Embers

Prolouge

Prolouge:

        The club was pulsing with life, and the smell of sex and alcohol permeated the air. Most everyone was having a good time. Except for Ember Hale, that is.

        I sat in one of the corner booths in the VIP section, and patiently awaited the arrival of my informant. Glancing down at my watch, I scowled in irritation and waved over one of the servers. "If a man by the name of Bryce Anderson comes, tell him I-" I was cut off by the sounds of loud shouting from the door. I walked over and lightly nudged a few of the patrons blocking the doorway, squeezing through them. I cautiously opened the door and had to hold in my laughter.

        I had found my informant. Currently, he was being dragged down the stairs by security. Evidently, his fake pass wouldn't cut it up here.

        I called out, amused, "Hey, let him up here, he was here to see me." The men looked at eachother, and reluctantly trudged up the stairs, still dragging the cursing man with them. They threw him through the doorway, and went back to their jobs. I smirked at the man who was still laying on the floor.

        "Well," I started, "You might want to get up before you completely ruin your reputation. As of now, it's hanging by a thread." He glared up at me for a second, before realizing who I was. He quickly scrambled up and stood rigidly, as if awaiting punishment. Giving an amused smirk, I lightly shoved the man over to the booth I had picked out. He looked over the table at me, confusion dancing in his eyes.

        "But, but, I-"

        I cut him off and said "Stop stuttering and tell me what you know. I'm busy, and if you're not done in five minutes, I may not be as merciful."

        He looked over at me in fear and cleared his throat. "Um, R-ryder Slade is having some business issues."

        I immediately perked up and urged "Yes, what is the problem?"

        He relaxed a bit more into his seat and said "He's been recieving threats from a dirty F.B.I official, soemone named-"

        "Mark Phillips." I gritted out.

        Bryce looked at me in confusion and said cautiously "Yes, how did you know?"

        I looked at him with an enraged expression on my face and said "I've been getting the same threats to."

        He was about to reply, when the sound of gunshots echoed from down the stairs.

        I launched out of my seat to peer over the balcony, and I cursed under my breath as I saw who it was.

        The one and only Ryder Slade was standing up on the bar, and looking out over the people, his gun in hand.

        I hitched in a breath when his turqoise eyes met mine, and before he could say anything, I turned around and ran for the back exit. He wasn't going to get to me. He couldn't.

        Ember Hale would not be beaten.