Three large politicians.
Two guards.
One deranged assassin.
When I fully step into the room, I put my hands behind my back to seem like a dutiful server. All of their smug faces turn toward me.
“Why are you standing there?” one of the overweight politicians says.
“My apologies, I’m Denis. Your server for the evening.” My tone is all professional. They are looking at me with a bored expression, like my mere existence is offending them.
“Gentlemen, not to keep you waiting, dinner is about to be served.” Once my words leave my mouth, everything changes in a split second, and chaos erupts. One bullet flies through the left side of the skull and out through the right side of the guard standing behind Edo. The women start to scream, and the guard near the window goes to grab his rifle, but I stop him.
I shoot him in his knee, and he crumples to the ground. Screaming in agonizing pain. While I’m running toward him, Adam takes out the dinner companions of Edo.
Once I’m standing before the guard and kneel beside him, I take one knife from my apron and slice his throat. Blood is seeping in an instant, coating his hand while he tries to close the wound. The metallic scent of blood fills the room.
I stand up and turn around to see that Edo is standing behind one of the women.
My teeth are biting my lower lip as I am wiping the guard’s blood off my apron.
“Edo, leave the poor woman alone and sit down.”
“Who the fuck are you? And why would I talk to you?” The tremor in his tone tells me he is afraid.
“I’m a man not to be trifled with. Sit. The. Fuck. Down.” My tone is as cold as the snowflakes falling outside. He straightens himself as much as his fear will allow him, and he takes a seat in one of the chairs.
“Ladies, leave the room and wait outside. Someone will pick you up momentarily and take care of you.” The rule of thumb—any innocent outsiders need to be taken care of. They didn’t ask to be caught in the crossfire.
“Notify Oliver and Josh to come pick the women up and initiatesave innocence.”
“Copy that, M,” Hana promises me. The women leave in a hurry, and their cries only strengthens my need to kill this asshole. Once they are gone, I take a seat opposite Edo and cross my legs.
“Who sent you?” he asks as he is gripping the chair tightly while his eyes are filling up with tears.
“I’m the one asking the questions. First question, what project did you authorize to embezzle the money?”
“You can’t possibly think I’m going to name the proj—” He doesn’t even have time to finish his sentence because I shoot him in his kneecaps.
“You were saying?” I ask.
“I’ll have your head for this!” I yawn because he is being absurd. But I’m also growing impatient.
“If you evade my questions one more time, I’ll make sure that your death is prolonged.” That shuts him up, and I can see droplets of sweat gliding down his face.
“Answer my question, Edo. What project did you authorize?”
“Infrastructure grant, road rehabilitation.”
“And where did the funds land?”
“The Sar-ways Foundation.” Now I have him. My lips are forming into a sinister smile, and I talk to Hana through my earpiece without taking my eyes off of Edo.
“Send in the cleaning crew.” She confirms that the cleaning crew is on its way. Edo swallows his own saliva, loud in the quiet room.
“Who? What? What are they going to clean?”
“You.” With clinical precision, I shoot him in his heart, and after a couple of moments, he dies. I go over to him and check his pulse.
