Ruined By Your Blood

Chapter 6: The Velvet Trap

The black car drove through the heavy gates of the Vaughan house. Luther gave the keys to a parking attendant and walked directly into the entrance, carrying his leather jacket over his shoulder. He looked like a man who had just escaped a dangerous fight and did not care what people thought.

Arthur and Marcus Vance are out. A text from a campaign worker said they were in important meetings at the main party office.

"Call the private medical team," Luther commanded the head housemaid, his voice loud in the large halls. "Get them up to the secondary wing. Now."

"Sir, it is just a scratch," Sienna said, stepping in front of him. Her voice was calm and professional, even though dried blood was on her torn sleeve. "You do not need a doctor for this."

Luther stopped and looked at her with a hard, stubborn stare. "I don't care about your security level, Sienna. You were injured while I was in charge, and if my father's security company finds out, I will be in serious trouble. Sit down and let them fix your wound."

She had to obey the order to keep up her act. For thirty minutes, she sat very still in the private clinic. A doctor cleaned the small wound from the bullet. Luther stood by the door with his arms crossed. He watched the needle with a serious, hidden look, then left as soon as the bandage was on.

By 10:00 PM, the large house was very quiet and still.

Luther sat on the edge of his bed, with sore hands and no shirt on. He was thinking hard. Being attacked at the docks during the day was not new to him; he had dealt with company thugs and crooked cops before. But the mysterious sniper was a problem he could not understand. Who shot so accurately from the cranes? A rival group? Or a secret friend? He ran his hand through his messy dark hair and sighed.

'It doesn't matter,' he thought. 'They are dead, and I am alive.'

But when his excitement faded, he stopped thinking about the unknown sniper. Instead, he thought about the quiet, strong woman who had jumped in front of the laser to protect him.

Feeling a sudden urge, Luther stood up, put on a loose black shirt, and walked down the dark hallway to the security room.

He did not knock. He just turned the handle and pushed the heavy wooden door open.

Sienna stood by the open balcony doors, the cold night wind blowing her short black hair across her face. She had just finished walking around the area, and her boots were still wet from the night dew. She turned quickly and reached for the empty gun holder on her leg before she saw his large shadow in the doorway.

"Mr. Vaughan," she said. "This is a private security area. You did not knock."

"I own this door, Sienna. I don't have to knock," Luther mocked. He leaned against the doorframe with an arrogant smile. He walked into her room with heavy steps, purposely entering her private space. "I just wanted to see if my expensive little shadow is crying herself to sleep after her first time in the poor parts of town."

Sienna stood firm as he walked toward her, looking directly into his eyes. "I have defeated much more dangerous enemies than these small criminal groups, sir. I do not worry about common mercenaries."

"Oh, really?" Luther chuckled, stepping so close she could feel his body heat. He reached out with his rough, scarred hands and lifted her chin so she had to look at the moonlight. "Because when that red laser light was on your heart, I felt you tremble. You think you are a machine, right? You think your badge and that cheap suit make you untouchable?"

"I am a professional—"

"You're a target," Luther interrupted. His voice became a low, scary whisper. He leaned down close to her ear, sounding mocking but very intense. "Next time, the bullet won't just hit your wrist. It will go through your chest. My father's world does not care about your academy records, Sienna. It destroys girls like you. Are you scared yet?"

Sienna gasped. She felt his heavy, scary body pressing against her. She gripped his shirt, wanting to push him away, but the intense tension between them felt like an electric shock. Instead of pushing, she held on. Her eyes showed a mix of strong anger and sudden, overwhelming desire.

"I am not scared of your father's world, Mr. Vaughan," she replied. "And I am definitely not afraid of you."

Luther's smirk faded. He looked at her lips then back up to her strong eyes. He could no longer make jokes. Close to her, away from the cameras and business, he felt a strong and scary attraction to her. She did not look like a hired worker; she looked like a beautiful, dangerous mystery he wanted to solve.

He moved his hand from her chin and gently touched her jaw. He leaned down until his lips were very close to hers. The room felt full of intense tension. Sienna closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for him to kiss her.

Suddenly, Luther snapped.

He pulled his hand away quickly and moved back from her, as if he had touched something hot. He gave a short, mean laugh and ran a hand through his hair, quickly returning to his usual rude and arrogant self.

"Please," Luther said with a harsh, fake laugh as he walked toward the door. "Look at yourself. Did you really think I would do that? Calm down, Nilsson. It was just a test. I wanted to see how much your strict training could take before you snapped. Think of it as a mental evaluation."

Sienna stood still in the moonlight, breathing hard, with her bleeding hands hidden behind her back. She forced her face to show no emotion, even though she felt terrible pain inside. "Your evaluation is noted, Mr. Vaughan. Get out of my room."

Luther looked at her one last time. He stared at her pale face for a moment, then turned around, and slammed the door.

Sienna leaned against the balcony rail, breathing hard in the cold night air. Her fingers shaking against her mouth.

"s**t, why did I close my eyes!"

-

The next day, at 7:00 AM, Arthur Vaughan and Larcus Evans returned from the office with many campaign workers, news helpers, and expensive clothes makers.

Since the important election party was still three weeks away, Arthur was being very careful. News about the attack at the docks had already started reaching the top newspapers. To stop the rumors, Arthur ordered a televised fundraiser at the family's private club that same night. They needed to show that they were strong, stable, and united.

"You are not wearing your combat suit tonight, Nilsson," Larcus said, talking Sienna in the security room. He threw a heavy clothing bag on the table. "The news reporters will be everywhere in the ballroom. A bodyguard in armor makes the Senator look scared. You will act like a rich guest—a distant relative. But you must keep your weapon on you."

Sienna opened the bag. Inside was a beautiful, dark blue silk dress. It looked amazing, but she immediately looked at how it was made. The dress had no back to show her skin, but the thick folds near her right thigh were made to hide a small holster for her Glock 19 pistol.

"Understood, sir," Sienna murmured.

-

The Gala:

By 8:00 PM, the Vaughan Country Club's large ballroom was filled with shiny jewelry, expensive drinks, and camera flashes. The room smelled of roasted flowers and corrupt politicians.

Sienna stood at the edge of the dance floor, standing very straight. Without her dark glasses and black jacket, she looked like a different person. Her short black hair went around her pale face, and her dark blue dress fit her slim, fit body well, covering the medical bandage on her wrist.

In another part of the room, local politicians stood around Luther. He wore a neat, well-fitted black suit that made his shoulders look very wide, and his dark hair was combed back. He looked like a prince, but his grey eyes looked through the crowd because he was very bored.

Suddenly, his gaze landed on her.

Luther stopped talking suddenly. He looked down at her dress, and his face showed a strong, sudden emotion. He had never seen her without her uniform before. For a moment, his proud smile disappeared, and he looked at her with such intense interest that Sienna's heart raced.

He excused himself from the politicians and walked straight toward her, looking only at her eyes.

But Sienna's attention quickly shifted past him. She watched a waiter moving through the crowd. He wore a fancy staff vest, but he acted strangely. He was sweating, looking nervously toward the VIP area, and his hand was shaking over a tray with two glasses of expensive champagne.

Through her hidden earpiece, Sienna heard nothing but static from from Luther Evan's team. The reporters had arrived and distracted them.

'Tsk, another saving the day,'