Page 15 of The Silencer

Jer doesn’t push.He just leans back in his chair and lets the silence sit.

I look down at the photo again.My father didn’t just destroy her family.He hunted her like she was prey.Because she was light, and he was all rot.

At least now I know the truth.

She wasn’t unlucky.

She was chosen.

And I won’t let what he did define her.

Not now.Not ever.

* * *

Six Months Later

The Miami heat is uncomfortable as I step out of the air-conditioned hotel lobby.Sweat immediately beads on my forehead, but I ignore it, scanning the busy street.

"Remind me again why we're here?"Maverick grumbles beside me, fanning himself dramatically with a tourist map.

I roll my eyes."Spring break, remember?We’re just two Irish lads living it up in the States."

That's our cover story, at least.The truth is far more complicated.Although we’re only seventeen, the fake ID’s we have say we’re twenty-one.Maverick’s my best friend.He knew something was going on with me months ago and I had to tell him what—who—I had become.Thankfully, he took it in his stride and said that he’d always have my back, hence why we’re here in Miami.

My phone buzzes in my pocket.A text from Jer:

Target confirmed at usual location.You're clear to proceed.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself.This is it.

"Hey, I'm gonna grab us some drinks," I tell Maverick, casually."Why don't you head down to the beach?I'll meet you there in a bit."

Mav eyes me suspiciously.He knows what we’re here for, but I’d never get him directly involved in the actual killing.He doesn’t want to join The Houlihan Gang, and that’s more than okay, so I’ll never have him involved directly with what I’m doing.

"Alright," he says slowly."Don't take too long, yeah?I wanna hit up that club we saw last night."

I nod, watching as he strolls off toward the beach.Once he's out of sight, I duck into a nearby alley and retrieve the small case I stashed there earlier.

Inside is a disassembled sniper rifle.My hands move automatically, piecing it together with practiced ease.Six months of training and missions have made this second nature.

I make my way to the rooftop of a nearby building, setting up quickly and efficiently.Through the scope, I scan the outdoor café across the street.

There.My target: Thomas Young.To the world, he's a successful businessman.But Jer's intel paints a different picture.Human trafficking, drug smuggling, countless lives ruined.

I steady my breathing, lining up the shot.Just as I'm about to squeeze the trigger, my phone vibrates.Maverick’s calling.

I hesitate for a split second.As much as I’d love to answer him, I have a job to do.I quickly silence my phone and refocus.

Exhale.Squeeze.

The shot rings out, quickly swallowed by the bustle of the city.Through the scope, I watch as Young slumps forward, a bullet hole in his forehead.Bullseye.

Chaos erupts at the café.I'm already breaking down the rifle, my movements quick and precise.By the time sirens sound in the distance, I'm back on street level, the weapon safely stowed away.

I head toward the beach, my heart rate slowly returning to normal.Just another day at the office.

"There you are!"Maverick calls out as I approach.

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