Page 108 of Hades’ Revenge

Pressure.

Lining up the attempt that would take Benny out could also be the downfall of Capri. I had taken this shot many times. From a balcony with the mark in the distance. It was never more vital for me to hit the target, standing in the balcony of this church, hidden behind an organ.

If one of them swayed a quarter of an inch, the bullet would do its thing and pierce through whoever was in its way. I would be responsible.

Zeus stood guard at the balcony door, vowing to shoot anyone who tried to get past him. I had total faith he would accomplish that task. I needed to get ahold of myself and secure the mark. I didn’t have the luxury of time.

The scene started out as I had anticipated. Calm and low-key, even if I wanted to shoot Benny for having his hands on my girl. He deserved what was coming for taking her. But when he wedged a gun to her side, it was imperative that when I pulled the trigger, he didn’t get back up.

Judging from Leo and Benny’s body language, the conversation escalated quickly. Capri frantically glanced around the room on more than one occasion, inadvertently distracting me.

Was she planning to escape? If she tried to, would it be at the precise moment I fired my weapon? That would be disastrous. All of my timing could be for nothing if she put herself in the path of my assassin’s bullet.

My heart rate increased, disturbing me enough to know it was a problem. I prided myself on my cool demeanor when it came to my work. My success rate was one-hundred percent. I never lost concentration. This hit couldn’t be any different.

I had to take the emotions out of it and treat this as I would any other job. The sweat trickling down my back said otherwise.

Breathe…

As I inhaled, I imagined the scent of mango floating in the air. Capri slick with massage oil and running the length of her body along mine. I evicted thoughts of her from my mind. No feelings! I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to keep her alive so we could have a future. I had to activate the cold-blooded killer in me.

Without her, I have no future.

As the minutes ticked away, the more agonizing the wait became. Each time I thought I could hit Benny in the head, one of them moved. Capri stumbled, Leo drifted toward them, Benny switched the position of his gun. As the conversation got more intense, the odds increased that his gun would go off and Capri wouldn’t stand a chance.

I had to complete this mission before that happened. Either way, Benny was a dead man.

Leo stared up in the darkness of the balcony. Is he trying to tell me that we’re almost out of time? I couldn’t risk my bullet being the one that killed her. But I couldn’t chance Benny shooting her.

I squeezed the trigger and focused on the target as Capri shoved Benny back, taking the opportunity to dive out of the way. Her quick actions gave me the tiny window I needed to end this.

In the seconds it took for that bullet to do the most damage, my relationship with her flashed before my eyes. Finding her at my club changed the course of my life. Asking her to get in the pool with me started this obsession. Once I took her innocence, there was never another option for me. She is mine.

I had to get to her. I had to tell her what she wanted to hear. What I needed to say.

I swung open the balcony door and sprinted to the stairs, calling over my shoulder to Zeus as I went.

“Get rid of the gun.” It didn’t matter that this job was personal. I had to be as meticulous as I always was. Nothing could be left behind.

“Consider it done,” he said.

I flew down the narrow staircase that led to the foyer of the church. The adrenaline coursed through my veins while my heart pumped harder than it ever had before. When I did a job, I casually walked away from the scene, never drawing attention to myself.

This was like no other job I had done before. And one that I never hoped to repeat.

As I propelled open the church doors, I hurried down the long aisle. No matter how fast I ran, it was as if my legs couldn’t get to that altar fast enough.

“No,” I whispered as I slowed my pace.

Leo sat on the floor in front of the sanctuary, holding Capri. Leo gazed up at me as I approached, surveying the outcome. It wasn’t until Capri reached out her hand and called my name that I dared to look at Benny’s lifeless form. Mission accomplished.

I knelt beside her, nodding at Leo before I replaced his arms with mine, holding her against me. She sighed as she curled into me. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me.”

“Never.”

“You saved me.”

“You saved yourself, little shark.” I kissed the top of her head. I knew how dangerous it had been for her to make that sudden move to get away from Benny while he held a gun to her. But by doing that, she gave me a clear shot. “I just eliminated the threat.”