Page 7 of Ivy and the Deathstalkers

“Meow.” Jade pushes the paper towards me with her paw.

“You think I should join the guild?” I ask my bossy cat, who responds by headbutting my hand as I absently tap my fingernails on the counter.

“Well, you've never steered me wrong. Let's hope that holds true,” I mutter as I fold the paper into a small square. “Here goes nothing.” I open my mouth and place the note on my tongue. As soon as I close my mouth it starts to dissolve.

Huh. That's actually pretty good.

I suck on the paper, savoring the flavor until it disappears.

Not a second after I consume the invitation, a black business card appears on the counter between Jade’s front paws. She looks at it then flicks her eyes to me as if to say well, are you gonna read it?

Picking up the card, I'm a little surprised to find the name of my first assignment. Though I probably shouldn't be. It seems the guild works fast.

Stanley Shiftlan

50 Million

Drop of blood to accept

Tear card to decline

Stanley Shiftlan. Why does that sound familiar?

“A little help?” I hold my finger out to Jade who happily pricks it with her claw. A bead of blood wells up and I tip my hand, watching as it drips onto the card before it disappears.

I drop my jaw as all the details I need to complete the job rush through my mind.

He calls himself Kingpin. Real name Stanley Shiftlan. Age fifty. Six foot four. Jet black hair with whiskey brown eyes. Will be at Underground tonight at 9 PM.

More and more information fills my head and I have a hard time sorting through it all. Not sure why there's a hit out on him, but it really doesn't matter. They said it would never be an innocent person, only the worst of the worst. The guild wants him dead and I'm the perfect weapon for the job.

As soon as I have the stray thought aboutwhyhe needs to die, a small voice whispers in my head.

“He's responsible for your parents’ deaths.”

What?!

No fucking way! I was hoping the guild would be able to help me find more information about my parents and they give me the man responsible for my very first assignment.

I hope they don't mind if I take my time with this one. Stanley and I are going to have a little talk before I end him, in the most painful way possible.

***

The location that was somehow uploaded… downloaded? to my mind is a seedy underground fight club, called Underground.Real clever, I know. I've gone there to blow off steam a time or two, so I know the place well. I should have no problems getting in. All I have to do is say I want to fight. Not very many females will take on anyone.

Heading to my bedroom, I enter the en suite and find the bottle of cream I use so my skin isn’t toxic to the touch unless it's prolonged contact. This will buy me a couple of hours. And save a few lives… unless someone is stupid enough to kiss me. My venom is strongest in my saliva. I've yet to find a way to dull the effects. But I only kiss someone when I'm ready to end them. The kiss of death is what Blair likes to call it.

Once I’ve slathered myself in cream, I head for the walk-in closet and pull out my fighting clothes. I shimmy into my shorts that barely cover my ass, and throw on a black halter style crop top. The neck wraps around my throat and the bottom ends just past my tits while hugging them like a second skin. The outfit is designed for ease of motion as I kick ass, and to attract my prey. Men turn even stupider when they see a sexy, scandalously clad woman. I like to use that to my advantage.

Not wanting to fuck with a wig tonight, I put my natural purple hair in boxer braids and call it a day. Slipping on my ankle boots, I grab my black leather riding gloves, and my leather jacket and go tell Scar the good news.

“Wake up, Scar! I told you you’d get to go on the next mission. Well, tonight’s the night,” I announce as I run my hand down her gas tank. “This is the most important mission we’ll ever have.” That gets her attention. Knew she couldn’t stay mad at me long. “I’ve found him, Scar. The asshole who killed my parents. We’re going to meet him right now.” I still can’t fucking believe it. I keep expecting to wake up and this all to have been a dream.

My eager bike roars to life before I can even sit down. Chuckling, I shake my head and put my helmet on before I throwmy leg over my seat. The garage door opens and I finally tell her what she’s been so impatiently waiting for. “Underground.”

As soon as the name is out of my mouth, we’re flying down my driveway. Scarlet weaves through traffic, going so fast we’re just a blur to the other drivers.

“Damn, Scar. In a hurry?” I laugh into the whipping wind.

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