Trigger - Part 2

CHAPTER 24 - Through the air

"This is beautiful, Wyatt." I say looking around us seeing a few bonfire piles burning. Around each pile is a circle trench dug out far enough from the flames and coververed with colorful linen and small throw cushions. Four poles sticking out of the sand around the circle with hundreds of fairy lights strung up and between them and paving a pathway between each circle and to the beach bar. 

"This is just the beginning." He winks. 

I turn around at a sudden presence behind me.

"Sage! Mr Whitner!" Mia shrieks while giving me a hug and continues to sip on her straw.

"Mia, Liam." I see Liam with an open button-up shirt and dress pants. 

"You really have a keen eye for beauty Mr Whitner. It came out better than I imagined." 

Mia looks around and back at us.

"Thank you, Mia. Couldn't have done it without your help." He smiles. 

"You helped?" I ask.

"Of course. Even Liam helped." She nudges against him softly and he returns a playful smile. 

This is odd.

"Mia, care to join me, I was about to get us something to drink?" Wyatt places his hand on the small of my back and kisses me against my temple. "I'll give you two a minute." He whispers softly.

"Oh, sure thing Mr Whitner!" Mia takes hold of Wyatt's stretched-out hand. 

I watch them walk to a beach bar. I turn and see Liam also watching them walk away. 

"Listen Liam, I need to tell you something." I say looking back at him.

"You are fucking your boss." His facial expression remains still. 

Ah... did he just say what I think he said...

"Liam... I can explain... whatever Shane said let me explain from my side." 
"It wasn't Shane."

"It wasn't?"
"I am not stupid." 

"Are you angry?" 

"I was. But then I got over it. I have bigger things to concern myself with for now." 
"You mean Mia?" 

"Yes, and having to finally put a bullet in Ivankov's head." 

Wait... what!?

"What do you mean by that?" 
"By what?" 

We start walking to a circle trench close by. 

"By killing Nikolai." I sit down and Liam follows.

"So you are more interested in Ivankov rather than me fucking Mia." 

"I... uh...  are you trying to hurt me? I am asking about Nikolai because you are planning on killing him. Since when? I thought he was in prison?"  

"Why do you think you are here? Luke, Shane and Wyatt want to keep the truth from you. I don't agree. You need to know that this... this is your house arrest. Welcome to the next six plus months of your life."

I feel my blood in my veins run cold. 

"I don't understand... was all this a cover up to get me into some sort of protective custody?" 

He nods slowly. 

"I don't understand..." 
"What do you not understand?" 

"This? All of it. Why do you want to kill him? Why take me out of the city?" 

"It's part of the contract." 

"What contract?" 

"Nobody told you that part either? Fuck sakes must I do everything around here. Okay look. Shane contracted us to kill Ivankov. We are hitmen. Ivankov is being released Monday. And as soon as he sets his foot outside prison walls, he's a dead man."

Hitmen? Contract? 

I look to my right and see Wyatt, Mia, Shane and Erynn approach.

"My apologies for taking so long. Had to gather everyone for the show." Wyatt says as he takes a seat next to me and hands me a cocktail. 

All this is a lie? 
They tricked me?
He tricked me!

A sudden loud crack in the hair sends the hair on my arms upright. I look up and see fireworks light up the night sky. 

"Happy birthday, Sage." I hear Wyatt whisper in my ear and then take a sip of his drink. 

I am in prison... this is a lie... this is all a setup... how... how could you? 

I ... 

My breathing becomes heavy as my heart is busy beating against my chest.  

"Are you okay?" Wyatt's eyes turn to concern.

Unable to answer, I stare at him like a deer at headlights. 

"Sage?" 

I hear Wyatt's voice echo with the sound of continuous fireworks.

I notice Luke looking straight at me with a puzzled look. 

I look towards Shane and Erynn sitting close together looking up at the fireworks. 

Feeling like my lungs are trying to claw its way out of my chest. I look at Liam as he wraps his arm around Mia's neck, as she leans her back up against his chest, holding onto his arm. 

"Sage?" Wyatt's voice sounds worried. 

I drop my drink; jump up while grabbing onto my chest and start walking as fast as I can.  Everything around me turns blurry as I stumble between people. 

"Stop! Everyone back off! Move!" I hear Wyatt's echoing voice grow louder. 

"Sage! Where are you going?" I hear Shane's voice also echo. 

"What is her problem?" Erynn chips in. 

"Is she okay, I think something is wrong guys?" Mia's voice grows faint. 

My problem!?

"My problem!?" I stop dead, turn around and see everyone standing close to me. 

"What's going on Sage? Talk to me." Luke walks closer. 

"Is she always so dramatic?" I see Erynn hold onto Shanes arm.

"Get your fucking hands off of him!" I demand, feeling like a volcano. 

"Excuse me, who do you think you're talking to? Bitch?" Erynn lets go of Shane and slowly walks closer to me. 

"Woah! Ladies!" Luke lifts his hands.
"Erynn!" Wyatt shouts

"Don't talk to Sage like that!"
"I can defend myself Mia. And you are also too friendly with Liam." I snap at Mia. 

"Friendly? I was just-"
"-Oh come on Mia, can't you see it? She wants all the men for herself." Erynn moves closer and stops about an arms reach away from me. 

"Erynn back off." Wyatt walks closer and stands beside me while Shane, Liam and Luke move in closer too.

"No, actually I don't want them around anyone like you." I close in on her. 

"Oh yeah? Let's see you try and stop-"

Everything inside me shuts down as my vision blanks while I drive my fist through her face.

All I can focus on is the warmth of her skin and the sound of fireworks cracking through the air.