11. Alessia

11

ALESSIA

He just stabbed someone. He just fucking stabbed someone.

Because he wouldn't apologize to me.

Holy shit.

Everyone in the bar yelped with bewildered gasps. My body subconsciously jumped in fright, my ass in the air for a millisecond, when the blade pierced through his hand and into the wood.

I cover my eyes with my hands, my heart twitching with astonishment.

He's unhinged. Now I know why Admiral Ravenmore placed him as my personal security.

Daegan Hannibal, Operator Creature, the man in a mask.

Daegan pulls the knife out of Frankie's hand and looks at his knife, twisting it in his hand, looking at the blood coating the silver Damascus blade.

He laughs dark and sinisterly. "There's just something about the color red that really brings out the beauty in my knife. Don't you think, Frankie? I made this knife from scratch, you know." He talks to Frankie like he's a good friend of his and not like he just drilled a hole into his hand, probably crushing his bones in the process. Daegan looks like he's having fun. Pure pleasure radiates from him. His smile reaches ear to ear.

"You're fucking psychotic over this fucking bitch!" He wails, clutching his bloody hand.

Oh, no.

I narrow my eyes at a sweaty Frankie, shaking my head.

I turn to Gabe, and he just shrugs like it's another normal Saturday night.

"I let security leave early," he drawls.

Great. So there's nobody here to stop this storm of a fight that's brewing.

Frankie stands straight up once Kane lets him go, still holding onto his very open wound. His blood profusely drops down his forearm, splattering everywhere. On the counter, the floor, even on his own clothes.

Daegan got him good.

Daegan licks his lips, smirking like a determined devil. Frankie slowly backs away as if trying to retreat into Zeke's safety, but Zeke doesn't offer him anything. He walks backward towards the exit, keeping his eyes on Daegan. It's like he's afraid he'll stab him again. With the way Daegan's crazed mind works, I think he just might.

"Since you don't know how to talk about Alessia respectfully, your tongue is next." Daegan grips the blade and stands fast like he just made a promise he intends to keep.

I need to do something.

I grab his shoulder over the chairs, and I'm touching a fucking mass of muscles underneath his sleeve. I squeeze gently but urgently. My fingers dig into his white shirt. Daegan turns away from Frankie, and his eyes, once filled with unforgiving fury, soften after a few seconds with my hand on his bicep.

"Please," I beg. "He isn't worth anything more." I plead with him, not wanting him to risk his job further.

Winters finally emerges and stands beside me. Her lipstick is smeared all over—evidence of her making out with Lopez present.

"Bro, shut the fuck up!" Zeke scolds him, flicking the back of Frankie's head. "Get out of here!"

Zeke rushes him out of the bar and closes the door on him.

All the while, Daegan chuckles.

"And with that," Gabe throws a white towel over his shoulder. "I'm closing the bar early. Everyone, go home!" He motions everyone out. His two fingers pinch his lips, and a loud whistle pitches into the air. He points to the door, and everyone groans but descends towards the exit anyway. Body after body disappears out the door as Gabe holds it open.

The music is cut off, and all of El Devine's lights turn back on.

Daegan pulls out his cigarettes and sits back down in front of me.

"You are insane. He's going to call the police." I choke out with a shaky tone. "Aren't you worried about your career?"

"No, he won't, Alessia." Kane chimes in, almost condescendingly, like I have much to learn about how their minds work. He pats Daegan's shoulder and leaves.

Mr. Slaughter and Mr. Cowboy Lopez have always been handsome to me. Everyone on SEAL Team executioners is tall, handsome, and just built with a mass of muscles. But Daegan…something about Mr. Hannibal has me feeling some type of way.

Just this magnetic force I can't untie myself from.

"Pinche loco," Lopez pats the masked man's shoulder too. He tilts his cowboy hat at me and follows Kane. "Adios, senorita." He tilts his hat at Winters.

I turn to her, shaking my head in disapproval. "Incredible." I scold her, and she blushes.

"What? Don't judge me! I'm going to the ladies' room before we go," she tells me quickly. Then she turns on her heels and leaves Daegan and me alone.

"You didn't have to do that, Mr. Hannibal. I'm not a damsel in distress. I can fight my own battles." I cross my arms over my chest.

He lights his cigarette, not bothering to look at me. I continue when I realize he isn't going to say anything.

"I'm not going to the ball with anyone. One, I have a boyfriend. And two, I'm pretty sure Ravenmore will have a fit if I ever date one of the special operators he's in charge of. He would kill you or fire you if I went with you. I wouldn't doubt it if he were to write you up and get you kicked out of the Navy. Plus, risking my own car?—"

He doesn't let me finish my ramble.

"You're breaking my heart, Valentine." He inhales, bright sparks at the end reflecting red. I don't bother telling him to smoke outside. I'm pretty sure Gabe would let any of the executioners smoke inside.

"You think I care what anyone thinks?" He asks me confidently.

That's a good point. He doesn't seem like the type to give a crap about anyone's thoughts or feelings.

I roll my eyes and check my watch. I'm getting home earlier than expected.

Daegan stood up for me. All be it, he really went overboard, but…he didn't have to. He did something that Jack could never do for me in our entire relationship. And then those dang butterflies swarm again. I do my best to make the heat die down, but this mysterious man makes it hard.

Is this what lust feels like?

"Alessia." Daegan's voice pulls my attention away from my watch.

"Mr. Hannibal," I turn around, exhaling.

He flexes his jaw, grabbing a napkin and wiping off the blood from Frankie's stab wound.

"Sorry about the mess, sweetheart." He wipes it twice with the napkin until there's no more blood, cleaning the mess. "I'm going to head out too. Slaughter's my ride." He stands and heads towards a trash can, keeping his cigarette between his teeth the entire time.

I take that as his farewell and decide to meet Winters at her car.

Gabe heads into the kitchen, probably to let everyone know that he decided to close early tonight.

This is one hell of a weird night.

I grab my personal belongings that I kept underneath the bar and swing them over my shoulders. I need to go home, shower, and sleep.

I don't see Daegan anywhere anymore…he's probably already down the street with Kane and Lopez. We have a big day tomorrow.

I send Winters a text saying I'm meeting her outside.

The walk from the bar to the front doors of El Devine isn't long. El Devine went from blasting music and crowd chatter to silence. My shoes click on the floor with each step I take.

I reach for the door, but a large hand pulls it open first.

Dark hair, silver eyes, and a voice that has my thighs rubbing against each other. My god, Ravenmore wasn't kidding about me not even noticing him. He really is like a quiet shadow.

"I got it."

"Thank you," I say, giving Mr. Hannibal a shy smile. At 5'3, this man towers over me easily. I walk outside, and I'm greeted with fresh air. Stars twinkle in the sky, and a fresh breeze makes me wish I had brought a light jacket tonight. I continue my journey to Winter's SUV when I hear his voice again.

"Happy birthday, Valentine."

I'm halfway down the pavement at the edge of El Devine when I stop in my tracks. I squeeze my bag tight, and my brows pinch together.

How does he know?

I pivot my foot, slowly turning around.

"How did you?—?"

"You're my assignment. I know a lot of factual things about you. I've done the homework that's required of me when your father…I mean, the Admiral, assigned you to me." He takes a deep hit from his cigarette and blows into the dark night. It lingers into the sky, and I smile.

"Thank you…umm, seriously, thank you. You're the first person to say it." I brush a curl back behind my ear nervously, my chest tingling from being unable to breathe. He does this to me.

"How are you going to celebrate?" He inquires.

I shrug, "It's just another day," I tell him, kicking a small rock off the sidewalk.

He stiffens, clenching his jaw. He looks like he's upset I said that.

"It's a shame you think that." He puts one hand in his pocket, staring into my soul, and then says something with a charming tone I'll never forget: "The day a girl named Alessia Sahara Valentine entered this world isn't just any other day." He takes another hit of his cigarette. "Doesn't your boyfriend tell you that?"

I can't feel this.

"Another year of life should always be a celebration. You never know when Death will come to collect."

I chew the inside of my lip.

"Fair point…" I giggle. He inhales another hit, and I let my curiosity get the best of me as I stare at his half-mask.

"Why do you wear a mask? Is it because of what happened to you?"

He flicks his cigarette once, ashes falling to the ground, and his face intensifies.

"We all have broken pieces, love. We all have scars we hide underneath a mask. What's that saying again? Show me yours, and I'll show you mine?" he dares me.

Smirking like a devil, I chew the inside of my lip.

I start walking backward, "Night, Mr. Hannibal." I give him a polite nod, doing my best to hide the flustered wave brewing on my face.

"Goodnight, Valentine."

Something about the way he says goodbye has me enchanted. I turn around, biting my lip, trying to force the giddy curve of my lips away, refusing to let him see the effects he has on my body.