Page 4 of Targeted By Vengeance

A shrug accompanied the wave of her hand.

The bag rolled off my shoulders as I took a seat on the couch. “Thank you,” I told her. “For letting me out.”

“Of course,” an automated voice from the computer replied after a few clicks. “He was being an asshole.”

I almost laughed. “Have you worked with him for a long time?”

“About ten years.”

“Oh,” I said, taken aback by the number. No wonder they worked like a well-oiled machine; they’d been together for a while. “How did that happen?”

“He found me after some assholes did this.” Her fingers briefly left the keys to point at the scar on her neck. “He stopped me from bleeding out and took me to a nearby hospital.”

Her story reminded me of the actions he took when he saved my life from the cruel men with the knockoff biker jackets. Maybe his heart wasn’t as black as he liked to pretend it was. Maybe he did have some compassion and respect for human life - even if was only for innocent women caught in some douchebag’s crosshairs.

“I’ve been by his side ever since,” the automated voice finished.

“May I ask why? I mean, were you attracted to him or…?” I trailed off at the sight of the scrunch on her face, the clear disgust comical. “What? You never found him attractive?”

“He’s far from my type.”

I laughed. “Okay, then why’d you stick with him?”

Her fingers hesitated over the keys. A frown tugged at her lips as she contemplated her answer. “Because he showed more compassion for me than anyone in my old life ever did - and he didn’t even know me. He stayed with me during my stay in the hospital even though he didn’t have to. Took me in knowing the consequences he’d face for bringing in an outsider. Befriended me when I had no else to turn to. He’s been nothing but good to me. Loyalty is cheap compared to how much I really owe him.”

I nodded, taking in her words. She spoke so highly of him - of the things he did for her. It made me wonder if he wasn’t as apathetic as he pretended to be.

“Give him time,” Maria continued. “I promise he’s not all bad.”

I smiled. “Thanks,” I told her. “For chatting.”

“Anytime,” the automated voice spoke one last time. She clicked out of the text-to-speech website she’d been using and went back to the tab she’d been on previously, returning to her task.

I sat there for a moment, debating whether I really wanted to go back to our room or not. I’d spent way too much time in that bed already. I really wasn’t trying to go back. Besides, there was a comfort in Maria’s presence I wasn’t expecting. I didn’t think she’d mind if I stayed in it for a little while longer.

I unzipped my bag and dug through it for the novel I was reading before everything went down. I could use an actual break from reality.

Her fingers slowed against the keyboard as she watched me lean back against the cushions from the corner of her eye.

I cracked the book open where my bookmark lay and dove back into the story.

From my own peripheral, I saw the ghost of a smile hover on Maria’s lips before her fingers picked up speed again.

THE ASSASSIN

Rarely did I feel like strangling Maria. But, walking in and seeing Simone sitting beside her with her nose deep in a book made the thought cross my mind.

When I’d stepped out to grab dinner, this was the last thing I expected to come back to.

Simone didn’t even glance up at the sound of my footsteps in the hall. Her eyes remained trained on the words on the page.

Maria did though, a smirk tugging at her lips.

“Kitchen,” I hissed. “Now.”

Maria slid her laptop off her lap and hopped up off the couch. She grabbed the takeout bag out of my hands as she passed and led me into the kitchen.

“Didn’t I tell you not to let her out,” I scolded once we were out of Simone’s earshot.