Page 74

I yank the cleaver out of his spine, and I raise it above my head. Then I let it come down hard with all the strength I can muster and lodge it deep into the nape of his neck. It goes through his neck with such ferocity that it’s stuck in the table underneath him.

The stream of blood has finally stopped, and I’m dressed in it. My face, chest, and arms are painted in a heavy mist of arterial spray, interspersed with thick, dark streaks from the spinal tear. My hands and forearms are dripping crimson down to my elbows. It fills the room with a coppery, metallic taste.

I don’t gasp.

I don’t move.

I smile.

The deafening ring of the gunshot fades into a sickeningly quiet drip, drip, drip of Marian’s blood pooling on the table and splashing onto the floor.

The air feels dead.

“Formation against the wall. Now.” My order makes them scramble against the wall, their arms hanging at their sides.

They know better than to carry their weapon with them.

Their eyes avoid mine and are entirely focused on my bloody hands. I don’t need a fucking weapon to kill them—my hands are enough.

I stand before them and interlock my hands behind my back.

“Look at me.”

They do. My biggest guard breaks out in a sweat, and the other men are on the brink of crying.

Loyalty means everything to me, and they have just witnessed what will happen if they cross me. The sack of shit they had lunch with an hour ago is now pinned like an insect against the table.

I address them. “Marian forgot that I could read minds just as easily as taking out a target. Am I right?”

They frantically nod their heads.

"Loyalty and transparency are the cornerstones of working for me. But let me be clear.” I take the knife from Marian’s neck before turning to them again. “I do not require that you like me. But I do require your absolute, unmitigated transparency. If any of you feel the sudden urge to harbor secrets, or if you believe for even a fraction of a second that you can outsmart me…”

I point towards Marian with my knife, then smile a small, polite, razor-sharp smile.

“…you better slit your own throats right here and now. Because I won’t show mercy next time.” My voice drops to a whisper, and they all gasp.

“You all thought that I wasn’t merciful right now? I could have killed his wife and kids right before his eyes and let him live with that agonizing pain.” They swallow in response to what I just said.

If they think I wasn’t being serious, they can test me, and Heaven will gain a couple more angels.

I don’t exercise my call-off sign since this isn’t a hit. That fucker will be used many times over for what I am going to do later. My date with a certain gentleman will be the ultimate testament of that. But I am going to need help from another certain gentleman to set that date up.

People shouldn’t be afraid of loud men, but of women who prey in silence.

Chapter twenty-six

Noa

Ilook at myself in the mirror, and the last time I was this nervous, I went on a date. I had everything planned out, yet I almost lost all of my confidence. It’s astounding how a couple of months can change you. From the moment I met Lana, the need to protect her has been overwhelming. Along the way, I lost myself to that feeling and the focus that life is supposed to give you. But that may be where I am mistaken. Life isn’t linear; it’s full of ups and downs. The mistakes you make along the way can either be rectified, or you pay for them.

Years ago, I made a crucial mistake.

Now I am left standing between two things: rectification or total annihilation.

Fuck.

“You are going to do this. It’s just a restaurant and…” I take a deep breath and let out a nervous laugh. “You are just going to see the young woman whose father you have killed.”