Page 53 of Mine to Keep
“Don’t I know it,” I say, following the directions I punched into the GPS. “I’ll call when the job is done.”
“Be safe, doll.”
“I will.”
I hang up with a long exhale, wishing I was back in my hotel room, surrounded by my boys as I hold them close, keeping them safe.
The only thing that keeps me from turning the car around and going back to them is The Director coming after me if I don’t complete this last kill.
Just one more. Then I’m done.
I’m ready to start my life with my boys.
seventeen
what the actual fuck?
Ninety minutesafter I get the call from The Director, I pull up about a mile from the location in the jacket. I’d usually get a clear photograph of the person I’m supposed to take out, but all he sent is some grainy bullshit that shows me nothing but the mark is a woman with long black hair.
“Fucking bullshit,” I mutter to myself as I park and climb out. Even though it’s late, there are still people walking around, enjoying the city. I keep my head down as I walk, one earbud in my ear so the GPS can give me the directions on foot.
I pass the apartment building to do my own recon. I spot an alley beside it that’s empty of anything but a garbage can and leads to another side street. I double back down the street and go back to the apartment. The target is on the second floor and I keep my gaze lowered to avoid any cameras. Luckily, I haven’t seen any cameras or anyone in the hallways.
Taking the lock picking kit from my pocket, I make quick work of the lock and push into the apartment, closing the door softly behind me.
I look around, trying to adjust to the thick darkness. I’m pissed that I didn’t have any time to study the floor plan before I was forced to make this drive.
Swallowing down my frustration, I step slowly through the room, using my intuition to guide me. I wish I had taken a look around before I closed the door, but I needed to get inside so I could finish this.
After this last minute bullshit, I’m really done. I’ve had last minute jobs before, but never a job that had only an hour’s notice. If I let The Director do this shit now, he’ll pull it again. And one of those times could get my fucking head blown off.
And I can’t leave Talon and Javier alone again. Especially in a foreign country where the only person they know is the douchebag that cheated on Talon and whose ass Javier almost beat. Whose ass Ididbeat.
No. This is it. This is?—
My shin knocks into an end table I couldn’t see in the dark. Cursing, I side step the table and hurry to the bedroom, wanting to get this kill over with so I can leave. I shouldn’t have made that mistake. I shouldn’t have taken the kill before I had the chance to look around.
But, shit, we here now. I have no choice but to see this through.
I pull my gun from the holster at my back and screw on the silencer. Quickly, I twist the doorknob and push inside, aiming at the bed. Moonlight from the open window shines through the room. The light clicks on before I can take the shot and I hiss, closing my eyes against the glare. After less than a second, I drop my arm and aim again, cursing myself for freezing.
“Knox?” the woman says, making me freeze again.
My eyes adjust as I look at the confused face of the woman that dropped the package off to me earlier this week. One of Peggy’s people.
What the fuck is this? From what Peggy told me, she was out of the game, going to college or some shit. What kind of fucking game is The Void playing?
She puts shaky hands in the air, her bottom lip trembling. “Wha—What d-d-d-di-did I d-d-d-d-do? I haven’t told anyone about?—”
“Shut up,” I growl, needing time to think. I should pull the trigger. Just shoot her and get it over with. But something about this isn’t right. Our couriers aren’t targeted, unless they snitched about their job. From the way this girl’s—she can’t be older than eighteen—earnest eyes track me, I know she hasn’t. I’m a master at reading people and she strikes me as someone that keeps her secrets close to the vest.
Mostly because she knows what will happen to her if she opened her fucking mouth.
“Fuck!” I curse, putting the gun away and rubbing the back of my neck. I pull my phone out, and scroll to Peggy’s number.
I have to call her and fill her in, she has to know something is going on. She needs to get into The Void’s fucking…software or something. I don’t mind eliminating targets when it’s the job, but this one makes the alarm bells ring in my head. Maybe she?—
As I turn around to face the girl, I see a red dot on her chest.
