Ruined By Your Blood

Chapter 2: The Silent Shadow

Three years was enough time for grass to grow on a grave, but it was not enough time for a ghost to stop bleeding.

The woman in the large, marble lobby of the Vaughan building did not look like Margot Britton. Her long, blonde hair was gone, replaced by a short, black haircut that made her look cold. She no longer had the kind eyes of a judge's daughter. Instead, dark sunglasses hid her eyes, which now looked like those of a serious spy. Her ID badge, attached to her dark tactical suit, showed a new name: Sienna Nilsson.

Under her strong, protective blazer, she felt sick. Every breath in this building felt bitter. This tall building was built using her father's life. The expensive floor under her boots was paid for by the man who killed her father on the bridge three years ago.

A sudden, painful memory hit her hard. She could still smell the strong scent of gasoline. She could still feel the terrible heat of the fire when the car flipped over. "Dad... wake up." She remembered digging her fingers into the wet mud by the river, losing her fingernails as she dragged her injured body away from the fire while her father burned inside.

A sudden, intense wave of sadness hit her so hard she nearly fell. It was a familiar pain that never went away. But she did not fall. She pushed the sadness down, hiding it deep inside her stomach, where it quickly turned into a cold, deadly anger.

She fixed her earpiece while humming quietly. She pressed her fingers against the metal to stop them from shaking. She checked the large Glock 19 hidden under her jacket. She promised her dead father that it would happen soon. Soon.

"Vaughan Elite Security Unit, status report," a rough voice said over her radio—Larcus Evans, the head of security for Arthur Vaughan.

Sienna swallowed the bile rising in her throat. Her voice was emotionless, hard to read, and she did not use her normal accent. "Sienna Nilsson, on-site. Waiting to find the target."

"The target is using the private elevator now," Larcus said. "Remember, Nilsson. Luther Vaughan is not a normal client. He refuses to have guards. He has fired three bodyguards this month. If he doesn't trust you, you're finished."

"He won't scare me," Sienna said quietly, clenching her teeth.

The shiny steel doors of the private elevator opened. Sienna stayed still, but she immediately started looking for danger.

Luther Vaughan stepped out into the lobby

Sienna gasped as she felt a sudden wave of intense anger. He looked just like his father, with the same strong jaw and powerful manner that made everyone look at him. He moved with an easy, confident pride that made Sienna want to grab her weapon. He was living a rich, perfect life, while her own life had been destroyed by tragedy. It wasn't fair, and the unfairness made her feel furious inside.

He wore a dark, costly suit, but his top three shirt buttons were open, and his tie hung loosely over his shoulder. He was listening to a voicemail, and his face showed he was very annoyed.

"Listen, Dad," Luther said sharply into his phone, his loud voice filling the quiet lobby. "I told you I don't want another person following me. I don't care if she was the best student at the military school. I will make her quit in no time."

He hung up, put the phone in his pocket, and finally looked at Sienna.

He stopped and looked her up and down with a mean, mocking smile. He walked toward her with confidence until he stood right in front of her. He smelled of strong coffee and expensive leather—the smell of the rich life Margot had been forced to leave.

"You must be the new person. Sienna, right?" Luther asked, speaking in a way that showed he looked down on her.

Sienna did not smile or blink. If she relaxed for even a moment, people would see how much she hated them. She took one controlled step forward and bowed her head at a forty-five-degree angle, which is the professional way for top security. "Sienna Nilsson, sir. I am your main bodyguard."

"Let me be clear, Sienna," Luther said, walking close to her and looking directly into her eyes. "I don't need a babysitter. I know how to shoot and fight, and I don't need a political tool following me during my work. Stay far away from me, do not talk unless I ask you to, and try not to cry if we get separated in traffic."

Everything he said felt like an insult to her father's memory. She thought he was treating this like a game. She hid her hands behind her back and squeezed her hands into fists so hard that her nails hurt her palms.

"I understand, Mr. Vaughan," Sienna said. Her voice was calm, hiding her intense anger.

Luther laughed coldly and turned away. "We are going to the poor parts of town for a free job. The streets are dirty and the people are angry. If you are afraid of ruining your nice suit, leave now."

"Lead the way, sir," she said.

They went down into the parking garage, where a smooth, strong black SUV waited in the dark. The cold concrete walls and low light made Sienna feel a sharp pain of sadness. It looked very much like the basement level of the courthouse where her father used to park.

Luther went right to the driver's door and ignored the back door. He turned around with a mean smile and threw his heavy keys at Sienna's chest.

Sienna reached out very quickly. She caught the keys just before they hit her chest, gripping them so hard that the metal hurt her hand. She did not react or look surprised. She just walked around the car, opened the door, and sat in the seat.

Luther sat in the passenger seat and put on his seatbelt while laughing. "Let's see if you can really drive or if you just look like a driver," he said, leaning back and crossing his arms.

Sienna held the steering wheel tightly. Her hands were very white. Three years ago, Luther's family had pushed a similar car off a bridge. It felt like a cruel joke. She breathed heavily while trying to stop the fear that always came when she drove. For a moment, she forgot she was in the garage. She felt like she was back on the wet bridge, seeing the bright lights of a truck coming from behind her.

'No,' she told herself, clenching her teeth so hard that her jaw hurt. 'I am not the victim anymore. I am the shadow.'

She started the engine. The loud V8 engine began to run, shaking the SUV and making a big noise in the garage. The sound was very loud, just like her fast, beating heart.

She glanced at Luther. She noticed his costly suit, his clean hands, and his calm face. Her deep anger turned into a firm decision. She would use this man to destroy his father's business completely.

"Hold on, Mr. Vaughan," she said in a cold, quiet whisper that was heard clearly over the sound of the engine.

Before he could react to the warning, Sienna pressed the gas pedal all the way down.

The tires made a loud noise on the road, leaving black marks as the heavy armored SUV sped off quickly. The sudden force pushed Luther back, hitting his head against the seat. He stopped smiling and looked very surprised.

Sienna did not slow down. She turned the wheel hard and drove the large vehicle through the narrow garage exit on two wheels. The tires made a loud noise as she drove out into the busy, wet streets of the city.

Luther watched her closely and held his breath as she moved quickly through the heavy morning traffic. She drove like a trained soldier, moving skillfully without showing any fear.

Sienna looked straight ahead through the car window, her eyes stinging with angry and sad tears. The city moved past them in a blur, but she was focused.

'The game has started, Luther,' she thought, pushing the gas pedal harder. 'And I will make your family pay for everything you took from me.'