by C. S. Wilde
Samuel rolled his shoulders. “Yeah, I do.”
“Too bad, cuz I’m no fucking hitman.”
Heavens, Ezra was a remarkable actor. Being able to sense Samuel’s emotions definitely helped—the man had been hiding his true intentions from the start, but unlike Ava, Ezra must’ve seen right through him from the start.
The Messenger stepped forward and narrowed his gaze. “You trying to frame me, homie? If I’m arrested, your supply is busted, so that would be really fucking stupid.”
Samuel shook his head. “No way. I want you to do it quickly and painlessly, that’s all. I need you to give the target a merciful death.”
There was honesty in his words.
Ezra blinked, taken by surprise. He seemed to consider the proposal. “Say I agree. Who you want me to kill?”
A thorny mass of sadness and despair surged inside Samuel. Whatever he was about to say next hurt him greatly. Grief for things that hadn’t happened yet consumed him at once.
“Think twice,” Ava stepped past Ezra, shooting peace and serenity toward Samuel. “You never use your guns, you said so yourself. You’re not a killer.” A bitter anguish climbed up her throat, but she swallowed it down. If Samuel became a murderer, their mission would be over. Diego would never forgive him. “Don’t cross that line.”
“Shut up, bitch,” he snapped, hurt all over him. “You don’t know what it’s like being me, yeah?”
“Curse me all you want,” she countered, unfazed by his attack. “But once you do this, there’s no going back.”
“I got no motherfucking choice.” He craned his neck left to peer at Ezra. “Control yo whore, BC.”
Samuel seemed to be immune to her Guardian words, much like his father. And red, pulsing anger began replacing his grief.
She turned back to Ezra, who motioned for her to return to his side. Back to safety.
So she did.
“My woman was being nice,” Ezra said, rubbing the bare skin on her back gently with his thumb. “And she’s right, you know. But I guess you ain’t backing down on this.” He tapped his own chin with his free hand. “Twenty grand for the job. Plus our fifty-fifty agreement.”
“Fine.”
Ava was surprised Samuel hadn’t tried to negotiate it. Maybe he’d lost all the will to do it. Maybe he simply wanted the deal done.
“Who’s the target, then?” Ezra asked.
A boulder of grief and sorrow crashed down on Samuel.
“My father.”
6
They left the building in silence.
Ezra walked ahead, the muscles in his back clenched, his fists closed. He could hide his emotions enough to become an entirely different person during a mission, but he couldn’t—and wouldn’t—hide from a fellow angel. Especially not Ava.
The red, burning anger that oozed from him scorched her, too.
“You said yes,” she muttered, a gripping anguish squeezing her chest.
“I had to. It was either that or giving up on both Samuel and Diego.” He pivoted on his heels and peered at her. “Is that what you want?”
“Of course not, but—”
“Obviously, I won’t kill your charge.” This as if he were reminding her the sky was blue. “Samuel simply needs to believe I did.”
She lowered her head. “He asked us to kill his own father … ”
The need to cry bloomed inside but she wouldn’t do it. Not here. Not in front of Ezra.
He lifted her chin gently, and the sorrow in his blue eyes mirrored hers. It helped, somehow.
“Don’t lose faith. Not yet.” He ran a hand through his hair, nearly undoing his high-bun. “One thing is certain: Diego can never know. This would end him.”
Ava hated lying, but if it meant sparing her charge’s feelings, she would. So when they paid a visit to the old man later that day, they told him an opposing gang had ordered a hit on him.
Diego’s cane tapped the marbled floor as he walked closer. “A hit on me? Why?”
“You’re precious to Samuel,” Ava explained, the lie knotting in her throat. Well, it wasn’t entirely a lie. Diego was precious to his son; simply not precious enough. “They want to hurt Samuel and this means they want to hurt you.”
Diego’s eyes shone and he smiled. The grin looked odd amidst his wrinkled, ever-so-serious features.
“So there’s still hope,” he muttered. “He’s still my boy.” Before she could reply, he walked to her slowly and pulled her into a shaking, feeble hug. “Thank you, Ava.”
Something in her chest cracked.
Diego let her go, then pointed his cane to the exit. “Well, off we go!”
Heavens, he didn’t only sound younger, he looked and acted younger too. But his mood suddenly darkened. He turned to Ava and Ezra with a mountain of worry on his shoulders. “Can you make sure my son is safe? If this gang is as dangerous as they seem—”
“We will protect Samuel with our lives.” Ezra put a hand over his own heart. Not a promise, but an angelic oath.
Ava loved him more than ever for making such a vow. Ezra’s kindness, his devotion—they were endless.
They took Diego to a safe house that belonged to an angelic precinct, and left him guarded by a young Selfless called Wheeler—an angel reborn into human form, who enjoyed smoking and cursing a little too much.
“The Cap never picks Archie for nanny duties,” he grumbled as he puffed a cloud of smoke. “Fucking unfair, man.”
“Are all Selfless like you?” Ava asked, curiosity winning over proper manners. “You were an angel once, yet you don’t behave like one.”
Wheeler shrugged. “Not an angel now, sweet cheeks. And being fully human has its benefits.” He inhaled as he leaned on the wall, then exhaled another cloud that reeked of mint and ashes. “Give me food and cigarettes, and I’ll be fine. You told the package I’m human police, yeah?”
“Of course.”
Lying had started coming naturally to her. It left a bitter taste on her tongue.
Ezra had instructed Diego to feign ignorance about the existence of angels. If Wheeler uncovered the truth and reported the old man to his superiors, the Order’s Virtues would fall upon his memories without mercy. And all their work would’ve been for nothing.
Diego, being a smart man, agreed.
Later that day, Ezra and Wheeler stole a dead body from a Selfless precinct—a John Doe who’d been drained dry by a vampire.
Ava insisted she could have helped them in this gruesome task, to which Ezra simply cupped her cheek and said, “The world can be cruel and dark, Ava. Allow me to protect you from it; whenever I can.”
How could she say no to him?
Ezra and Wheeler placed the dead body inside Diego’s room and set fire to the space, making sure to call the fire brigade in time to stop it from spreading across the home.
When Ava and BC Bailey returned to Samuel’s apartment the next day, they found him with red, puffy eyes. He’d been crying the whole night and he didn’t bother hiding it.
“I told you to make it merciful!” he roared at Ezra as he picked up one of his guns and pointed at him. His arm shook violently. “You burned him alive, motherfucker! You gonna pay!”
Ezra raised his palms, keeping his manner calm; cold. Slightly calculating. It didn’t suit him, but then again, this wasn’t the Messenger. Just a criminal.
“I killed him before setting his place on fire,” he assured. “Too much evidence, homie. Besides, you really gonna off me and kill your supply?”
Samuel blinked at that, his anger subduing. “You promise he didn’t suffer?” He pointed the gun at Ava’s head. “Promise on your ho’s life?”
Her legs weakened but she didn’t show fear. Ava spread her invisible shield atop her body, but somehow—and she couldn’t tell exactly why—she was certain it wouldn’t be enough.
“Cross my heart,” Ezra guaranteed, placing himself between her and the gun.
She would’ve stopped him but then remembered the puny weapon coul
d do him no harm. She pressed her forehead on his back and exhaled in relief before taking a peek from behind the safety of his shoulders.
Samuel watched Ezra a little longer, as if he were deciding whether to believe him or not. Slowly, he lowered his weapon and placed it in the holster attached to his belt. He sniffed and focused on the day outside. “You did me a solid, then.”
“Fuck solids,” Ezra countered. “Where’s my twenty grand?”
Samuel nodded to the coffee table between the leather armchairs. A black bag filled with money rested on the wooden surface.
“Alright,” Ezra said as he picked up the bag. “We good?”
Samuel didn’t turn to them. He lowered his head and gave them a small nod.
Ezra went to leave, but Ava placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I want to stay.”
“Absolutely not.” He glared at her, forgetting all about his fake lingo.
She leaned closer. “Please, Ezra.” She showed him the empty room around them. “I’ll be safe. There are no thugs here today.”
“Your devotion is admirable,” he spat quietly through gritted teeth. “But did you forget he just pointed a gun at you?”
Of course not. And in truth, shock and fear still sent shivers down her spine. But she’d seen salvation for Samuel today, and she would not let it go. “He’s not a murderer. And he loved his father.” She could nearly taste the bitter sorrow that consumed Samuel right now. “Can’t you see? There’s still hope.”
Ezra’s lips formed a line as he focused on Samuel’s back. “Yes, there is. But this is a world of wolves and you’re a sheep. Now, please, follow my plan and—”
She spun on her heels and walked to Samuel, not bothering to hide the annoyance that thrashed inside her.
The drop-dead-gorgeous angel behind didn’t bother hiding his indignation, either.
Sheep. She snorted.
Ava would show him what sheep could do.
“I’m sorry for your loss.” She laid a hand on Samuel’s shoulder. “I know you loved your father.”
He didn’t jerk away as she expected him to. Instead he sniffed and studied his own feet. “I had to order the hit.”
“Why?”
“To prove myself.” He wiped tears with the back of his hand. “When Command tells you to do somethin’, you either do it or end up six feet under, you feel me?”
She gasped in horror. “Who on Earth would force you to end your own father?”
“Big Dog,” he said with clenched teeth, the name both a curse and a promise. “Fucker leads our three gangs.” He nodded back to Ezra, who glared at them in the way of a lion about to attack. “Go back to yo man. And leave him, if you can.” He studied Ava with kindness and pity. “This world ain’t safe for you.”
The gentleness of Samuel’s soul had never been clearer than right now.
“You should do the same.” Her fingers dug slightly on his shoulder. “There’s still a way out.”
He chortled without amusement. “Mamacita, I crossed lines that can’t be undone.”
Three knocks came from the door, and Samuel gaped at the entrance with absolute horror. He frantically wiped the tears from his cheeks. “He wasn’t supposed to be this early!”
The lock clicked open and a man with hazel eyes let himself in. Sly eyes; snake eyes. Ever observing, ever cruel.
The man had spiky copper hair and pale skin, and he walked the way a panther prowled. If Ava didn’t know better, she’d say he must be a demon—the calculated viciousness that flowed from him was a dead ringer. But he didn’t stink of sulfur, nor did his essence thrum with darkness.
He was as human as humans could be.
“I did what you asked, boss,” Samuel said before the man had uttered a word.
“No.” He who could only be Big Dog cocked his head toward Ezra. “You hired this guy to do it.”
How did he know?
She laid eyes on the thugs that had accompanied Big Dog inside and got her answer. The short man with the beard, the two bulky guards from the previous day. They must’ve overhead their conversation with Samuel. Which meant they didn’t work for Diego’s son.
They were spying on him.
“You’re weak.” Big Dog strolled lazily through the space, his attention locked on Samuel. “A merciful death? My dawgs ain’t merciful, bitch.”
Ezra stepped on his way, causing the thugs to raise their hands to their holstered pistols. “Motherfucker ordered a hit on his pa,” the Messenger said, ignoring the men behind Big Dog. “That’s badass enough for me.”
The ruffian watched Ezra with amusement. “You and I disagree, BC. In fact, if I didn’t need your product so bad, I would shove a bullet in your brain and keep that bitch of yours for myself.”
Ava swallowed dry, her hands shaking.
“Pity,” Ezra countered. “I ain’t going nowhere.”
“Right.” He cracked his knuckles as he studied Ezra from head to toe. “Or are you?” He nodded to the living room and his thugs pushed the furniture out of the way, making a ring for them. “What do you say, BC? You a strong motherfucker, so you shouldn’t be afraid of a little fight.”
Ezra frowned. “What’s the point of all this?”
Big Dog’s smile reminded Ava of a wild animal about to hunt. “Dominance. Or are you as weak as my boy there?” He nudged his chin toward Samuel.
Ezra peered at Big Dog. “You talk big with yo homies guarding yo back.”
Big Dog walked to the center of the room. “Down, boys.”
The thugs stepped away and crossed their arms, scorn clear in their features.
Ava glared at Ezra. Her silent message couldn’t be more obvious: You can’t possibly be considering …
But he was. This was a show of strength, and things could go bad quickly if he refused to fight that madman.
Big Dog removed his shirt, revealing a skinny and yet defined body. He was also slightly shorter than Ezra. Compared to the Messenger, the fiend was anything but threatening.
Ezra followed his cue, revealing stone-hard muscles that made Ava wonder how they would feel underneath her fingertips.
The Messenger raised his fists and fixed his stance. “Let’s get this over with.”
At first, it was like watching an adult fight a child. Ezra dodged and blocked all of Big Dog’s attacks. Every.single.one. Punches, kicks, everything.
The Messenger was a wall Big Dog couldn’t break, but Ava had to give it to the fiend: he was fast for a human. Strong, too.
He nailed one kick on Ezra’s stomach, but the Messenger didn’t wince or react. To him, it must’ve felt like nothing but a paper cut.
Soon his opponent began to sweat, but Ezra didn’t shed a drop. His breathing was even, whereas Big Dog had begun to pant furiously.
“The fuck,” the man snarled and spat on the floor. “Never mind. I’ve defeated bigger assholes than you.”
They went on, but the human’s effort was no match to Ezra’s supernatural speed and strength. If anything, the Messenger must be toning down his power to avoid blasting Big Dog’s skull with a simple strike.
Well, he should have. The world would be a better place without him.
We’re blood and fury, her own voice whispered from some dark place inside her. End the disease that infects this world.
Ava didn’t know where the thought had come from. It was so unlike her; such the opposite of everything she stood for.
Her current circumstances must’ve triggered this, of course. She had to tread carefully, though. Unneeded violence was not the way of the Gods.
Eventually, the Messenger got bored and slammed a controlled punch on Big Dog’s nose, drawing some blood.
Pink, fluffy joy bloomed in Ava’s chest and that strange voice giggled. It actually giggled.
Big Dog lost his balance and bent over his knees. He took deep breaths through his mouth, then raised his head to his opponent. “Oh, you’re good, BC.” He wiped the blood with the back of his hand. “I h
aven’t had a challenge like this in a while.”
“Are we done?” Ezra asked nonchalantly.
Ava turned to Samuel, who viewed the city outside, grief oozing from him. He’d paid no attention to the fight.
This was all Big Dog’s fault. He’d given Samuel an impossible choice. He was the one trying to shape Diego’s boy into a monster.
That same silent, ravenous voice inside her whispered, we’ll make him pay.
Ava shook her head and frowned, puzzled by such wild thoughts.
She was a Guardian, one of the purest children of the Gods. Harmful, bloodthirsty ideas didn’t belong in her mind. She should purge herself from them through extensive prayer.
That should do it.
The fury flowing from Big Dog caught her attention. “You going down, Bailey!” He gathered all his strength and charged at Ezra.
This time, the Messenger didn’t dodge. He took the punch and swirled around.
For a moment, Ava feared he’d been hurt, but there was no sign of injury on his face.
He’d done it on purpose.
Big Dog spat on the floor. “How the fuck are you still standing after that?”
Ezra shrugged. “You ain’t as good as you think, homie.”
She had to put an end to this, or Big Dog would never stop trying to overpower Ezra. So Ava casually strolled to the center of the room and wrapped her arms around the Messenger’s neck. “I’m bored, baby.”
BC Bailey vanished from his features, and Ezra wrapped his hands around her waist, bringing her closer. He smiled down at her, red wisps of lust flowing from him.
From them both.
Ava lost a breath. Heavens, he was so close …
He nudged his nose with hers. This was all Ezra, all for her.
He then raised one eyebrow at Big Dog. “I’m going now. Samuel stays where he is, or I ain’t doing deals with you. Understood?”
Big Dog’s shark eyes glinted with poison and wrath. “You giving me orders now, BC?”
“No. I’m asking politely.” He craned his neck left and right, proving a silent point: He’d won the fight. “You wanna test me again, homie?”
Big Dog gave him a feral, mad grin that spoke of revenge and bloodlust. “Nah, dawg.” He stepped aside and showed them the door. “It’s all good for today. But remember one thing.”