17
The industrial district was eerily silent. Smoke curled from the distant factories, and the dull hum of the city seemed far away. Selene parked the motorcycle behind an abandoned shipping container and helped Damian off. He was sweating, his wound still bleeding through the bandage.
She needed to find somewhere safe—somewhere to regroup.
Damian groaned as he leaned against the container. "I feel like I got shot."
Selene smirked. "That's because you did."
He shot her a weak glare. "I liked it better when you were worried about me."
Selene rolled her eyes and pressed a hand to his forehead. He was burning up. Not good.
"We need a medic," she muttered.
Damian exhaled. "Got any in your back pocket?"
Selene thought for a moment before pulling out her burner phone. She had one option—one she didn't like.
She dialed quickly.
After three rings, a woman's voice answered. "I told you, I'm retired."
Selene didn't waste time. "Nina, I need a favor."
A long pause. Then, a sigh. "How bad?"
"Gunshot wound. Infection setting in."
Another pause. "You owe me."
"I know."
"Send me a location."
Selene hung up and texted her coordinates.
Damian raised an eyebrow. "Who's Nina?"
Selene slid the phone back into her pocket. "An old friend."
Damian chuckled weakly. "You don't have friends."
She smirked. "Exactly."
The Doctor Will See You Now
Nina arrived within the hour.
She pulled up in an old, nondescript sedan and stepped out, her leather jacket swaying as she adjusted the bag slung over her shoulder. She looked the same—sharp eyes, short black hair, and an attitude that could cut steel.
She gave Selene a once-over. "You look like hell."
Selene shrugged. "You should see the other guy."
Nina's gaze flicked to Damian. "That the patient?"
"Yeah."
Nina sighed. "Alright, get him inside."
They moved into an abandoned warehouse nearby. Nina set up quickly, pulling out medical supplies from her bag.
"This is gonna hurt," she warned Damian.
He grinned. "I already feel like crap. Go ahead."
Nina cleaned the wound, cut away damaged tissue, and stitched him up. Damian clenched his teeth through it, his hands gripping the edge of a wooden crate.
After what felt like an eternity, Nina pulled off her gloves. "He'll live."
Selene exhaled in relief. "Thanks."
Nina packed up her supplies and glanced at Selene. "You want to tell me why you're on the run?"
Selene hesitated. "Stanton's dead."
Nina raised an eyebrow. "And you're still in trouble?"
Selene's jaw tightened. "Vincent Cade is making a move."
Nina's expression darkened. "That son of a bitch is still alive?"
"You know him?"
Nina scoffed. "Knew of him. If Stanton was a disease, Cade is a plague. He doesn't just kill people—he wipes them off the map. And if he's coming for you, you're already in deeper than you think."
Selene nodded. She had figured as much.
Nina leaned against a crate. "So, what's the plan?"
Selene's fingers curled into fists. "I take the fight to him."
Damian groaned from his spot on the crate. "Of course you do."
Nina smirked. "You always were reckless."
Selene met her gaze. "I need information on Cade. His operations, his resources."
Nina studied her for a long moment before nodding. "I might know someone."
Selene's heart pounded. "Who?"
Nina pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts. Then, she held up a name.
Kellan Graves.
Selene stiffened. "No."
Nina's eyebrows shot up. "You have a problem with him?"
Selene exhaled sharply. "He has a problem with me."
Nina tilted her head. "Why?"
Damian, still half-conscious, chuckled. "Because last time she saw Kellan, she nearly killed him."
A Debt to Settle
Selene rubbed a hand over her face. Kellan Graves was a hacker, a tech genius—and the only person who had ever successfully betrayed her.
She hadn't killed him back then, but she had ruined his operation.
Now, she needed his help.
Nina crossed her arms. "Like it or not, he's your best shot at getting to Cade."
Selene hated how right she was.
She clenched her jaw. "Where is he?"
Nina smirked. "Downtown. Running a nightclub. And he's very paranoid."
Selene sighed. "Of course he is."
Nina's eyes glinted. "So? You up for a reunion?"
Selene exhaled slowly.
She didn't have a choice.
It was time to pay Kellan Graves a visit.