Because without my humanity, he could no longer hurt me.
No one could.
Two weeks into my twenty-ninth year, I rub my face as my twin sister talks a million words a minute. We aren’tactuallytwins, everyone just calls us that because we’re Irish twins, born less than a year apart. Ironically, her being the older of the two of us despite being the immature one.
She lays sprawled on my couch, playing on her phone as words continue to spill from her in an array of color and vulgarity for such an early hour of the morning. Running a hand through my short brown hair, I listen distantly as I lazily pour my coffee in my mug.
I made pour over this morning, hoping it will revive me. It had been a restless night, tossing and turning in my bed after a long night on a hunt. A personal hit of mine for a man who thought it would be a good idea to mess with my sister. He’s one out of four I have my eyes on.
One down, three more to go.
Sam puts her phone down. “Anthony should be here soon, too. Then we can all walk to work together,” she chimes. “Have you heard from Cole?”
“Sam,” I breathe in a yawn while rubbing my eyes with my thumb and forefinger.
It’s too early for this.
Grabbing my coffee, I head over to the couches and sit down with her in the living room of my townhome. It doesn’t appease my parents, considering it’s minimal compared to thepenthouse they wanted me to take above our company building.
Space is necessary, especially because this job already consumes a lot of my life. Besides, I enjoy my little townhome. A safe space for my friends, who are more family than my own flesh and blood.It’s my safe space.Which is far and few in between.
“Tyler,” Sam catches my attention.
Her amber eyes narrow on me – a contrast to the green I inherited from our father. Though we both have brown hair, hers is streaked with hot pink, in pigtail buns most days. Our parents never really cared for the animation my sister portrays in her appearance, but I admire it. I love that she stays true to herself when our parents try so hard to suffocate it. She’s a rainbow in a world full of gray.
“Yes, Sam?” I take a sip of my coffee, letting its smooth taste revive my tired bones.
Being a hitman for my own company doesn’t leave a lot of room for hobbies, but thankfully coffee is one I’ve been able to keep. Eventually, I’d love to invest in a coffee farm or grower. I order beans from across the globe, which my sister attributes to being a coffee snob.
“Have you heard from Cole?” She asks again.
“You know how he is Sam. He will talk when he wants to talk.”
The anniversary of Cole’s father’s death passed. That isn’t necessarily the reason he’s been absent the last few days. He is finishing up the business we handled last night while continuing research on the rest of our prey.
Much like myself, he grew up in a rough environment. His father left him and his mother to fend for themselves. So the anniversary is just a reminder of who he could’ve been if he had had a father figure in his life. Proof that maybe we all aren’t so different after all.We all do what we need to do to survive.
All it took was a bar fight between the two of us to realize we’d be so much more powerful together. Once we were kicked out of Martha’s, we found an old corner liquor store and spent the night on the curb, talking about our pasts and how we may not be so different after all. He needed a job and I needed more people in our company on my side. Through that, an unexpected brotherhood was formed, and the rest is history.
“You look like trash.” Sam eyes me, pulling me from the memory.
“Thank you,” I say sarcastically.
“Are you okay?”
She’s nosy. I love my sister dearly, but she’s definitely…Sam.
“Just didn’t sleep well.” I admit.
She just stares at me, her eyes turning to slits. “Is it Shelby?”
“Sam, for the love of God.” I run a hand over my tired face.
I don’t want to keep talking about that.
“Hey all I’m saying is…”
I cut her off and stand before she opens that can of worms. “I’m going to go get ready.”
