, "Do y'all think Victor had something to do with my parents death?"

     "It's possible." said Laura.

     "But I didn't even know of him! I didn't even know y'all when it happened."

     "Well, he obviously knew you." Jason replied.

     I stood up crying again, exasperated and fearful. Gavin wanted to comfort me, but I pushed him away.

     I started to leave when Jason called out, "Nina, wait. You're going to have to stay here at the compound for a while. We need to keep you safe."

     Nodding, I responded, "Yeah, I just need to make a few phone calls." I took off upstairs to my room, wanting to be alone.

     The fact that he called me by my name instead of Bellissima made me all the more terrified.

     I paced back and forth in my room, my heart pounding and my breath hyperventilating.

     Once I was able to calm down for a few seconds, I dialed Chase's number.

The phone rang for a few seconds, but he finally picked up on the fifth ring. "Hey, Ni-"

"Chase, can you come to New York?" I spoke fast.

He chuckled, "Damn, miss me,much?"

"Listen, don't ask any questions, but please come back home."

"What's wrong, Neens?" I heard the sound of keys jangling in the background.

"I told you, don't ask any questions, but come here as soon as you can. I'll text you the address."

With that, I hung up the phone, trusting that he'll be here within a few hours.

Next, I called Allissa. Hopefully, she wouldn't be as mad at me as Shay was from earlier.

My voice was steadier with her, since I couldn't share many details and I didn't want her to worry.

She picked up on the third ring. "Nina, hey, I was just about to call you and ask if you were coming home soon?"

"Hey, Lis, um I'm sorry to tell you so late, but I won't be coming home tonight, nor for a while."

"Why, what's happening?"

Shit, I made her worry.

"Oh, don't think too much. I'm just going to be staying at Gavin's place. You and Shay deserve a break from taking care of me. I'm going to give the burden to someone else for a time," I lied.

"But, babe, you're no burden to us. We love taking care of you. The last six months have been the most fun I've had in a while." She was so sweet, I wanted to cry.

"I know, and I've had fun, too. But you and Shay should have some fun on your own. Take a breather from me. Please."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Okay... Love you, Nina."

"Love you, too, Lis. Relay the message to Shay, will you?"

"Of course."

Sighing, I plopped myself on the bed and once again stared up at the ceiling before I fell asleep. My problems would of course still be there in the morning. For now, though, sleep seemed to be great therapy.

     I woke up to someone lightly shaking me. I opened my eyes to see my brother Chase standing over me.

     "You made it!" I tightly wrapped my arms around him.

     "What was so urgent, Nina, you had me scared? Also, what the hell is this place? Is this what your life has come to?" He gestured to the place with all the dangerous looking people and weapons.

     Gavin, Jason, Dalton, Laura, and Noah came into my room behind him.

     "Who the hell are you people?" Chase cautiously asked them.

      I put a hand on his arm. "Chase, it's okay, they're my new friends. They're going to help protect us. You just need to stay here until things cool down."

     "What things?"

     "Sit down." said Jason. "We have much to discuss."

     Chase gulped but did what he said.

     "There's been a threat to you and your sister," Dalton started.

     He looked back at me then back to the gang members in front of us. "What kind of threat?"

     "Four people have been found dead that resembled your family. It included a mini version of Nina; a little girl by the age of twelve. We have reason to be that someone wants to kill y'all."

     "And since y'all's parents are dead, they want to be able to finish the job." Laura finished.

     Chase's face turned a few shades paler. "W-why do y'all care?"

     "Because we care about your sister, and Gavin here is canoodling with her," said Noah.

     I'd never seen Chase look so disappointed in me. "You're dating a gang member!?"

     "Yeah, and I'm also a part of the squad." I grimaced and showed him my pretty purple gun.

     He looked like he wanted to slap me.

    "I-I need time to think."

    "That's the thing, Chase, you don't have a lot of time to think. The person coming for your family is beyond dangerous," said Gavin.

     "You know who's messing with us? Then why haven't y'all done anything about it?"

     "Because a) we need proof, b) the perpetrator doesn't do anything himself. He uses his paid, brainwashed minions. C), we need to build up an army, and d)," Jason looked at Laura. "He's our brother."