“Sounds like a plan. Now, if that’s over.” He puffs on the cigar, stepping toward me. “It’s your turn to reign over Vegas, Zeek. Now go, show them the reaper still lives.” He gives my cheek a firm slap and turns back toward his desk.
Leaving, my phone rings from an unknown number.
I smile into the phone, knowing it’s my father.
“Hello?”
Coughing and heavy breathing sounds into the receiver. He’s dying as we speak.
“How are you feeling, Father? You sound like you’re having a hard time breathing. Maybe a little dizzy? Got the shakes, possibly?” I chuckle into the phone. Getting to hear his last breath, to know he’s the one who is trying to take down the only family I have by being a traitor… It’s fucking great.
“What… did… you… do?” He gasps into the phone.
“What I needed to do. You’re a fucking rat, and this is what happens when you betray your brotherhood. This is what you taught me, trained me to do when someone becomes a traitor,” I snarl. “I would rather be on my feet standing guilty than on my knees begging for innocence.”
“No—” He’s thrown into a fit of coughs and groaning, cutting off his response. “Guard!” He tries to yell for help. It sounds painful and blissful all at the same time.
“Pipe down, Deluca!” a guard responds.
“Help,” he gargles into the phone.
A crash sounds into the phone, as if my father has fallen to the floor, and the line goes dead.
I just killed my father. My chest burns. It burns so intensely I feel my ribs constrict to the point I hunch over in pain. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say my heart just cracked. Bleeding any emotion or human decency that might have been dormant.
I’m officially a monster.
An animal.
One my father raised.
ONE
JILLIAN
Six years later
Glancing out the window of the cruiser, I sigh loudly. I’m feeling antsy. My reflection from the glass stares back at me, and I notice a hair has strayed from my bun. It’s protocol to keep your hair up as tightly as you can, so I flip open the visor and yank the ribbon from my hair to redo it. My dirty-blonde hair falls to my shoulders, framing my heart-shaped face. My light brown eyes reflect back at me, my irises holding flakes of black. They seem dull; they want that adrenalin, want the heart-racing high that makes them dilate. Shoving my hair into a tight bun, I slap the visor up and stare out the front windshield. The lights of Vegas are beginning to illuminate as the sun fades into the horizon. Looking at the clock on the dash, I see it’s 9:15PM; things will start to get more adventurous very soon, which I am thankful for. I’m ready for some action. It seems the later it is the more people like to get into trouble. I love things that make my heart race and my adrenaline increase to the point I feel dizzy. Makes this the perfect job.
Static sounds from the radio, catching my attention. “5paul69.”
Grabbing the walkie, I respond, “5paul69, copy.”
“5paul69, young woman is flagging down pedestrians on the side of Koval Lane, pink top, blonde hair.”
“5Paul69, copy that, en route.”
I put the walkie back on its receiver and speed up. I have almost made my quota of hours in field training, but for some reason Lieutenant Oaks wanted to drive around with me today. Lieutenant Oaks is also my stepfather. After I finish my 60 shifts of field training, I get to take over, drive by myself. I can’t wait; it’s been a moment I have strived for my whole life.
“So, why are you riding around with me today? Shouldn’t Joey be training me?” Joey is the field training officer in our department. He’s actually really laidback and easy to talk to.
Lieutenant Oaks’s fingers drum against his knees, and his chest rises with thought. His thin, black hair is slicked back, pieces of gray splicing through the front. Even for being in his fifties, he’s still in shape.
“First off, Deputy Adams, he’s to be called by his title. It’s Officer Hills, not Joey.”
My brows furrow with frustration, but I nod anyway. “Yes, sir.”
I knew better than to be so flippant in front of him. Around here, a deputy wears their rank with pride, since it’s all we got. Hell, ever since I was able to speak correctly, I was ordered to call him by his ranking. It was awkward as a child when I had to introduce him to my friends, but other than that I never really paid it much thought. He’s been my stepdad since I was five and taught me to live by the blue rules. I don’t remember much of my mother before she met my stepdad, but after they got married, I was introduced to a whole new family: the Clark County Sheriff’s department. To be one of them, and wear a badge… it’s all I’ve ever wanted. Hell, I even lost my virginity in the back of a squad car.
He rubs his thumb and index finger along his chin, the pads of his fingers rubbing against his five o'clock shadow.
“To answer your question, I ride with all the deputies when they are almost done with field training, I want to make sure they’re ready, since I’m responsible for you all.”
“Right, of course.” I nod, regretting my question.