by Blue Saffire
She walks to the door. I note she’s tucked my gun in the back of her pants. I doubt she’ll even use it. When Taj comes out she doesn’t need it.
“Hey, bitch you hear me? Bring your ass out here,” Clifton roars.
“Oh, you don’t want that, Hon,” I sing. “But I’m going to do you one better since you asked for it.”
I unlock the door and release the hell no one but Augustine and I know exists. It’s the reason she’s my assistant and right hand. She may run the legit side of things, but she knows the other side first hand as well.
Taj
I was damaged when Augustine found me. He thought he could fix me like the others. He thought he could train me and give me an outlet for my rage and despair.
I was the one that was too broken for this work. When we go to work, I slaughter. We don’t know who will come back from a job. My mind has too many pieces to hold together. We do well holding them together as Aisha.
She’s the smart caring one. She couldn’t lie her way out of a paper bag and hurting someone causes her heart chills. Not me. Rich hasn’t met me. I don’t know if he could love me the way he loves Aisha.
I don’t give a shit about any of that. I’ve loved two people in my life, Augustine and Havana. They understood me enough to take care of all of me. Every voice, every broken part of me. They knew to place me back in my box and allow me to stay there.
The door slides open and I blink at the hot tears. I never liked this motherfucker. I plan to do more than slit his throat like he did Augustine.
“You?” he scoffs. “Why the fuck would she send you out here?”
I look up at him through my lashes, my chest still heaving, tears still flowing. He doesn’t even understand that I’m not the shy assistant anymore. That’s his problem, not understanding details and order.
“She would’ve just killed you,” I say coldly. “You don’t deserve that. I’m going to make you suffer.”
“Bitc—”
“Awwwww,” I cry out as I lunge at him.
I’m too fast for him. My blades slice at him each time he tries to block or attack. I prefer blades. I can hide them on Aisha in case I ever need to come out and play.
“What the fuck?”
He lurches as far away from me as he can get. A grin plays on my face as I continue to watch him through my lashes. I start to sway to the music only I can hear. Clifton looks at me like I’m crazy. He has no idea how much.
“You know, in old tribal cultures they danced at the ceremonies for fallen kings. Let’s dance, Cliff. Your reign is about to end,” I sing.
“Crazy, bitch,” he growls, reaching for his gun.
I hold it up and laugh.
“You looking for this?”
“How—”
“If you wanted to take the throne from Havana you should have learned the kingdom. There are always sleepers. You don’t even know how dangerous she is.
“Who were you taking shit from, boy? You wanted this shit, come get it,” I snarl.
His face tightens. He starts to move around me, assessing. Bad decision. I move forward swiftly, dropping to the floor, when I slide through his legs I cut the back of his right Achilles and behind his left knee.
“Ah, fuck,” he cries out.
“Shut up! Take this shit like a man,” I roar back.
“I’m going to kill you,” he hollers.
“When you get to hell, tell them Taj sent you,” I retort.
He stumbles at me, throwing his weight on me. He’s bigger than me. I stumble back a bit, but I don’t go down. I cut across his stomach, before sending a short jab under his chin. I pierce just enough to send him leaking, not end his life. I want to drag his death out.
“Taj!”
Havana’s scream reaches me right before I hear the gun fire. My smile grows. That’s why I love Havana. It’s family over everything. She deserves to run the family.
My back hits the floor hard. Clifton glares down at me. Pain explodes through my body.
“You don’t deserve to live,” I sob into his hate filled face.
Chapter 18
Church
Dallas
I made it down to the foyer of the house to find five blood thirsty men standing armed and ready. I could see in their eyes the same thing I saw in Havana’s the night she killed those three men before my very sight.
I feel something tug loose within. I’ve seen a man killed before that night, but this is different. I’m protecting what’s mine. I think I understand them all a little more. None of them are killers just to be killers. There’s a moral compass that I’ve struggled to understand up until this point.
They kill for those that can’t. They make the real devils disappear. They kill to protect the helpless and weak. I understand. I finally get it.
“He’s awoken, boys,” Rich nods, with a smile.
“Let that beast out, brother,” Tristan pats my shoulder.
“This is the big leagues now, boy. Let’s take these traitors to church,” Will says with a sinister grin. “Shoot to kill.”
All five men release a loud sound, somewhere between a bark and a roar. With that we move out the front door, down the driveway, into the wooded area. We’ve done this in drills over the last few months, but this time feels different.
I have a son and the woman I love back in that house. I feel the moment I forget Dallas, the fuck up and I become Dallas the husband, father, and hitter. I become one with the task at hand. Kill until there’s nothing left to kill.
Movement to my right draws my attention. I turn looking through my night scope and fire. I catch my first target in the forehead. A satisfied smile tugs my lips, but I don’t have time to celebrate.
I keep moving and firing. All of our guns have silencers, even the rifles. Sebastian is a weapons specialist. He’s altered or enhanced most of the weapons.
I can hear the shots from the other side, but my team moves in silence. The silence becomes my comfort. The more of it the better, it means my side has this under control.
I have an eerie feeling coming from behind me, I turn to find the source. I stare at a barrel of a gun pointed at me and freeze for a second. The gunman’s head explodes just as I snap out of it. I look to my left to see Will with his gun pointed in the direction of where the dead guy was standing only moments ago.
He nods at me and takes off. I refocus and move. My determination turns up. That was too close. I toss the rifle, pulling two pistols instead. I move to the edge of a clearing in the trees. My eyes narrow as a stocky blonde reveals himself. His hands in the air.
I know from the pictures Havana showed me, this has to be Joey. I know I should just shoot him. Everything Havana said about him already proves to be true.
He’ll lure me into this fight because gunplay is his weakness. He’s the weak link in the squad and he hates it. Kicking my ass would feed his ego, but what he won’t expect is that I’m ready for him.
I drop my guns to my sides and step out into the clearing. I can hear Havana’s voice hissing at me in my head, but I have something to prove to myself.
“You’re as dumb as you look or that pussy has you feeling like a God,” he taunts.
“You’ll be praying for God to get my ass off of you,” I reply.
He snorts, rolling his shoulders. His eyes casting over me dismissively. I grin, I’ve been under estimated all my life. I thrive off that shit now.
“I’ll kill you and then I’m going up to that house to finish what I started. That bitch is the only thing standing in the way of my taking over. They listen to her because she has the money. When I control the cash then I’ll control them.”
“They listen to her because she’s family. Money has nothing to do with it. I think you missed a few lessons,” I retort.
“I have a lesson for your ass,” he growls.
He comes at me fast and hard. I block his first combination, spinning out away from him. He recovers and charges again. He’s a few inche
s shorter than me, with a shorter reach, but there’s power behind his punches. I eat a few just to gauge him.
My father has dealt me more than enough blows to the head and body. I suck the hits up, while clocking this guys speed. He shouldn’t be so sure of himself in a fight either. He might have been better off with a gun.
It gives him a false sense of comfort, as I’ve yet to go on attack. He goes for a roundhouse kick, revealing my opening. I spin and throw my right elbow into his right side, followed by a left upper cut.
He stumbles back but I don’t let up. I spin to land a kick to his right leg and a quick follow up to his already aching ribs. I can see in his face he’s stunned. He was expecting a totally different type of fight from me.
“That bitch you’re talking about is my wife. I’d watch your mouth if I were you,” I hiss.
His eyes light up.
“I’ll be sure to gut that bitch until she screams. I might even fuck her before I finish her,” he taunts.
I see what he’s doing but it still hits its mark. My nostrils flare and I get ready to charge him. The only thing that stops me is the voice of the one person that knows how to push all my buttons.
“Focus, Dallas,” Will growls. “We don’t do emotions.”
Anita’s words from earlier come back to me. I rein in my feelings and focus. My jaw tightens as I get my head into what I have to do.
“You’re better than him. Beat his ass,” Tristan yells.
I crack my neck from side to side. It hits me that for once in my life people are calling out to my strengths, not my weaknesses. Anita isn’t the only one to see me and my potential.
“You’re one of us. Something he’ll never be,” Will bellows. “End this shit.”
I turn my emotions into fuel. I work through them like Anita said. I move as if I’m going for his left and he goes to counter. I spin to his right and attack from that side before he can adjust.
And. I. Keep. Pounding.
An elbow to his head, a punch to his throat, a left to his ribs, a right to his gut. My knee revisits those ribs breaking a few without question. He pulls a knife, but he’s in no shape to use it. I kick his right knee out and go for the kill. A roundhouse that has all my anger built inside it.
Anger for my no good parents. Anger for my wife and son having to hide away from this piece of shit. Anger at the world for always pushing me back when I tried so damn hard to move forward.
I take his fucking head off.
His headless body falls to the ground in slow motion, landing on its stomach. My chest heaves with satisfaction and triumph. We’ll see what bitch he’s going to kill now.
“Now, that’s what the fuck I’m talking about,” Tristian calls.
“Havana can pick ‘em as good as the old man. I didn’t see it at first,” Rich nods.
“I took down Tanner. Anyone see Clifton?” Sebastian says.
“Motherfucker, they were all distractions. Move,” Will barks.
“Let’s go, we need to get back to the house,” I demand.
We all move quickly to head for Havana, Augustine, and Aisha. My stomach twists with fear. Just as we reach the front door, shots ring out from the direction of the safe house. My blood runs cold. I pray life hasn’t laughed in my face again.
“No,” I roar, taking off for the safe room.
Chapter 19
No!
Havana
One, never trust an assassin. Two, never let your guard down. Three, don’t allow your emotions to drive you.
Taj and Clifton did all three. Clifton had another gun he pulled when she was lost in her agony. He leaned on her to get the close shot. I saw it coming.
They said I couldn’t kill, not that I couldn’t shoot. I always have another gun. This one just happened to be strapped to the bottom of the baby carrier.
I got the cleanest shot I could take. I hit that sneaky bastard in the shoulder, right beside Taj’s head. The force sent them both over as he placed all of his weight on her.
“You alright,” I ask as I kick Clifton’s body off of hers.
I note the sorry groan that comes from his lips. Taj looks up at me and nods. I know that look in her eyes. She leaps up and sits her ass right on top of Clifton’s chest. Grabbing a hand full of his hair, she slowly drags her blade across his throat.
It’s not the sight of her actions that’s disturbing. It’s the look of glee in her eyes as she does it. She actually licks her lips as the blade slides. When it reaches the other side, she shifts the blade in both palms and begins to repeatedly stab him in the throat and eyes. A smile on her face the entire time.
“What the fuck?” Rich breathes as he comes to a running halt beside Dallas.
They both look on with shock and horror. Bastian, Tristan, Will, and Theo are just steps behind them. I tilt my head to watch Rich’s reaction. I figured out what Aisha was trying to hide from me.
Rich blinks at the woman he’s been sneaking around with. Awe and disbelief are written across his face. Mind you, not much shocks us around here when it comes to violence.
“Aisha?” Rich mutters when she sits back on Clifton’s chest to admire her work.
“Aisha isn’t here at the moment,” Taj purrs.
“The fuck,” all of the men before me say in unison.
“I’ll explain,” I sigh. “Taj, hon. Thank you.”
Her eyes slowly leave Clifton’s lifeless body. She stares into my eyes for a few beats. I see the sadness that enters them.
“She’s not coming back anytime soon,” she informs me.
“Yeah, I figured, Love. It’s okay. We’re family. I’ve got you,” I reassure her.
“I know,” she nods, turning to look at Rich. “I hope everyone can learn to like me.”
“Holy fuck,” Tristan breathes.
“Hi, I’m Taj,” she waves sheepishly at Rich.
Rich pulls a hand down his face before giving a small nod. I can see he’s speechless. I was the first time as well.
Yup, things have only just begun to get interesting around here. What in the world has my father left me with? A squad of crazy hitters.
My family.
Chapter 20
Happy Home
Dallas
Three months later…
“You sure she’s going to be okay?” Dallas looks behind us as Taj walks away with the senator’s right hand.
Some jobs deserve to be messy. The betrayal of sleeping with a man’s wife and stealing from his campaign places this job up there. The request was for it to be as painful as possible.
I nod towards the shadows, causing Dallas to follow my gaze.
“He’ll never let her out of his sight,” I say with a smile.
“Now that’s love,” Dallas shakes his head. “That girl is crazier than a bag of squirrel dicks.”
“What?” I burst into laughter.
“Can we go home now? I’ve had enough of this monkey suit and this damn contact,” he complains.
“Actually, I have one more job scheduled for tonight,” I smile.
“You’re kidding right?” he huffs.
“Nope, You’ll enjoy this one. He’s been staring at my ass all night,” I purr.
“No way. Brock Rushing,” Dallas lifts a brow.
“Crisco, placed a request a week ago,” I shrug. “He’s the main reason for this little get together.”
“I actually won’t mind this one at all,” Dallas croons. “What’s the plan?”
I reach up pulling my husband’s head down to mine. He’s hesitant for about five seconds. All else forgotten, he takes over the kiss. His hands go to my ass as I tug him towards the room I stopped us in front of.
Dallas kicks the door closed behind us. I push the jacket from his shoulders. His strong arms band around me lifting me into the air. I wrap my legs around him, wiggling so the hem of my dress lifts up higher to release my thighs. His warm palms move to assist, pushing the fabric up.
He breaks the kiss, his
eyes blazing at me when his hands meet my bare ass. I give him a wicked smile. He bites my lip and pulls. When he releases it, he licks it to soothe the sting.
Dallas turns to sit on the ottoman at the foot of the bed. I grin at him, crawling back out of his lap. I unfasten his belt, not taking my eyes off of him. His face tightens with lust.
I reach to pull his pulsing erection out of his pants. He jerks and throbs in my palm. I lick my lips, eyeing the prize before me.
Hearing the sound I’ve been waiting for I grin. Dipping my head, I stick my backside in the air. Dallas reaches to knead my ass cheek as I start to lick the tip. He releases a low groan.
I let my saliva drip to cover him. The look in his eyes spears me on. I lick him from root to tip and repeat, drool…lick…drool. I pop my lips on the tip a few times before taking him to the back of my throat.
“Shit,” he hisses. “You’re going to make this hard.”
“Mmm,” I moan and grin around him. He pops from my lips and I look into his eyes. “Just focus and get it done.”
He rolls his eyes, reaching behind his back at the same time I do. In one swift motion, he pulls his gun, placing a bullet through the throat of our peeping guest. I use the gun I pull to reach across my body and place a bullet through the middle of his eyes, only turning to glance over my shoulder for the shot. I turn back and smirk up at my husband.
“Perfect,” I purr when I hear the body drop behind me.
I drop the gun at the side of Dallas’s thigh. As if nothing else matters, I suck him back into my mouth. Fully intending to finish the job. Says a lot about the both of us because he doesn’t stop me.
I bring him to a roaring finish. Licking him clean, then sucking my lips free of any leftovers. I stand, wiggling my hips to pull my dress back down.
Dallas reaches to tug me down into his lap. He grasps my face, taking my lips in a hard kiss. As if I didn’t clean my face enough he gives it a good licking, sucking my lips into his mouth.