I didn’t have the time to think it over. I begin to pack everything. I was out of here.

I saw nothing, I know nothing. Within minutes, I had already checked out online, booked a first-class airline ticket back to Charleswood, and ordered a VIP Lyft. I may be scared shitless, but that doesn’t mean that I have to be scared and uncomfortable.

Ten minutes pass by, and I climb into my Lyft. I’m a steaming bundle of nerves. I’m so grateful I didn’t tell him my real name. How could a man who brought my body so much pleasure…how could he be a killer? Oh my God, I fucked a killer.

I drag my body low into the seat trying to avoid seeing and having people see me as we drive away from the hotel.

It doesn’t take me long to get to the airport and onto the plane. My legs rock as the attendant asks me what I wanted to drink.

“Nothing, I’m good,” I reply because alcohol is what has my ass in this predicament.

The plane’s door seals shut with a final reassuring thud as we smoothly begin to glide along the tarmac. A breath I didn’t realize I was holding eases out of me.

As the aircraft climbs in altitude, I sink deeper into my seat. My mind races with my new reality. This never happened, I saw nothing, and I have nothing to say. This was all a nightmare that I will be sharing with no one… not even my sisters.

* * *

ERYX

“Icalled an associate of mine. We will have a clean-up crew here within 10 minutes,” Cid states, he bends and throws a sheet over Stavros’ lifeless body.

I nod studying Stavros’ body and regret instantly fills my heart. He was my uncles’ right hand man since I was a teen. He gave me pieces of salt taffy when I visited my father, gave advice on girls. Everything is changing thanks to my uncle.

I pace the bare marble floor, with the gun still in my hand.

“This has to stop,” I pull at my chin, passing the gun to Khaos. My cousin Khaos places the gun back into his holster.

“What about the girl?” Kyros asks as he leans on the wall cutting an apple with his switchblade.

My blood runs cold, I don’t want Kyros to focus on Rosemary. Kyros has an askew mind set when coming to women.

“What about her?” I ask.

“Do we send her to the cleaners or are you leaving her here?” Kyros brings a piece of apple to his mouth and chews it.

Rosemary, I almost forgot her. Maybe I should have Kyros take care of her. Watching him cut the apples into smooth, clean slices, made me think of the things he could do to her.

“I will handle her.” I stare into his dark grey eyes. He shrugs and raises his hands up in surrender.

Khaos scratches his head. “We gotta head out of here. Your uncle could be sending people after you. This is not it.”

“Agreed. Let’s go.” I wipe my hand on my pants. “Khaos, stay with me. Cid, wait for the cleaners and Kyros get the car.”

I leave the room, knowing Khaos is behind me. I need to get Rosemary as far away from this as possible.

As I approached the bedroom door, I stopped, glancing back at Khaos. A single eyebrow raises. Immediately, he went to his phone. “Let me call the captain to get the plane up and ready. Let me do that.”

I shake my head and step inside of the bedroom, closing the door behind me. The first thing I noticed were the curtains, they were pulled back. The moonlight streams into the bedroom, its glow shines onto the black stain sheets of an empty bed. I rush to the bathroom only to find scattered towels on the ground. She was gone.

“Khaos!” I scream out.

Khaos enters the room, gun drawn.

“She is gone.” I should feel worried she left. Instead, part of me feels disappointed she is gone.

“Do you think she saw anything?” Khaos asks as he goes to the window peering into the dark sea.

“No,” I answer. Picking up the sheets, I bring it to my nose. I inhale and the soft floral scent of her surrounds me.