Page 21 of Targeted By Vengeance

But, I couldn’t deny how nice it felt to be something different. Something good.

The buzz of my pager on the nightstand stopped the high before it could even begin. Reluctantly, I turned my head and used my free hand to grab my pager.

New assignment, read the words on the tiny screen. Don’t forget the training wheels.

I rolled my eyes at the last remark. I guess I should be happy Ares was open to the situation. When I took Maria under my wing, he gave me hell for it. At that time, only he and his top assassins were able to recruit newcomers. So, I kept her presence under wraps for as long as I could. By the time he found out, she’d already been on more than a few assignments with me - some of which were personal for her. Yet, he still doubted my judgment.

Even now, I bet he was questioning if Simone was really a good addition to his belt. I just hoped she wouldn’t have to work as hard to prove it.

Slowly, I wiggled out from underneath Simone’s body. Her brows pinched from the loss of my body warmth, and her fingers clutched the blanket where I once lay.

I held my breath as I slipped out from underneath the covers and set my feet on the floor, determined not to make any noise. Quietly, I creeped out from the bedroom and shut the door behind me.

I made my way into the living room and grabbed the burner laptop out of its bag. Sighing, I plopped down on the couch and opened the encrypted file Ares sent with details about our assignment. I skimmed through the petty details about our target. Right now, I wasn’t worried about who they were or their role in society. I needed to know where we’d be going.

I almost groaned at the last known location: Turks and Caicos. Of course this one would be out of the states - and lowly populated. The only benefit was that it was a tourist attraction. People come on and off the island all the time. Meaning so long as the body is hidden well, we’ll be long gone before it’s found. If it’s found.

There weren’t any instructions on what to do with the body, so I’m assuming the client couldn’t care less. In those instances, we usually dispose of them. Another skill I needed to add on the list I was creating.

I fished my phone out of my pocket and texted Maria.

Me

Be back by noon tomorrow.

Bring the hacker with you.

I tossed the phone on the coffee table. There was no chance in hell she was texting me back this late at night. She’d see it when she wakes up.

Rising from my seat, I walked over to the giant suitcase sitting on the other side of the floor. I repositioned myself on the floor and pulled the zipper around. Inside were three distinct piles of folders, each containing a different alias for Maria and me - and now Simone.

While we were traveling to see Ares, I had Miles make some for her. I was beginning to understand why the Ruizs kept him around; he worked quickly and produced quality work. If he and Maria were going to continue seeing each other, it might be worth putting him in our own back pocket.

The floor creaked behind me, followed by the soft pads of bare soles against the glossy surface. “Go back to bed,” I told her. “I’ll be there soon.”

“What are you doing?” Simone asked. Her footsteps continued towards me. Sinking down behind me, she looped her arms around my neck and pressed her cheek against mine. She glanced over the open folder in front of me, her eyes lingering on the passport in its right-side pocket. “You’re leaving again,” she commented, her voice small.

“Yeah,” I replied. I grabbed her hands as they started to slide from around me. “But, you’re coming with me this time.”

Simone’s brows rose. “Really?”

“You said you’re capable of killing a man, right?”

She nodded.

“Then, it’s about time you prove it.”

THE AGENT

Paradise was the last place I expected to find monsters.

Most of the ones I’ve encountered preferred big cities with busy sidewalks and bustling crowds. Hiding in plain sight was easier than in isolation. Made it harder to be spotted - to be caught.

Reading our target’s file, it was clear he wasn’t worried about being either of those things.

Jules Briones was one of the most well-known men on the island. Handsome, wealthy, and flashy as all get up, he quickly gained the reputation as a party boy. Tourists and natives alike jumped at the opportunity to attend one of his extravagant parties.

Little did they know the events were fronts to cover the dirt he was doing behind the scenes.