Chapter 4
Chapter four
Barrett
Accidents are the most difficult to do. They take extra planning. And sometimes I don’t want something to be an accident. In the case of this latest target, I wanted his death to be painful, long, and tortuous. But that wasn’t the job. And that wouldn’t protect his wife.
Or the little warrior.
Adam Pierson made it easy for me. I had my choice of accidental deaths.
He liked to speed on quiet back roads when travelling between mistresses.
He had an anaphylactic allergy to mangoes.
And he spent a lot of time at the bar, The Blue Pub.
Waiting until the bar was almost empty and slipping him a drink with mango juice from a secret admirer was the least suspect.
At least I got to watch the fucker die on the concrete next to his car.
No one discovered him while leaving the bar last night and no employees went into the bar before ten in the morning, if that.
Adam had parked at the far end of the lot, and when he saw me standing on the other side of his car while his throat closed off and his heart beat a deadly rhythm, he stumbled his way toward me. Falling to his knees, he reached for me, begging for help.
“This death is too easy for someone like you. I would thoroughly enjoy putting you through days of tedious torture.”
Confusion swamped his gaze as the pale tone of death crept over his irises.
“But this will have to do.” I stepped back and watched every second of his death pass like a morbid black-and-white documentary. I’d seen the evidence of his mark on the people in his life and his death wasn’t a waste.
I walked away in the dark with no remorse. I can’t say I feel nothing after an assassination. Not a single target has ever been innocent. But the world is full of different shades of grey.
I followed Sage that morning to the restaurant and waited for her sister to go inside. I looked forward to the surprise on her face when I walked in there. It was better than I thought.
But she needed to know I hadn’t forgotten about our deal and that I still intend for her to pay.
Despite the fact those pictures aren’t a threat, I want them gone.
I’d rather not deal with the trouble. Even though I don’t believe she has the courage to release the images, I won’t allow them to stay with her.
The question is what I’ll do with her when the deal is done.
As much as I want to check on the fall out of Adam’s death, I refrain from driving past the house. The family will be busy with funeral preparations and more. That includes Sage.
Sitting in my home office, I search news reports for the death and hack into the police communications to find out what they believe happened.
If they begin to suspect anything, I’ll have to veer them in a different direction.
I’d already taken care of the surveillance from the bar. They won’t find me on camera.
I put my computer away and stand to go to my bedroom. I need sleep after pulling an all-nighter, then staying awake long enough to find Sage at the restaurant. My phone vibrates in my pocket. Rafe’s number is on the screen.
“Yeah.”
“You do a job last night?”
“I did.” I pause, wondering if I missed something when searching early police communications. “Why?”
“I tried calling. I have one coming up I could use a hand with. We can split the profits.”
“Sure.” Even assassins have friends. Three of us live on this large section of land. We’ve gated it in and added extra security. We look like rich assholes in the community, but it provides safety and cover. Being close and living close means we often help each other out.
“The target is a big name. I’ve asked Fain to help, too.” Rafe lives in the second house on the property. Fain lives in the first, and I live in the last. The property has a winding lane leading to each home and there are several trees dispersed throughout. We’re rich assholes with privacy.
After a pause, I take a guess and ask, “You want to start the plan now, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. I’ll be right there.” Sleep can wait. If the target is a big name, then we all need to know the details as soon as possible.
When I walk into Rafe’s home, Fain is already there. The two men are standing around the large table in the centre of Rafe’s office.
“You’re going to shit yourself when you hear who the target is.” As far as greetings go, Fain’s excitement is the cherry on top. The man finds enjoyment in almost everything.
I pour a cup of coffee from the still hot carafe on the side table of Rafe’s office. “Don’t leave me in suspense.” I savour my first sip while filling in the empty space around the table.
“Dorian Campbell.”
I blink back at Rafe. “Dorian Campbell? And you accepted the job?”
“We accepted the job.”
“We? You asked us for help.”
“The client wanted to put his own team together. I said no deal.”
“Fair enough.” None of us would work well with people we don’t know. Trust isn’t something that comes easy in our world. But these men beside me? I trust them with my life. “Who’s the client?”
“Mayor Julian Pine.” Fain answers before Rafe can get the words past his lips. Too much amusement fills his smirk.
I stare dumbfounded at Fain before glaring at Rafe. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“No.”
“So which one is corrupt? The mayor or Dorian? Or both?” Maybe it doesn’t even matter.
“Dorian. Maybe the mayor too, but there’s no doubt about Campbell.”
I have to admit, I pay little attention to the people in those circles. The names are recognizable and their general actions around the city are painfully clear, but I’ve never had the need to dig deeper.
“How bad is it?” Fain’s features sober now that the fun of my shock is over.
“Human trafficking of every kind. Funding and funneling drugs. He has a charming smile and has enough stories with happy endings to make the people praise him and fall at his feet.”
“And the mayor wants to take this route rather than the legal one because…” Fain circles his hand in the air.
“Quicker political mess to clean up. The legal process will spread, people will take sides, believing he’s innocent no matter what evidence comes to light. It will hurt any future elections and affect who and how they hire the person to take Campbell’s place. Mayor Pine wants a fresh start.”
“Take out one snake and there’s just another to take its place. It won’t be as simple as taking out Campbell and wiping our hands of it. He must have contacts and people working for him to do what he does.” This job isn’t just a big name.
“Certain casualties are welcome.” Rafe changes his tone, mimicking the mayor.
“Why the hell did you agree to this job?” This is a hell of a risk and before I join forces, I need to know the motivation behind it, not that it will stop me.
“It pays well. And worth it.” Rafe shrugs and his shoulders tense for the barest of moments before he takes a shallow breath. Rafe has reason to hate that side of the city. Knowing who controlled most of it and given the opportunity to take him out is something he’d never pass on.
“All right.” I finish the cup of coffee and set it down on the table with a thud. “Where do we start?”