Page 1 of Crimson Tears

Prologue

Three years ago

Dying isn’t so bad after all.

I thought it would hurt, and while getting shot was not the way I expected to go, it’s really not all that bad.

I gaze up at my sister as she cradles me in her arms. She seems so sad, yet so full of determination.Good. I haven't seen that look in her eyes for a long time, and with everything she's lost before this moment, I was afraid it was gone forever.

My fingers reach up to tangle in her soft ginger hair, but the strands come out tainted with blood. Her hand entwines with mine as she holds it close, staining her skin and hair to make her look just like the Reaper I know she is.

“Why?” Her screams of pleading ring loudly in my ear, her sorrow enough to keep me holding on for one more minute. Just for her.

“It was my turn to save you.”

My voice is hoarse. My body feels like it’s being lifted by a cloud. Everything goes soft and numb as my hand loses feeling and falls to my side. Her arms envelop me. It’s strange to think I’ve never felt safer and more loved than in this moment. But it’s true.

“Find me in the fuchsias.”

I know I don’t have much time as I press my nose to her shoulder and breathe her in. My sister. My biggest fighter and my greatest love.

“Ness,” I choke, my lungs struggling to expand. “Burn it to the ground...” A cough overtakes me, blood shooting from my mouth.

“Shh, it’s okay, Enya. It’s okay.” She cradles me closer, and my hand moves one last time to cup her face.

Blood now streaks more of her hair, and I can’t help but smile at the sight. Pulling on a strand that’s covered as my strength fails again, I glance back up at her.

“Looks good on you.”

She sucks in a sharp breath as she stares down at me. Her golden hazel eyes twinkle in the light that shines through the window, and I smile as the world fades away.

A sort of peaceful darkness begins to settle over me as my eyes drift shut. I can still feel her arms around me, clutching onto me tightly as she speaks in my ear.

“They will all pay. I promise.”

Everything moves slowly after that, as my soul finds its resting place. The last thing I hear is her cries, echoing like a promise of vengeance all around me.

Chapter 1

Present Day

I really hate these parties. Everything from the glamor to the price of the champagne is nauseating. The last thing I wanted was to be here, but alas, I have a job to do.

You would think that an assassin could pick his own marks, but the truth is, we all have someone, somewhere that we answer to. As much as I love my new boss, I am also pretty pissed with her right now because I had to put on a suit tonight. It turns out, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is a popular fella who has a half-decent security team.

I wade through the partygoers even as they stare at me and try not to punch any of them in the face until I can get to where I need to be. The way they look at me makes my teeth grind, but I hold it together because I have to.

Curious why I hate suits? Well, let me tell you. It’s because I look like a lion pretending to be a giraffe. I am a trained assassin. Some would even call me a serial killer because I prefer a certain type of person as my mark. Predators, to be exact. I’m not a suit-wearing, party-going, people-mingling man of the office!

My job is simple. I kill people. Most of the time, they deserve it.

There might be another reason I hate them though too—the fact that I am covered in tattoos. My hands, my neck, and I even have two on my face. You might be able to dress up a threat, but I’ll never be able to appear like a refined member of society in attendance here.

Not that I truly mind. As much as I wish I could blend in to better suit my job, I also love being my unapologetic self. It’s freeing. None of these stuck up nitwits will ever know what that feels like.

My phone dings in my pocket for the third time today. I sigh as I step to the side, pulling it from my pocket to read the message.

Boss Lady: Because you refused to check in, I am sending one of my girls after you. Hurt her and I’ll cut off your balls.

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