"Go to Hell." A man, tied to a chair, spat out blood. His face had a soft shade of blue. Here and there some scratches and a few broken ribs.

It could have been worse.

I walked a little closer to him and leaned on the chair he was sitting on. "I'll ask you one more time. And believe me, I won't ask again. Who. Sent. You." In a calm voice, I asked him the same question for the third time.

I have to say, it's starting to get on my nerves. I took it for granted for the first time, but the third time? Too much.

I'm wasting minutes of my life here that I'll never get back.

It is said that everything can be broken. Some things need more time to break. Sometimes it's a while.

And right now? Right now it's looking like I'm gonna have to be here the whole evening. I'm not really excited.

"Screw you."

"You can't say I didn't give you a chance." I exhaled in disappointment and picked up my gun from behind my belt. I aimed at his head and fired. His head fell back heavily and his mouth remained wide open. I stepped back and straightened my suit.

For the last time I looked at the man with the hole in his head in front of me and walked around him.

It was a waste of time.

"Another one?" I heard a familiar voice as I walked out the door.

"Take care of the body." I nodded at my two men, who immediately nodded and disappeared inside the door. "Third this month." I turned to Finn.

He leaned his shoulder against the wall while his arms folded across his chest.

"Nothing again?" He raised an eyebrow.

"It's admirable how they don't want to say anything." I walked past him and started walking towards the stairs that led from the underground.

"Did you call Val? Is she safe?" I heard his footsteps behind me.

"Three men are in front of her apartment and two others follow her 24/7." I opened the door at the end of the stairs and entered the interior of the villa.

"And how many times has she called you to complain?"

"Eight." I headed straight for the study, still with Finn on my heels.

The moment I opened the door, Odin appeared at my feet. His dark eyes followed Finn behind me. He looked at him disapprovingly.

"He doesn't like me." He frowned.

In his defense, Odin doesn't like a lot of people. Even though he grew up with all of us, I'm his favorite.

It's been five years since we got him. During all that time, he had not learned to love anyone else.

Maybe it's a race. Rottweilers are considered a dangerous breed. But when I see him bite plush toys in the evening, he doesn't seem dangerous to me. On the other hand, he bit off a few fingers.

I walked around the wooden table and threw the jacket I was wearing on the chair. Behind me, I heard Odin, who then lay down in his place, right next to the table. He rested his head on his sac, but watched carefully what was going on in the room.

"To get back to the topic ... Let me guess, you haven't picked up Val once."

"Nothing she would say would change my opinion about security."

In the course of four weeks, someone sent three assassins. Neither of them got to us enough to hurt us. Apart from swearing and threats, they said nothing to give us the slightest idea who wanted to kill us. Clearly, there are many possibilities.

I moved to the table. "At least she won't embarrass herself that way."

"In other words, I should be expecting her to knock out the door at any moment." He sat across from me with a smile.

"Let her try." I opened the laptop while I talked. "She'll have three more guards behind her ass."

"Don't you think you're exaggerating a little?" I looked up at him and he immediately put his hands in a defensive gesture. "Okay, okay." He laughed. "My mistake."

"I need you to take this to Kai." I handed him the yellow folder.

"What is it?" He frowned and opened it.

"Papers about buying a hotel in Spain. He offered to handle it."

"Isn't he just so nice?" He said sarcastically. "What did he want for it?"

"Nothing. Sometimes I even ask how you two can be brothers."

Finn is the second youngest of five siblings. Unlike others, he takes everything lightly. He is the type who has inappropriate remarks in the worst places and in the worst times.

Kai, on the other hand, is the one who is most responsible. He takes care of the business I don't have time for. He solves problems so that I don't have to solve them. Maybe it's because he's the second oldest he feels like it's his responsibility.

Sebastian is the exact center. He doesn't take things lightly, but he won't forgive his stupid words. You can count on him, but I really can't expect professionalism from him.

And finally Val. Valentina Cara Acker. Our only sister. With her it's one problem after another. Ever since we let her go her "own" way, it's been going bad. She does what she wants and does not look at the consequences.

"Believe me, I'm asking myself the same thing my whole life. Look at him, it's clear who has all the hereditary beauty." He smiled.

"Get out of my office, Finn." I put my hand to my forehead.

This kid.

"I'll see you at dinner." He laughed and disappeared behind the door.

I wanted to shout for him that I wouldn't make it tonight, but it would be useless.

Later, I have to meet one of our gun suppliers in the city. Something went wrong with the last sale and now I have to deal with it. I would send Sebastian there if I was sure nothing would go wrong. But I'm not going to risk it.

"Stop, please!" A scream woke me from my sleep. I recovered quickly and ran out of my room.

The moment I opened the door, I heard more screams from the kitchen.

I went downstairs and heard the door to Sebastian's room close. He was soon on my heels.

I got to the entrance to the kitchen, where I had a view of a thirteen-year-old Finn under the weight of our father, who had a kitchen knife pressed against Finn's neck. Blood from his throat fell to the wooden kitchen floor.

Without hesitation, I ran to them and grabbed my father's shirt. I yanked him from Finn and grabbed him by the throat. I pushed him against one of the walls.

"Get your hands off me, you bastard." He said between his teeth.

"Are you okay?" I heard Sebastian's worried voice.

"Get your hands off me!" He started resisting and tried to hit me, but I grabbed his hand and hit him in the stomach with my knee. He hissed in pain and grabbed his stomach.

The worst part is that I don't smell any alcohol from him this time.

"You touch him again and I don't guarantee myself." I let him go and ran to Finn.

Tears streamed down his cheeks as his hand rested on the right side of his neck, which was still bleeding.

"Get out." I sputtered between my teeth as I looked up at our father.

"Who do you think you are? This is my house." He raised his voice.

"Killian." I felt Sebastian's hand on my shoulder.

"I've got enough of you shit." I reached for the bloody knife and walked over to my father. I put the blade to his neck. "Get out and don't come back."

"You don't have the balls." He challenged me.

He would have been right in other circumstances, but he had just tried to kill my brother. He can hit me as he wants, but the moment he reaches out to someone else, we'll have a problem.

I don't know what I'm capable of right now.

"I'll see you one more time and I won't care who you are." I took a step back from him. "Get out." I said in a warning voice.

"You will regret this." He pointed a finger at me. "I'm not surprised your mother left you." Those were his last words before he disappeared from the house. He didn't forget to slam the door behind him.

"Killian." I felt a touch on my hand. "Let it go." I slowly released the knife and let Sebastian pick it up. "It's alright."

No it's not. Nothing is alright.



"Careful." I caught Luna trying to open the door. "Let me do that." I laughed and took the keys from her hand. I opened the door to her apartment and helped Luna get inside.

The corridor we entered was simple and nothing special. There was a double door at the end. I assume some lead to the bathroom and some to her room.

But I didn't want to risk not being right, so I went into the space on my right.

Luna leaned against me and we both entered the living room. I saw a white sofa by the wall, in front of which was a smaller table with candles. The ceiling was high and wooden, and one side was made of bricks. That wall was also covered with windows.

It wouldn't be Luna either if there were no flowers. Two tall one's were in the edges of the room, and another next to the TV, which was across from the couch.

Opposite the entrance to the living room was another entrance that led to the kitchen. I caught a wooden chair and a white table with one eye before Luna reminded me of her presence.

I walked slowly over to the couch with her and sat her down. "You should take it slow next time." I helped her take off her jacket.

"And you should drink more." She snorted. "As I see it, you still follow the rules."

"It's not that easy to just forget the rules that you went by most of your life."

It's not really that easy, but in this case, I don't really mind. There were a few "rules" in the white snakes. One of them was no alcohol. But there was a good reason for that. The main thing on the mission is to be careful. And under the influence of alcohol, it's not the best.

In addition, to no alcohol, there were other rules. I always stopped counting at 163. Some were just stupid and not important, but other...well, they were pretty important.

For example, we did not have the right to take a vacation. If you ask me, that's the worst rule. We always had to be prepared if something went wrong.

There was also a circle of people we could meet. Mafia people were at the top of the rankings for banned meetings. And why? Even God doesn't know.

Basically, everything that showed signs of entertainment was strictly forbidden. It was like high school, only that we learned to kill. Quite similar, no? I can't tell exactly, since I've never been to one, but it's definitely similar.

"I want chips."

"You what?" I frowned. "Luna, it's one o'clock in the morning." Maybe she's not serious.

"Please. Please. Please." She joined the palms together and shot me a pleading look. "Pleeeeeease."

"God." I rolled my eyes. "Fine."

"Yes!" She threw her hands up in the air. "A smaller shop is across the street. Sour cream with onions, please." She smiled.

"Stay here until I return. Don't do anything stupid." I pointed at her.

"How could I, you're taking all the stupid with you." She smiled wide. What does that mean?

She's lucky that I care about her. It doesn't happen often. I mean, almost never. Basically, she is one of two people. If we don't count the dead.

I opened the door to the building where Luna lived and was knocked over by the chilly air. It's quite cold for June.

I scanned the street and noticed a neon sign. Having a shop right under your nose is a wonderful thing.

I hurried across the road and stopped in front of the store.

Open nonstop.

Luna really chose an amazing location.

When I opened the door, I heard the bell that was directly above them. The salesman who had his head in the newspaper looked up at me for a moment before returning to reading.

He didn't look very likable. The two hairs on his head were gray, and I'm surprised his stomach didn't peek out from under his shirt. It's not the sight you want to see when you come somewhere.

I went to the section where the chips were supposed to be and chose the one Luna wanted.

But while I'm here, I'll take advantage of it.

I walked around the shelf and stopped for chocolate. I don't even remember the last time I had chocolate. Or anything sweet.

I already have a saliva running down my chin just by looking at so much chocolate. As I looked around, I noticed a younger girl, not so far away.

She still looked under eighteen. Her brown hair was visible from under a black hoodie. She looks slightly nervous.

I watched her hand put a package of children's formula in her pockets.

Oh you gotta be kidding me.

No. Don't get involved. It's none of your business Eris.

I shook my head and went back to the chocolate.

So which one? With cherries? Ordinary? With caramel! I want the one with the caramel.

As I reached for it, I heard a noise coming from the front door.

"Where do you think you're going?" A man's voice echoed in my ears.

That girl.

"Please." I heard her voice. "I ..."

"Little bastard. Do you think you can just steal?" Falling something on the ground caught my attention again.

Don't get involved, Eris. Do not do it. It's none of your business. She can handle it.

I heard other sounds and there was something between them that stopped me on the spot.

Did he just slap her?

Oh hell no.

I walked over to the salesman, who was standing at the door, holding the little girl's hand. She held her cheeks with one hand and tears in her eyes.

I placed chips and chocolate on the counter and picked up a small dagger from behind my belt. I placed it on his right, lower back.

"Let go of her hand." I felt him stiffen. "Now." He released her hand slowly.

"Who do you think you are?" He said between his teeth.

"The woman who has your life in her hands right now." I whispered in his ear. "It won't be long before you bleed out." I pressed the dagger. "Apologize to her."

"Screw..." I pushed a little harder. "All right." He shouted. "I'm sorry."

"That didn't sound honest." I pointed it out. "Again."

"I am sorry." He said a little nicer.

I shifted my gaze to the girl, who did not look at me with fear, but with an admirable look. Kids these days are something different.

I grabbed the guy by the sweaty T-shirt and pulled him back so that his back was on the counter. The dagger was now on his neck.

"You'll try something like that again and I'll cut off your fingers." I tried to say it as quietly as possible so the girl wouldn't hear me. "Do we understand each other?" He nodded slowly. "All right." I pulled away from him and withdrew money from my leather jacket.

I have a few hundred from a job I did in Norway. I could have worked as a waitress or whatever, but I know I couldn't do it, so I did what I could. Steal.

It wasn't stealing money, but things someone wanted. If people wanted something but didn't have a chance to get there, they called me. It was easy money.

I put one of the twenties I had on the counter and put the rest in my jacket.

"That's for the formula, too." I took my purchase and started walking away from the store, with the girl behind me.

"Thank you." She said softly as we left the store.

"Don't be stupid next time." I withdrew the money and handed her two hundred. "Do me a favor and don't buy drugs for it." She took the money from my hand.

"Thank you. I-"

"Run." I nodded. "Some kid is probably waiting for you at home."

"Thank you again." She smiled and began to walk away. I looked at her for a moment to make sure no one followed her.

I had to get involved, didn't I?

I exhaled in frustration. "I'm really not in the mood for another conversation." Tired, I turned to the man standing a few feet behind me, hidden in the shadows. He'd been watching me since I walked out the door of the building where Luna lives.

"How long have you known I've been standing there?" The guy in his forties came out of the shadows and headed for me. He was wearing quite a track suit and a watch that hurt to look at all, because they shone so brightly.

"You couldn't be missed."

"I'm Abraham." He held his hand for me to shake it. I looked at her, but didn't take it. First of all, I don't know who he is and where those hands were. And second, I have chips and chocolate in my hands. "All right." He laughed nervously and pulled his hand back to his body.

"How did you find me?" I frowned.

"If I say coincidence, will you believe me?" He smiled.

"Really?" I raised an eyebrow. I'm starting to lose hope that men have something in their head.

"I'm here because I need something." Consider me shocked. " Of course I'll pay well." He added.

"I'm listening." Come on, you can't blame me, a woman still has to make some money, and right now I have no plans to sell my body.

"Ten thousand." He really has my full attention now. It's not the most I've earned, but it's a nice package. And of course the price can always be increased.

"What's the matter?"

"I need you to kill someone."

"I am not interested." I answered immediately and without hesitation.

"They told me you would do your job."

"That's true, but I'm not a hit man. You want me to steal or get something, I'm your best option, but you can't hire me to kill anyone." Not anymore.

"They told me..."

"I don't care what you were told." I interrupted him. "I'm not a hit man, but that doesn't mean I won't kill. Leave and don't come back." I said sternly. "I will not repeat myself. You can tell the one who recommended me that he has wrong information. You will erase my location from your head. You do not want to be on my bad side, believe me." I took a few steps back before I turned my back on him and started walking back to Luna's apartment.

"I don't like this." Aceso nodded negatively. "It seems weird."

"And that's why it's not up to you what missions we go on." With my back to her, I chose the Barrett M82 from my travel bag, which is one of the best weapons at a distance.

It can shoot through bricks and concrete. It has a tenfold magnification and I can say that it is one of my favorite snipers.

"Could you do your job?" I placed the sniper on a bipod and aimed at a building that was 850 meters away. From the roof on which we are located, there is direct access to the hotel where our target is located.

"I don't like this Eris." I rolled my eyes at her next remark.

"What got into you? This isn't your first mission." I talked to her while I looked straight through the binoculars into the hotel room.

"What do we even know about our target? Nothing."

"I already told you." I said through my teeth. "It's none of our business. They'll tell us what to do and we'll do it. It's a job. If you don't want to be here, leave, I won't keep you here."

I'm running out of patience with her. This is the second mission on which she is behaving in this way. I don't know what got into her. She knows very well that this is a job we have been working on for a long time.

"I'm going to check the perimeter." She exhaled, and I heard her footsteps behind her.

"I'll meet you in the car."

"Yeah whatever." She muttered under her nose.

I have already shifted my full attention to the two people who entered the room. Woman and guy, glued to each other. The woman's hands wandered over the body of the man, who was our target.

'What do we even know about our target?' Aceso's voice rang in my head.

"That he is our target." I whispered before I fired. The kickback threw me back slightly, even though it was only thirty percent. The bullet flew cleanly through the glass and ended up in the head of a man who was already falling to the ground. Blood spurted from his head and landed on a woman whose mouth was wide open, and I can say for sure that she was screaming from the top of her lungs.

Next mission completed.

*****

Hope you enjoyed. <3