Page 79 of Raven

“Now is not the time to get turned on,” I whispered.

When a choked snort sounded through my ear, I remembered too late that everyone could hear me over the comms this time.

“Jolly green giant,” I cursed as my face heated.

“One, two, go!” Phoenix said, his voice lighter.

Not wasting time, I ran across the beam and jumped, swinging to the one closer to the wall. I’d landed in the private gym, figuring it would be empty at two in the morning and the easiest to access. The only hindrance was the ceiling was twelve feet high. Once I reached the wall, I hooked my rope line and jumped, sliding down it. I didn’t have time to rappel.

“Stop!” Phoenix shouted just as my feet hit the ground. Taking in lungfuls of air, I didn’t move. Jerome’s security system included motion-censored plates, making it difficult to get far twenty seconds at a time, but I was patient and would play this game of hopscotch as long as it took to get to the end.

On and on we went, waiting a minute between the twenty-second intervals as we made our way into the penthouse from two directions. Since we had different destinations, we’d opted to split up to give the other group better odds. The guys hadn’t liked it but couldn’t argue my reasoning. Plus, if anyone was going to get caught, it would be them. Their task was longer and required more diligence than mine.

Plus, once I made it to Jerome, I’d use his biometrics to turn off the alarm and give us a better chance of escaping.

“I’m outside the bedroom,” I whispered. In the next bout, I’d be inside and my last victim in sight.

“We’re almost to the safe room and the last guard,” Porter said.

“You’re all doing great. Stay focused, and we’ll be out of here soon,” Otto encouraged.

“On three,” Phoenix said, bringing us back to task. “One, two, go!”

I grumbled how he always said “on three” but actually meant “go” as I turned the knob and slid through a crack in the door, flattening myself against the wall. I could hear soft laughter, but I focused on the room and took in the layout as my eyes adjusted. The voice that spoke into the darkness sent a chill through me.

“I’ve been expecting you, Peppermint.”

“I’m not a fucking Care Bear or My Little Pony,” I grumbled.

A light flicked on, showcasing the face of the man I’d had nightmares about since I was five years old—Jerome Fulton, aka Carlos Ramirez.

The scientist who’d created Artevac.

The president of Good Meds Pharma who’d killed thousands for profit.

The man who’d murdered my parents in cold blood after they’d become addicted to the drug he’d created and hadn’t been able to fulfill their agreement.

When it had come time for my first kill, I’d asked Man to find the man responsible for my parents' death. It had taken a while for him to locate who I’d described. Carlos hadn’t been a regular street drug dealer like I’d always believed. Nope, Carlos here was a brilliant scientist who’d been denied test subjects for his latest drug trial. So when he needed people, he sought out the desperate; promising them a fortune beyond their wildest imagination. And all they had to do was take some medication and report back the side effects.

My parents hadn’t been drug addicts, making those few early memories of them being kind and loving harder to ignore. This man had offered them a way out of poverty, only to sentence them to a life of addiction. And when they couldn’t physically continue his trials, he’d killed them.

In my opinion, he was the worst of the worst—preying on people’s weaknesses and exploiting them for his own gain.

But not anymore. Now he wasmyprey.

I took out my knife and flipped it over my fingers, hoping I created a menacing picture in my black leather. I’d made a special concoction for him, and I couldn’t wait to use it. Carlos didn’t get to die peacefully in his sleep. Not even a heartache was horrific enough for this man. I wanted him to hurt and regret everything he’d ever done.

“You sure about that?” he taunted, taking me a second to figure out what he meant.

Snorting, I gave my best sadistic smile. Try calling me a Care Bear now, asshole.

“Oh, I’m sure. And you will be, too, once you meet the end of my blade.”

“Now, Cindy, there’s no reason to lie. We both know you’re not going to kill me with that.” He smirked as he folded his hands together, the epitome of calm and collected.

That just wouldn’t do.

Shrugging, I stopped flipping the blade, moving to put it back on my belt. Quicker than he could track, I threw it toward his shoulder. My eyes stayed on his face the whole time, but I knew the second it made contact. His eyes flashed with surprise as he grimaced, the chemical taking effect the second it pierced his skin.

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