11. Laura
laura
. . .
“ I ’m not doing it.”
The suddenness of the voice had me jumping out of my skin. My kitchen was pitch black save for the small light of the candles on either end of it.
I turned around to look the intruder in the eyes, and as soon as I met the bright blue orbs shining in the darkness, all the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.
This wasn’t my first time working with someone of her… caliber, but it was the first time I had ever come face-to-face with them.
Everything had always been handled by a middleman. Someone who wouldn’t connect either of us to the job.
It was safer. But this didn’t feel safe. This felt like a death sentence.
“You’re fast,” I commented and leaned against the hard countertop, trying desperately not to show my fear.
Her assessing gaze only caused my heart to beat faster. For the first time, I took the time to take her in just like she was doing me.
Her arms were crossed, and she was leaning against the counter much like I was. She was all in black with a mask covering her nose and lips. More importantly, she seemed mighty comfortable sneaking into someone’s home and surprising them in the middle of the night.
And here I thought I’d be able to get at least one night of peace this week.
“I’m not doing it,” she repeated.
I gave her a look.
“I heard you the first time, but you’re here, aren’t you?” I asked.
Her eyes dug into mine before she pushed herself off the counter.
“I’m here to refuse the job.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “And to warn you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Look, if you’re here to tell me this is a serious thing and that I shouldn’t, please don’t?—”
“No. I suspect you don’t need me to tell you what a serious matter this is after five jobs, do you?” It came out as a question, but it was rhetorical. And made my skin itch. I didn’t need to be judged like this.
“Then what is it?” I asked, tilting my head.
“I don’t take jobs when the outcome looks…
unfavorable to me. Given how much you were willing to pay for this one, you must also know the risks.
The only reason I’m even giving you this warning is because we’ve done business before.
If you were anyone else, I’d let you face the consequences yourself. ”
I wanted to scoff, but her tone made me pause.
Harley was crazy. A cold-blooded killer. But so was this one.
So why is a practiced, skilled assassin warning me about Harley?
“I don’t think she’ll hurt me,” I said. “Her goal is something else.”
She reached into her pocket and took out a piece of paper, placing it on the island separating us.
“I have some contacts who would be willing to take the job,” she said. “Don’t tell them I sent you, but if you decide to go forward with it, call this number, hang up, and wait for them to contact you. ”
“How will they contact me?” I asked and reached forward to grab the paper.
Her hand reaching out to stop mine caused my heart to stop.
“People like her won’t be afraid of being hunted. She won’t even be angry, Laura,” she said. “She’ll be excited. Trust me. You’re better off running away.”
This time I did scoff and yanked my hand from hers.
“Thanks for the recommendation,” I said as I grabbed the paper. “But I got this.”
She merely shrugged and walked past me to the front entrance.
“Can I use your services in the future?” I called after her.
She didn’t even pause as she answered. “No.”
The sound of the door slamming caused a crazed laugh to bubble from my lips.
This is fucking insane.