Page 85 of The Don's Deadly Assassin

"Camela," I start hesitantly, "What do you think our next move should be?"

She pauses, fork halfway to her mouth, and takes a moment to think. Her gaze meets mine, confusion etched into her expression.

“Ours?”

I know what she’s trying to understand. She’s still in disbelief over what happened last night and how easily I could let it go. I reach over and tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Ours,” I say.

She breaks into a small smile, then shakes her head. “Nothing, Vincenzo. I know the Handler and the assassins better. I’ll keep doing what I did to protect you.”

“No,” I say, rather curtly. "That sounds dangerous."

"Everything we've done so far has been dangerous," she replies, her tone resolute. "But we're in this together, Vincenzo. You do what you know best, and I’ll handle the rest.

“It’s not your burden alone to handle, my love,” I tell her. “They’re coming for me. So either we do this together, or we run away from this place, far from the madness.”

“They’ll find us,” she pauses here and sighs. “You. They’ll find you anywhere. Please, Vincenzo. I need to make it up to you. After all the chaos I’ve caused, I can’t allow more turmoil into your life.”

“Then let them come,” I declare. “We’ll handle it together. I refuse to let you fight them alone anymore. I’ve trusted you so far, now it’s your time to trust me. We’re a team, aren’t we? Being a team means acting like one. Or do you truly want to face this alone?”

Camela looks at me, her gaze softening at my words. The mask she’s so used to, begins to crack, revealing a vulnerability that tugs at my heartstrings. Her eyes are filled with emotions I never thought possible for her - gratitude, affection, and something deeper that she doesn’t quite comprehend yet.

“You really mean that?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

I take her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers as I meet her gaze with unwavering determination. “I do. I trust you with my life, Camela, trust me with yours.”

She nods slowly, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. “Alright, Vincenzo. We’ll do it together.”

With our silent agreement hanging in the air, a sense of camaraderie settles between us—bound not only by the circumstances that brought us together but also by the choice we make to stand side by side with forgiveness in our hearts.

Chapter 31

Camela

I carefully adjust the clasp of my chunky gold chain, and give myself a look over in the mirror. Tonight, we’re going to an outdoor concert. The blue ripped jeans, white T-shirt, chunky gold jewelry and windswept wavy hair would make me fit right in with the twenty-something year old revelers.

Our evening out is to a rock concert, and might very well lead to another dead body. This time though, I’m not nervous or scared.

Instead, I’m excited. I’ve never killed for my own purpose before, one I can put my heart into. And with Vincenzo, knowing the full truth, at my side, we can truly enjoy the show.

I might no longer wish to be an assassin for hire, doing the Handler’s bidding on innocents, but the assassin blood still runs through me.

Come for mine, and I’ll come for you.

The pulsing rhythm of the music courses through my veins from the moment Vincenzo and I step into the electrifying atmosphere of the outdoor rock concert. Hand in hand, we weave our way through the mass of people, the shared excitement a sheer force to be reckoned with.

As we immerse ourselves in the heart of the crowd, I can feel the steady thrum of adrenaline that comes with being on the hunt.

Only, someone out there thinks we’re the hunted.

I smile at that thought.

"Can you believe this energy?" Vincenzo shouts over the music. "I almost forgot what it feels like to be in a place like this. To be this young again…” he places his hand on my lower back and I lean into it.

“Young, wild, and deadly,” I turn my neck up to him and whisper into his ear.

I revel in the thrill of the moment. This is where I feel alive – right in the thick of danger and death, fighting to survive.

As the band launches into their next song, I scan the crowd, searching for any signs that we’re being targeted. My gaze lands on a familiar face, causing my heart to skip a beat. The Silent Death.

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