Page 72 of Weddings on the West: Vol. I Brick & Destiny

12 Dead in Warehouse Fire, Signs of Foul Play.

Local Man Found Dead in Vehicle, Police Say Signs of Struggle Found.

Sleighton Native Found Dead From Apparent Overdose.

There were dozens of articles, and I sat there rifling through each clipping before finally looking back up at her.

“What does this have to do with you? And why are you telling me this now when I confronted you about Brick?” I asked.

“You ever heard of Endgame?” Her eyes reluctantly rose to mine.

“Eden,” I choked out through another laugh. This one was a bit more nervous because either she was serious, or she was crazy as hell. I could tell she really meant what she was saying. “You expect me to believe that you are this mythical assassin that’s been terrorizing the city for the last ten years? Please.”

“They did this to me, Destiny,” she said solemnly before looking away and blinking back tears.

“They, who?” I asked, somehow already knowing the answer.

“Our parents. When they sent me away… The Lockhart Institute isn’t a fucking boarding school. It’s more like a tactical military school. They got paid to send me there and let them turn me into a weapon. They sent me to hell on earth for money, Des. That’s why I hate them so fucking much… And the worst part of the whole thing was what it did to us,” she cried. I didn’t need to hear another word to be convinced that she was telling the truth.

“Eden, no…” I bit my lip, letting tears fall at how horribly I treated my little sister. After not getting responses to my letters or hearing from her for fucking years, I assumed that she had forgotten about me. When she popped back up in Sleighton, I ignored her for months, letting anger keep us apart just like our parents did.

“Now, do you see why I hate them so much? If it wasn’t for you, both of their asses would have been on my list.”

“I’m so sorry,” I said, pulling her into my arms. I had so many questions, but I had to start with letting my sister know how much I loved her.

“I didn’t know… If I would have known, I would have done something, Eden!” Each word came out between pathetic sobs. At that moment it all made sense why she seemed like the older sister. She had to grow up way faster than I did.

“There was nothing you could have done. Once they have you, there’s no getting out until they say so. I just decided to come back home and use my skills for good.”

“So, you… kill people?” I asked, pulling back from our hug to give her a nervous look. This whole thing was surreal. I didn’t realize that something like this could be going on right under my nose.

“Only ‘bad’ people, Des… And I know that term can be used loosely, but I mean the worst of the worst—child molesters, rapists, people who harm for sport. I do a thorough background check on my targets, and if they don’t fit the profile, I don’t take the job. I really wanted to tell you, but I was scared that you would disown me.”

“You’re my fucking sister, Eden. I would never!” I promised.

“I don’t know…” She chuckled. “You just came in here ready to whoop my ass over Brick West,” she teased making me smile a little.

“Fuck,” I mumbled as the smile washed right off my face. “You were gon’ whoop my ass, huh?” We both laughed, drying the rest of our tears.

“I wouldn’t have hit you, girl,” she said. “I would have put your ass to sleep, but I would never lay hands on you. Even though you were gon’ try to tear my ass up over that nigga!”

“So, how does Brick fit into this whole Endgame thing?” I asked, arms still locked around my sister like I was afraid to let her go.

“He and his brothers pulled up on me when I was in the middle of a job. Please don’t be mad at him—this is all my fault. He gave me the space to tell you, but I was so afraid of losing you, Des.” I held her tighter.

“You won’t.” We stood there for a moment before I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket… Knowing it was Brick, panic instantly set in.

“Oh, shit…” The realization of everything I did that day came rushing back, replaying in my head like a highlight reel of the dumbest crash out ever. “I fucked up,” I said barely above a whisper.

“It's okay. I'm sure if you go home and apologize, all will be forgiven. That man is crazy about you, Sis,” she said with a hopeful smile on her face.

“Yeah, but he's also plain crazy… I’m scared!” I shrilled. At that moment I considered leaving the city altogether. Maybe even the state. That man pulled a gun on someone for barely bumping into me two days ago. I was as good as dead.

“Scared of what?” she asked. “Is that nigga putting his hands on you or something?”

“No, but he might… and I’d deserve it!” I said nervously, looking around and biting my lip.

“Why the fuck would you say that? No you don't, Des!”