"I'm sorry Cassie but there's no time to explain, i need you to immediately lock the shop and leave town for a few weeks, maybe take that vacation you always talked about, I will text you when it's safe to come back. Love, Dad."
Cassie furrowed her brows, her beautiful green eyes focused on the note tacked to the bookstore door, just as she was about to close up for the night. She looked left and right, hoping to spot her dad, who must have just left it as she'd only stepped out for a minute of fresh air and hadn't seen it then.
Was this some sort of stupid prank from the neighborhood boys?, knowing those shenanigans It wouldn't surprise her. Taking a deep breath Cassie re read the note. It was definitely her dad's handwriting, even his signature.
"You stupid old man, what kind trouble have you gotten your self into this time?" she mumbled, tucking back a loose strand of black hair behind her ear as her father was always getting into trouble, especially with gambling. Maybe this was just "one of those times" again
He always wasn't like this, unfortunately after loosing his wife and daughter in an accident last year he had given himself up to drinking and gambling for momentary relief, Cassie knew she was all he had left and his reason for living
"Yeah I am sure it's nothing,"she sighed, squeezing the note and tossing it in the trash can.
"Leaving already, Cassie?" Liam's voice pulled her from her thoughts. She smiled making him blush. Cassie had been his childhood friend and secretly his biggest crush, yet for some reason he never had the guts to tell her how he truly felt.
To him, no woman could compare to her beauty. He often thought she was wasting her looks as a bookkeeper when she could be a model.
His eyes lingered on her cherry lips, and a smile curved on her lips, "Crushing hard on me are you Liam?," She said dramatically flicking her hair
"Oh, please, no chance," Liam chuckled, a scoff escaping him despite having an internal turmoil, cursing himself at his inability to tell her how he truly felt
"These dazzling looks of mine would be such a waste on just one lady, don't you think?"
His mind screamed at him to shut up, but being the awkward man he was, the words just blurted out. How could Cassie take him seriously when he kept acting like a spoiled playboy?, fucking idiot he cursed himself, Cassie laughed aloud. Although Liam was being a jerk, she couldn't deny he was incredibly pretty.
Liam had lucious blonde hair and beautiful brown eyes, with a lean muscular physique
. It came as no surprise all the ladies in their small town fawned over him like precious jewelry
Liam's gaze drifted to the trash and spotted a crumpled paper and jolt of jealousy shot through him as he picked it up, masking his feelings with sarcasm
"Oh, is my little Cassie receiving love letters?"
"Prick!" Cassie rolled her eyes as Liam read the content, his eyebrows furrowing.
"It's from your dad. Is he alright?"
"I'm sure he's fine, he probably just got himself into some gambling trouble like usual,"
"Should I check up on him?" Liam asked with concern.
"No, it's fine really. We spoke just this morning. I'm sure he'll resolve it soon, he always does."
"Does he normally leave letters like this?" Liam asked, tossing the paper back into the trash and crossing his arms. Just then, it started raining, forcing them back inside the bookstore.
"Not really, but nothing surprises me anymore with him," she said biting her lips in annoyance, not only does she have to constantly live with the pain of loosing her mom and sister, she also had to deal with her father.
"I'm sorry Cassie, I wish there was more I could do to help," He said with a soft smile and gently stroked her cheeks, he paused for a while before adding
"Cassie there's something I have always wanted to tell you, I...."
The sudden screech of car tires cut Liam off Both he and Cassie looked up as two black, luxurious Mercedes-Benz cars pulled up outside the shop and five men in black suits, armed to the teeth with firearms, stepped out
"Liam, did you set this up..."
"Get down!" Liam shouted pulling Cassie to the floor and holding her tightly while bullets rained through the glass into the shop as she screamed in fright from the deafening gunfire.
"Shut your eyes, and hold on tight,"She heard Liam and quickly squeezed her eyes shut as glass shattered and books were shredded by the barrage of bullets.
"That's enough, boys! We need him dead, not squashed like mashed potatoes," a deep voice boomed, and the gunshots finally stopped.
"Hey! Hey! Are you alright?" Liam asked, slowly loosening his grip on Cassie checking her for any cuts or bruises.
"I... I'm fine," Her face was stained with tears, her eyes wide with horror and fear.
"What's... what's going on?" she stammered, her words barely audible and Liam gently shook her shoulders.
"I don't know, but you need to snap out of it," Liam said wondering what was going on himself and trying to mask his own fear, he knew he needed to buy Cassie enough time to escape and get help
"Take the back entrance and get out of here."
"What... what about you? I'm not leaving you, Lia..." He silenced her with a kiss, then leaned back and smiled.
"Don't worry, I don't plan on dying today." He winked at her.
"Leave now!" he yelled at cassie who hesitantly got to her feet intending to run through the back.
Just then, a round strange device was thrown into the shop. It exploded with an ear-splitting sound and also a shockwave that sent Cassie flying, crashing hard against the wall
"CASSIE!" Liam shouted, rushing towards her. His left ear was bleeding heavily and ringing from the blast. Ignoring the pain he felt he helped Cassie to her feet, noticing a small cut on her forehead.
"Huh? Who the fuck are these people, and how the fuck are they even still alive?" His voice echoed and she recognised his as the man that ordered the shooting to stop, was he perhaps the boss In charge?
He had a low fade haircut, blue eyes, a tall build, and a mischievous grin that sent chills down her spine. For some reason he reminded her of those hot psychopaths she read about in books
"Hey! Who the fuck are you supposed to be?" he asked, looking confused as he titled his head to the side, Just then, the second car door opened, and another tall man stepped out.
He was incredibly tall, about six feet, five inches and she couldn't quite make out his face as a man rushed to his side with an umbrella. He moved slowly toward the shop, and Cassie's heart pounded with every took, even at first glance she could tell he was the one in charge
He stepped into the shop, ducking his head to get through the entrance. Cassie gasped, he was breathtaking and quite frankly he didn't even look human.
He stared back at her, his deep blue eyes piercing hers as he tucked a loose strand of his long black hair that was styled into a bun behind his ears. His jawline was so sharp it looked like it could cut glass.
"He can't be real," she thought It was as though every woman's secret wet dream had come to life.
He was claded in black and spoke in a deep masculine voice that was deviod of emotion. "Tell me little girl, where is your father?"
"He... he..." She couldn't speak still paralyzed by fear.
"And who the hell are you? " Liam asked with a frown, pulling Cassie to his side, his gaze never leaving the stranger's.
Slowly, the tall, dark, and handsome man turned his sights to Liam. He said to his second in command, "Kai, it seems your men missed a dirt." He then pulled out a gun and pointed it at Liam, who shivered in fright.
"No! No! No! Please don't do this, please don't do this" Cassie screamed at the top of her lungs.
"Tell me what I need to know, tell me where your father is," He demanded impatiently
"I don't know"
"Three!"
"I don't know, please I'd tell you if I did!" Cassie screamed, while Liam shut his eyes in fear.
"Two!"
"He left a letter telling me to lock the shop. I don't know where he is, I swear to you,!"
"Wrong answer pretty little girl," he said coldly before adding, "One!" He emptied his gun's clip and shot Liam directly in the head killing him instantly.