Page 21 of Shephard

One of the first things I’d done had been to lug the computer and security equipment from the back of my truck. I’d founda small bedroom and a six-foot table, using that as my newly established communications room. Old habits died hard. I didn’t feel comfortable living anywhere without taking precautions.

I’d eliminated too many people over the years in my official capacity. But there were friends, family members, and associates of the targets longing for revenge. The likelihood I’d be found, especially now that I’d returned to the States, was less than a quarter of a percent, but it was better safe than sorry.

Keeping the glass in my hand, I headed upstairs to the bedroom. With the bright moon streaming in through the oversized window, I didn’t need any light. I polished off the drink, slammed the glass on the nightstand, and placed my weapon on the floor. Then I crawled into my sleeping bag and took another look around the room. I’d cleared the house earlier, walking inch by inch with my weapon in both hands. There were decent locations to install cameras if I felt it necessary. I was totally alone. Hopefully, I could get some damn sleep for a change. I’d need it so I didn’t bite the head off everyone I was forced to interact with.

As usual, I lay staring at the ceiling. It was my only method of coping with the wretched nightmares if and when I closed my eyes.

There would always be ghosts from my past haunting me, no matter where I went or the kind of man I became. It was just something I’d been forced to get used to.

I rolled over, zipping the bag closed over my head. Maybe that would keep out the demons. When I yawned, I forced myself to close my eyes. Maybe that was a good sign.

The wait had never been so excruciating. I was in an abandoned room where I’d been for the last three days, my bag of supplies dwindling. I was on duty every hour of the daylight and well into the night, sleeping a couple of hours to ensure I didn’t miss his arrival.

My target.

I never used names because I didn’t need to personalize who and what he was. Everyone I’d been assigned to hunt was considered evil, his deeds on display for the world to see. I was in a unique position of helping reshape humanity, or so it had been drilled into my head.

Not that I cared. I had a job to do, one I was well paid to undertake. Once the mission was finished, as usual I vanished. No one ever saw me come in or leave. That’s the only way I’d managed to stay alive for so long.

I’d gotten a call that the target was finally appearing at the conference, ready to pontificate in front of his believers. Whatever that meant. I was on edge, perched in front of an open window. It had a bird’s-eye view of the main entrance of the posh hotel and conference center.

I was high enough up inside the building, the design easily preventing anyone from noticing me. Plus, I was in the shadows of the room, the position of the sun also helping keep me hidden. I knew what I was doing. I didn’t need coaching.

Another half hour slipped by and I remained exactly where I was. My tenure as a prisoner of war had taught me how to remain still for long periods of time.

I could easily zone out with my headphones, head-banging music of my choice. It helped with the possibility of losing concentration.

Minutes later, I caught sight of the target’s brigade of cars heading toward the hotel. The man’s true fault was that he always followed the same protocol every single time. A dummy would step out of the third car. The poor guy knew he could be assassinated at any time. Hopefully, he was paid well for his job.

Four minutes would go by and four additional vehicles would pull up after rounding the corner hurriedly. He would finally step out, not wasting any time heading into the hotel. I’d studied his actions for a full month. I knew where he ate, where he fucked his mistresses, and when he took his first drink of the day.

While there was a narrow window of opportunity, I never failed. Never.

The decoy came and entered the hotel without incident, three of the four minutes passing. I sucked in my breath, ensuring my aim was exactly where I wanted it to be. Like clockwork, the four vehicles rounded the corner, all stopping short just in front of the hotel, vehicle number three the one of choice.

And like magic, the target stepped out, but this time he waited for someone to exit the vehicle with him. What the hell? I wouldn’t get another chance as the man was leaving for another country that would make it almost impossible to get to him.

There was no other choice but to count the seconds.

I had my shot and I took it.

Only his passenger freaked, spinning around and racing toward traffic and…

Gasping, I jerked up.

The images continued to flash in front of me. Mistake number one haunted me to this day. Shit.

My eyes were almost immediately accustomed to the dark, but I had no clue where I was. Completely disoriented, I fought with whatever was holding me down, roaring like some fucking animal as I ripped whatever was on top of me into shreds. I grabbed my weapon more because of training than anything, lurching to a standing position. But it took a few seconds to be free of the item holding me prisoner.

I couldn’t breathe, my heart thudding as my blood pressure skyrocketed. I knew the signs. The moment of terror felt real even though it wasn’t. It couldn’t be.

Doubling over, I issued a primal cry. I was teetering on my feet, incapable of getting control. When I stumbled backward, my arm slammed against something, the hard crash almost supplying a reason to pull the trigger.

This had to stop. I couldn’t go on like this. With the weapon still in my hand, I stared at the barrel, almost making the final decision.

Almost.

As another strangled sound left my throat, I finally managed to place the weapon on the floor before hanging my head into my hands.

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