Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
I’m standing in the foyer of Pops’s house. He’s the man who trained us to be his own personal killing machines. He was a trainer for special ops but left to do what he does best—train killers, and we’re his first successful killers. So much so he didn’t need to find any others. He gave up training more and completely focused on us three. He’s money hungry as fuck, which only adds to his intense focus. I know he doesn’t like the fact that we don’t solely use him to get clients anymore, but he can’t do anything about it. Yes, he still brings us the occasional job, but it’s up to us if we choose to do it or not.
We were raised differently from a lot of other kids. The streets and each other were all we had. It was fine. We survived. And I think it made us stronger. But I think someone has told Pops I’ve been having feelings of wanting to leave, and it’s why he’s called me here today.
“How are you?” Pops asks, handing me a glass. I take it but don’t drink. He puts his own glass to his lips. “Let’s go into the sitting area. It’s just us. No one else is here.”
I nod and follow him. When he sits on one of his white sofas, I do the same opposite of him.
“You’ve been off.” That’s how he chooses to start, right.
“All my jobs have been completed to perfection,” I remind him.
“What about her?” He doesn’t have to say her name for me to know he’s talking about Kalilah.
“What about her?” I ask.
“Kenzo let it slip you didn’t kill her.”
“Why would I do that?”
“You know there is not to be any sort of evidence or loose ends. We have done a great job at keeping everything clean for this long, so why would you jeopardize that? For a woman?”
“Is this the real reason you called me over?” I ask, placing the drink down on the table between us. His gaze flicks to it, but he doesn’t say anything. “And leave her out of it. I have it handled.”
“Do you?” he asks.
“When have I not?”
“Kyson, out of the three of you, you are the one who talks to me the most. But you’ve been silent for some time now. Do I have to worry?” He leans in as he says the words with his eyebrow raised in question.
“I’m just working out how to be a better me.”
“What’s wrong with the ‘now’ you?” he bites back. “You are amazing at everything you do. You have a charisma about you that your brothers admire. Heck, even I admire it. So tell me, what’s wrong?” Pops is the closest thing to a father figure we have. I don’t even remember our real father, and as far as we are concerned, we have no other family. Which sits well with us—we don’t need much.
“Why does something have to be wrong?”
“Kyson. Tell me.”
I contemplate confiding in him. But I’m not sure what to tell him, so I keep it to myself. Zuko was the only one who knew, and now Kenzo does. But that’s it. That’s all the people who need to know. They don’t need me. They do just fine by themselves.
“Fine.” He hands me a piece of paper that disintegrates when it touches water. I look over the information and note the address and name. “Your brothers have plans, but I need this job done for a favor I owe.”
“Who’s the favor for?” I ask.
His head drops to the side as he studies me. “Why are you asking?” He’s right to question me. We never question a hunt, but as I said, things are changing.
“Is it a secret? You said it was a favor. I’m asking for who…” I pause, then continue, “Or is this one a secret as well?”
Pops is good at keeping secrets and has been for as long as I can remember.
A woman comes out from the hallway, and I don’t recognize her, which isn’t unusual. I never know who Pops has in his bed as he goes through so many women. Pops’s salt and pepper hair looks good on him, and the women he brings back all seem to love him. She waves as she walks past us, but his eyes remain firmly on me.
“It’s not a secret. The governor wants him dead. The mark has been going around saying he will be running next year and will most likely win with all the dirt he has on the governor. So, if you wouldn’t mind, I owe him a favor. Or would you like me to get your brothers in on it as well?”
I shake my head in answer, stand, and put the paper in my pocket.
Then I leave without either of us saying another word.