Page 52 of Azrael

“I’m not asking the club to help,” I repeated.“This is my mission.My responsibility.”

“And what happens after?”Samurai asked.“When powerful men are killed and people start looking for who did it?You think it won’t lead back to us?”

I had no answer for that.He was right to be concerned.But if it came down to it, I’d leave the club.I wouldn’t let them pay for what I was about to do.

Stripes put a hand on my shoulder, his grip strong.“The club is your family, Azrael.Family stands together, even when the decisions are shit.”He glanced at Samurai.“We’ll help him.Quiet,da?No patches, no colors.We leave our cuts behind for this one.”

Samurai stared at him for a long moment before giving a slight nod.“Three targets.If we help, you’ll be able to get to them faster.Handle this safer.”He fixed his gaze on me.“But after this, we decide as a club how we handle such matters.No more solo decisions.Charming should have been notified before you went off and agreed to this bullshit.”

I nodded, knowing it was the best compromise I’d get.As we walked toward the bikes we’d rented, I thought of Zara, of the promise I’d made to her to bring her mother home.I’d cross lines I’d sworn never to cross, become little more than a mercenary.But for her, I’d do it.For her, I’d become whatever monster I needed to be.

The night air felt heavy with what was to come, but my resolve was set.Three men for one woman.A soul for a soul.And maybe, when it was done, I could look Zara in the eyes without any regrets.

* * *

I stood in the shadows of an alley, leaning against the wall.My sat phone felt heavy in my hand as I scrolled to Zara’s number, but I had to be on a secure line for this conversation.She’d be waiting, probably pacing, chewing on her bottom lip the way she did when worried.I’d seen it often enough in our short time together.I hit dial, bracing myself for the conversation ahead.

She answered on the first ring.“Azrael?”

“It’s me,” I confirmed.“You’re still up.”

“Like I could sleep.”The sound of her movements came through the line -- restless pacing, from the sound of it.“Did you find anything?About my mother?”

I closed my eyes, weighing my words carefully.Zara deserved the truth, but the whole truth would only put her in danger.“We’ve confirmed she’s alive.”

Her sharp intake of breath felt like it carried across the miles between us.“Where?Who has her?”

“Zara.”Just her name, but firm enough to stop the flood of questions.“You need to trust me on this.I have a location, and I have a plan.”

The silence stretched between us now, crackling with unspoken words.

“I found the man who has her,” I said finally.“He’s willing to release her, but there’s a price.”

“Money?I can get money.”

“Not money.”I cut her off.“A job.More than one, actually.”

Silence followed, heavy with understanding.Zara wasn’t naive.She knew what kind of man I was, what kind of work I did.“You’re going to kill someone.”Not a question.Her voice had gone flat, emotionless.

I saw no point in sugarcoating it.“You know I can’t discuss the details, but these are men who traffic women and children.The kind of men I’d hunt anyway.”

“But not like this,” she said softly.“Not because you’re being forced to.”

“Does it matter why, as long as your mother comes home safe?”I asked after a brief pause.

“It matters to me.”The pacing had stopped.I pictured her sitting on the edge of the bed.“It matters because you’re doing this for me, and that means I’m responsible for whatever happens to you.”

“You’re not responsible for my choices, Zara.”

“Aren’t I?”Her voice caught, just slightly.“You weren’t for hire, but I asked for your help anyway.You were known as the Angel of Death, a man who sought justice.Not a mercenary.Not a hitman.But getting my mother back is going to force you into that position.”

“I promise, I’ll bring her home,” I assured her, my voice low and steady despite the war raging inside me.The line between what I would and wouldn’t do had been clear once.Now it was blurring, and all because of a woman I’d known for less than a month.

“At what cost?”she asked.

I had no answer for that.

“The club,” she continued, “will they help you?”

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