Lilith Cohen Retribution

by William Manning

  It doesn’t take a genius to see I’m fucked. Venora has me dead to rights.

  Chapter 17

  “Well hello there, Lily.” I shove my 45 in her face. Her eyes widen. “Oooooh, you may want to reconsider that move.”

  A girl with auburn hair barely fifteen cocks the bolt on a scoped K98, ejecting a spent casing. “Don’t you go being astupid cunt now, Lilith.”

  I can’t say I’m shocked to see child soldiers in Venora’s ranks.

  Venora giggles. “Now, now, Fiona. There’s no need to be rude. Besides, Lilly is not stupid are ya?”

  She’s right I’m not stupid. Her sharpshooters have the high ground, and more of her fighters cover me on my left and right flank with FN and M16 rifles. It’s a killing field.

  I reluctantly lower my pistol. “There’s a smart, lass. Now, look, lassie. I am not interested in you right now. So I’m willing to let you waltz out of here if you’re willing to extend me the same courtesy.” There’s no cover. I’ll be shot to pieces in seconds. These are not Middle Eastern terrorists’ spray-andprayfanatics. They’re IRA. Most of these men and women have trained with their rifles from the age of 12 they’re practically snipers with the damn things.

  I holster my weapon. “Fine.”

  “Oh, lassie, before you go. I done some digging on Colvin. He made a reservation for the Chilton Hotel under a fake name. Marcus Costa. It’s a beach resort in Sao Paulo, Brazil.”

  “Why are you selling him out so easily?”

  She shrugs. “He's outlived his use. It’s time to free him from his fleshy cage. So I bestow that honor to you.”

  “I’m touched. Where's Dominic and the others?” I ask.

  “I didn’t kill them if that’s what you’re wondering. I made them the same offer I am making you.”

  I feel uneasy about Venora and her men willing to let me walk out of here. Something tells me I am not going to like what she has planned in the future.

  She used Colvin, “Good hunting, lassie. Oh, and do take a vacation you look like shite.” She hands me the coordinates on a piece of paper.

  A man in military fatigues and olive colored beret rushes in through the back entrance of the building. “All the weapons are loaded up, Ms. O’ Brien.”

  “Job well done, sir. Everybody load up! Time to go back to get back across the pond.”

  “I’m curious, how do you plan to get all those weapons out of the country and into Ireland.”

  She grins. “Oh, Lily. Now, don’t you go poking your nose me affairs.”

  And now she’s selling him out to me, can’t say I’m surprised.

  “Oh, you can tell your people to blow the building now,” she says, just before running to the back entrance, joining her men.

  I rush out of the building while thinking how fucked up this is that she has a standing army and god knows what weapons she stole from Black Reign. Her playing Colvin like a fiddle only shows how manipulative she is.

  Upon exiting the building, Nina slings the SUV around the corner and slams on the breaks. I hop into the car, and she tears down the street, putting Black Reign’s HQ in the rearview. “Dominic will meet us back at HQ. Lilith... Josef was wounded, but he will heal. Doc says. He took a shot to lungs while giving me and Dominic cover fire when we were planting the explosives,” she says, sobbing. “Damn it! I should have been the one covering us not him. I almost got him killed.”

  “Nina, relax he will heal!”

  “Here’s the detonator.” Her voice brittle. Normally Nina would not be flipping out over a

  lungshot. The nanotech in our bodies heal wounds like that, but it’s obvious she’s in love with him. I jam my thumb down on the detonator, and a thunderous explosion rocks the ground burning the night with blue and white flames; glancing behind me, the pyramid drops into a cloud of dust.

  Nina stops the car on the curve and cries. “Damn! How close wereyou two?” I say. Just like that without thinking I blurted it out. I hate seeing my friend like this I wish I could make her feel better, but the only thing I know to do is comfort her.

  I place my hand on her shoulder. “We were close. Close enough to be considered a couple. I fell in love with him. I know I said he was just a sexual release, but that was a lie.” She rests her head on the steering wheel sobbing. “You probably think I’m an idiot for falling in love with an agent.”

  “No, I don’t. In fact, I felt your pain before I learned Karl sold me out. Now it’s just rage and hatred I feel for him because it painted the cold reality for me that love is dangerous for a person like me.”

  She leans back in the seat craning her neck. “I know, and that is dreadful you suffer from pain like this. She wipes her nose and sniffs. “Can you drive, Lilith?” “Sure.” Getting out of the car, we change seats.

  A tinge of pain surges through my body as the wounds gradually close. Good. It’d be a pretty embarrassing way to die. Especially after all the people who have tried to kill me and a Hello Kitty letter opener is what does me in.

  “I broke my own rule, Lilith. I got too close to someone.” “Don’t beat yourself up, Nina. You’re only human. Besides, the nanites will heal him.” Glancing at Nina her clothes and hands drenched in blood probably where she was putting pressure on the wound.

  “Seeing Josef wounded like that a grim reality hit home. There may come a day where he won’t heal, and I will lose him.”

  “Look, let’s get back to the TOC give our mission report to Connie, and you let me and Tiffany take you out for some drinks. How’s that sound?”

  “S -sounds good, Lilith.” she smiles wiping the tears from her cheeks. “You know, you do have some charm about you when you're not such an ice queen.”

  “Well, you know me, I got charm coming out of my ass.”

  She scoffs and shakes her head. “And, now it’s gone.”

  Chapter 18

  Connie reads over our reports we typed out. “It’s a shame you weren’t able to take Colvin out, but you took out his building and the FBI, MI5, and other Law Enforcement agencies around the world are raiding his offices as we speak. More arrests will be made as Clare sends more Intel to Interpol. Thanks to Lauren’s wife coming forward with vital Intel that exposes the Senators who were in Colvin’s back pocket; which are being dealt with. And as for Cai, the money on the contract will be transferred to your account.” She folds her hands on her lap. “Do either of you have any hint as to where Colvin fled to?”

  “I do,” I say. “Venora sold him out. He’s hiding at the Chilton Beach Resort in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He checked in under the alias Marcus Costa.”

  She narrows her eyes. “I will have my contacts down there confirm Venora’s information.”

  “While I was in the Black Reign building I saw a disturbing precedence forming. Venora was stealing weapons, and she plans to take them out of the country and head to Ireland. As for the kind of weapons she took, I have no idea.”

  She nods. “I will have our recon agents keep watch on all the ships and planes going out of New York. Now in the meantime, you two will rest while I investigate to see if these coordinates check out.” We stand up, and Connie shakes both of our hands. “Agent Cohen, Agent Diwali you two have done the world a great service by shutting them down.”

  That’s how it is with The Hunters: No medals. No Rewards. No congratulation speeches or victory parades. Just a handshake and told good job.

  I leave the office, and Nina stops beside me. “Lilith, I’m going to go sit with Josef. I will meet back up with you in a bit.”

  “Tell him I said get well soon.” She

  smiles. “Will do.”

  I change out of my bloody clothes and back into my dark brown cargos and a black thermal shirt. I slip on a pair of low cut brown combat boots. I store my wrist blades back into the armory along with my Katana and throwing knives. I keep my Glock on me same as always. There is a knock on my door. “Lilith, are you here?”

  “Yes, Tiffany. I’m here, come in.” She walks
in carrying a white plastic bag. “I realized something, Lilith. It’s your birthday today.”

  I hate birthdays. Considering I have eternal life, I don’t see the point in them anymore. But I know Tiffany does so I’ll play along.

  “I went to a sports store earlier today. Don’t worry Connie didn’t let me leave alone. But I got you something.” “Are you sure it’s my birthday.”

  “Yes, its December 23rd I know you like all that soccer stuff, I mean football stuff. Ugh, I’ve lived in America too long. Anyway, I got you a scarf,” she says, reaching into the bag and pulls an ocean blue and white scarf with the Israeli flag on it. “Happy birthday.” She wraps the scarf around my neck. “Sweet! It really brings out the black on your coat.”

  I stepin front of the mirror. “You know what? It does. Thanks.”

  I’m glad she got me a new Israeli soccer scarf, my old one was looking like it seen better days.

  “Hey, Tiff. Nina and I are heading out for drinks, you interested? I’m taking her out to ease her worry over Josef.” She frowns. “Yeah, I heard about Josef from Connie. Is she okay?”

  “Josef was badly wounded in action, and she’s taking it pretty hard.”

  “They were pretty close, huh?”

  “Yeah, they’re close. Like really close if you catch what I’m saying.”

  Her eyes grow big. “Oh, they hooked up?” “Yeah, but please keep that too yourself.” “I will don’t worry.”

  “Well, let’s go see if she is ready.”

  Leaving my room, we head down the hall to Nina’s room. I knock on her door. “Come in,” she responds. “Hey, Nina. You ready to go?” She forces a smile, trying to stifle the worry. “Yeah, let’s go.”

  We are about the board the elevator when Connie steps off and flashes a closed lip smile. “Ah Nina, Lilith, there you are. First off I would like to send my well wishes for Josef and second where is Dominic?” she says.

  “Dominic returned to the HQ,” Nina says.

  “Oh, I will just call him then. So where are you ladies off to?” she asks.

  “We’re off to have a few drinks at a pub after all its Lilith’s birthday today,” Tiffany says.

  Bitch!

  “Oh no, Lilith, that is a suicide mission. You don’t want to go to bars on the week of Christmas; you’ll be lucky to even get a bartender who will wait on you. Instead, I have a penthouse upstairs with a fully stocked bar.”

  “Yeah… I didn’t think about that. Sounds good to me, Connie. Ladies?” They nod in agreement to Connie’s plan.

  We board the elevator and ride it up to Connie’s penthouse. The doors open up, into a vast fancy room with polished wooden floors and shaded marble walls, a big roundabout couch in a pit in the center of the living room. “Make yourselves comfortable while I get the drinks,” Connie says, heading to the bar. I catch sight of a fireplace rotating turning into the wall, and a fully stocked bar emerges. “Okay, ladies. What do you want to drink? She asks while standing behind the bar.

  “Just straight Vodka for me, Connie,” I say. “I'll take a gin and tonic,” Nina says.

  “Rum and coke for me.” Tiffany answers. “Okay coming up,” she says.

  “So did you guys get, Colvin?” Tiffany asks, looking at Nina and me.

  I lean back crossing my legs resting my arms on a set of white cushions. “Unfortunately he slipped away while I was busy fighting a rogue Hunter agent.”

  “Lao that traitorous piece of filth. Although I am not surprised, he started out believing in our cause, then he started changing, losing his way, becoming seduced by that green paper that makes humans kill each other.” She chuckles. “Don’t get me wrong I love getting paid, but I would never betray myfellow Hunters for money.”

  People always say they would never betray you, but temptations are very seductive. But Nina hasn't backstabbed me yet, so I will continue trusting her.

  Connie sets a tray on the table in the center of the circular couch. She picks up her glass which is a red liquid with ice: probably vodka and cranberry juice. She raises her glass. “To Josef. May he make a speedy recovery.” We touch our glasses together and take a sip of our drinks.

  “To the man I love,” she gazes at the floor and then gulps her drink down.

  Connie furrows her brow. “Oh, you and Josef are in Love?” “We’ve… been involved with each other since November. If you want to fire me now go ahead Connie, but spare me the lecture please,” she says, fidgeting with the glass.

  Connie cocks her head to the side as she walks to her. “You’re not getting a lecture and you’re not getting fired. You found love, and that is a beautiful thing.” She sits down next to Nina. “So, Tiffany. Tell me how long have you known Lilith?”

  She leans forward on the couch sipping her drink. “I’ve known her for a while probably as far back as 2004. She also met Karl through me. May he rest in peace? Lilith has certainly helped me out of more financial jams then I care to mention.”

  The very mention of Karl makes disgust boil up in my gut. I think about telling her the truth about her brother, but she’s not ready to hear it.

  “She has been nothing but a good friend to me even when I turned my back on her that day. Sorry for that again by the way.”

  “It’s all water under the bridge, Tiff.” She shoots a smile of relief at me. Connie takes a sip of her drink. “By the way, Lilith.

  My contact in Sao Paulo has confirmed Venora’s information. Colvin is, in fact, hold up at a fancy hotel called the Chilton. You ship out tomorrow.”

  “Lilith, if it’s okay I’m going to stay here with Josef until he heals.”

  Good, I was worried she would insist on coming with me.

  “Of course it’s fine.”

  “Nina, I think that is a good idea.” Connie reaches for my glass. “Lilith, would you like another?”

  “Uh yeah, if it’s no trouble.”

  “Nonsense. Give me your glass.” I hand her my glass.

  Nina stares off into space for a few moments and then turns back to us. “Ladies, I appreciate the gesture of inviting me up here, but I must go be with Josef.” She stands and leaves the room.

  “Is she going to be okay, Lilith?”

  “Yeah, she’ll be fine. She’s just rattled a bit because Josef could have been taken from her tonight and she’s not used to being this close to someone.”

  Connie returns with my drink and sits down across from me staring at her tablet. “According to the rest of his report, Colvin is hiding out by himself with no protection.”

  “What part of Sao Paulo is the Hotel in?”

  “It’s the only Chilton Resort on the beach strip

  “Does he have any habits he indulges in?”

  “Colvin gets up in the morning and goes for a jog on the beach. So killing him there is out of the question. Of a night visits the poolside bar and takes a barfly up to his room.”

  “How thin are the walls?”

  “They have fireproof walls, but still best not to risk him screaming.”

  “How you kill you him I leave up to your discretion. Just make sure it’s quiet.”

  “I think I can work up something.”

  “Lastly, my contact will meet you in the Hotel Lobby, and he will utter the phrase Have you tried the Vegetarian Restaurants in Sao Paulo.Oh and I almost forgot.” She pulls a card from her purse with two Kittens hugging each other on the cover. “I got you something.” I hate when people get me gifts.

  I take the card from her and open it.

  Happy Birthday to a valued agent and a great friend

  -Connie

  “Thank you. This is nice.” She smiles and nods. “You’re welcome.” “So why didn’t you take Athena, Connie?” I say, taking a sip of my drink.

  “Because I have no desire to be a field Agent anymore, Lilith. Plus I’m not sure I want to live forever.”

  I guess immortality is not for everyone. I didn’t get a choice on the serum it was given to me to prevent me from
dying of cancer.

  “Wow, Connie. Don’t you want that serum? I’d jump at it if someone offered it to me,” Tiffany says, chomping on a piece of ice from her drink.

  Tiffany still has remnants of her naivety, I see. “Immortality is not all it’s cracked up to be if you really read the fineprint,” I add.

  “What fine print?” She says.

  “Well, you already know the pros of the serum now the cons. First one is you’re no longer able to have kids. The second con is you will live forever, outliving the ones you care about, you will sit and watch your friends and loved ones all die one by one all the while you, go on never aging. When all the ones you know are gone in this world, you will be alone with a world changing around you. Not to mention, you may have to fake your death and change your name after so many years. Think of how lonely those Vampires get in those novels you read.”

  “Oh, yeah that fine print. Those vampires in my books are so depressed and bitter and some of them angry.” “Yes, they are. You’re looking at someone who is faced with that reality, but I will do it because the world needs me to. Hunters willingly give up their mortality because we believe we can make a difference or at the very least give evil a pause for thought, giving humanity a break.” A tear streams down my face. “Fighting evil is a never ending crusade. Needless to say evil provides us with solid job security.” I smirk.

  Connie’s forehead creases as she lowers her head. “Lilith, are you alright?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Just missing Karl.”

  “Lilith, he was your husband his life ended abruptly, you’re never going to get over that, but over time the sharp pain will dull.”

  “It crazy it’s still hard to believe my bro is gone,” Tiffany says, choking back her grief.

  “Lilith, your grief is warranted, but if you’re still blaming yourself for your husband’s death, you’re only deepening your wounds.”

  Connie must be letting me tell Tiff who Karl really was.

  “Eh, I need some fresh air.” Standing up, I leave the penthouse and head up to the roof of the building.