Out of Time

chapter 20 - reunited

My ribs ache tremendously. I grin at Xavier and tilt my head. "Hey, Xav! What are you doing here?"

I suddenly feel overwhelmingly weak. "Everyone, put your guns down!" Xavier screams. They all look over at him, confused, before he sends an incandescent glare towards them all. "Jesus, Lara, are you alright."

Now it was my turn to be utterly baffled. I turn towards Henry, my mouth slightly ajar. I hang up on Dillon, wanting to make sure that he stays in the dark for a while longer. "What the hell is going on?" I demand. I grip the gun in my hand, unsure of what to do.

I attempt to stand up before stumbling over. "Xavier, you need to teach that best friend of yours some manners." Waves and waves of agony wash over me like a storm of torrential rain. Xavier rushes towards me and holds out a hand to steady myself.

I just stare at it. "What are you doing?" I ask him.

"Didn't Dean tell you?" he says as he peers softly into my eyes. I notice the paleness of my skin in the reflection.

"Tell me what?"

"That you are-" I interrupt him by putting a hand in his face.

"Hold that thought."

I collapse to the ground, the pain overpowering me entirely.

~~

"I want you to kill someone," the man ordered the girl. The latter was still traumatised by her ruthlessness the day before and yet to utter a word to anyone. So, when her boss had ordered her first kill, she was shocked.

Her progress was anything but glacial, but she still thought she was unprepared for the challenge being forced upon her. She nodded glumly,  her once joyous features now exhausted and cheerless.

"Thanks to your incredible work yesterday, we found out who plotted against us. And, now I want you to finish the job and kill Valentin."

"By myself?" the girl questioned.

"God no, you definitely aren't ready for that yet. Dillon will accompany you." She internally groaned but put up a stoic facade. Although, the slight look of disappointment in her eyes developed into one of distaste, which did not go unseen by her boss.

"I know you don't like him, but he's the best we've got."

She scoffed at his statement before standing up. "I hate him, Kieran. Don't tiptoe around it." She stood up, without being dismissed, and stormed out of his office.

"We aren't done yet, Lara," Kieran shouted. She replied by slamming the door shut. The walls tremored slightly, and he stood up angrily. Ripping the door open, he went to scream at the girl.

Although, she was gone.

Her voice rung down the hallway. "Send me the details, and I'll do it."

~~

Lara groaned in disgust as she exited the car. The hem of her short dress cut into her thigh, and Dillon's smooth hand rested lightly on her back. The nightclub was expensive, with sickening neon lights disorientating the pair.

She attempted to pull down the silver minidress, although she was halted by Dillon's hand grabbing hers. "Stop looking nervous, Lara." He guided her towards the door before giving the bouncer a nod. They skipped the line, much to the dismay of those waiting.

The inside wasn't much better than the outside, except instead of bright lights, lavish chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and sofas lined the dance floor. They strolled to one of the cream sofas and sat down.