Yeah, I know…
She’d say I shouldn’t feel guilty because all those things weren’t my fault. She’d say I should stop punishing myself for simply trying to do the right thing.
I don’t know… maybe she’s right. I mean, she was a lot smarter than I am, and she was a damn good therapist. I still owe her three hundred bucks, thinking about it…
Well, I can’t make any promises, because I feel pretty shitty right now, but I’ll try not to continue punishing myself over what’s happened these last few days. I’ve been in a pretty impossible situation. Hell, I still am. But I reckon I’ve done the best I can with what I’ve had.
Now I just have to figure out how to adjust to my new life. I’m definitely not one to give up, or back down from a fight, but even I can see I have no move to make here. I step out of line, Kaitlyn dies, and I die. I ask too many questions, we die. I do anything except what Horizon tells me to, we die.
I made my bed, and now I have to lie in it. I chose this. Well, actually, I didn’t. Horizon gave me a choice, but he didn’t give me chance to answer. He made the decision for me, so regardless of what I would’ve done, this is my life now. I’m a killer. An assassin. The assassin. There’s not really much difference between my life now, and my life for the past God knows how many years, if I’m honest.
Maybe it won’t be so bad after all…
I shut off the shower and step out, wiping the excess water from my face and eyes. I reach out for the towel and—
It’s not there.
I hear a giggle.
Huh?
I open my eyes and see two naked women standing in front of me, both holding towels.
I raise an eyebrow. “Hello…”
They smile and nod, but don’t reply. They step toward me and begin drying me by gently patting my skin.
Well… this is awkward.
I grab one of the towels from the woman on my left and take a step back, quickly wrapping it around my waist. “I’m… ah… I’m fine, thanks.”
They look disheartened, but nod courteously and walk out of the room.
Jesus…
The bathroom is pretty big, considering it’s an en suite. There’s no door, just an archway made of marble leading into the wet room. There’s a basin built into a marble surface a few feet from the shower, with a large mirror running the full width of the wall. I wipe away the condensation and stare at my reflection. I still need a shave, but I look a helluva lot better than I did ten minutes ago, which is something.
I walk back out into Horizon’s main bedroom. A four-poster bed dominates the room, with closets lining the wall behind it. There’s a balcony opposite, the doors standing slightly open. I walk over to it and step outside. The warm breeze feels nice against my body. It’s not as humid as in the city, because I’m looking out over the ocean. It’s almost refreshing—a feeling I’ve yet to experience in this climate.
I take a deep breath and step back inside. Fresh clothes are laid out across the bed. A nice, plain white, short-sleeved shirt, dark blue jeans, and a pair of light brown shoes on the floor. I quickly get dressed, leaving two buttons of the shirt unfastened.
I walk out into the massive lounge. Horizon is sitting at a desk in the far left corner, just to the left of the doors. He looks over as I enter. “Feeling better?”
I shrug. “Yeah, I guess. Thanks for the outfit.”
He waves his hand dismissively. “The least I can do. Now, if you’re feeling up to it, I have a job for you.”
I make my way across the room. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
He stands and walks over to meet me. “Not when there isn’t any to waste. I’ve had a new contract handed to me by the committee. One of the utmost importance.”
I nod. “Fine, who’s the target?”
“I’ll send the details to your phone in a moment. They are a very influential and public figure, who has recently ascended to a position of power we would rather they weren’t in. We consider their approach to things… problematic. They do not have a place in our future plans for this world.”
I frown.
Wait a minute.
My mind’s racing, putting the pieces together in my head.
Influential public figure?
New position of power?
…
…
…
Oh, no!
Ryan Schultz!
I close my eyes for a moment, processing the fresh batch of bad luck I’ve just been handed.
He’s going to ask me to kill the new president!
“Getting to them won’t be easy, so I figure you’re the perfect asset for the job, considering your talent for difficult assassinations.”
Shit! He really is!
“Also, as the target is well protected, Mr. Pierce and his team will be on hand to offer any support you need.”
I try to remain calm, and stop panicking. I shake my head. “I see that prick again, I’m gonna kill him.”
“Now, now, Adrian, we’re all on the same side. The Order is more than willing to move forward in our relationship, and it would be in your best interest to do the same. I understand you might still harbor some… animosity toward Mr. Pierce, but you shouldn’t. He was simply doing his job. Just like you will be. He’s here to support you, should you need it, or to keep you in line, should I deem it necessary.”
“Then why not just send him to do your contracts, if he’s so good…?”
Horizon smiles. “Mr. Pierce is a loyal employee, and an excellent soldier. But he’s not an assassin. He lacks the mindset… the finesse required to plan and execute a world-class hit. Something that you do not.”
I’m trying to figure a way around this, or a way I can at least warn him before I leave for Washington, but I’m drawing a blank. There’s no way I’m going after the new president. Unlike his predecessor, Schultz doesn’t deserve it. Sure, he can be an asshole sometimes… and yes, he did authorize my execution, but I don’t hold it against him. He had no choice, and I bear no grudge for that.
Shit.
I need to calm down, accept this is happening, and try to figure out a way to actually pull this off, because if I don’t, I’m dead.
I roll my eyes. “Okay, quit stroking my ego. We both know I’m only going along with this because I have no other choice, so let’s get on with it.”
He regards me for a moment, and then nods. “Very well.” He takes out his own phone and begins typing. “You will be sent details of your target’s schedule. This information will be sufficient to carry out the mission. There will be no more details provided.”
My phone beeps in my pocket. I roll my eyes as I reach for it. “Yeah, yeah… whatever.”
“All I will say is, his recent actions are in direct conflict of our committee’s vision for the future, and he must be eliminated. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of your mandatory compliance, and what will happen should you fail.”
I type in the security code to unlock my phone. “No, you don’t. I know what I have to do, alright? Just let me—”
My words catch in my throat as the file flashes up on my screen. My heart begins to hammer against my chest as the gravity of how much shit I’m in finally hits home.
I was wrong. My target isn’t President Schultz…
It’s Josh!
THE END
Dear Reader,
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James P. Sumner
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THE ADRIAN HELL SERIES
A Hero of War
True Conviction
Hunter’s Games
One Last Bullet
Deadly Intent
A Necessary Kill
Good Intentions
THE GLOBATECH SERIES
D.E.A.D. Till I Die
Good Intentions - Adrian Hell #6 (Adrian Hell Series) Page 29