Around the year 2100, it became clear to scientist across world that Earth would no longer be a suitable home for humanity. The planets population was now closing in on an overwhelming 13 billion. The world's resources were diminishing at a pace mother Earth simply couldn't keep up with; even with the assistance of all our great technology. There was simply not enough space. And our way of life was wreaking havoc on the already marred atmosphere of our home. Within 50 years Earth would no longer be inhabitable. In our arrogance, we already past a point to heal our planet, we had no choice but to leave her to lick her own wounds. So what would we do? Where would 13 billion of us go? Humanity looked to the stars to guide us, as we always have, for we would have to rise to the occasion and survive once more.
Facing the extinction of everything as we knew it, the greatest minds on Earth gathered and schemed. After a six months of non-stop planning and calculations, they devised a plan. Over the past 75 years the scientist and astronauts of the United Nations conducted experiments on the Moon, Mars, and it's moon Phobos to change their atmospheres. Through this, scientist hoped to eventually sustain life and make these distant worlds places to live for humankind. This research, fast-forwarded by the new deadline, yielded the invention of the Weather Core.
Drilling deep into the cores neighbors of our galaxy, we were able to control the planets rotation, thus controlling it's weather. From the most bitter cold, to torrential rains, and the most harsh heat imaginable. Scientist were able to completely change the atmosphere and geosphere of these planets at a rate that took millions of years on Earth. Before long a man could land on Mars, remove his helmet, and breathe clean air. We left Earth in an exodus until she was well enough to host us once more.
By 2367, most of the planets in the Milky Way galaxy (and almost 2/3's of their moons) were inhabited by the human race. All of these places took on identities of their own, each becoming a parallel of the Earth we once knew. Humanity United in the Cosmos, or the HUC, became the major governing body in the universe; a group made up of the most brilliant scientist and leaders from every nation from Earth. From their headquarters on Venus they moderate the politics of the galaxy. A representative from the HUC is elected once every three years by the citizens of each planet or moon to act as it's Ambassador. The HUC decided, after years of intense debate between scientist, not to use the Weather Core technology on our home planet. Mother Earth had achieved perfection on her own just as she did before. Science showed that the Earth would heal much faster without a single human soul sucking from her teat. We would wait it out in the cosmos on our new homes. It wasn't until 2710 that the Earth became able to sustain life again. Humanity wouldn't make it's return until around 2800.
Soon after we began to colonize our neighbors, dissent began across the galaxy. Once completely separated cultures, ideas, and laws were now being forced under one umbrella of the HUC. A large part of the population thought there was simply too much going on in our galaxy for one body of government to handle; that each planet should be governed by it's people. Of course this was unpopular with the HUC. It didn't take long for the people to become violent. Resistance grew at an alarming rate all over the galaxy. Within a year small militias sprang up everywhere. They began to carry out attacks on people and properties of the HUC. With it being the start of a new era, the Humanity United in the Cosmos was formed without any type of military force, thinking it wouldn't be necessary. Their naivety would cost nearly them the lives of 76 of their members before action was taken.
The opposition to the HUC began to organize and scheme collectively and formed a organization. They called themselves Lumiere, or Light, because they thought of themselves to be shedding light on the rest of humanity. Assassinations became a common thing. The leader of Titan and his staff were attacked and beheaded on live television. The HUC was trembling in fear and it looked like the balance was shifting in the universe. Then, their saviors arrived.
Turning to science as they always have, the HUC created ten "Knights". The best, brightest, and strongest soldiers from every corner of our former home. Using technology only dreamed of, these mechanically enhanced soldiers were made into the perfect squad to defend the HUC, and the universe, against the terrors of Lumiere. By then, they were believed to have well over 10,000 members throughout the universe and it grew everyday. They were split into groups of two and sent out into the galaxy with one mission: eradicate Lumiere's existence from the universe and restore HUC's control. With that, war began.
Lumiere's assassins were deadly to say the least. Using altered ways of training from centuries ago, they became almost super human through their discipline. Mastering weapons and techniques and spreading them across the cosmos created some of the best warriors the universe had ever seen. The HUC had no choice but to play their game. The Ambassador of Mercury was attacked by a group from Lumiere as he was heading to Venus. Little did they know, two of the Celestial Knights were with him. They 15 man unit was destroyed within minutes by the Knights. From there, they began to mercilessly hunt Lumiere's members. Vicious battles sprang up all over the universe.
In less than five years, the Knights had wiped out over two thirds of Lumiere's known members. The assassinations had completely stopped and Lumiere was reeling. No one could stand up to the force of the Celestial Knights and it was clear the HUC had regained it's control over the universe. In one last effort to free themselves from the HUC, Lumiere's remaining members attacked their HQ on Venus. All ten Celestial Knights were called to defend against the attack. The resulting battle lasted more than a week. Lumiere lost most of it's remaining forces. Who wasn't killed, escaped. The Celestial Knights suffered no casualties. Humanity United in the Cosmos once again ruled unopposed. They created the Bounty system, allowing citizens of the planet to hunt the remaining members of Lumiere for a hefty reward. Aside from law enforcement in cities, The Celestial Knights remain the only kind of military force in the universe. Lumiere was decimated. Only it's leaders, founders remained. They retreated to the dark corners of the cosmos to recover and plot once again on how to take down the oppressors of galaxy. They HUC have governed (for the most part) quietly since the late 2600's to the 2900's when Lumiere made it's next move.
Sloane's eyes suddenly opened. The room was mostly dark, she could only see the time projected onto the ceiling of her room. It was almost 2pm. The room was destroyed. Not a single piece of furniture was in one piece; Sloane herself was curled up on a couch cushion. She sat up slowly and it felt as if the room moved with her. Her left hand felt around on the floor next to her. Broken glass, loose paper, her pack of cigarettes. Luckily her lighter was also inside. The fire made her notice the mirror across the room to her left in her peripheral. Her glowing green eyes and the cherry of the cigarette was all she could see. Feeling around on her right side she found what she had been looking for the first time, her PPC. (Personal Planetary Communicator.)
Thirteen missed notifications. She only wanted to talk to one person. Sloane slowly stood up as she waited for an answer. After staggering to the bathroom and flipping on the light she realized she was only wearing a tank-top and her panties. She couldn't remember getting undressed. As she examined her body for any anomalies it became hard to ignore how puffy her eyes were. No matter how bright they shone, it was painfully obviously that she had been crying for hours. The redness on her caramel colored skin was also a dead giveaway. Sloane hated that.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to call me..."
It sounded as if Bruno was grinning already.
"Are you still on Earth?" She said with a dry voice. Another obvious giveaway. Sloane quickly took a drink from the faucet.
"I'll do you one better. I'm still in the city. I assume you are as well?"
"I'm at the Sanctuary near the Port. I think." She said in a groggy tone.
Bruno sighed. She looked out the bathroom window. The view of the city was ideal for her line of work. The building where Claire lived was still in perfect view.
"So?..." He said impatiently waiting for confirmation.
"Yeah...I'm here. Just ask for my room number."
"It's a Sanctuary. They're not gonna tell me what room your in you know that."
"Just do what I said Bruno. And hurry up."
She hung up and stared out the window at Claire's apartment building, replaying the nights events in her mind. Her heart started to race, blood began to boil all over again. Then, without warning, tears started to fill her eyes. Sloane dialed the number to the front desk.
"Yes Ms. Solera?" the desk clerk answered almost immediately.
"I'm going to need a new room. Higher up."
"Um. I'm sorry Ms. Solera but we just gave that room to someone else. And it's the only one. Is there something wrong with the one your currently in? Perhaps we could-"
"I destroyed it. I don't care who you gave the room to. I'll be up there in 15 minutes. Call whoever it is and tell them to leave or I will kill them. Do you understand?" She said in an ice cold tone.
"Yes Ms. Solera. Is there anything else?"
"Yeah...I'm expecting a visitor. Send them up."
"As you wish."
Sloane continued to stare out the window after she hung up. She could see the whole in the side of the building she made.
Bruno didn't arrive for another two hours. This gave Sloane more than enough time to settle into her new quarters. After the Lumiere Uprising, assassins were granted certain "rights". One of these were the Sanctuaries. Giant white towers scattered all over every inhabited rock in the galaxy. These towers acted as safe havens for assassins that belonged to Lumiere. Sanctuaries provided rooms, food, medical services, and whatever else an assassin might need; funded by Lumiere. No HUC member, including the Celestial Knights, or any other law enforcement body were allowed within their walls. And, unless otherwise requested, it was illegal for anyone at the Sanctuary to tell anyone that your staying there; under any circumstance. Violation resulted in immediate death.
Sloane was standing on the balcony when Bruno walked into her suite. She was sitting on the railing looking out at the city while smoking a cigarette. He sat down in the living room and took off his jacket and waited for her to come in to see his wares. An injection gun slightly bigger than her fist and several vials of glowing, multi-colored liquid sit on the table in front of Bruno. Their size ranged from 10 to 50 cc's; the contents mimicked lava lamps from centuries ago. She picked up the largest on the table filled with glowing, neon blue speckled with dark orange spots. Bruno watched her closely from behind his sunglasses as she held it up to her face. Her expression confirmed his suspicions from her phone call.
"They're all very pretty..." She said in uninterested tone. "You didn't have any of these before did you?"
"No. You know I like to keep a fresh rotation. All the 30's are new strains, the 10's are old favorites, and the 50's are experiments. We're trying new things out. I'm beginning to learn you Gaia users are kinda picky."
She rolled her eyes and picked up another from the table. Gaia, the fluorescent drug that filled the glass containers, was Sloane's drug of choice. When Bruno began his takeover of every black market in the galaxy, he started with the drug trade first. He's learned through his time in Lumiere, their leaders were often easily intimidated. The first boss he approached was a woman named Megara Mulara. She was the first person distribute Gaia in the galaxy after being the only person on Earth to sell and produce it. Megara claimed it made you feel one with the Earth, no matter where you were in the galaxy. It wasn't entirely untrue. However, it was highly addictive and had severe detriments on the body. Addicts died within weeks of getting hooked all the time. Bruno, having used the drug on occasion himself, saw much more potential in this market than Megara was taking advantage of. After finding out of her dwindling interest in the drug trade, he made her an offer she couldn't refuse. Now she worked out of a hidden lab on Mercury with her own team and the best equipment technology could offer. Her only job: produce Gaia for Bruno.
After carefully making her choice, an electric-yellow swirled with crimson 30cc vial, she reached under the table grabbed a silver box full of cartridges and her own injection gun. She started to empty the vial into a cartridge.
"You usually have a lot more questions." Bruno said tentatively.
"I'm not really in a good mood. I'm pretty sure you know that."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"There's nothing to talk about." She said sharply.
He scoffed.
"You just tried to kill your ex, a man who was thought to be dead. By your hand no less, at least partially. And after all this time you find him with yet another woman-"
Bruno's sentence was interrupted by the sound of the hammer of Sloane's gun pulling back inched away from his face. He couldn't help but grin.
"I know where Mulara is Bruno. I will blow that stupid ass grin off your face right now."
"Look at how wound up you are. That's why you need to talk about it."
Sloane took in her reflection in his sunglasses and was reminded of her telling appearance. She growled and walked over to the window. The gun was still in her hand and she leaned on the glass with her forehead. Bruno's eyes oscillated from her butt and the gun swaying by her side.
"I have a question. I didn't cross swords with him, but he definitely seems different from when I saw him last years ago. Stronger definitely. And it was my understanding that his abilities rivaled Julius' in the first place. So...what I'm asking is, did you really think he was dead?"
Sloane continued to stare blankly out the window replaying the events in her mind. Before she knew it, tears were streaming from her eyes once again. There was no way she way turning around now.
"I...I don't know. I guess part of me always hoped he was still alive somehow. I watched him bleed out on the floor Bruno. There was no way...And yet hearing he was alive made me so angry...I don't remember how I got to that apartment building yesterday. I can't even recall coming back honestly. From the moment you sent me that picture...everything has been in pieces..."
Sloane sat down on the floor and put her back against the glass. Bruno watched her sob with her hand still clutching a loaded gun pressed against the side of her head. He got up and took off his jacket and sat down next to her. He didn't say a word, instead, he sat her injection gun down in front of her. Sloane looked up at the ceiling through her tears. She couldn't help but think about the last time something made her this upset. The moment she returned to her room all those years ago the first thing she saw was a picture of Ray holding her next to her bed. Her body felt as cold as it did then.
"I just want the pain to stop...I've been hurting for so long. And nothing I do, nothing, seems to make it stop. Meanwhile, that bastard is parading around with a new whore. I swear I'm going to- I can't-"
She started to scream at the top of her lungs. Bruno quickly grabbed the gun from her and wrapped her arms around her. Sloane cried harder and screamed more. She tried to free herself from his embrace, but he wouldn't let go until she calmed down. Instead he said to her softly,
"Just let it all go...I'm here..."
They sat by the window for three hours before she fell asleep with her face buried in his chest. Bruno then carried her to her bed so she would be comfortable.
At the edge of the Milky Way galaxy Pluto, the once exiled planet, slowly orbits its siblings. With an axial tilt of 120 degrees, the sun invariably shines on a quarter of the planet's surface, while another quarter is shrouded in eternal darkness. A few miles from the Division of Night lie the capital city Phrost.
Pluto was not a desirable place to live for most people. The majority of it's population was made up of it's natives; unlike other planets in the galaxy that were well assimilated with interplanetary emigrants. Distinguishing between the two wasn't difficult anywhere you visited. Soon after humanity made it's home on Mars, after spending as little as 6 months on the planet's surface their hair and eyes began to change. Earthlings born with any hair color slowly began to change to a deep crimson. Newborn children were born with hair and eyes of the same color. Research found water vapor in air was the culprit. One of the many functions of the Weather Cores in each planet (and their moons) was to help maintain the breathable air. While the air was identical to Earth's, the water that filled it's air was different. Cells in the water bonded with the cells in the body that controlled these colors. The same would happen each planet inhabited later on, except the color would be different. Mars produced crimson and reds. Jupiter produced a spectrum of greens. Science has yet to discover the reason for the variation of colors from the same stimulus, but has created a medicine that negates these effects on hair that can also be reversed. However, the eyes you are born with are yours forever.
Just outside Phrost lie a mansion carved into the side of the snow-capped mountain overlooking the city. The dwelling was a behemoth, even for the size of the other homes scattered across the population (just under two thousand) made up mostly of extremely wealthy people. Elites from various walks of life built their dream homes on the quiet tundra. The owner of this home had a distinct background, but was known for one thing by most of the Milky Way.
Maria Destin sat by her bedroom window staring at the white tower standing over the center of Phrost. The planet's only Sanctuary was it's tallest structure. Her hand twisted a loose thread on her black stockings as her mind wandered through a number of things. It wasn't until her PAC (Personal Accessory Communicator) began to vibrate that her concentration broke. "Julius Silver" was written in neon letters across the face of her watch. After a quick debate she decided to answer; voice only.
"Yes Julius? What is it?" She said in a flat voice.
"I thought you would be awake by now. It's almost 2pm. I'd like to talk to you."
"Okay. I guess. Where are you?"
"In my office. I'll see you soon."
Maria let out a sigh after hung up. She stood up and walked over to her mirror. Her thick, wavy, chocolate brown hair matched perfectly with her eyes of the same color. She adjusted the white ribbon in her hair and brushed off her dress of the same color. Maria was an undeniably beautiful woman. She would stand out amongst beauty queens. And yet, as she took in her reflection the last time a smile crossed her face failed to reach her memory. Her gaze drifted up to a picture stuck in the corner of her mirror. As she held it in her hands she began to remember. The last time she held him, the love of her life, Ray Hikari. Almost three years had past since she truly smiled.
Julius Silver stood over a desk covered in papers and small devices. Born with an above genius level IQ, he always had an affinity for learning and especially science. His destiny lead him to becoming an assassin, but he never strayed away from academics. Starting from his early teenage years, Julius began to contribute to medicine and technology from behind the scenes. His inventions and research helped make strides in both fields. The Body Weaver machines that were used across the galaxy were perfected by his hand. He received no credit or accolades for his work; and he was content with anonymity. Julius simply had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge; at any cost.
Maria walked into the room and slowly made her way around the desk. Julius listened to the click-clacking of her snow white heels on the floor as he finished up what he was reading; she always waited for him to speak first. When he looked up she was sitting on the arm of a couch in front of the window watching him. He moved his bushy, silver bangs from his face to see her. Being a pure blooded Plutonian, his eyes were the same lustrous color.
"How are you Maria? You look wonderful today."
"I'm fine. What is it you wanted to talk about?" She said impatiently.
Julius sighed and walked around the desk and sat on the edge across from her. He had to move his bushy silver ponytail before he sat down. It reached almost to his ankles and was somewhat famous. Maria waited with her arms crossed.
"We've been on Pluto for a few months now. I thought you might like to spend some time closer to the sun. I have a appointment on Venus soon. After that I was thinking maybe we could vacation on Mercury for a while." He said hopefully.
She couldn't help but raise her eyebrows in skepticism. "Vacation?"
"Well, yeah. Mercury is a planet of islands and beaches. People only go there for vacation. I own a house on white sand. It's a lovely place. I'm sure you'll enjoy it there. The sun is in the sky for...a very long time. I thought you would enjoy a break from all the snow and ice."
She stared at him in disbelief. For him to suggest something so leisurely was completely out of his character. Usually he only dragged her along from planet to planet, leaving her alone while he conducted his business. Maria couldn't help but think he had some ulterior motive. However, she also didn't want to let the opportunity to leave the Phrost pass her by. Julius seldomly let her go anywhere without him; and when he did she was supervised.
"Well...Your right about that. Okay fine." She said finally.
Julius smiled and took her hand in his.
"I'm glad you accepted. I know your going to love it. I have to finish the research and all that to take with me but after that we can go. Tomorrow morning should be enough time."
Maria took her hand back and stood up.
"I'll start packing then." She said unenthusiastically.
He looked out the window listening to her steps. The sunlight reflected off the ice and snow casting a silvery glow on the room. Julius usually kept his lights dim because of this.
"Oh Maria. One more thing."
Her hand was almost on the doorknob when he spoke. She turned, expecting him to be where she left him; where she heard his voice come from. Instead he was a mere two feet away from her. She hadn't heard him take a step. Maria felt the familiar grip of fear she had somehow grown used to living with him for two years. The thought that he would suddenly break her in half, something she had witnessed him do barehanded on more than one occasion, could never escape her mind. Maria could never place what was going on in his head. It left her constantly on her toes around him; watching every move he made.
"Yes?"
"I'll take you shopping once we get to Venus. I've been told it's where most people do the shopping when visiting Mercury. The house is empty so, you can fill it's closets with whatever you like."
Maria gave Julius a half-hearted smile and continued out the door. He stood staring at the door until the screen on the wall to his right suddenly came on. It still didn't garner his complete attention until the busty reporter for BNN (Bounty News Network) uttered words that froze him in his place.
"Breaking news here at BBN today, the mysterious combatants in last night's brawl over the city of Stardust on Earth have been identified. Just after 3:00 am glass rained down on the streets below after 3 windows were blown out the well-known condominium Sakura 2. Moments later, after a series of resounding gun shots, two figures could be seen falling from the hole out onto the street; one of them landing on top of and destroying a vehicle. We received clear footage of the altercation revealing Lumiere's 8th ranked member and former member of 5 Diamonds, Sloane Solera. She was entangled with who at one time was the most sought after man in the universe Ray Hikari. Hikari, ranked 6th overall by Lumiere and also a former member of 5 Diamonds, disappeared from the galaxy after a fall out in the squad. Popular belief was he was killed almost three years ago, resulting in the team's disbanding at the time. But 3 months after the squad reportedly parted ways, a one billion dollar bounty was placed on his head; still the 3rd highest bounty to date behind only the King of the Stars and Bruno Krona respectively. A monumental search ensued throughout the galaxy for the man rumored to be dead. After a year of exploring every inch of the galaxy by every bounty hunter and assassin the cosmos had to offer, most gave up, conceding to the idea of his demise. Now, he appears to be alive, very well, and picking up where he left off with his former team. Although I'm sure there more to this than meets the eye. Needless to say we'll keep you updated as the facts come in. Now we move onto..."
His mind faded into silence as he processed the information. So many questions came to him, Julius couldn't bring himself to move until he sorted his thought. There was so much to do. And now, his time to do it was completely contingent on how many problems Ray was going to cause. He would undoubtedly be looking for him, if he wasn't already on his way to Phrost. No. Sloane wouldn't tell him that. Would she? Was she even alive? There were too many unknowns. He walked over to his computer and started typing furiously. The white, stylized 5 inside of a round cut diamond (if viewed from the side) on his charcoal, black coat caught his eye. He couldn't help but stop and think. About squad he once commanded, the family he once had. About what length Ray Hikari would go to kill him.
Sloane didn't wake up until after midnight. She hadn't slept that long in years; since Ray "died". It wasn't until she made her way back into the living room that Sloane noticed she was only wearing her panties and a t-shirt. Bruno sat in the living room with her back towards her leaning over the table. He turned around and expecting her to yell, instead she walked around the couch and sat next to him. It was silent for a moment between them. Sloane couldn't help but be embarrassed. Her face started to flush as the memory of what happened slowly started to come back to her. Bruno grinned when he noticed and slid a syringe with the luminescent blue-orange liquid she had been staring at before in front of her.
"I put that together for you. You seemed to like it."
She glanced at it quickly and went back to glaring into the kitchen.
"I have my own injection gun you know. I don't need you to do that." She snapped.
"Yeah but you were sleeping. And you seemed very curious in that one. It's strong so I didn't want you to overdo it. That should be enough to take the edge off; and then some. It goes by the name of "DragonsBlood". And honestly, it's one of my favorites."
She leaned over and picked it up, twisting it in her fingers. Bruno sat back and watched as she took the cap off with her teeth and closely inspected her arm that was still a blank canvas.
"How long was I sleep? What time is it?" She mumbled with the cap in her mouth.
"It's almost 1am. You slept all day. I was surprised. Had time to leave for a bit and come back. Your very pretty when you sleep you know."
"Don't be a creep."
"And your quite chatty."
Sloane turned and spit the cap at Bruno. He grinned as it bounced on the floor after hitting his sunglasses.
"What did I say?"
She could only remember a few times he smiled that hard at her. He reached in his pocket and sat her PPC on table.
"You got a phone call too."
"Why the fuck do you have my PPC in your pocket?"
"I just told you, you got a phone call. I picked it up and, you know, reflexes." He was pointed to her kitchen. "I was cooking at the time."
"So who was it?! Did you pick it up?!"
"No, actually. I can't unlock it anyway. See for yourself."
She picked it up to see a missed call and a message from Julius Silver.
"I need you to come to Phrost immediately. We all need to discuss your reunion."
She sighed and threw her PPC across the room.
"Bad news?"
Sloane got lost in her thoughts for a moment, processing the information.
"Julius knows. I have to go to Pluto."
"Now you don't to HAVE to go..." Bruno said sarcastically.
"He's only going to bitch and moan because I didn't tell him first."
"And your going to go all the way to the edge of the galaxy for that?"
Sloane lined up the needle with the vein in her arm and slowly injected the "Dragon's Blood" into her bloodstream.
"The others will be there. He probably wants to decide her we're going to kill Ray this time."
Bruno watched as she closed her and took in a deep, slow breath. Sloane held it for about 15 second before exhaling a thick, orange smoke from her mouth; one of the famous effects of Gaia.
"Do you really think it's a good idea for all of you to be together? Your just making it easier for him to kill you all at the same time."
When she opened her eyes the room had transformed into something new. Every color she saw was the most vibrant it could be. She rested her head on the back of the couch and absorbed the scene. Sloane could see the entire room in front of her now in perfect focus; almost as if it was third-person. As her eyes moved from place to place, the colors bleed and danced around each other. Her hand moved across the couch, her thigh, up to her stomach. The different textures on her fingers sent vibrations through her entire body. Her tattoos appeared to be moving when looked at her left arm; almost rising up from her skin. She saw his name hidden in the artwork, a grin appeared. A soft moan as she, traced it with her fingertips. Ray Hikari. Bruno rolled his eyes.
"This is some really good shit Krona...I needed this so bad." Sloane spoke softly and slow. Her tone was almost seductive.
"Did you hear anything I said?" He was clearly annoyed now.
"I heard you. But...he's not going to kill anyone. We're going to- I'M going to kill him. Stop worrying. You know I hate that."
Sloane moved across the couch and sat on Bruno's lap. She took off his sunglasses and put them atop her head before wrapping her arms around the back of his neck. The second, and also famous, side effect from Gaia is it made the user's eyes glow a different color, usually one of colors from the product. Her usual bright yellow was now a glowing pale cyan. Sloane stared deep into his neon green. It wasn't too often Bruno took off his sunglasses. When he did, his eyes were always glowing. Sloane had no idea what planet he came from.
Bruno wondered if Sloane was slowly rocking her hips back and forth to distract him. It was working. He had to stay focused.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to get you to shut up. Your starting to get annoying."
"I just-"
His plea was interrupted by her biting his lip. Sloane grinned. He started to squeeze her thighs. She kept glancing at his name inscribed on her skin. Ray Hikari.