Page 35 of Tattletale

Vesper raises one brow. “You’re implying I ‘chipped’ you like a dog? Is that the joke you’re attempting to make?”

“Not a joke. Just facts.”

She blows out a breath, expressing her agitation. “May I join you?”

I glance around the large, empty booth. “Sure.”

As soon as Vesper slides into the booth, Ollie returns with two martinis. Extra filthy. The liquid is cloudy with martini mix, and each glass is stuffed with four olives.

“You’re about five shy, Ollie.”

She laughs as she sets a glass in front of me, then one in front of Vesper. “How about you start with these and keep me posted?”

“Thank you, Ollie,” Vesper says warmly.

Ollie returns her smile but doesn’t linger. I was joking earlier, but perhaps people are more intimidated by Vesper than I realize. I’ve been around her so long, I guess the effect has worn off. I still remember the day she rescued me. She was never a hardened assassin to me, just the woman who wrapped her arms around me and carried me to safety when I was moments away from death.

Vesper takes a small sip of her drink and then sets it back down on the table. I, on the other hand, down my martini in twogulps, popping the olives in my mouth one by one. Outside of a few bites of Eden’s soup, it’s the only thing I’ve eaten today.

“I need you to come into headquarters early tomorrow. We have an important guest incoming.”

I finish chewing slowly, in silence, delaying my response as long as possible. “I thought I was on probation?”

“Consider it lifted,” Vesper snaps back. “I need your help.”

“Who is this guest?”

“You’ll know when you need to know.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “You know what, Vesper? I think I’ve had enough of your cryptic messages. If you don’t mind, I’ll be taking the day off tomorrow.”

“You’ve had a week off.”

I level a stare at her. “Well, it’s not like I’m in the running for employee of the month or anything.”

“Cricket—”

“Stop.” I hold up my palm, feeling the tension that’s been building since the moment I heard Rossi’s phone call. Hope, failure, anger, betrayal, pain. It’s too much, too fast. The memories flood through me at once as the dam breaks open.

Mom’s funeral… The way Saoirse bawled and no one could comfort her as she screamed for her mother. The light going out in Pappa’s eyes as he died in my arms. The animalistic sounds Luca made when he stole my virginity. The black hole I fell through when I learned my sister was dead.

I’ve killed so many men and women to spare their victims from my family’s sordid fate. I served Vesper and PALADIN, and all I wanted in return was peace.

Vesper won’t let me have the relief of vengeance.

And now I just feel empty…broken…lost…and…

“Done,”I whisper.

“What?” Vesper asks, narrowing her eyes.

“I’m done. With you. With PALADIN. If you need to put a bullet through my brain to relieve me of duty, so be it. Whatever you need to do to set me free.”

I break Vesper’s gaze and grip the edge of the table tightly so my hands stop shaking. The sounds of hushed chatter around the bar suddenly seem deafening. My heart accelerates out of control as I wait for Vesper’s response. Either she’ll remind me that I signed my life away and there is no quitting PALADIN, which is as good as a death sentence. Or, even worse… She’ll set me free.

The booth shifts, jostling me as Vesper slides around the round table to sit next to me. She puts one hand over mine. “What am I to you?”

Of all the responses, I was not expecting that one. “What?”

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