Page 53 of Reverence

Disbelief hid in my tone of voice.

The work device on my coffee table buzzed, the screen lighting up and my gaze flicked to it. “Ma, I have to go. I’ll call you later.”

While she responded, I ended the call.

Normally I’d bid her goodbye but she ruined the good mood and now I was too agitated to concern myself with useless pleasantries.

I checked the message on the government-issued device and noted an arms deal gone wrong in the same area where the attempted homicide took place two weeks ago.

Clearly, that area of town could’ve been a potential hub for this group’s illegal activity.

Something about this case didn’t sit right with me and when I asked relevant questions, nobody could give me a straight answer.

This is exactly what I fought against every day. To me, it seemed as though Ares knew more than I did.

The idea of information being withheld from me not only angered me but it unsettled me deeply. There was a loud knock on my door and it startled me.

My eyes snapped up and normally I would’ve ignored it because nobody that I knew would ever stop by unannounced on a weekday but the banging became more insistent.

I tied my robe, grabbed my sidearm strapped underneath my kitchen counter, and walked closer to the door before looking through the peephole.

Whoever it was covered it with their hand which immediately raised red flags for me.

I checked the magazine, ensuring there were bullets in it, and then clicked it back into place before removing the safety.

The banging happened one more time and that’s when I unlocked the door and abruptly pulled it open, pointing my pistol at the person.

Ares stood before me, looking directly at the barrel of the gun with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher.

“What the fuck, Valiente? I could’ve shot you.”

My eyes dropped to the hand gripping his bicep and I immediately noticed the blood soaking his white shirt.

He panted softly, looking at me with those cold eyes. “Somebody already beat you to it.”

My heart pounded against my ribcage and without thinking, I pulled him into my apartment—looking down the hallway to check if anyone followed him and when I didn’t see any movement I shut the door, then locked it.

“What the hell happened?”

The question I really wanted an answer to was why he decided to grace my doorstep with an injury when there were hospitals available, the headquarters, or his friends’ homes but I chose to save the enquiries for later.

“Isn’t it obvious?”

I pushed him onto the couch, assessing the blood staining his shirt.

It seemed to be severe which meant I needed to call Asher to inform him of this fucking mess.

I walked to the kitchen, grabbed a clean dishcloth from the draw and handed it to him.

“Apply pressure to the wound,” I said and he obliged. “Sit quietly and don’t get blood on my couch.”

I grabbed my phone, quickly hitting Asher’s name in the speed dial.

“I’ll try my best.” He said sardonically. Ares looked pale, beads of sweat coating his forehead.

Shock was setting in and fast.

“Who are you calling?” He questioned which caused me to raise an eyebrow.