"Excuse me?" I was completely stunned by his statement. I am more than sure that my dad was never his friend.

At least I hope.

"You seem shocked." The scary man said. His lips set in a dark grin.

"If you were my father's friend I think I remember you being around at least." I told him as I pulled my jacket closer to my body. The wind was picking up making the area around us colder.

The man pulled a cigarette out of his suit pocket and placed it between his lips. "I guess you can say." He pauses taking out a gold lighter, on the back of it was an engraved rose. He flicked it open allowing a flame to rise. He lit the cigarette, took a pull and let it out. "That work keeps me busy."

"How do you know my father?" I questioned him.

"James and I go way back to when he was in high school."

James.

He knew my father's name. But that didn't mean much to me.

"He was very intelligent and creative. He always had a knack for art."

How?

My dad loved art, hence the uptake of photography.

"It's just a shame that he never fulfilled his dream of seeing a piece of his displayed."

Only a few people knew that was one of my dad's dream. He never really shared it. He felt like it was too much of a stretch, he knew it was neat to impossible for it to happen.

Even though the man was a few feet away from me, the tension in the air was so thick I'm sure anyone could feeling it miles away.

Finally building some courage I asked him. "Who are you?"

"Dominic DeLuca." He said swiftly as he took another pull of his cigarette. "I thought I should introduce myself since we'll be seeing each other often."

"Why would we be seeing each other? I don't think we associate with the same group."

He let out an icy chuckle. " One would think that. You've been running around with the wrong crowd." He said vaguely.

What?

I haven't been around anyone dangerous.

What is this guy talking about?

"Jace Emerson. Does that ring a bell?"

I frozen.

What the hell?

How does he know Jace?

Something doesn't seem right.

"If you keep hanging around him, trust me, you'll be seeing me more often then you like." He said tossing the cigarette on the ground and crushing it with his shoe.

"What does that mean? How do you know Jace? What do you want?" The questions left my lips before I could stop them.

Dominic smirked and turned to open his car door. "I think those are questions meant for Jace."

Just as I was about to question him again, I heard a deep voice call my name. "Leah!"

I turned around to see Nate running toward me.

I hear my name being called again from a different direction also. I turned to see Jace closing in his distance, but he was much further away.

Why are they both here now??

Especially Jace!

If Dominic sees Jace, what will he do? What will happen?

Panic sets into me. What do I do??

I turn around to see Dominic sitting in the back of the luxury car. He gave one last devious smirk as the car drove off. I knew that meant he would be seeing me again.

"Leah." I heard a few moments later and turned around to see Nate trying to catch his breath. He must have been running for a while. "Where were you? Kayla got worried. She said you went for a walk but never came back. She even tried calling."

I checked my phone. 5 missed calls from Kayla. 2 missed calls from Nate. 7 missed calls from Jace.

"Yeah, sorry. I just uh, got distracted." To say the least.

"Are you okay?" Nate asked curiously.

What do you think?

After that experience, who would?

"I'm fine." I gave him a small smile. "Let's head back to cl-" Before I could finish, I was spun around and felt strong arms engulf me.

"Please don't tell me what I saw was real." Jace pleaded only allowing me to hear. I knew what he meant with his vague words.

I nodded and Jace let out a frustrated sigh. "Fuck." He whisper.

It was comforting to be in his arms. It felt like a barrier of protection from the world, specifically Dominic.

"Hate to interrupt, but we have to head back before we get in trouble." I heard an annoyed Nate.

Oh my god.

I totally forgot.

This was the first time I've seen Nate since the confession.

And I have yet to tell Jace.

Damn.

I moved out of Jace's arms and took a few steps back to create a little distance "Nate, do you mind heading back first? I have something to talk to Jace about."

So much.

Nate furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and I gave him a pleading look. He understood giving me a nod, turned on his heels and headed back hesitantly.

I know he didn't want to leave me alone. Especially with Jace. Who right now to him was his rival.

When Nate was out of sight, I turned to Jace.

Jace's eyes were already on me. Worry and anger filled them. He ran a frustrated hand through his dark hair as he paced back and forth. "Fuck." He gritted out. "Fuck Leah, this wasn't suppose to happen."

I could feel the anger radiating off of him, but I also sensed guilt.

Jace looked like he would rip someone apart in the moment and I know his eyes were set on Dominic.

I reached out a place a hand on his shoulder. He stopped in his track and turned to face me.

"How do you know him, Jace? Because he clearly knows you." I asked.

Jace rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "It's a bit complicated."

"Complicated how?" I asked frustratedly. I was getting tired of the beating around the bush. I never get a straight answer from him. "Who is he, Jace?"

Silence.

I was met with silence.

Jace looked like he was battling internally with himself.

"I don't want to get you involved." He finally said.

"Jace!" I yelled his name in utter frustration. "Like it or not, I'm already involved. So tell me damn it!"

Jace looked around to make sure we were alone and let out a defeated sigh.

He looked me in my eyes and the next words out his mouth shocked me to my core.

"That man murdered my father."

😇