Page 52 of The Ghost Assassin

“Can you tell me why?”

“There is no contract. When I refused the job, everyone refused it but the vendetta seeker who acts alone.”

“What’s the vendetta about?”

“It’s personal. That’s all I can tell you. And now, it’s personal for me.”

My spine draws a little stiffer. “What does that mean?”

“They wanted me to do the job. I refused.”

They? The Society, maybe? “Why?”

“That doesn’t matter. I refused,” he repeats. “My reward? I’m no longer the number one assassin in the world. I’m number two. This is now about my reputation and my paycheck. Kill the killer, and it’s over.”

“Isn’t this how we met? I returned from LA to a dead body that Kane thought was your work. But you said someone was copycatting you, so you wanted to kill them.”

“I was irritated at the copycat then, and I’ll admit I wanted to show off a bit. This time is about my reputation. And if you’re worth your badge, you should know an assassin’s reputation is worth money.”

“How is this not the same?” I demand.

“It was the Society that killed those people. Their blood assassins. You’re lucky you’re not dead.”

“So, you got scared and backed away?” I challenge.

He laughs. “You are something, Lilah. Always poking the bear.”

“You seem more like a scared puppy to me.”

“They paid me to step aside.”

“Who paid you?”

“The Society, but no one can pay me enough to back off of this one.”

“You killed Rodriquez and Murphy, didn’t you?”

“I hate lies. I don’t tell them. And this is getting old. I already had a client try to underpay me based on a number two ranking. Therefore, I’m going to handle that for you. I’ll let you know where to find the body.” He starts to turn away and I know I can’t let him leave.

I draw. He draws. We’re back to this, just like we were in an alleyway in New York months back, our weapons poised to kill each other. “Why you gotta do this, Lilah? This is me helping you.”

“This is you helping you. I’ll get rid of your competition for you, and legally. Just give me a name.”

“I told you, it’s personal.”

“And when an assassin gets personal, they make mistakes and end up dead.”

“Not me.”

“Because you’re immortal.”

His eyes darken. “Does it turn you on?”

“Killing you might.”

“Killing you, Lilah, would be bittersweet. It would also turn Kane into a fucking pain in my ass. Don’t make me have to kill him, too.”

“Here’s the thing, Ghost, I prefer a knife. It isn’t messy like gun spatter, but I’m okay with shooting you after that threat. I’ll be a hero. Umbrella Man and then the number two assassin in the world.”

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