It's 11:08 at night and the sky is pitch black without a single star in sight as the clouds cover them. I can smell the rain in the air as the wind blows. It's threatening to come down on us. We're waiting for the Viscuso's at the Barcelona Port in Spain. We're supposed to be meeting them at 11:30 but, I can't shake this uncanny feeling that something bad is going to happen. Meetings with other mafias always has me on edge, as it should because you just never know what's going to happen. If it's a smooth gathering or turns into a tense one.

This meeting was called by the Viscuso's wanting to make an alliance with us. Makes sense, being that we're both very powerful families in the mafia world. An alliance together would mean more strength and fear behind both parties. So it should go smoothly but, the hairs standing to attention on the back of my neck suggest otherwise.

I'm high in the sky with the eyes of a hawk as I'm hiding on top of one out of hundreds of shipping containers. With a perfect view to see everything. I'm looking everywhere through the scope of my marksman. Searching everywhere for the Viscuso's. So far they're not here yet; but they will be soon. Even knowing that I'm the hidden sniper, if by chance something happens, does nothing for the tension of uncertainty building on me.

"Something not right. We shouldn't be meeting up with this gang." I voice into my earpiece.

Though my words are for Carlos, I know all the security detail with an earpiece, can hear me. Which is just three of. Carlos my uncle, who's the man that has been by my side protecting me since infancy is one. Lucas, my father's right hand man is the another, and Ricky. Ricky is like my dad's second best, aside from me. My father can't have just one good man but three. "We know of their reputation, it's not a good one."

"You know there are commitments Adrian; appointments must absolutely be respected." Carlos quotes one of the many mafia rules we have. Of course I know this of our laws. "Do not question Don Cassiel decisions."

"I'm not questioning, just voicing my concerns on this and something just doesn't seem right." I say with a bite in my voice. I wouldn't dare question my father choices. Doing so would be challenging him and at the age of twenty three. I'm not ready to take all he has on my shoulders just yet. Hell, not ever if that was an option. Unfortunately it's not. I have to take over the family business. It's the reason I was conceived in the first place.

"What is the problem Adrian?" Don Cassiel deep voice rumbles into the mic. I move my scope a tad, and find Lucas standing even closer to my father. That little fucking weasel no doubt ratted me out. I swear he finds anything he can to get me in trouble. Like he gets kicks off of it.

I let out a deep sigh. "Don, something just doesn't feel right—

"Your feelings just fucking run you, don't they?" He growls causing me to instinctively tense up. It's a habit built from learning what his tone of voice means over years of lessons learned. "We'll deal with this when we get home. However, the Viscuso's are potential business partners, and deserve our respect." He doesn't say another word as he hands Lucas the earpiece back.

Great, another lesson that needs learning. No doubt it will hurt.

I continue to scan for movement in the shadows under such shitty lighting as I think about what later might bring me. The result causes me to frown that it won't be good. He'll probably want to give me the third degree and then some for query his authority in front of others. But let's not forget the biggest mistake of expressing the concern that I feel. Yes, punishment is what waits ahead for me. I'll have to endure it until he thinks I've learned to not show what or how I feel. In this business the only expression of any kind you should show is nothing but a poker face or a scowl. Anything beyond that your considered an open book and easy target.

He thinks that is my mothers fault. That he should have split my time with her shorter at a younger age of my upbringing. Expressing my feelings, especially when they're so strong about something, is a habit I had to learn to break a long time ago. It was a very rough, long lesson to learn. I've learned to hide my feels and I've become an expert at poker face. But tonight broke that streak I had going. The years I've spent concealing my emotions on anything. This is only because my loyalty is to my family, to my father. He needed to know somethings not right, even if it does cause me pain in the end. I do not regret the decision I made to speak up.

Movement catches my complete attention as a group of men dressed in all black suits emerge from the darkness provided by the huge metal containers. "They're here." I utter into the mic, only loud enough for everyone with a earpiece in to hear.

It's the Sicilian boss. Flanking on his right he's accompanied by his son, Marcelo Viscuso; along with three of their guards following suit behind them. I see Marcelo's lips move swiftly causing a response from Don Lorenzo. I can only hope it's them taking note of my absence and thinking I'm in Brazil carrying out a mission. At least that's what we wanted them to believe. In order to do that in this kinda business I actually did leave, making damn sure the word got out. It was no surprise to me to see the Sicilians in Brazil checking on my presents there. I knew they would. Because of this I had Roger, a guard who's close to my height and looks just like me with a hat on, show up in Salvador before I did.

I hired Roger awhile ago for this main purpose; to make other clans think I'm in one place when I'm actually in another. Luckily for me they haven't smarted up and realize my game. In this situation it's just better if they think I'm not here versus them thinking we don't trust them with me hiding with my marksman. We don't want to start off on the wrong foot; which can easily turn south quickly in this kind of industry.

I lay low watching as the two Dons exchange pleasantries. Marcelo by his farther side with his hands in his pockets looking untrusting as ever even though he's sporting a poker face. He gives a firm nod as he voices his hello as well. There's just something about him that has my red flag up. I don't know him well enough to pin point what it is. I just know the Sicilians are bad news with all the shit that goes around about them. From what I heard, they're quick when it comes to stabbing you in the back if it benefits them in anyway.

But Marcelo, he is one I'm gonna be looking deeper into. So I make a mental note to do some digging into the Sicilians bosses seed and maybe even to the Sicilians. Though I'm sure this has already been done by my father and I wasn't included in the need to know information. I can't really blame him though, I have been busy carrying out hits I've accepted.

Being a hitman pays very well. It can also take me three days or longer to get the job done. There's a lot of leg work into it. But once I have the place and time that person will be at, and a good spot to execute it, it's a done deal. I guess that makes me a bad guy, a ruthless killer. To be able to take someone out, take someones life without a thought about it. Well, I have my upbringing to thank, it made my "job" easier to do.

I sigh heavily with irritation that Lucas is standing too far from my father for me to be able to hear what is being said between the two Dons. I wouldn't put it past him to be doing this intentionally. He's such a fucking dick. Just as I go to scowl Lucas and demand him to move in closer, a light shines out on my left catching my eye. As fast as it came it went. I instantly shift my scope, then readjust it's focus as I turn my night vision on to be able to see into the dark shadows. There, off to the left, hidden in the jet black provided by the night and shipping containers are three outlined profiles of men standing, watching.

What. The. Fuck. What the hell are the Viscuso's playing at?

The light comes back on as one of the hidden guys phone lights up. Fucking amateur gave away their position. He has to new at this or he really doesn't give shit if they get caught. Anyone who's done this before knows to dim the screen light on their phone or don't touch your phone at all while in hiding.

Now I'm scanning around looking for more hidden figures in the shadows. I stop when I come across three more men hiding off to the right. They have us surrounded. This doesn't look good. My concerns of this gathering have been spot on that something's up.

Commotion breaks out filling the air around me. I shift the scope back to my dad as I readjusting the vision. I can't see his face expression to tell me what's going on other then them getting loud. I only have a slight left side profile of him. It's not even good enough to see any of his expressions. But the Viscuso's are now sporting nasty looks. The atmosphere fills with tension that's building between the two clans. Lucas moves closer to my dad's side.

"We don't know anything about your missing cocaine shipment and we sure as shit didn't take it! It may have sailed through our seas but we didn't have a hand in it's disappearance!" My dads voice rings into the earpiece as he speaks to Don Lorenzo.

Missing shipment? I wonder if it came through during one of my absences.

"Even if you didn't have a hand in it, I know you know what happened to it! You can't say you don't know what goes on in your waters!" Don Lorenzo growls.

"What I know is it came and went! Nothing more! Whatever happened to it wasn't done in my seas! You're barking up the wrong tree Viscuso!"

I shift my scope back to the men in hiding. They're all slowly spreading out in formation with their guns in hand. They're getting into position to attack.

"We're surrounded, get out of there now!" I demand just as I pull the trigger on my sniper taking my first shot. I watch it hit one of the men right in between the eyes. I don't hesitate as I take out the next two before they have time to inform anyone about me.

A rumble of chaos erupts into the earpiece as Lucas and Carlos begin shouting all at once, but Carlos voice stands out more. "Adrian!" Carlos exclaims. The sound in his voice holds fear. Something I rarely heard out of him.

Straight away I shift them back into my view. My heart drops and I feel the blood drain from my face. My father had taken a few steps away from the Viscuso's, no doubt to flee. But now he's rooted in place with Don Lorenzo's pistol pointed at him. I instantly put my mark on Don Lorenzo's chest, where his heart is. This is a split second decision that I have to make, but without a hesitation more, I pulled the trigger back.

Don Lorenzo fires a shot just before my bullet hits him. He stumbles back into his son and they both fall to the ground just as my father does. I hear shots fire off and I shift taking the three guys on the left out as they began running in on the action. I move back towards the guards that were accompanying Don Lorenzo and Marcelo. They've swarm their bodies as Carlos and Lucas attends to my father.

Removing my scope from my face. I look at them surrounding him, trying to help him. I fling the strap of my sniper over my head as I position it across my body leave the gun to rest on my back. I rush down off the shipment container with my climbing gear I used to get up here. I control my speed using the rope as I rapidly descend down. As soon as my feet hit the cement I unhook the rope then take off running towards their direction. I give a quick glance at the Viscuso's still on the ground and see that Don Lorenzo is dead. But unlike his father, Marcelo is still alive. The bullet I know had to go through Don Lorenzo but somehow missed Marcelo.

Well that was just pure fucking luck! You must have an angel watching over you dude.

I divert my attention onto my father as I kneel down beside him, moving Ricky out my way as I do. Instinctively I start to examine him with hopes to help him with his injuries. As I go to put my hand over the bullet hole Carlos's hands reach across grabbing my hands stopping me. I snap him a disbelieving look.

"He's gone, Adrian. There's nothing we can do. I'm sorry, he died instantly." Carlos mutters the words no one wants to hear. I look back to my father and examine his wound more closely. The bullet hit him in his chest, where his heart is.

A heart for a heart. Well if that isn't ironic.

Did I just kill my own father? I know that's a question I shouldn't be asking myself but I can't help but do. I seen Don Lorenzo fire his gun before my bullet hit him. He was going to kill my father. But that little hesitation I did to make the decision to shoot Don Lorenzo cost my father his life. Seconds can mean life or death, and I signed my father's death certificate with that one second to make the decision.

I swallow hard as guilt consumes me. I should have just acted immediately without a seconds hesitation. My father would still be alive if I had. But I didn't and now he's gone.

"Sir, we need to get out of here." I hear Carlos voice utter faintly. I blank moving my eye up to the six pair that are starring at me. They're waiting for me to give the order.

I nod in agreement. "Take him to the car." Lucas moves behind Carlos who's across from me as he's on my dad's right side.

I know Carlos is looking at me but my attention is on Lucas. Which is just standing there with a straight poker face. He doesn't seem the tiniest bit bothered or upset that Don Cassiel is dead. I narrow my eyes at him as he just stands there watching Carlos take my father's head end as Ricky takes the legs. Just as they carry him off I move to stand up but get knocked back down as a force hits me.

"YOU KILLED MY FATHER!" Marcelo roars as he grabs a hold of my shirt pointing a gun in my face.

I stare down the barrel of his pistol for a second before shifting my eyes to his. They're black and filled with rage. He's going to kill me for killing his father. I look back at the gun and see his index finger begin to squeeze the trigger.

BANG!

My eyes fly open as I startle awake. I pull my gun from under my pillow as I bolt up in bed scanning my room quickly; it's dark and empty. I relax dropping my pistol once I realize it's just another bad dream. I sag tiredly. "Get out of there." I hit the end of my barrel to my temple a few times.

I wish that bad memory would stop haunting me. Every night for the past five years I've had the same nightmare. Over and over and I can't get it out of my head. I'm not sure if it's because it's the night my father died or the fact that I almost did is the reason why it continues to keep reoccurring in my dreams. For once I'd actually would like to fall asleep and just dream of nothing at all.

Is this my punishment, to never get a good night sleep again? Is this my father's way of punishing me; being a constant reminder of the night I let him down? Haunting my dreams forever til the day I die?

I groan with that last thought and look towards the clock. It's 3:28am. I lay back down, tucking the gun back under my pillow as I do. I try as hard as I can to clear my mind. To not think of a single thing in an attempt to fall back to sleep with a peaceful state of mind. With the prayers of no dreams, no nightmares.

Don't think, don't think, DON'T! THINK!

I repeat the words over and over until I feel myself falling back into unconsciousness. I welcome it with hopes of a peaceful rest this time.

My dad's lifeless body flashes back in, then the end of Marcelo's barrel. My eyes pop open. "Fuck this!" I fling the covers off me as jump out of bed. I snatch my phone off the nightstand on my way out of the room. I glance at the clock on my screen; only twenty two minutes have passed. I quickly descend the staircase with my feet pounding hard against each step. I'm tired, and frustrated.

This is bullshit!

I hit the ground floor with a sharp right turn and charge across the main entrance straight into my office. The light comes on when I smash my right fist against the light switch as I storm through the room. I ignore the loud thud my phone makes when I chuck it onto my desktop. I slam my ass down into my chair making it protect under my weight as I open my laptop and begin beating the keys as I type in my password.

Checking emails, I respond to some with jobs. I write down the names to look into hits that want to be carried out. I spend the next hour and half doing leg work on who the unlucky bastards are. I always look into the jobs before I agree to them. It's just good for business to know whose life you're cutting short incase it maybe something that'll come back to bite you in the ass in the future. Especially if it's someone of importance.

Once 5:30 hits, I shut down my laptop and make my way back to the bedroom. Heading straight to the bathroom to clean up for the day. I go into the closet, strip out of my pajama pants and put on a pair of board shorts and sandals. Rushing out the door I give the two guys, Matt and Nick, the guards on watch at the manor a firm nod.

Climbing into my deep red with black trim and black rims Corvette C7 Z06, I speed off towards my beach house. I'm still in a bad mood from my shitty start of the day. So the plan is to hit some waves to blow off steam. I just need to relax and the only way to make that happen is surfing.

I waste no time once I pull into the driveway. Hell, I don't even bother to go inside the house. I just walk to the back, kick off my shoes and grab the board off the deck that's leaning against the wall from yesterday's surf. Then I make my way towards the water. With just one look it calls to my soul with its beauty as dawn starts to cut through the dark night surrounding me. Like it's promising to chase away the darkness and replace it with light.

I wish it could.

The waves are rolling in one after another. They're beautiful, and perfect size for me this morning; slightly large and in charge. It's as if the ocean sensed my bad mood and knew what to give me, like it has a connection with me.

Great, now I'm going losing my damn mind with crazy nonsense.

Once I reach the water, I just dive right in. I sigh a breath of relief. It's a little brisk but I happily welcome it. Letting it cool my skin and wash away my moody state. This, this right here is my happy place. Where I wish I could spend all day. This is where I get away from it all. Nothing else even compares it, nothing.

I paddle out then dive under the waves to get past them. Once I'm out into the lineup I immediately turn my board around and position myself just right. I begin paddling hard to catch the wave that's forming with the right timing and enough speed to match its momentum. When the wave hits the tail of my surfboard I stand up as it's pushing me along the water; catching the wave perfectly.

It's pealing gently towards the shore. My body's movements and adjustments help maintain my balance and control as I maneuver throughout the wave. I twist my torso doing a snap before I continue to ride the wave down.

A figure on shore catches me off guard as there's never anyone out this early by my beach house. It's not isolated, there are houses around my place. They're about a good twenty feet apart. But I have never seen anyone out on the beach at this time, ever. So my full attention is taken from the task at hand causing me to wipeout.

I come up from under the water and look back towards shore. They're still there, and look to be watching me. I keep my eyes on them as I climb back up on top of my board. It appears to be a woman, and she has a camera. But she's not alone. There's a big black dog with its nose in the sand just a few feet away from her.

Is she taking pictures of me? Why?! Who the hell is she?!

My red flag goes up, causing my mood to take a turn for the worst. I begin to paddle back with the intention of finding out who the hell she is. But stop short when she squats down at an angle. She looks to be taking a picture of the sand, then another of palm trees and more of the dog.

She's got to be a tourist, taking pictures of her trip, the scenery.

She eventually puts the camera in a bag, then straps it to her back. With a whistle she takes off running down the beach with the dog following beside her. Looks like she's out for a morning run as she's wearing the right clothing for the workout. My red flag is still waving as I wasn't able to see her face. I need to find out who she is. It's just better to be safe than sorry. Incase she or someone else she's working for is out to get me.

Shaking it off I turn around and heading back out. I know I should be looking into that woman right away as this is definitely not something I should be putting off, but I'm not ready to leave the water just yet. Besides, how do I know for sure she was taking pictures of me? She could have been taking pictures of the ocean, or the sky or both. Being in a dangerous business has a down fall of paranoia. But that doesn't mean I'm going to let her slide.

I spend the next hour or so surfing until the sun has fully lite up the sky. At the end of another wave I decide it's time to go back in, so I head towards the shore. That's when I see the woman and dog just walking past my house. I still can't see her face, so I continue to watch her as I come in to see where she's going. I'm debating on if I should do a full on pursuit now.

As I reach the shore I had hoped my presence would make her look at me. But she doesn't pay me any mind as she continues on. Her dark brown hair up in a bun, no shirt, she's just sporting a sports bra and sweaty skin. My eyes drift down of their own free will to her ass that is unashamedly leaving very little to the imagination. I let out an uncontrollable groan under my breath to the pleasurable site she's giving me. The leggings she wearing has the seam riding up her between her cheeks accentuating her ass beautifully as it's making her cheeks stand out more. Her ass is perfectly round and looks firm. By the looks of her tone body, she definitely works out.

Another red flag.

I'm instantly taken back by where she goes as she walks up onto the deck and up to the back door of the Sanchez's house. The house that's next my place on the right side.

Did the Sanchez's decide to lease the house out to vacationers?

I know it's their vacation home but it still surprises me that they would do that. I've known them since I bought my place eight years ago and they've always gave me the vibe that they liked their privacy. Guess that vibe was wrong.

I walk up to my house tooting my board in hand with my eyes firm on her backside. She lets out a sharp whistle making me tear my eyes away from her glorious ass as she immediately captures the dog's attention from the foxtail palm by the house. I get a good look at him. He's definitely a boy with his balls hanging proudly down. His breed is bully. His head is massive and body sculpted as all his muscles flex with every step he takes. He runs to her slightly wagging his tail. He seems to listen on command so he's obviously well trained.

Another red flag.

She bends over with her ass in the air putting it on display. I drop my board and choke on air as it gets caught in my throat. The site is glorious, and I begin to imagine what it would feel like in my hands. No doubt firm but, would it have a little soft give to it? Is her skin silky soft? The kind that you can't resist touching?

I instantly stop the train of thoughts I'm having for multiple reasons. One: my cock is getting stiff., two: I don't know if she's friend or foe, and three: if she's a relative of the Sanchez's, she's off limits. Foe and relative would be a hard no go.

Please dear god, let her just be a tourist coming to visit. Because if I can, I want to have her just once before she leaves to get a taste of her.

I'm not an easy man to have. I'm sure no woman would ever believe that by the looks of me. But it's true. If I want you, I'm yours for the taking, otherwise you'll never have me. The thing is though, you'll only have me once. I've never wanted a woman more than once as I lose interest after I've had them. I don't do relationships. No woman has ever held anything close to a relationship for me other than a one night stand.

Come on lady, turn around, let me see you.

As I reach my back door I mentally beg for her to turn around and give me her mystery face. She's disappears into the house with her dog, denying me of it.

Alright, if that's how you want to play, game on! I will see that face of yours sooner rather than later.

I set my surfboard against the wall then head inside to shower and get myself ready for the day. I'm in a way better mood now then I was earlier. Though I'm not a hundred percent sure if it's from surfing, or the pleasure of a good show from little miss fine ass. Actually, I wonder if she did it on purpose. She knew I was there. There's no way she didn't notice me. Maybe she's trying to lurer me in to take me out.

You can try lady, but I won't make it easy for you, so you better be ready to knuckle up.

While in the shower I decided the first thing I'm gonna do today is finding out who my mystery lady is, and to put a face to that delicious looking ass. Once out the shower I throw on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt then make my way downstairs. I head for the front door with the plan to start my research on my laptop at the manor. But then I hear a woman's laughter breakout; it sounds like it's coming from the beach. I know that laugh, I hear it just about every day.

What the hell is she up to now?

Then the mystery lady popped back in my head. With a quick spin I head to where it's coming from. As I get closer I can hear she's not alone as there's another voice. Is she with my mystery lady? I move faster not wanting to miss her if it is. With a little excitement rolling in me, I yank the back door open to the deck and step out. There off to my left just several feet from the house is a group of four women just talking away. Two of them I know, as one is my sister and the other is her best friend Emily. Then there's a strawberry blonde woman standing next to my mystery lady. I still can't see her face as she has her back turned looking in the direction of where her dog is.

This shit is really getting ridiculous! It's like she's intentionally avoiding me being able to see her face. A major red flag.

I walk off the deck and make my way over to where they are. Emily is the first one to spot me as my sister Sylvia attention is on the strawberry blonde chick. "Adrian!" Emily exclaims, beaming as she takes off running towards me. She latches on to my right arm, intertwining hers around mine. She jumps up on to her toes and plants a kiss on my cheek that was a little too close to my lips. I don't free myself from her hold then demand personal space like I usually do. My focus is solely on the brunette.

"Oh hey Adrian!" Sylvia says smiling at me. "Come meet your temporary neighbors. They're here on vacation for a week. Chloe, Blake, this is my brother Adrian."

On that introduction my mystery lady turns around, locking her eyes with mine. I suddenly can't feel my legs or any part of my body, not even my heart. It felt like it came to a complete stop at first, but now it has picked up in double speed and that's all I can feel.

Her eyes are like nothing I've ever seen before. Around the pupil is a honey brown color that turns into a very light blue in the middle, then fades out dark. They're quite exquisite and very unique. It's as if I'm looking into the ocean from above. The honey brown is the sand, the light blue the waves and the dark is the deep ocean.

Panic begins to engulf me as I know with unshaken certainty, with all of my being, that I can spend the rest the of my life starring into her eyes. Living in her ocean.

Here's Blake's eyes to help you see what Adrian sees. Can you see what he sees? The unique beautiful ocean that's pulling in him? Would you be a goner to if you had a deep love for the sea and came across eyes like these?