BLOODHOUNDS #4: THE DARK KNIGHT

Chapter 5 - GUT FEELING

Mason Calland

The second-night concert went well, and nothing happened in mid-concert. We doubled the security today, and it seemed the stalker didn't dare to make a move, but I have a gut feeling that he's enjoying the concert in the middle of the crowd.

Now, Everly's team will have a party to celebrate the success of her opening concert in Los Angeles. She changed her clothes into a short, backless cream satin dress with black ankle-high heels.

"You're shamelessly looking, Mr.Calland," Everly commented, and our eyes met through the mirror. I didn't even bother to answer or react to her statement. She smiled as she put all of her hair to one side. She took off her current necklace and put on a new one.

"Did something happen today?" She asked, and my phone vibrated. I took it out and found Ana's name on the screen.

"Mr.Calland." I looked up, and she walked towards me, giving me her necklace. I grabbed it, and she stood before me with her back facing mine. I put on her chain quickly, and she thanked me.

"You know, usually communication goes both ways, especially when you're my bodyguard." Bodyguard?

"Who says that I'm your bodyguard?" I asked her, offended by the title that she gave me.

"Aren't you?" My phone vibrated again, but I decided to ignore her. I'll see Ana back in headquarters anyway.

"Let's go." She grabbed her small bag and walked towards the door beside me. She opened it, and I followed her along with Elliot.

"Sir, Ana has been reaching out to me," Elliot said, and I ignored him. He knew I was not in the mood to deal with my fiancee. We walked out of the stadium, and Everly got into her car.

"Go with her," I ordered Elliot.

I got into my car and followed right behind them. I decided to call Ana back, connecting the call with the vehicle.

"Hello, my fiance." I almost rolled my eyes at everything she said.

"What do you want, Ana?"

"You know we'll have dinner together tomorrow, right?" We always have monthly dinners together with both of our families.

"Yes."

"And you're still in LA?"

"I'll be back tomorrow afternoon." I let out a long sigh.

"You better get your ass here, Mason."

"See you tomorrow." I ended the call and pulled over to a private restaurant. Yesterday, we installed a lot of cameras and motion detectors. I won't be an idiot that will let her stalker do stupid shit.

I got out and followed Everly inside. Elliot stayed behind to make sure all of the staff that would be inside were on the list. Albert and Natasha were already there, talking about something. Everly sat beside Natty, and she turned to me.

"Mr.Calland." Everly patted the seat beside her. Instead of sitting next to her, I decided to sit right across her. Then, people started to come in.

"Mr.Calland. We have several fans trying to get in. What do you want me to do with them?" Elliot asked me through the earpiece.

"Do they look hypnotized?" I asked in a small voice.

"No. They looked ballistic."

"Let them go for now, but ensure you have them scanned."

"Got it, sir." My phone vibrated, and Ana's name appeared on the screen again. I pressed the red button and got up to check the situation outside.

"Where are you going?" Everly asked, but I didn't even bother to answer her. I found Elliot, with two more team members checking people before entering.

I decided to call Kayden.

"It will be finished tomorrow." He answered.

"Took you so long, Grant."

"I'm fucking busy, Calland." He's not. He's just busy with his wife.

"I'm going back tomorrow."

"Good to know, besides you'll go to New York next week for her next concert. Why are you rushing me?"

"Just get it done by tomorrow, Grant." With that, I ended the call. I kept my eyes on all the people who walked in, and one thing I noticed about myself is that I never forget a face.

Asher was the only person who knew about it besides myself. That shithead caught me once, and I wasn't happy about it. He's a fucking monster for a reason, and he's so good at catching people's secrets.

After everyone got in, I walked back inside, and someone was already sitting in my seat. Everly turned to me as if she knew I was walking in. She asked the person right across her to move.

"What do you want to eat, Mr.Calland?" She asked me as she passed me the menu.

"Steak would be fine. Medium." Everly called the waiter and ordered it for me. My eyes were set on all the waiters and waitresses. I don't trust people that quickly, especially when I know the opponent that we're facing is someone skilled in this type of field.

Suddenly, I had a weird feeling; I stared straight into Everly's green eyes. She looked at me, confused. I tapped her leg with my foot.

"Report the situation outside," I asked Elliot.

"Pretty clear, boss." My eyes turned around to see everyone was busy talking to each other.

"Get the car ready."

"Roger," Elliot said, and I turned to Everly again. She was already looking at me. She knew something was wrong, and she was already holding onto her bag.

I got up first and walked over to her. Then the waiter arrived with her food, and it looked fucking weird. I grabbed the plate and held her with my other hand.

"Let's go." I dragged her out, and Elliot was already waiting for me. When we got into the car, something blew up behind us. Everly's car blew up, and I closed the door, cueing Elliot to leave.

"Hold it, and don't even touch it," I asked Everly, and she nodded. She held the plate, and I called Leroy.

"Send Malik's team out to LA now."

"Yes, sir. I will send them to you now." Leroy answered, and I turned to Everly, who looked so fucking scared. Her face turned pale, "Anything else, sir?"

"Borrow Tiffany or Mila, and I want someone to watch over Everly tonight. Send one of them here with Malik."

"Yes, sir." I ended the call.

"I'll send Marco to investigate the bomb, sir," Elliot said, and I nodded as I grabbed the plate from Everly's hand. I looked at the food, and it was clear it was poisoned. I was a part of the lab team for years. I know when there's poison in someone's food.

My phone rang, and it was Asher.

"Heard about the bomb from Felix. Sending out Oslo and Rodi to LA tonight. Let them handle it alongside Marco."

"Okay. I'm taking Malik too."

"Yeah. Leroy turned on the fucking emergency alarm. That fucker pressed the wrong button in panic." I almost rolled my eyes.

"I'll have a word with him tomorrow."

"Don't even think about flying back tomorrow. I know my little chaos called you earlier. Stay in LA or I'm not allowing you to stay on the fucking case, Calland." With that he ended the call.