IMPRISONING HIS MAFIA QUEEN

JADE POV

The first strike of lightning rented the sky, its light illuminating the dark, ghostly hunting ground as the thunder rumbled violently in the troubled sky. The trees howled out their pain as the winds rippled through their branches, the sound of it like the wail of a dying animal.

I grinned. This was going to be a thrilling night indeed. I stalked toward my prey, the sound of his haggard breathing drawing me in like a magnet. 

He thought he could escape me, but he was wrong. No traitor got away from Jade Alvarez. I adjusted the bow I held, the arrow already in place as I inched closer while my prey was none the wiser.

The weapon I wielded was not the one I preferred, but my step-siblings had gotten their hands on all the automatic weapons before I could. It didn't matter. I'd finish my task before they had a chance to, if they could since I already put my signature on their kill, after putting an arrow in the middle of their eye sockets.

They never stood a chance, and neither did the man I was hunting now. Another strike of lightning lights up the whole arena and the prey sees me. The man froze, his eyes widening in terror and pleasure surged through my veins at the blatant fear that lurked within the depth of his eyes.

He doesn't stay paralyzed for long, and with a leap, he dashed forward, trying to escape the angel of death. I aim and let my arrow fly. A bolt of lightning struck, illuminating the beauty of my arrow as it chased him, then sank into the back of his thigh. The man crashed to the floor with a loud groan that rivaled the sound of the rumbling thunder.

Picking another arrow, I stalked toward him, having all intention of finishing what I started, and enjoying every moment of it.

He was on his knees when I got to him, tears streamed down his face and his breath came out in harsh pants as he bowed to the floor, his hands reaching to touch the tip of my boots. Pathetic.

"Don't… please… I have a family" he begged, his voice breaking pitifully.

"I'll make sure to take care of your family after I'm done with you".

His head whipped up in terror. "Don't touch them, they had nothing to do about this".

I raised my boot, then smashed it against his hand. His scream rends the air, but it doesn't please me. "Who are you to give me fucking orders? You should have thought about your family before you betrayed the hand that fed you and them. There is no mercy for traitors".

More tears streamed down his face. "Please, I don't want to die".

I aimed at his head and he watched me, helpless, his eyes pleading even though he knew it was futile.

"Then you should have never crossed my path," I said and let go. The arrow swished, the tip of it disappearing into his head and reappearing at the end of his skull, the force snapping his head back and the picture he presented was pretty tame in comparison to the others before him.

Shockwaves ricochet through my skin as I stared at the dead man, a smile tugging on the corner of my lips at the euphoric feeling that formed at the base of my spine and then traveled all around my skin.

Raising the flare gun I held onto the sky, I let off a shot and watched the beautiful flame try to kiss the darkened sky. It was to signal that the hunt was over. 

I stared at it until the red flame sparked, then faded into oblivion. I was getting closer to my crown, and no one was going to stop me.

*******

Standing under my father's scrutiny always made my heart rate irregular-even though I never let my fear show because of the evil he represented. Ryland and Lexis stood beside me, their faces grim as they stared down at the men that they had been assigned to kill, who all bore my mark, with my arrows stuck in their cranium.

Father came to stand in front of me and pulling my gaze away from my kill, I met his stare challengingly.