Page 6 of Rivals & Revenge

For all their micromanaging the details of my job, they had been light on the details regarding the target. Nothing but a location and a shitty low-res picture, that honestly could be one of a dozen A-list celebrities.

Damn, I hoped I wasn’t knocking off someone I like.

My feet barely kissed the fallen leaves and pine needles as I scouted the area. I kept my steps quick and light, only covering each area once so as not to disturb the groundcover. The goal was to leave nothing suspicious that might tip off the target. Then leave nothing behind to alert the authorities.

This grove was mainly filled with pine trees, meaning it smelled like every Christmas memory I’d ever had, but climbing them was a big no. Unless I wanted to get sap all over me.

Yeah, I was going to pass on that one. My last trip up a towering pine cost me eight inches of hair, leaving me in an unflattering pixie cut for months.

I cleared the pathway of pine needles and other loose debris, placing a few brittle sticks just around the bend. It was a rudimentary alarm system, but it would work in a pinch.

A mile and a half of flagstone pathways snaked through the grove. There was even a pavilion near the entrance that had become popular for weddings and birthday parties. I set myself up about two-thirds along the path, sliding under one of the many variegated dogwood shrubs that dotted the landscape.

Far enough back to be out of the soft glow of the lamp lights, yet still close enough to get to my target before he had time to run.

Start to finish, it took less than fifteen minutes. The last hour and a half I had spent mentally going through the motions of a quick, clean kill and contingency plans just in case he wasn’t alone. I knew exactly what I needed to do to put them out of commission without killing them.

I scoffed internally. I wasn’t running a charity here; I didn’t work for free.

The snap of a twig caught my ear, too far away to be one of mine, yet still close enough to put me on alert.

My eyes slid shut, and I focused on the sounds outside my quiet breaths. The grove was quiet, maybe quieter than I would have expected this time of night. Maybe if I hadn’t been so preoccupied running through imaginary scenarios, I would have noticed the woods quiet.

My mystery mark brought himself an entourage. OK. So, I guess it was going to be the hard way then.

Another twig snapped, this one closer, much closer, definitely one of mine.

A tall figure rounded the corner, his face cloaked in shadows, but I could tell by his gait—the way he moved, that he knew how to handle himself. I exhaled quietly. Maybe this isn’t my guy after all.

Four more steps and his face caught the light from one of the small pathway lights and I finally got my first look at his face.

“It’s him.” I breathed.

My stomach clenched and unclenched. An uneasy feeling I couldn’t quite place warred with my petty desire to deliver that second white rose.

I slid my hands down my sides, pushing my fingers through the finger rings of my Karambit knives, a self-assured calm washing over me as I wrapped my fingers around the cold steel.

Slow breaths. “Move fast, think slow.” I repeated my mantra internally.

That motto had saved my ass more than once. Move fast, don’t allow your opponent to take the first strike, but also don’t make rash decisions. Rely on your training.

I rolled, bracing myself on my elbows and pushing my feet under me quickly. The soft rustling of the groundcover was quiet, but loud in the too quiet grove.

I exploded into a run, closing the short distance quickly and using my forward momentum to my advantage, hurling my body into his. My mark was easily twice my body mass, maybe more.

This wasn’t the first time I had taken down someone bigger than me, not even close, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last.

A guttural cry ripped from my lungs as I slammed into him, my blades digging into his flesh, earning me a pained cry in response.

He flipped us around mid-air, forcing all the air from my lungs as we slammed into the ground.

My lungs burned, I gasped, gulping for air as he began raining blows down on my face.

My vision blurred, darkening with each blow. Knowing I wouldn’t last much longer before losing consciousness, I focused on lifting my hands and looping my fingers through the rings.

My fingers, like the knives, were slick with blood, but the rings steadied my grip. I screamed, throwing everything I had into my guttural battle cry, wrenching my hands to the side, dragging the blades down as far as my hands would reach.

He froze, eyes blown wide, jaw slack, staring unseeing at me as his blood poured from his gaping wounds, soaking me as I lay beneath him. With a final rattling breath, he collapsed on top of me. Fucker.

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