But I suppose that’s something they do for cats, not mice.
“You got some priests to murder, kids to kill, going to go on a killing spree and just off the next poor fucks you see?” His clipped words pull at my attention, halting my efforts of tugging on my pants.
“Judgmental much? I hope you’re not being condescending, because you were right in my shoes not too long ago. It’s just a job. And I’m good at it.”
“According to Tylin, you’re decent at best.”
Decent at best.His words cause irrational anger to slice right through me.
I’m going to kick Tylin’s ass the next time I see him.
“I want a meeting with Ty. Do your disappearing act and I’ll meet you outside.” Anger tinges my tone. My jaw tics as I furiously try to pull my pants over my hips. Why the hell are leather pants part of my uniform? Who the hell voted on this material? Obviously, a man with incredibly narrow hips, that’s who. I grab a loose fitted white shirt. I usually keep to all black but I’m also normally a night owl. Today is different. I don’t really know what to expect today but I won’t be working and trailing targets.
I turn away from Mason for only a second. When I look up again ...
He’s gone.
Or is he?
* * *
My steps arequiet as I take the stairs down to the first floor. I’m like a shadow drifting through the halls. I pass the door that would take me to meet Mouse outside. I have one thing to do before I leave.
If I’m meeting with myteam—why does that word have such a sarcastic undertone in my mind?—I need to have something to offer them. Something of importance. Something impressive. Something more than just my good name. Because let’s face it, my name isn’t as good as it could be. It has little value at all, really.
So into the lion’s den I go. The worn floorboards skim against my boots, and when I turn the corner, I run into a pretty, blonde girl. She smiles sweetly at me, her eyes flashing with hidden power. An assassin. Just like me. If anything, she and I are a team. A real team. And yet, we’re nothing to each other.
I don’t even know her name. And she doesn't know mine.
Just as it should be.
She sidesteps me and continues on into the dining hall. She pushes through an oak door. It swings open, showing the hundreds of assassins gathered for breakfast. Not one word is spoken among them. Complete silence is all that fill the room before the door swings closed once more.
A breath meets my lungs as I carry on to the last door at the end of the hall.
Armond’s office.
He stands at the window overlooking the city. Just as he does every morning. The bright morning sunlight warms his skin, setting off his tanned tone. It makes him look younger. He appears nearly my age this morning, mid-twenties at most. He’s closer to a hundred if my calculations are correct. His powers are used for more than death and threats, it seems.
My heart pounds the closer and closer I creep, the idea of what I’m about to do making me nervous at best.
I’m crazy. I must be.
At the last possible second, just as he turns on his shining shoes, I start the clock. My power shakes through me, threatening time itself. My boots storm across the room and I flip open the book that rests on the corner of his shining desk.
His body is halted just three feet from me but I’m careful not to disturb his line of sight. I’m safe as long as he never sees me. The fine press of his suit jacket is fitted nicely against his slim frame, tailored to perfection, and his back is to me as lean over the desk.
The pages are coarse beneath my fingertips. The script within the book is neat and written with care. Black scrawling ink mars the lines of the book and I skim through page after page until I see the one thing I’m looking for.
Tylin Valderban
- Assigned to Alexa Hart
- Cause of Death Warrant: rebelling against his own, assault of a higher power, & organizing an uprising.
Organizing an uprising.How very impressive, Tylin. Very impressive résumé indeed.
I read on as I do a mental countdown in my mind. Thirty seconds at the most.
