Page 98 of The Don's Deadly Assassin

“Your friend doesn’t seem to think so,” the Snake says.

Camela startled, turns to me with a frown. Like she’s trying to warn me about something, I don’t know. But by this point, I’m furious at the disrespect he’s shown us both.

I turn to the wall, tugging out the arrow. “What the hell is the meaning of this?” I growl at the Snake.

“Why, I was simply being hospitable,” he says, circling around me. I move in place, keeping my eyes on him at all times. His movements are calculated, and each step is taken with purpose. He's been trained well – just as Camela was.

Suddenly, his tone turns cold. "Enough of this idle chatter," he snaps. "The arrow was simply an appetizer. How would you like to die? The Handler has been quite specific about your fate."

Camela's eyes flash with determination to seize this one shot at our freedom. "There's no need for killing, Matthiera," she insists, her voice pleading but firm. "We can find another way, a way out of this life we've been forced into."

"Another way?" Matthiera laughs mockingly. "You think there's something better than serving the Handler? That's rich."

“There is a better life away from his clutches, Matthiera. Look at me, I’ve found it,” she insists, desperately. I know what she’s doing, she’s pleading far more for his salvation than ours. If only she could see the meaning behind the Snake’s sinister smile. He’s not like her.

"Is that so?" Matthiera scoffs, clearly unimpressed by her words. He turns to me, his gaze filled with disdain. "And what has this other life given you, Camela?"

Camela says nothing for a few moments, and we stand still like statues. Then, in a broken whisper, she tells him, “Love.”

He sneers at the thought, eyeing me up and down. "With him? A boring professor? Are you truly that desperate to be weak, to be human?”

I try to suppress the anger bubbling inside me. I step forward, ready to take his collar into my fists, but Camela reaches out, holding my hand in hers, keeping me in place.

“Matthiera, please. I just want you to find happiness,” Camela tells him. “Remember when we were kids, we would talk about what it would be like, to be free and normal.”

“We were kids!” The Snake hisses. “Now, we know better, do we not? Has this love weakened you so that you’d rather be powerless?”

“You don’t mean that,” Camela says, hurt striking over her features.

“Don’t think on my behalf, Camela,” he shakes his head. “The Handler has given me more responsibilities now. After your abhorrent betrayal, I have more power than I know what to do with and I’m not letting that go.”

“But-” Camela reaches out to grip his arm. He wrenches her wrist, stepping back and giving her a look of disdain. I jerk free from Camela’s hand, stepping forward till I’m eye-to-eye with the monster.

“Don’t you dare touch her,” I growl.

He laughs in my face, fearless. “Or what?” he raises an eyebrow at me.

“Please, stop,” Camela cries out, pushing me aside with strength and taking my place in front of the Snake. She squares her shoulders, staring him right in the eye. “You are the only one who can help us, Matthiera. If you side with me to bring down the Handler, we can all live in peace.”

The Snake tilts his head as though contemplating her words, a small furrow on his brows. Then, he surprises me. “You’re right,” he whispers. “I have no reason to be cruel to you. You’re… Camela.”

Camela smiles a look of hope brightening her face. “So you’ll do it then?” she gushes, waiting for an answer.

Beside her, my heart prepares to soar in disbelief over this change of heart. Maybe Camela was right. Perhaps he wasn’t who I thought he was, and with the right guidance, he too can be redeemed.

“Yes. I’ll help you by letting you choose how you wish to die,” he slithers out the words.

My hands run cold, as I realize this had always been a futile attempt. Camela's face falls, realization dawning in her eyes. "This isn't what I wanted, Matthiera. I don't want to die," she says, her voice shaking with emotion. "I want to live. I want to be with Vincenzo. I want to live my life for myself.”

“Since you love him so much,” The Snake laughs. “I’ll do the honor of killing you both together. The Handler wanted you gone first,” he explains.

Camela and I turn to each other in shock. All this while, Camela thought she was protecting me. But those assassins were coming for her. I take her hand, pulling her towards me. We need to run.

But the Snake notices my movement. He faces me and walks closer, his breath falling right on my cheek. With a flick of his wrist, he produces a thin, deadly-looking string from his pocket.

"Ah, the garrote," he says, running the string between his fingers. "One of my favorite weapons. So simple, yet so effective." His eyes flick between Camela and me, savoring the fear he knows he's instilled in us. "Which one of you wants to go first?"

My breath comes in short gasps, and my hands shake with a mixture of terror and fury. I glance at Camela, searching for any sign of a plan, but her face mirrors the fear in my own.

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