The Archer (18+)

XI

Bleu took some initiative and rented a vehicle for us for the rest of the mission. It wasn't anything fancy and the windows were blacked out. I was happy that we no longer had to rely on other untrusting parties to bring us around. I could drive but for tonight I let her take the wheel.

Against my wishes and better judgement, we were parked in a huge lot just on the outside fence of a beach. I was terribly outvoted and the girls (mostly Raine) wanted to go out more and to learn more about the target.

From the research I did, I discovered that Golden Shore was a beautiful strip of sand and sea ran by Aurelio and The Teschi. It was so private and so far removed. As per the countless articles I've read, many foreigners came here to do all sorts of illegalities. This place was heavily surveillanced but only for the gang's sick pleasure. Since The Teschi owned this place through and through, the police didn't dare to set foot within a 30-mile radius of this place.

And here we were: willingly going into the mouth of the lion.

Aurelio's fingers were in many pies. This was a man of influence and power and we needed to play all our cards right if we wanted to walk out of this unscathed.

"Do you remember the rules?" I unbuckled myself from the seatbelt.

"Yes. Try to take notice of all the people Pierre converse with and don't get into any trouble." Raine dragged, removing her seatbelt as well.

"Great. We can split up when we get inside. Keep drinking to a minimum and remember that the beach has surveillance cameras. Please do not do anything too dodgy."

Cutthroat was quiet, fiddling with the blade we bought yesterday.

"Cutthroat you're going to have to put it away. Okay?" I advised gently.

She looked at me with her baby blues. They were especially bright in the dim lighting of the tinted car. She nodded, tucking it in her skirt that she wore that evening. She paired that muted yellow skirt with a cute lavender bikini top. Her blonde hair in her signature space buns with pink clips.

I myself was wearing a green skin-tight dress that was completely sheer. It ended just under my bum and the high slit had my black bikini peeking from under it.

Raine was wearing a blue bikini top paired with washed out jean shorts. Her grey hair was down in all its curly glory. Bleu donned a orange floral romper that contrasted greatly with her blue hair.

"Good. Now don't forget your phones in the car." I reminded them, Raine now grabbing the new cellphone she bought that day since she smashed her old one and she had trouble using it.

They hummed in response. I proceeded to crack open the door of the vehicle. The lot was sparse. The vehicle was fully blanketed in darkness; the only light was yards away at the mouth of the entrance.

The girls and I walked in silence towards the huge yellow gates of the beach. At the entrance, the guard gave us and the invites a once-over and let us through.

The salty smell of the sea was the first thing to assault my senses. It's so windy here, I frowned. Wind and sand did not combine well. There were large bonfires dumped evenly on the colossal beach. I estimated about ten in total. Some pop track danced over the vast space.

I concluded that this was no small or ordinary get together. The beach wasn't packed since it was so big but there were people everywhere. Some were by a makeshift bar that was off to my left while others were chatting it up or gyrating to the music. The scene reminded me of a club only out in the open.

Raine nudged me, "I'm gonna go over there." I spun around to see where she was pointing and to my surprise Cutthroat and Bleu were already gone.

"Cutthroat said she's gonna go find... you-know-who and Bleu... I think she waltzed off to a corner or something." She pulled me closer so she could speak without shouting the sentence over the loud music.