Page 7 of Trapping His Assassin

“What’s going on?” She pushed, her voice lower now, tinged with anxiety. Isa’s eyes narrowed as she noticed the subtle shift in my expression. The tough facade she usually put on for others melted away, and I saw a glimpse of the person she used to be – innocent and carefree. But underneath that mask, I knew she was still a skilled and ruthless killer, trained by her family, theone that didn’t give a shit about her. It was a strange duality that always fascinated me about her.

Her eyes froze over as she went deep inside her mind. It was her way of escaping the horrors she was about to endure. It was eerie seeing the stare. The lights were on, but no one was home. Then she shook it off and smiled brightly.

I shuddered.

A little while ago, Headmaster Mikhail pulled her from serving duty after she freaked a friend of his out so much he complained. She still managed to get her serving marks for class, but not without creating a pathway of devastation so long it took me ages to clean up.

I glanced up, trying to keep my face blank. Her light brown skin was dewy from sweat, and she was dabbing at beads on her forehead, moving the white patch of hair she had dissected down the middle to frame her face.

“Headmaster Mikhail wants to see you in his office.” I held back tears, as she smiled and placed her frail hand inside mine. She wasn’t eating again. Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over. I squeezed them shut and turned my head away, needing a moment to compose myself before facing the harsh reality again.

“No.” Her reply came automatically as she shook her head like I was lying to her.

I reached out and squeezed her arm, knowing exactly what she was feeling, but with me out of commission, someone here had to take my place. It killed me that it had to be Isa.

My shoulders slumped in defeat when she said to me with a fake smile. “Guess I better not keep him waiting.” My eyes filled with tears and I tried to blink them back, almost unsuccessfully, as she looked away from my show of emotion.

We walked out of the gym together and I reached for her hand again, offering whatever kind of condolences I could inthat show of support. I saw she was in her head, but didn’t scold her on it. Sometimes, her delusions were the only thing that helped me sleep at night, as she told me stories of possessive guys who’d do anything to protect their women. It used to keep the nightmares at bay. But now? I couldn’t help but worry about her.

I hoped she remained alright while I was gone. I sometimes wondered if her mind would snap if she had to live through one more horror.

But that was our lot in this hellish life. I could only do my best, and most days, it wasn’t good enough. Hopefully, I’ll encounter Isa again.

But I wouldn’t hold my breath.

I stopped in place. “Isa?”

Her dark eyes were almost black as coal, and bright as she smiled, waiting for me to continue. I held back the lump in my throat.

“I love you so much. I’m going to miss you while I’m away.” I couldn’t tell her the horrors that awaited her.

“I’ll be fine,” she lied, slapping another bright smile onto her face.

A watery laugh left my throat unexpectedly, and I leaned forward and gave her a long hug, praying that the Lord would protect her. It was a hail mary because he didn’t exist. If he did, why weren’t we rescued from this hell?

Since I initiated contact, the hugs and hand-holding between us didn’t revolt me. It should, but every time I looked at Isa, I saw a child. Even though she was almost an adult, her sweet mannerisms made it hard to reconcile her age.

“Remember what I said, Isa. I love you. Hold onto that, I whispered words of encouragement in her ear, since I’d lived through similar horrors.

The only time I got a break from this place was when I had a new mark assigned to me. But even then, the tracking device buried deep in my ass cheek made it impossible for me to flee. Not that I would ever leave the girls behind. My conscience would never allow it.

I hardened my heart, shutting down all my emotions as I slowly pushed Isa away. She tilted her head to the side, confused, but I couldn’t say any more. The last time I tried to interfere, Amalia was murdered in front of me, and the headmaster wrote a story of accidental drowning to her family.

We carried on to the headmaster’s office, and I lightly knocked my knuckles against his door. He answered, and I ushered Isadora into his office.

“You may leave.” Headmaster Mikhail never took his eyes off her.

I blinked back tears as I forced my feet to keep moving forward, away from them. My heart ached, and the lump in my throat threatened to choke me, but I refused to turn back.

It didn’t stop the sound of her screams from following me down the hallway. I flinched when the sound reached me, and stopped. Sobbing silently, I put one foot in front of the other. One day, I would tear this entire place down.

One day, I would have enough power to kill Headmaster Mikhail.

My flight tookoff while the moon was still gleaming in the clouds. I hadn’t gotten a wink of sleep. From a young age, I trained with the soldiers in secret, away from my uncle’s ever-prying eyes. I wanted to be like my father. Over the years, mymemory of both my parents had faded, but the love they had for me lived on.

I showered the girls with as much love as I could give within these walls. I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to myself. I already had enough of the headmaster’s advances.

When my uncle tried to marry me off at eighteen, I refused. He laughed in my face, and said if I wasn’t going to make someone a wife, I was of no more use to him. He sent me off to The Academy to teach other girls how to be ‘the proper mafia wife’.

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