Page 10 of Tainted Wings of Failure

Chapter 6

Noah

I make sure to lock the door to my office before I walk over to the seating area by the fireplace. I then slump into one of the chairs and watch as Kyle does the same across from me.

"Now tell me why you're actually here, since you couldn't in front of Evelyn," I say, reaching for the pack of cigarettes on the table, lighting one for myself and drawing in a long, deep breath.

"I need your help with something."

I puff out the remains of the gray smoke while keeping my eyes on Kyle, furrowing my eyebrows. Why am I not one bit surprised? In the nearly nineteen years we've been in this business, he's only shown up on my doorstep unannounced when he needed something he couldn't communicate by other means.

"What is it?"

"Remember that guy you took out a few years ago? The one who ran the finance company on the surface, but all the criminal shit in the background?" Kyle asks, and I remember vividly. That whole job was a shit show, causing too much trouble.

"I do. Please don't tell me he came back from the dead. I made sure to cut him into as many pieces as possible." A smile twitches at the corner of my lips at the memory of the night I slaughtered that man. Only on a few occasions, when the pay was high enough, did I take the time to turn my targets into minced meat, and he was one of those times.

Kyle chuckles. "No, that bastard is still dead, but his son has taken over and is in the middle of rebuilding it all."

"And why exactly is that my problem?"

"The man who hired you back then tried to get in touch with you, but since you're out of business, he couldn't find you, so he came to me."

"Why?"

"He is afraid that the son will also try to take over his company as well."

"And what exactly do you need my help for?" I ask, raising the cigarette to my lips.

"You know, this isn't my usual kind of clientele, and I'm not used to their ways. But you are, so I could use your help."

I throw my head back and let out a sigh of frustration. This is an opportunity being handed to me on a silver platter. This isn't fair. "I can't help you." I tilt my head back forward to look at him.

"Why?" he asks, leaning forward with his elbows propped on his knees.

"Because I promised Evelyn I would stop working."

Kyles' facial expression morphs from indifferent to irritated. His eyebrows are furrowed, and deep lines crease his forehead.

"Since when do you let others tell you what to do? Let alone a woman."

"Watch your mouth." My eyes widen and I shoot him a dangerous glare. "I won't let you disrespect her."

"Sorry," he says, bringing his hands up in submission. "But I really need your help, and there's no one else I can ask."

"What about your father?"

"I've already asked him, but he's dealing with some other business right now."

I raise my hand, covering my face as I massage my temples, trying to rub the tension out of my muscles. I would be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued by Kyle's proposal. He offers me the opportunity for a perfect job, an exciting job. If it weren't for Evelyn, I would jump at the opportunity without a second thought and no further questions. But I promised her I wouldn't take any more jobs, and for the first time in my life I'm trying to be a man of my word. However, old habits die hard.

I let out a long exhale, lean forward and stub out the remains of my cigarette. "I'll talk to Evelyn about it. I can't make this decision on my own."

Kyle rolls his eyes. "You've turned into such a pussy since you've been with her."

"Shut up. I don't see what's wrong with wanting to make the woman I love happy."

"Nothing, but you will not make her happy as long as you are not content with your own life. And don't lie to me, I know you. You're sick in the head, I've seen how much you enjoy killing and how much you get your fix from it, and suddenly you're the perfect small-town boy who can do no harm?" Kyle furrows his eyebrows.

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