✔Vengeful Valentine

Fourteen: Everly

"Are you sure it was Dylan?" Emmett asked, folding his hands up on his desk. A frown formed across his pasty face as his brows creased slightly.

"Absolutely. I couldn't forget that creep's face." I shivered just remembering him.

"He just walked around the building? Didn't try to break in or confront Alfie?"

I shook my head. "Nope. He just looked around like he was lost. It was weird."

"That is weird. It makes me wonder if he was scouting the place out in hopes of breaking in tonight. I'll be sure to get Alfie to keep watch with Charlie tonight. We'll move the supply too, just in case," Emmett said.

"Sounds good." I messed with a glass figurine on his desk; a gift from Kaz on his birthday. "You don't think Dylan could be the one who shot me, do you? It's quite a coincidence that he suddenly shows up again."

"Yeah, I know. It is." Emmett stood from his desk. "That's why I was thinking about going on a little drive. Just to check out the neighborhoods and see what some people might've heard lately. Wanna come with me?"

I shrugged. "It's not like I've got anywhere else to be."

"Adam's working today, right?" Emmett donned his black overcoat and leather gloves.

"Yeah, he is. We were gonna eat lunch together this afternoon but Archie showed up and ruined that. He kept going on about a dealer he got involved with. The White Dragon."

"Archie mentioned that to me too. Dumbass asked me to lend him some of our drug clients." Emmett shook his head. "That guy's got a few screws loose. I told him he could come join us and we'd help his sorry ass, but he wanted nothing to do with the Voiceless Rebels. Dunno what his plans are now. Fleeing the country's probably his best bet at keeping all his fingers and toes."

"Archie thinks that dealer might've come after me as revenge," I told him. "Maybe the gunshot was even meant for Adam."

Emmett paused midway to the door. "That's very possible. Now that you mention it, I've actually heard rumors that the White Dragon is a woman. Maybe all this time we've been looking at it from the wrong angle. This person doesn't hold a vendetta against you or Adam. It might be Archie's fault."

"I mean, I wouldn't say it's all his fault. He didn't know that his dealer might come after us," I replied. "Besides, we don't know that for sure. It's just a theory. It could be Dylan or someone else."

"Do you really think Dylan's been the one coming to your house dressed like a witch in a long black wig?" Emmett asked. "Maybe he could be involved somehow, but I don't think he's the mastermind behind everything."

"You never know. People are crazy," I pointed out.

"True." Emmett shrugged.

"I really don't think it's Dylan either," I admitted. "But I can't rule him out completely yet."

Chilly wind nipped at my cheeks as I followed Emmett outside to his blue caddie. It was his most prized possession but the heater was crap. I swore I'd freeze to death as went entered Viper Valley. Emmett cruised down the street until he reached Flora's Flower shop and parked near the curb.

Flora's flower shop had the sign turned around to Closed. It was dark behind the glass too. The buildings next door to it were a bank and an old cafe that went out of business a few years ago.

A couple walked down the sidewalk with their huge poodle. I was surprised the dog didn't pull it's petite owner away.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.