Page 3 of Imperial: The Corvidae Family
I leaned against the alleyway wall behind the building, casually watching the service entrance. A few event workers moved in and out too distracted to pay attention to their surroundings which worked in my favor. People were always so caught up that they made shit easy.
But tonight one woman made things interesting. When she stepped outside and the light from the doorway highlighted her mocha-colored skin I was granted a bonus that gave me a secondary focus for the evening. Shoulder-length hair framed a heart-shaped face and them pretty ass lips were tight like she was pissed about something.
She wasn’t dressed like the waitstaff in a uniform though. Instead she wore a black dress and heels. She also had an iPad tucked under her arm. Must have been the event planner which meant she paid attention to detail and that was likely why she felt my presence. Her eyes swept the alley and landed right on me.
I didn’t move or break eye contact.
She hesitated for a second and her fingers tightened on the device in her hand before she looked away and stepped back inside.
Smart girl.
I hadn’t been hiding, but I also hadn’t expected anyone to notice me long enough to identify me. She wouldn’t have known who I was but her instincts were on point because she took her ass back inside.
Too bad for her, this wouldn’t be the last time she saw me because now I was the one curious. She was pretty as hell and my dick approved.
By the time I walked into the private club, people were deep in conversation and several drinks in. I moved through the crowd like I belonged there because tonight I did. My suitwas expensive but nothing flashy so I blended in with the dumb fucks in attendance. My presence didn’t draw attention unless I wanted it to and tonight I was keeping a low profile. In and out quickly, that was the plan. From my position at the bar, I spotted my target.
He sat at an exclusive table, drink in hand, laughing too loudly at something someone said. Arrogant, cocky, and completely unaware that tonight would be his last. Devon had money, influence, and no shortage of enemies. He was fucking reckless and arrogant. Too reckless. He thought he was untouchable and that was always a mistake. His dumb ass was going to pay for that mistake thanks to the very nice wire transfer I received an hour ago.
I lifted my glass to my mouth and scanned the room, making one last mental note of exit points and security placements, needing to be aware of the quickest way out if shit went sideways. No witnesses. No mistakes. I was the fucking best.
Devon had been lured to this gala under the impression that he would stack his assets before the end of the night and the text sent to him by my brother Kades would ensure Devon would be exactly where I needed him, an access hallway that wasn’t being utilized for the event. He thought there would be a private meeting happening. The text requested that he step into the hallway for that meeting but what he was about to find wasn’t a come up. It would be me.
I followed him into the secluded area just off the main event space. The heavy wood doors muffled the sound of music and conversation. When he rounded the corner to return the text saying he was waiting, one silenced shot hit his chest. I delivered a second in the head to make sure there was no chance he would survive. He released a shocked gurgle before he slumped against the wall and slid to the floor.
Clean. Quiet. Efficient.
His body wouldn’t be found until the next day when the club was back to full staff.
I crouched beside him while I searched his suit pocket, pulling out his phone which I powered off and dropped into my own pocket before straightening and adjusting my sleeves. My brother would break into it to get what the guy who hired me needed and the final payment would be in my account before the sun came up.
Another job finished. I was completely unfazed. Until I felt eyes on me. I turned my head and there she was. The woman from the alley.
She stood at the entrance of the hallway with her brown eyes wide, unblinking as she stared at me, iPad clutched against her chest like a gotdamn shield.
That can’t protect you from me, beautiful.
She hadn’t screamed or ran but she did freeze like her brain was still trying to process what the hell she walked into. Her curvy frame was stiff, breath visibly caught in her throat, like she was waiting for me to react first. I guess she assumed I would lunge at her or send a third shot her way.
I didn’t.
I’m not gonna hurt your pretty ass. That would be counterproductive.
Instead, I tilted my head, watching and reading her.
A dozen ways to eliminate the problem ran through my mind, but I didn’t move.
She wasn’t screaming or panicking. Just staring at me.
Something about that made my dick swell. I was fucking amused and even more curious. I walked right past her, calm as ever.
There was no need to threaten or chase her. I damn sure planned on seeing her again and when I did, she wouldn’t be getting away so easily. I stepped out of the event through a sideentrance, keeping my pace unhurried as I pushed my hands into my pockets.
Another clean hit with no complications except forher.
I smirked as I approached my car. I needed to know who she was. I had already cataloged her details in my mind. Mocha skin, brown eyes and curves that looked incredibly fucking good, even in that basic ass dress she had on. But the most memorable thing about her was that she hadn’t lost her shit after what she witnessed.
She just stood there with her mind short-circuiting as she tried to process the fact that she walked into a crime scene. Most people would have panicked. The fact that she didn’t let me know she would fit in my world. Why the hell I cared about her fitting in my world would have to be addressed at a later date. I didn’t know shit about her but I liked the idea of having her close.
