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Odette stalked after her mother. After everything Odette had done to please her mother, the woman still didn’t trust her to get the job done. She didn’t need Elna to look after her.
She leaned over to Elna. “I’m making the kill.”
Elna snorted. “Do what you want. You always do.”
The words surprised Odette, but shouldn’t have. Elna clearly wasn’t happy about the change, either.
They made their way into the yard of the estate, creeping between the tall, looming shrubbery lining the path. The two women assigned to watch the perimeter peeled off from them, one heading in the direction of the stables, the other out into the well-kept gardens. Lina eased open the double-wide front door and held it as the other assassins entered, her face a sheet of white. Odette handed the younger woman one of her three knives.
She swallowed. “Thanks.”
“Where are the son’s quarters?” Elna demanded from behind.
“O-on the second level. To the right of the daughter’s bedchamber,” Lina answered. She looked ready to break out in tears.
“What is this?” An elderly man holding a candle stood in the hallway. Shit. Were they caught already?
The woman meant to watch the servants’ quarters rushed forward and clamped a hand over his mouth before driving her dagger into his throat. He fell to the ground, crimson pooling on the polished floorboards.
“Who was that?” Terna demanded of Lina.
Lina had her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide. “H-he was a-a… the cook.” She stared at the man on the floor like she had suddenly realized why they were there.
Terna headed for the stairs. “Keep moving.”
Nausea rolled through Odette and she refused to look at the body as she followed her mother and the rest of the assassins.
When they reached the second floor, Odette’s heart pounded in her chest as her mother threw one more glance at her before heading up the steps to the third floor where the parents’ quarters were located.
“Let’s go,” Elna said.
Odette, Elna, Yessly, and Lina headed for the two main rooms located down the hall. Poor Lina was ready to jump out of her skin.
Odette laid a hand on her shoulder. “Remember the skull pact. It’s either her or us. You can do this.”
Lina clutched the knife, her eyes wide and shifting. “Her or us,” she repeated. Her shoulders lowered, and she grew calm. “You’re right.”
Forcing her gaze from the girl, Odette’s fingers clenched the handle to the son’s bedchamber a little too tightly.Them or us.
The four women nodded at each other. Odette eased open the door, slipping into the room.
The space was neat. Other than the clothes slung over a divan in the corner, there wasn’t a thing out of place. A large four-poster bed filled most of the area, and in the center of that bed lay Odette’s mark. She crept forward, knife in hand, examining him. His shirt was off, the covers tangled around his waist, revealing a muscled chest and toned abs. A leather string hung about this neck tied to what appeared to be a carving of a swan. The tan color stood stark against his black skin. It rose and fell with his even breaths. She peered into his handsome face and noted the peacefulness there.
Peaceful and asleep. Innocent. Unknowing.
Just like before.
She froze, unable to move as the feel of her knife dragging across another man’s throat seared her fingers. The image of his blood spilling over the pillows. Of the pain in her esophagus as she tried to hold back her sobs.
A movement next to her startled her from her trance. Elna crept up, dagger drawn, dark gaze fixed on the man. Odette held out her arm to stop her.
“I got this,” she mouthed to the other woman.
Elna flung her hand forward as if to say, “Well, then hurry.”
Odette’s grip tightened on her dagger. This wasn’t like before. She didn’t even know this man. He meant nothing to her. She edged right up to the bed and leaned over her victim, ready to end him.
When a scream rent the night.
