Page 1 of The Echo of Forever
PART ONE
“I think I’ll take this one for myself.”
Forever James
CHAPTER 1
FOREVER JAMES
THE BROKER OF ASSASSINS
“I madeyou some lavender ginger tea,” Carmen, my assistant, murmured as she entered my dimly lit office. “I read it can soothe headaches.”
She set the Japanese-style tea cup on the desk, then stood in her usual spot near the bookcase.
I glanced at the cup but didn’t move to pick it up.
“What’s next?” I asked, closing my eyes after gently resting my head in my palm. “Something interesting. I’m bored.”
Carmen cleared her throat.
“There’s a new contract.”
I hummed.
“Urgent?”
Her silence piqued my interest. I tapped the desk with the tip of my stiletto nail.
“Let’s see what’s got you so quiet.”
I opened my eyes as she set the new contract file down and flipped it open.
“It’s…”
Mmm.
“Interesting,” I mused, staring at the picture attached. “This is thinner than expected for a Cannon.”
A contract of this caliber had never come without a complete profile. Killing a man took more than a name drop.
The more information given, the easier the job.
“Maybe it’s because he’s pretty well-known in our world,” Carmen said. “It’s not hard to get information on him and his family.”
Or there was more to the story.
“Anything else?”
Our eyes met as she began to shake her head.
“Nothing other than I think…” She tipped her head and frowned. “I think it’s worth noting the length of time he’s been absent from Everwood. His family isn’t known for leaving the city for more than a couple weeks at a time. They’re the only rejectors I know loyal to this place.”
I found what she spoke of in the file and smiled.
There were contracts I could never allow a subordinate to touch, and this was one of them.
“I think I’ll take this one for myself.”
