Page 5 of Captured

And used.

Men? That was something else altogether. How many had I killed in my life? Enough to fill a couple of months of dates on a calendar. And I was damn good at it.

Besides, I hated cowards and, in my mind, the men of the once lucrative partnership were reprehensible, more so than even myself because they were stooping so low. Why not just ruin the man they seemed to hate? Because that would be too easy? Because they didn’t want to get their hands dirty? Huffing, I rubbed my tired eyes. This shit was starting to get old.

Several years before, I’d accepted the fact I was exactly like my father, a brutal man with a penchant for seeing blood spilled. I’d been born into a family of vipers, indoctrinated into a world of wealth and sin. I usually thoroughly enjoyed my new passion for causing death, especially when I created the chaos. After all, doing the unholy work of the devil was necessary. There was no loyalty left inside of me, least of all to my father and his memory. He’d been slaughtered because of his atrocities, the once powerful mafia leader reduced to nothing but food for cockroaches.

Good fucking riddance to the man.

In a shocking move in what seemed like a lifetime before, I’d tried to change my life, to become a better man, only to be sucked into the world of extreme darkness and violence a few years later.

The sins of the past had followed me, almost to my grave. Since I hadn’t been able to get away from my family’s opulence and savage reputation, I’d finally embraced the joy of hunting. A smile crossed my lips. However, breaking beautiful things simply for an act of revenge was a limitation I hadn’t known I had.

I’d come recommended to the potentially new customer by a former client from two years before. Unfortunately, the bastard and his followers had made the mortal mistake of providing my contact information without my strict approval. I reminded myself to fucking burn down the fucker’s house when I had the chance.

With him locked inside.

I lifted the one photograph, studying the girl’s stunning face and smile. It had been a long time since any woman had captured my attention. This girl was magnificent in every way.

Me: Why do you want her dead? Why not her father?

The reasons never mattered to me, at least not really. This time, I needed to know. She appeared so innocent, a little sparrow just learning how to fly.

Zeus: I have my reasons.

They always did, although this time I sensed it was something very personal between the man and the mark’s father, Gideon Martin. I’d heard of the man years before when my father had been alive, the prick slaughtering the man who’d mentored him and the man’s son to gain possession of his mentor’s chain of command and his wealth. I almost admired Gideon’s benevolent attitude toward anyone who rose against him. Except that I’d learned he’d had no love for his own child, his wife tormented before being murdered. I wondered if the beautiful girl had any idea her own father had ordered the hit himself.

Oh, the ruthlessness of man predicated by greed. My father had been the same way.

Perhaps the people seeking revenge believed Liam had something more than tolerance for his own flesh and blood. Or perhaps it was nothing more than an eye for an eye, a life for another life. In any case, the entire situation had already left a bad taste in my mouth.

Women and children were off limits. There was a code even within respectful crime syndicates. And while the beautiful girl with a sweet name like Emily might be considered an adult, she was far from being a threat.

Maybe I should have followed in my footsteps after all, running the family’s powerful mafia organization. Really? And take the fun away from my brother? I snickered from the thought. We were already at odds as it was.

There was no reason to address Zeus’ comment and in truth, I shouldn’t give a shit about his reasons why he wanted the girl dead.

But I did. More so than I would have even a few months before.

Zeus: When can we expect activity? I need action. Now.

Now the fucker was demanding. If he was standing in front of me, I’d snap his neck into two pieces with ease. While I bristled, I resisted lashing out at this point. It wouldn’t do me any good.

Those determined to hire the notorious Talon, as those in the industry had started to call me, were always careful with their messages, but texting was off limits. I preferred email, which I changed often. While I had a handful of untraceable phones, the potential client’s inability to follow directions truly pissed me off. Enough so I would normally toss the opportunity aside. I didn’t need the money, plus there was a higher level of risk with this particular job. And I was a fucking killer, not a goddamn babysitter.

Me: If and when I decide whether to take this job, I’ll let you know.

Emily. The name suited an angel.

I studied the photograph again, taking a deep breath as I traced her beautiful face with my index finger. The way the bright wash of sunlight highlighted her porcelain skin and long strands was incredible, her long blonde hair like spun gold. She appeared so vulnerable and virtuous but looks could certainly be deceiving. Some of the greatest wars on earth had been because a woman had been allowed to get under a man’s skin. Women could be a true weakness. I’d ended that portion of my life the day my entire world had been burned to the ground. The reminder was exactly what I needed.

Unfortunately, my balls were tight, a strange and very dark hunger pooling in my system. It was impossible to take my eyes off the photograph, my throat tightening.

If she belonged to me, I’d defile her endlessly, driving my cock into every hole at least three times a day. I laughed and returned the picture to the folder. Fucking a young girl was the last thing I needed on my mind. I had another contract to finish before I took a long-awaited rest.

Zeus: Then we’ll use someone else.

Me: You do that.

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