What survived may not be kind. But it's me.

Music vibrates under my heels. Chatter erupting among the patrons lined up outside the upscale bar.

The heat emanating from Archer wraps around my waist, drawing me in as I lean back into his chest, though I can only imagine the heat as anger, feeling his glare on the back of my head.

Cleo and Liam stand in front of us, also playing the part of an amorous couple.

Cleo's pink hair is in her natural kinks, smoothed down with what I assume is a lot of product, the curls defined and shiny. She leans her body flirtatiously into Liam's.

I quickly fix the bangle on my wrist, turning my body in Archers arms and winding my arms around his waist.

My hands settle on the two guns tucked in the back. One of them mine.

I look over his shoulder at the people behind us. My eyes straying to the security guard at the corner of the building.

I turn, leaning back into Archer as he wraps his arms around me, ever the doting boyfriend.

I flash a small smile as my eyes connect with the other guard who stands at the door.

His face remains blank as he waves us forward.

The tightness of my dress does nothing to hide the muscle beneath. Clinging dangerously to my bust and thighs as he looks us up and down.

The music grows louder, the distant hum and vibration now a rhythm rushing in my blood.

A buzzing in my ears interrupts the song, Clay's voice piercing.

"I just lost the connection, but he should still be there since his phone last pinged only two minutes ago. Or whoever has his phone." Clays voice crackles through the comm, almost drowned out by the thumping music from inside.

Archer fingers flex on my hip as we walk forward, the bouncer checking us over before waving us forward.

The air is warm as we enter and the music pounds in my ears. People swarm the dance floor and the bar.

"Everyone remember what he looks like?" I hear Archer in my ear as he walks beside me towards the dance floor as Cleo and Liam walk to the bar.

Cleo takes a seat on the stool, crossing her legs slowly and smiling sweetly at the bartender. Liam leans on the bar beside her, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I have his face memorised like he's family." Liam jokes.

I slip between bodies until I reach the middle of the dance floor, turning and facing Archer.

He stares over my shoulder, gaze wandering before flicking his head to the left slightly.

I move over, putting my back to the area he indicated.

He steps forward, crowding my space as his hands wind around my waist. His gaze scanning the faces we cross paths with.

Bodies brush against my back, a drink spilling down the back of my leg as a man stumbles by.

Sweat already lingers on my skin, humidity clinging to my movements as I sway.

I wrap my hands around Archer waist, once again feeling the guns that rest at his back.

Due to the tight nature of my dress, Archer had to hold my weapon. Tucking it somewhere I could grab it easily without suspicion.

An elbow jabs into my spine and I stumble forward, smashing into Archer. He steadies me with a palm on my spine, practically burning through my clothes with the memory of earlier. I glance up, catching his eyes.

"If you wanted to be closer, all you have to do is ask, Sarge."

I roll my eyes, ignoring the way the words cause my stomach to swoop.

"Liam?" Clay's voice interrupts and my eyes move to the boy in question.

The music grows louder, my movements matching it as I switch our positions, putting Archer back to the bar.

I wind my hands around his neck, lifting myself up against his body.

His hot breath fans over my neck as he leans closer into me. My hands travel up his back and land in his hair, running through the brunette strands.

"Close enough?" I murmur in his ear. His fingers flex against my body, scorching through the thin fabric of my dress.

"Liam, you there?" Clay's voice comes through again after not getting an answer.

There's a long pause before a sigh is heard over the receiver.

"Physically yes. Mentally is debatable." Liam's off handed reply causes a smile to pull at my lips, but I force it down and focus on the task at hand. Trying to ignore the body flush against mine.

I ignore the rest of the conversation going on in my ear and search the room. My hands leaving Archer's hair and travelling down the hard plains of his back.

I tilt my head as a woman moves through the crowd like liquid, the image of a snake painted on her skin, slithering along the length of her spine. Blood red hair spills down her back, covering most of the tattoo like a waterfall.

She disappears quickly, swallowed up by the crowd and I push her from my mind, skipping from one face to another until the breath gets sucked back into my lungs, a pair of eyes staring right at mine.

My hands travel down Archers back and under the leather jacket he is wearing. Each hand finding a gun and running a finger along the grip. Archers' hands tightens around me as he feels my touch against his skin.

His muscles tense slightly under the palm of my hand, his mouth moving down to my ear.

"What can you see?"

I keep my movements fluid, eyes on Sebastian's.

"Sebastian Smith is alive and staring right at me."

"Do not engage, I'm looking at the feed. Where is he?" Clays voice erupts.

"Near the bar." I murmur, keeping my gaze on Sebastian's.

Yet the man only grins, a dimple flashing at me as he lifts a hand to salute me.

I blink and in that second, he's gone.

"He's gone." I whisper, stepping back from Archer and scanning the people around us, but I don't find the man again.

I feel Archer move by my side, scanning the sea of faces but coming up empty.

"See if you can find him." Clay murmurs, "But don't go off alone, we don't know how dangerous he is."

"You got it, dude." I hear Liam say before the comm in my ear crackles.

• • •

Sebastian doesn't appear again, the trail completely lost.

Archer pushes the back door open, letting me exit first before it slams shut behind us, sealing out the noise of music.

I pull the comm from my ear, rubbing the sore muscle but stop at the sight before us.

"Get to the back entrance, now." I hear Archer say before he's walking past me, crouching down the stare at the man in slumped in front of us.

My eyes scan over the man, taking in the still wet blood that stains his clothes, the hand print slapped against the wall above his downturned head.

Archer reaches forward, checking his pulse even though we both know he is dead.

"Woah, dead man alert." Liam's distinct voice sounds out. "What do you think killed him?"

"I don't know, I think the dagger in his chest could be a good indication." I reply sarcastically, looking over my shoulder at the man but he only salutes me with a devilish grin.

I crouch down beside Archer, tilting my head at the man.

"I wonder who he is?"

"Draco Tatsumi." Clays voice sounds behind me and I turn to him with a raised brow, "He works for my father."

"Worked." Liam reminds us.

"What did he do?"

Clay turns his eyes from the man to me, "I'm not sure. I saw him a few time in dad's office, but I don't know what he did for him."

"Do you think it's a coincidence a man we've been searching for turns up at the same place that a man working for your father turns up dead?"

"You think Sebastian's the killer?"

"It's plausible."

Something glints under the streetlight, and I narrow my eyes. Reaching froward, I uncurl the man's fingers, retrieving the small glass vial he clutches as the rest of the team talk amongst themselves.

I curl it into my own palm, bringing it close to my body as I look over the logo designed on the side, a perfect match to the piece of glass in my bedside drawer.

"We have to call it in."

I jump at the sound of Clays voice, hiding the vial in my hand and standing up, spinning to the team.

"Why is he targeting your father?" Cleo asks the question we all want to know, her eyes on Clay.

"I have no idea. And I doubt he'll fill me in on his thoughts." Clay reaches forward, running a frustrated hand through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut. "If he doesn't tell us soon though, someone else will be killed."

"You think he knows?" I ask.

Clays eyes flash to mine, that familiar green. "I think he has an idea."

"Why do you think he's keeping it under wraps?" I add on, waiting with bated breath for his answer.

"Because it's something he doesn't want us to know, which means it's either top secret or very illegal."

"I would go with illegal, but that's just me personally." Liam say, walking past us.

Nobody replies to Liam's statement, the truth of it hanging suspended between the five of us.