GRAYSON.



The ship made it to the port on schedule. A bodyguard opened the door and father got down from the car. I followed after him, flanked by four bodyguards. We didn’t need the extra security but father was a stickler for protocols. He fixed his suit jacket and approached the harbor as the ship docked. I was nervous but I didn’t dare let it show. I wondered what Sally would think when she found out the truth. When she finally knew who I was.

She’d be mad I had lied to her but I knew she wouldn’t be for long. She cared about me just as I cared about her. My lips quirked up in a smile. Father glanced at me and raised a brow. I schooled my features back to the face he always liked to see, expressionless.

The ladder dropped and I expected her to be carried out by men but what came down was Kowalski. A battered Kowalski with cuts and bruises on his face. He walked with a limp as he approached us.

“Where is the girl?” Father asked in a cold voice and I swallowed. He was tethering on the edge of anger.

“There was a slight hiccup with the plan. I had her but she got away.”

“And you decided to show your face to me after you failed?” He quirked a brow.

“I figured I had to bring the other shipment,” he stuttered. “I had her but then her friends came, those pesky hybrids. They were stronger than before, the weapons you supplied were no match against them. I couldn’t stop them.”

“Interesting.” He faced me, “You know what to do,” he said simply and walked away.

“No! Wait, Mr. Dark. I–I have this,” Kowalski brought out a vial with a pink liquid in it. “Dr. Reynolds made this. It weakens her.”

That got his attention. He turned and scrutinized the object but made no move to take it from him. “You’re certain of this?”


“Yes. I used it on her myself.” He looked hopeful. I sighed. They never learn.


“Kill him,” Father gave the order and walked away.

“No, please Mr. Dark. I’ll do anything,” he begged. I hated it when they begged. It made them look weak and pathetic and made me look like the bad guy. It sickened me. Anyone who had the guts to run errands for my father knew the consequences of failing, yet they always begged in the end.



“You should have turned back and crawled back into whatever hole you came out from,” I said. Unfortunately, he had been stupid enough to think he would be shown mercy.



“I brought back the cure. It’s all there, you can check them. Please, give me another chance, I promise I’ll get her this time.” He looked scared. As he should be, I was known to strike fear into the toughest of hearts and he was no exception.



“There are no second chances in life.” I moved my hands and it was swift. He hadn’t had the chance to blink as the spikes impaled him and he fell to the floor. I grabbed the vial out of his hand and walked back to the car.



“What now, father?” I handed the vial to him through the window.



“It seems if I want Sally Jenkins, I’ll have to go get her myself,” he said simply and I asked no further questions. “Stay here and make sure everything gets off.”  The car pulled out of the port and drove off.