Cleaning Not in the literal sense, like with a scouring pad and water. And preferably with some brass knuckles and a KA-BAR if she had any, or maybe a bullet to the chest first, because their death had to hurt. Cleaning That was all her mind was on the second she left Callum in that hallway. It ricocheted off her mind with every step she took. Ever since she found Lionel in the street, she was desperately trying to find out which one of his many enemies caught up with him. And just three days after his death, she has. It had been the very people he surrounded himself with. Now, she finally had a target. She was going to wash all of them out of existence with copper and lead. She was going to clean their houses, their cars, their fucking cover jobs. Jonathan, Maxwell, Pablo, the whole lot of them! She didn’t care that they wanted her dead. That was understandable. But they fucking shot at her at her father’s funeral, and for that alone, they could not live. And on top of that, Lili

Eight.Seven.Six.Alice counted down as she eyed the large gray trash cans that lined the street. It was fields of endless nothing on the right side of the road and a line of stores on the left. A peculiar lamp post stood at the start of the pavement. She had been to this street once or twice in the past. And this place was even more conspicuous than what she remembered, but that was the syndicate’s speciality, to hide in plain sight.Her eyes landed on number five. This was the last one and it was closer to the alley. This had to be it. Her lifeline. A few pounds lifted off her shoulder as stooped down in front of the can to confirm the Caroni family’s emblem on the swing lid. Under it, she assumed held the key to her arsenal. Alice slid her hand through the slit of the can and started sorting through the emptiness inside it. In all her years, she had never seen one of these cans up close and she was the daughter of the king, so everything passed through him. Sadly, there was no ti

Callum~ He could feel her watching him. Those beautiful grey orbs burned a hole in the side of his head. And when she was satisfied, her head darted all over the place, taking in the scenery, or what she could see in the darkness.He had to admit, this place was very very nice - Remote, beautiful with everything he always wanted in a home. It was more of a holiday inn than a CIA safe house. Palm trees were installed all around the edge of the premises. A crystalline pavement led up to the white steps. Above it was the cube of glass he called home with clubs of carved concrete on each side.The woman glanced back at the gate that he drove through. No doubt planning her escape. He knew she must have a lot of questions and he could understand why.She woke up in the middle of nowhere with a stranger and a house. Her eyes went up to the pathway that disappeared beyond the house. Yup. He could bet his badges that she would try to run, not that she would get far. Just an hour ago he pulled

Whenever she closed her eyes she could still feel his body on her, and a lingering whisper of his breath on the side of her face. She understood that he was a man, she loved it even. Snippets of the first time she had to seduce a man flashed through her mind. Lilith had forced on a tight leather dress on her and dabbed her face with makeup. “Your body,” Lilith had whispered when she powdered Alice’s face, “is your deadliest weapon, it would be a shame not to use it.” Her nineteen-year-old self would just nod. At the time, guns, knives, and incognito missions were her niche, she was quivering in her feet at just the thought of a man touching her hand but she knew men in that line of work would want to do more than touching. Lilith taught her that not all jobs could be done with guns blazing, some needed a more a delicate approach. Use your body in such a way that you don’t need sex to get what you want, she was often told. After that day, she mastered the art of her body, earning nods

Alice touched the pad Callum taped to her stomach. The stabbing pain began seeping in, it was like a million bullet ants gnawing into her skin. It was strange how she felt nothing when he was near her and now, with him gone every sore part of her body made itself known.Her finger brushed on her lips. They were still swollen from his touch. As much as she hated to admit it, this man could careen anyone to their knees. He was powerful. He could suck the air out of a woman if she wasn’t careful and the part that hurt the most is that he wasn’t even trying. She couldn’t lie still so she abandoned the bedroom and took residency in the living room. His departure left another strange ache in her stomach. Was it anxiety? It could be. He hadn't left the house since they got there, well not to her knowledge at least. Maybe because he left so suddenly…. he must be up to something. She concluded. But it didn’t matter, he could stay as long as he wanted, it gave her some time to look around prope