Page 1 of Azrael

Chapter One

Azrael

I tracked my target for six blocks, keeping to the shadows as he moved through the decaying part of town.The streets had names but nobody used them anymore.This was just the bad side, where even cops wouldn’t patrol after dark.Perfect hunting ground for a man like me.The dealer was nervous, his head swiveling every few steps, fingers twitching.He never looked up or behind.If he had, he might have noticed me.

Charming had been crystal clear when he’d slid the photo across the table this morning.“Devil’s Minions are arming up.Find out what they’re buying and send a message.”

Ever since we’d gotten word another club had moved in too close to home, we’d been more vigilant than usual.Charming was on edge, which meant we all were.

The alley came up on my right, narrow and stinking of piss and rotted food.The man ducked into it without breaking stride.I counted to ten, checked my surroundings, then followed.My boots made hardly a sound against the damp concrete.Years of practice had taught me how to move like a ghost when needed.

Twenty yards in, the alley bent sharply left.I pressed my back against the brick wall and tilted my head just enough to peek around.There they were.Three men, my target and two others I didn’t recognize.Between them sat a black duffel bag, unzipped enough to show the gleaming metal inside.

“This all of it?”one asked, his voice carrying the distinct edge of someone who thought he was more important than he was.

“Half,” my target replied.“You get the rest when I see the money.”

The third man knelt and pulled back the zipper farther.“Six Glocks, four AR-15s… What about the ammo?”

“In the truck.Once we --”

I shifted my weight and a discarded bottle clinked against the brick.All three men went silent.

“The fuck was that?”the kneeling one said, already on his feet and reaching behind his back.

I could’ve disappeared, come back another day when they weren’t so alert.But Charming wanted a message sent, and waiting wouldn’t accomplish that.I stepped around the corner, keeping my stance loose.Ready.

All three pulled guns immediately.Someone else might have been scared.Not me.Wasn’t the first time I’d had a gun pointed at me.Wouldn’t be the last.

“Who the fuck are you?”my target demanded, his pistol wavering slightly.

“Private party,” the one who’d checked the weapons added.“Get the fuck out of here if you want to live.”

I smiled.Not the kind that reaches your eyes.The kind that makes smart people run.“Private?An alley?Not hardly.You boys picked the wrong town to do business in.”

“The hell you talking about?We got permission to be here.”

“From who?”I asked, genuinely curious.“Because the Devil’s Boneyard don’t remember giving it.”

The name landed like I knew it would.Their eyes widened, and the one farthest from me took a half-step backward before catching himself.

“Devil’s Boneyard can fuck off,” my target spat, though his voice cracked.“This is Minion territory now.Everyone knows the Devil’s Boneyard have lost their bite.”

I shook my head slowly.“No such thing.Never will be.My President asked me to deliver a message.”

“Yeah?What’s that?”the farthest one asked, trying to sound brave.

I looked each of them in the eye.“This is the only warning.Pack up and leave, or we’ll burn everything you’ve built to the ground.”

The one nearest the bag laughed.“There’s three of us and one of you, asshole.Only message getting delivered is your body to the morgue.”

I didn’t bother responding.Words were done.I moved.

The first shot went wide as I closed the distance, ducking low and driving my shoulder into my target’s stomach.The air left his lungs in a rush as he folded over me.I grabbed his gun hand and twisted until something snapped.His scream echoed against the brick as his pistol clattered to the ground.

The other two were already firing.One bullet grazed my arm, hot pain slicing through me, but I shook it off.I spun my target around, using him as a shield.Two shots thudded into his chest, and he jerked against me.

“Fuck!Stop shooting!”he screamed at his friends.

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