The Associate (Murwood Mafia #1)

Prologue

Mason

6 months ago

S itting in the car out the front of the target’s house. My first solo hit. Lennox is with me, but more so as backup. It’s not very often we are sent out completely alone.

I look out through the car windscreen towards the house, I can feel my nerves rising. My right leg bounces in anticipation. Exhaling a deep breath, I empty all the air out of my lungs and let out a small groan. Why are we waiting out the front again? I roll my head against the headrest and glance over at Lennox.

I remember what Lennox said on our last hit: “You gotta have patience. Some hits might be fast paced — get in and get out — but others require a little more strategy.”

“Hmm,” I hum.

I’m not sure how much time has passed, but I jolt upright when I hear tires crunching. “What the fu—” I start before spotting the source of the sound.

My eyes track a rundown Chevy pulling into the driveway. I am pretty sure I am holding my breath because the space around me starts to spin. “Don’t forget to breathe, Viper.” Lennox’s voice is sharp and steady beside me.

As the target steps out of his car, bottles and cans follow him, spilling out onto the ground. “Why do all the targets have to be drunks?” I mumble as this guy stumbles his way across the yard.

All I know about him is that he contracted Sal for protection but has missed a few payments. Now, Sal has sent us to take the final payment.

The more jobs I do, the more I am developing a thirst for blood. I need to be out there; I want to take this guy down before he gets inside. My hand instinctively reaches towards the door handle.

“Wait,” Lennox growls.

I am getting antsy, my trigger finger twitching. I want this hit to go smoothly because, if it does, I am one step closer to solidifying my place as the boss’s right-hand man.

Sal has had me in the second seat for the last year, but I know deep down that he’s still testing me.

I need to stay out of my head; I know it can get me in trouble. The monster is ready to come out and play. I just need the right moment to let him feast.

I feel for my gun at my back, gripping the hard metal in my hand, as I sneak across the front yard and through the side gate, into the backyard. The sound of the car door closing tells me Lennox is not far behind.

“What is wrong with you, you stupid woman?” the target yells. “How hard is it to have this house tidy by the time I get home?”

I watch through the kitchen window as he lifts his hand and strikes her across the face. This fucker is going to die a slow, painful death. He doesn’t deserve the protection we have provided him over the years, let alone a quick end.

“You ready?” Lennox asks over the top of the screaming and crying.

I nod. Time to kill the power breaker. Catch him by surprise.

The breaker box is right next to where I am standing, and a short but high-pitched squeak comes from the hinges as I open the small metal door. I flick the kill switch, and the house goes dark.

“No!” the woman calls out, and the sound of hurrying steps moves through the house. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll get it!”

Slow, methodical footsteps move towards the back door. My Glock is in my hand, trigger finger twitching. They aren’t rushed like the woman’s steps.

“No! You stay right fucking there, you hear me!” He is close to the door, his voice clearer. “And if there is anyone out here, I am going to kill them and then I am going to kill you too!”

Did he have reason to suspect someone else in the house?

The back door swings open, and the target rounds the corner, headed towards the breaker. My fingers twitch on the grip of the gun. My eyes are trained on Lennox. He shakes his head and mouths the word ‘wait’.

The clunk of the breaker switching back on is loud enough to break the silence, and the instant hit of light is enough to blind anyone. I close my eyes, inhaling a deep breath, and jump up, gun pointing right at the asshole.

His jaw nearly hits the floor. It’s as if he has sobered up for a brief moment before he staggers backwards, tripping over the threshold and falling flat on his ass back in the kitchen. A loud and wild laugh rises from my chest, twisting into manic bursts. The sound of the monster inside me showing its face again — the monster that never lets me sleep at night, the monster that is always hungry for blood.

I step closer to him, my eyes darkening as a crazed smile forms over my lips. He tries to slide back as I take another step towards him, and as he slumps onto the ground, knowing he can’t escape, he holds his hands up above him as he lies on the floor of the kitchen. I hear the sound of footsteps running towards the front of the house as the woman runs for safety.

I’m glad she is gone. What I am about to do is not for the faint of heart, and even though the monster will be pleased, the human in me could not cope knowing I have scarred someone to the point that they would need therapy.

I step towards him.

“Where’s Sal’s money?” I ask, gun trained on his head.

No answer.

Another step.

“Well, okay then.” My left hand comes up, and I pull the slide back on my Glock. “You don’t want to talk. You die.”

My finger slowly squeezes the trigger. He takes the opportunity and swings his foot out, clipping mine, sending me flying to the ground. My head hits the tile, the room spinning, and then in a black haze, I lose my vision.

I can feel the weight of someone straddling me, punch after punch connecting with my face. My eyes pop open, and I stare at him. He notices, and for a moment, he freezes before leaning forward and wrapping his hands around my throat.

The pressure isn’t bad at first, but then he squeezes a little tighter. My vision is going fuzzy. I have to stay conscious .

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see my Glock, barely.

There would still be a loaded round in the chamber. Without thinking about it too much, I reach over, palm the gun, and lift my hand, still fighting for breath under this asshole choking me. I aim the gun at his head and pull the trigger.

The pressure around my throat disappears instantly, and I gasp for air as his dead body slouches forward before rolling off me.

“Viper! Viper!” Lennox calls.

Why is he so far away? I wonder to myself, and all I remember is seeing Lennox yelling in my face.

Then everything goes black again.