The Gunshots

“No damn way! Dragon?!” Lilith asked in shock. “Wow, I can't believe this is happening,” Stormy said, still in shock.

“Should we agree?” Lilith asked with a hint of worry.

“Of course, we will agree. I will agree,” Stormy replied, beaming with a smile, although Stormy knew Lilith was worried, but she paid no attention to it.

“But–”

Stormy placed a finger on Lilith’s lips.
“No but Lilith! You were the one who told me to act fast, and here is the opportunity, so we must agree,” Stormy said, standing up from her bed.

“Fine, anything you say,” Lilith replied as she tried to forget her previous thoughts.

Stormy texted back the strange number, agreeing to their proposal, and they decided to meet at an old warehouse that night. Stormy prepared herself and left. When she arrived, she was ushered in by one of the security guards and taken to the meeting room.

As Stormy entered, she was welcomed by the smells of tobacco and hard drugs, which could chase one out of the room due to the lack of breathable air. However, Stormy didn't cover her nose or leave; instead, she walked deep inside the room until she spotted a figure sitting on a swivel chair with a stick of tobacco in his left hand, his back facing her. Dragon! Stormy thought to herself. And as if Dragon heard her thoughts, he turned his chair towards her.

“Oh, oh, oh! See who we have here!” Dragon exclaimed sarcastically. Stormy walked to his front and sat. “Hello, Dragon,” she greeted politely.

“I didn't expect you to be here so soon. Hope no one knows you're here?” Dragon questioned in his cold, low voice.

“No, no one knows, and they won't find out if you can get straight to the plan!” Stormy snapped, and Dragon smirked at her sudden outburst.

“That was rude," Dragon teased her, as a cold smile broadened on his lips and Stormy glared at him.

Is he always this playful, she thought to herself.

“Now, to business!" Dragon started, his face became cold like normal, as he puffed the last part of the tobacco and dropped the remaining ashes inside a golden blow beside him.

Minutes passed since Dragon started telling Stormy about his plan and Stormy's eyes narrowed as she listened to Dragon's plan.

"You want me to take out Falcon at the wedding?" she asked, her voice low and even.

"Yes," Dragon replied, his eyes gleaming with malice. "It's the perfect opportunity. With Falcon out of the way, we can take control of the clan."

"But what about Ari?" Stormy asked, her brow furrowed. "She's not going to go down without a fight."

"Leave Ari to me," Dragon said, a smile spreading across his face. "I have a plan to take care of her too."

Stormy raised an eyebrow. "What kind of plan?"

"I'll reveal that later," Dragon said, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Just focus on taking out Falcon."

“Okay," she replied, as they both continued with their plans.

After parting ways, Stormy returned to the clan; it was already midnight, so she headed straight to her room. When Stormy entered, she met Lilith sitting on her bed.

“Waiting for me?” Stormy teased as she walked to her closet.

“How was the meeting?” Lilith questioned, ignoring Stormy's teasing.

“It went well and even more than expected,” Stormy replied as she started telling Lilith about the plan.

After my conversation with Falcon the other day, we hadn't crossed paths again because Falcon was busy with work and securing our wedding. I sat down in my suite feeling dejected, as the man I would marry in less than two days was nowhere to be found beside me. I thought Falcon didn't want to see me due to our previous conversation, not knowing he was busy.

As I continued thinking about how my life had changed within a month, I became heartbroken, and tears escaped my eyes. When Lina entered my suite, she saw me crying and bent down beside me. “Ari,” she called my name, and I realized Lina was behind me. I turned to face her, seeing her worried expression, which made me cry more. I moved closer to her, closing the gap between us, as I poured out my pain. She continued petting the back of my hair. “Shh, stop crying, Ari,” Lina said, putting a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It's okay.”

Back in the Tech room, Falcon and Venom were busy with some of the clan's technicians, Blaze, Landon, and Genny. They were installing security cameras everywhere in the clan in case of any intruders for the wedding. As they continued, Venom called Falcon outside the room.

“Venom, you can tell me later in my office, as you can see we're busy. Okay?” Falcon inquired, trying to leave, but Venom stopped him.

“Wait, I promise not to take your time,” Venom promised. “What is it?” Asked Falcon.

“It's about Ari. Aren't you going to talk to her, at least before the wedding? Remember, you guys haven't spoken after that night, and she might be getting the wrong idea, not knowing you're busy,” Venom spoke with concern.

“Venom, I've told you not to bring up this matter anymore. If it's about Ari getting worked up, fine, that's her problem to deal with. She'll see me during the wedding; it's not as if I'm running away or something. Now, let's go back,” Falcon ordered.

“But—”

“No but, Venom,” Falcon cut Venom off, bringing one of his fingers up to indicate silence, and without waiting for a response, he left.

“Gosh!” Venom exhaled as he brushed his hair back before walking back inside.

A day passed, and the wedding preparations had started. Everywhere was busy as different clan members kept going in and out of the clan, looking for outfits that would fit them perfectly for my wedding. As I sat in my room, a knock came on my door, and it was opened, revealing Lina holding a cloth suit.

“Hey, Ari, your wedding gown is ready. The boss got the best for you,” Lina said as she sat besideme. "Hum," I hummed at her statement because I didn't see why I should be happy about a wedding gown. Lina brought out the gown from the cloth suit and dropped it on the bed. "The boss said you should wear the gown to know if it would size you perfectly," Lina told me, and I nodded my head. I took the long gown from the bed and marched into my closet room.

After I put on the wedding gown, I came out from the closet room, revealing myself looking beautiful and eye-catching. Lina, on the other hand, opened her mouth in amazement. "Wow! Girl, you look so sexy! It fits you perfectly!" She exclaimed, and I smiled, hearing this. I went back into the closet to change, and when I came to my room, Lina and I went out to meet our other friends.

As the wedding was being planned, so was Dragon and Stormy's plan being readied. Finally, the next day arrived, which was the wedding, my wedding, and to be sincere, I wasn't happy. The wedding was being held outside the Mafia clan in the garden. Everywhere was beautiful and well-arranged, as the whole place was filled with roses. The people present for the wedding were the clan members, Falcon's family. They were seated, waiting together with the groom and the priest, who were standing at the altar for the arrival of the bride, which was me.

Back in my room, I was crying because this was the day all my dreams, which I had built since my childhood days, were finally going to crash. As I continued crying, Lina walked inside my room, also dressed for the wedding. "Ari, stop crying, people are waiting for you outside," Lina said, consoling me. After some time, we went out together. It was time for me to face my greatest fear.

Back in the garden, after what seemed like forever, I arrived, walking gently in my beautiful white long gown. As I walked in the middle of the people sitting down, I felt their gaze on me, but I paid no attention to them. Instead, I was looking at the front, where Falcon was standing, staring at me with an expressionless, cold face. He was wearing a black shirt with the first three buttons unbuttoned and a long coat. His hair was pomaded back, giving him a hot look.

As I made my way to the altar, I heard the sound of a gunshot, then another, and another…