As soon as Gaga left, Delilah's phone buzzed, and a notification popped up. The credit alert read ten million dollars. Delilah's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.Later that night, Delilah and Ruby strutted into one of the city's most luxurious clubs, both dressed in sleek mini dresses. The black gloves they wore added a touch of mystery to their look, ensuring they blended into the crowd without drawing too much attention. The neon lights pulsed in sync with the music as they made their way through the lively crowd.A voice crackled through their earbuds—it was Helen, back at the café, monitoring everything through a set of computers. "Mr. Bayou’s at the elite table, six o’clock, surrounded by five bodyguards," Helen reported smoothly. "He's watching the dancers a little too closely."Delilah's eyes swept across the room, and soon, she spotted him—Gaga's husband, Mr. Bayou. He was sitting at the exclusive table near the dance floor, his gaze locked on the dancer
The next morning, Delilah was seated at her aunt’s kitchen table, enjoying a plate of scrambled eggs and toast. Her aunt, Mary, had gone for her oncology appointment, leaving Delilah alone in the apartment. With the place to herself, she propped her phone up on the table and watched the news stream across the screen.It didn’t take long for the story to appear: Chairman of Bayou Group Found Dead in a Gruesome Scene. The reporter droned on, describing the "grisly discovery" and the police’s confusion over the brutal nature of the murder. Delilah’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Perfect execution," she thought, her pride swelling as she watched the details of the murder unravel on the broadcast.She was still smiling when she heard a sudden knock at the door. Her brow furrowed. Mary shouldn’t be back for hours. She set her fork down, wiped her hands on a napkin, and stood to answer the door.When she opened it, her expression quickly shifted from curiosity to guarded surpr
Delilah’s lips curled into a seductive smile, her voice dropping to that low, teasing tone she knew Marco couldn't usually resist. "I've been eyeing this golden wristwatch. It's exquisite," she purred, her fingers trailing lightly across his chest, "and quite expensive."Marco’s eyes flickered, but there was no smile, no shift in his stance. Delilah expected his usual smirk, the one that always preceded him giving in to her whims. But instead, his expression hardened."Do you think you can try the same stunt you pulled at the boutique?" His voice was calm, but there was an edge beneath it. Delilah froze, her fingers stilling on his shirt. For a moment, she wondered if she’d gone too far. He resisted? This wasn’t like him. Marco always played the game, always indulged her when she pushed. But now, his expression had darkened, and the usual playfulness in his eyes was replaced by something harder, something... dangerous.Delilah felt a flicker of uncertainty. The flirtatious co
The car slowed to a stop in front of Marco’s mansion. Marco stepped out, his expression unreadable as his gaze swept over the estate. Delilah followed, stepping out cautiously, her eyes trailing up the impressive stone façade. The place was grander than she had imagined, a testament to the wealth she knew Marco possessed but had never seen up close.Without a word, Marco turned and strode towards the entrance. Delilah followed, her shoes clicking softly against the polished marble as they crossed the threshold.Inside, Marco greeted a middle-aged woman with salt-and-pepper hair, dressed in a neat uniform. "Delilah, this is Mrs. Hayden, the housekeeper."Delilah offered her a polite smile. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Hayden. You’ve done a lovely job here."Mrs. Hayden smiled warmly in return, but before she could respond, Marco cut in, his tone brisk. "You’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other later. For now, we have more important matters."Delilah rolled her eyes as she fol
Delilah, who had been watching their interaction from the base of the stairs, hardly paid attention to their exchange. Her curiosity pulled her in a different direction, something far more intriguing. She stepped down, her heels clicking softly against the floor, and turned her attention to Marco."What’s going on, Marco?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly. There was an unusual air in the mansion—an energy she hadn't felt before.Marco looked at her, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Today is the D-day."Delilah opened her mouth to press for more information, but before she could, the heavy front doors creaked open. A group of men marched in with their own guards in tow. Their presence immediately filled the room with an unspoken authority. They moved like wolves, commanding every inch of the space with their powerful stride. Delilah’s breath caught as she noticed the thick, gleaming gold chains around their necks, glittering under the chandeliers. It clicked in her
Delilah, feeling a mix of pride and exhaustion, decided it was time to retreat to the bedroom for some much-needed rest. The ceremony downstairs was still in full swing, but she needed a moment to herself. As she walked through the quiet corridors of the mansion, the thought of Marco’s new role as Capo swirled in her mind. With it came a sense of responsibility, not just for him, but for her too. She wasn’t sure what this new chapter would demand from her.When she reached the bedroom, she quietly opened the door, expecting to find the space empty and inviting. Instead, what she saw made her stop in her tracks.Mrs. Hayden, the housekeeper, was standing by the bed, holding Delilah’s large black book—the book!The one where Delilah had jotted down notes about her clients' gory requests. It wasn’t just any book—it was private, and Mrs. Hayden had it open, her eyes scanning its pages with a focused intensity."Mrs. Hayden, what are you doing?" Delilah’s voice cut through the silence,
Marco’s own arousal stirred, but he held it back, respecting the boundaries they had carefully navigated since their marriage.Delilah, sensing his gaze lingering on her, huffed slightly."You're crossing the line," she said, though there was a hint of amusement in her voice."Crossing what line?" Marco replied, his voice teasing as he raised an eyebrow.Delilah smirked, pushing him lightly, forcing him to shift to the other side of the bed."That’s it. Your side of the bed. Stay there. And don't cross this."Marco glanced down at what she called "this"—a pillow she had placed down the middle of the bed, dividing it into two clear halves.He hadn’t even noticed it when he first climbed in, too focused on her.With a sly grin, Marco leaned over, grabbed the pillow, and tossed it to the floor without a second thought."I married you," he said, his tone playful yet firm, as he shifted closer to her, pulling her against him. "That means I’m allowed to do this."Delilah’s breath hitched as
In a small apartment...Helen paced around the living room, her eyes occasionally drifting to the television where the news about Mr. Bayou’s death still flashed across the screen. It was a rare moment of satisfaction for her. The successful completion of her first task for Delilah gave her a sense of power she hadn’t felt in a long time. She had gathered all the necessary details about Mr. Bayou, confirmed he was Mrs. Gaga’s cheating husband, and now he was gone. Helen smiled to herself, briefly savoring the victory.That smile quickly faded when she heard the unmistakable sound of the front door creaking open, followed by heavy, uneven footsteps. Her heart sank as she turned toward the door. Jonah was home.Jonah staggered through the entrance, reeking of alcohol, his shirt untucked and wrinkled. His eyes were bloodshot, and he muttered confusedly under his breath. Helen’s disheartened expression mirrored the way she felt every time she saw him like this. It had become an al
Delilah poured herself a glass of wine, her hands trembling slightly as the ruby liquid swirled into the glass.She took a deep breath and steadied herself before taking a sip, her lips pressing tightly against the rim as she fought the gnawing sensation in her chest."How could I have been so stupid?" she thought, almost chuckling as her mind replayed the conversation over and over.Marco’s sharp tone, the disappointment in his eyes—it all haunted her.The room felt cold despite the warm atmosphere.Delilah wrapped her free arm around her torso, her hand gripping her side tightly.The glass met her lips again, and this time, she drank deeply, letting the burn distract her from the ache inside.Delilah refilled the wine glass. She raised it to her lips, ready to drink again.Just as
Delilah didn't think much about it.In the evening, she leaned over the railing, the cool breeze brushing her face, she was already prepared for what was coming.Anticipation buzzed faintly in her chest as she saw Marco’s familiar silhouette approaching the mansion’s entrance.But he wasn’t alone.Lucia was with him, her tall frame radiating confidence as she walked beside Marco, holding some documents.Delilah straightened, her lips thinning as her fingers gripped the railing tighter.She descended the stairs deliberately, her heels clicking against the polished wood.The sound echoed sharply, cutting through the quiet hall like a warning.The sound caught Marco’s attention, and he looked up, his dark eyes immediately landing on her.For
Delilah narrowed her eyes, her jaw tightening. "The bigger picture? Is that what you call turning your back on someone who trusted us?"Helen finally spoke, her tone gentle but firm. "It’s not about trust. It’s about safety, Delilah. Mrs. Madison’s situation was tragic, yes. But we’re not detectives or vigilantes. We’re executors. We handle executions, not investigate deaths."Delilah let out a bitter laugh. "Is that how you justify it? By sticking to the job description?"Helen frowned but said nothing.Ruby, however, couldn’t resist. "It’s not just about that. Look, I don’t want to get caught up in this because it never ends well when emotions come into play. You know that, Delilah."Delilah took a step closer to the table, her presence commanding despite the room's elegant and tranquil decor.Her
Helen tilted her head, her doubt evident. "This is about Mrs. Madison, isn’t it?"Delilah’s jaw tightened, her eyes smoldering. "Yes."Ruby’s brows drew together, her voice hesitant. "The client? The one you postponed yesterday?"Delilah nodded, her voice a knife’s edge. "She’s dead."A thick silence enveloped the room. Ruby’s eyes widened, darting to Helen, who sat frozen, her lips parted in shock.Helen leaned forward, her voice cautious yet probing. "Dead? How?""They’re calling it a suicide," Delilah replied, her tone clipped, each word deliberate. "But there’s more to it than that."Ruby’s lips parted as realization dawned. "Wait, are you saying—"The soft creak of the door interrupted them, and all three heads turned.Mrs. Hay
Delilah’s jaw dropped, her breath catching."What?" she whispered. Her fingers trembled as she put the remote down, her eyes locked on the screen.The reporter continued, detailing the shocking turn of events. "Authorities have confirmed that Mrs. Madison died by apparent suicide, jumping from the balcony of her home earlier this evening."Delilah’s mind raced. *How? Why?*She barely had time to process the information when the bedroom door creaked open.Her heart leaped, thinking it was Marco.However, it was Mrs. Hayden who stepped inside.Delilah quickly grabbed the remote, turning off the TV.She narrowed her eyes, her voice tinged with suspicion. "Is something wrong, Mrs. Hayden?"Mrs. Hayden offered a tight s
Delilah turned to her, arching a perfectly sculpted brow."Stunt?" Her lips curled into a smirk. "I prefer to call it leveling the playing field. They were the ones who decided to play dirty. I simply ensured their actions didn’t go unnoticed."Ruby chuckled, her voice low and raspy. "I’ll give you credit for subtlety. That coffee dispenser trick? Brilliant. Disgusting, but brilliant."Delilah didn’t answer immediately.Her gaze drifted to the bustling café, her expression softening as Helen moved effortlessly behind the counter.Helen handed a latte to a customer with a bright smile, her hands firm and her presence polished."Sometimes," Delilah said, her voice barely above a whisper, "it’s not about brute force. It’s about knowing when to act—and how. This wasn’t about ruining them; it was a
Ruby and Helen exchanged uncertain glances.Meanwhile, Delilah walked to the door, casting one last look at the café across the street. Her eyes glinted with determination.If Sss... Café thought they could steal her customers, they had no idea who they were up against."Helen," she said, her voice calm but layered with purpose, "I need you to start gathering information about Sss... Café and its owner."Helen nodded, a faint flicker of unease crossing her face. "Alright," she said, her tone steady despite the undercurrent of concern.Delilah opened her mouth to add more, but Ruby’s sharp voice cut in, brimming with exasperation. "Gosh, when can we just take a break? Now we have to deal with that and execute the café owner?"Delilah froze, the words hitting her like a sharp gust of wind.Her brows k
Now that Delilah's mind was at rest after listening to Marco's response, she freshened up and headed to her café.As she arrived, a sense of calm washed over her, and she heaved a sigh of relief.With her mind clear, she decided to take a break from her usual execution services and instead focus on observing the café's operations today.This meant postponing Mrs. Madison's execution request, despite her desire for a swift completion.However, Delilah knew that she and her team needed rest, and the task could easily be rescheduled for tomorrow or another day.As she turned her attention to the café, the soft hum of the coffee grinder filled the otherwise quiet space, where Ruby and Helen worked behind the counter."Good morning," Helen greeted her with a casual wave.Delilah nodded, her li
The morning light crept into the room as Delilah stirred awake, her lashes fluttering open to an empty bed.She stretched lazily before sitting up, her hand reaching for her phone on the nightstand. The events of the previous night flashed in her mind.Delilah had been a bit restless after her brief confrontation with Marco over Lucia.Her possessiveness gnawed at her peace.And so, with a determined smirk, she’d rummaged through her luggage and retrieved a small camera she’d hidden for emergencies like this.Slipping into Marco's library undetected, she had carefully placed the camera where it could capture the room.Satisfied with her work, she’d returned to bed, where Marco lay on his back, chest rising and falling in steady rhythm.Delilah had nestled her head gently against his chest, feeling his heartbeat und