Chapter 1
It has been a few years since I last reflected on that final day of college, but today’s storm has flood my mind with those memories. I sit in my office, reclining in my plush leather chair, watching the rain pour down outside. The lightning that struck the building next door sent thunder rumbling that seemed to rattle the windows. The weather is the same as it was the day I graduated.
I closed my eyes, leaning my head back as I remembered her.
“Amber, get into the car; you’re getting soaked.” I stood in the pouring rain, holding her door open. I watched as she took a small step forward and paused to look up at me.
I knew last night had been tough. She had screamed her safe word. We had discussed it, and I had stopped what I was doing immediately. She had expressed curiosity and wanted to try. She promised she would try—for me, to do it for me. But I could see it in her eyes: it was too much. I was too much.
“No, Dante. You’re insane. You want to hurt me. You want to own me. I cannot, and will not, be owned.” Her brown eyes filled with tears. “I can’t do this. We’re done.” I watched as she took off the engagement ring from her finger. I opened my hand as she placed it there. I watched as she walked away from me.
I stood in the midst of the thunderstorm, beside my car, feeling ashamed for the next hour. I decided that I was done with relationships; clearly, I wasn’t meant to be in one. I had hoped Amber was the one for me. She seemed to enjoy the dominant side of my personality, always begging for more. I should have listened to my instincts and held back a bit more.
I couldn't tell if it was a blessing or a curse that she left before our wedding in the fall. I let out a long sigh as thunder rumbled above me.
A soft knock on the office door brought my attention back to the present day. “You may enter.”
I watched as Ashley strolled into my office. She was attractive enough. She was slim, with large breasts, full lips always adorned in burgundy, and honey-colored eyes that seemed to scan my entire body as if she were undressing me..
“Our new intern starts tomorrow, Mr. Blackwell. I have the file you requested on her.” Her voice was soft, almost sultry, as she approached my desk.
“Oh?” I said as I reached over and took her files. I flipped through them, reading the information about her. Gabriella Hart just graduated at the top of her class from Stanford University. At 25 years old, she seems to come from a wealthy family on the East Coast.
“That’ll be all Ashley. Thank you.” I dismissed her.
"Anything for you, Mr. Blackwell." I looked up at her alluring tone and observed her as she walked out of my office, swaying her hips.
When the door shut behind her, I let out a sigh. I threw the file onto the desk and stared at it for a few minutes. Man, I really needed to hit the gym and blow off some steam. A new intern can definitely shake things up for a week or two while they figure out how everything works. I was tempted to cancel the next meeting, but I need to get the approval for our next project wrapped up before the intern gets here tomorrow. That’ll make things a bit easier without that hanging over my head.
My phone dinged, and I opened it to read the message from an unknown number: “5:30pm at 4695 Market St.” Great, a new assignment awaited from the Serpents. A sly smile crossed my lips. I needed this task.
After work I headed to my destination, moving in and out of traffic. When I arrived I walked up the walkway and entered the building. Only one light was on in the entire room. When I walked up and approached it I looked at what was sitting on the desk. A photo, a map of the layout of the home and one singular key with a snake on it. I picked up the photo, studying it. A male, in his late 40s or early 50s. I recognized him. He was a big CEO in San Francisco. The Serpents gave him this powerful position many years ago. Investigators have been hammering him for over two years and I guess they managed to break him down. What a weak man, he didn’t deserve his title.
I flipped the picture over to read the instructions.
"The key is for the upper balcony overlooking the bay. Under the cover of night, enter and ensure he pays for his crimes. No one else is to be harmed at this time. Burn this message. You have 72 hours to complete this mission; failure will have consequences.
- The Serpent’s Spire"
I knew I wouldn't need 72 hours to complete the task; maybe a day or a day and a half would suffice to memorize the layout of the home.
