50. Chapter Forty Nine

Chapter Forty Nine

Vincent

S kyla took over two hours to say goodbye when we had to leave the commune. Or Coven, whatever the fuck you want to call it. There were a lot of tears from her and her parents, with promises that she’d come back to visit the next weekend. They didn’t exchange phone numbers for fear of it getting back to the Brethren someway or somehow, and I held Skyla as she cried the entire way home.

I don’t think it was all tears from sadness. I think she feels relief. Relief that Henry isn’t actually her father, that her real father is a kind man. But the biggest relief is that she got to actually meet her mother. She got the chance to hug her, memorize her scent, her face. She basically got her back from the dead. I’d do anything to have that feeling for Nate so I can recognize how special it is.

When we got home, Liam went to dinner with Maryia’s parents while the rest of us ordered in and promptly passed the fuck out. Well, they all did. I was asleep for two hours when my phone went off.

The message was a little odd but simple.

Unknown: 58012 Barclay AVE New York City, New York

Stand by for target info.

I don’t think I’ve ever been sent on a job where I wasn’t given all the details ahead of time, but it’s not like I can ignore it, and I sure as shit can’t text back for clarification. So, I made my way to New York and am currently standing in the shadows of some abandoned warehouse.

The message didn’t even tell me what the preferred outcome is, so I brought a few of my favorite toys for torture and for eliminating, just in case. The soft snick of a door from the second level catches my attention, my head whipping to the side as it does. I look around in the darkness, waiting for the next sound or movement, but nothing comes.

That is, until a throwing star is sailing across the room, embedding itself right beside my head. I duck quickly, rolling out of the way before I’m on my feet again when another star comes, and another, all missing by centimeters. I’m armed and at the ready, but my assailant is playing hide and seek in the darkness, and I know better than to walk into his established territory.

I hear the faint click of a safety and sprint in another direction as a bullet whizzes through the room before another. The gun clearly has a silencer on it, but it’s still loud enough in this echoing warehouse.

A deranged giggle comes from the other side of the room as someone makes their way into the light.

“Graves?” I ask.

Zayden Graves nods his head, his face covered in his signature skeleton mask, but I can hear the smile in his voice.

“You aren’t too bad, Griggs. Better than your parents were, I’d say.”

“Thanks,” I spit. “Any particular reason you’re trying to kill me?” I ask as he steps up closer, swinging a knife at my gut.

I jump backwards, landing a hit across his face before he delivers one to mine. If he wanted me dead, he could just shoot me or plunge his knife into my neck or some shit. He’s toying with me, playing a game. I enjoy the hunt as well from time to time, but to this sick fuck, it’s the most exciting game he’s ever played. Every target, every time. Fuck, am I the target? Or are we just after the same one again?

His knife comes swinging through the air, catching my arm and slicing it open. I grit my teeth, grunting through the pain as he swings another, getting the opposite arm. Dropping to the floor, I kick out my leg and sweep him to the ground. He goes down hard and begins laughing like a kid at the carnival before touching his head and finding blood on his hand.

“Nice one! You’re a tough little fucker. Want a job?” he laughs.

I huff at him as he jumps to his feet, blood running down the side of his face as he swipes me with his knife again. This time, he catches me in the stomach, stabbing all the way into me. All the breath is sucked from my lungs as I gasp and stumble, falling to the ground. He tsks, as he circles me like a shark, the pool of blood beneath me growing by the second.

“Vincent Griggs,” he sighs with a shake of his head. “Don’t you remember the first rule of mercenary work? Don’t hesitate. Strike fast and strike first. I was down, you almost had me!” he gushes like we’re recapping a video game.

“I’m not gonna lie, I was kinda bummed when I heard you were my target. You’ve been fun to fuck with over the years, and you’ve got a lot of raw talent. A little coaching up and you could be a fucking animal.”

My head begins to feel dizzy as my vision fades. I force myself to stay alert, latching onto a piece of his words.

“I’m your target?” I rasp. “Who took the hit out?”

He shrugs. “You know as well as I, we just take orders.”

“And you know as well as I that you’re a nosy fuck,” I throw back.

Zayden laughs hysterically, throwing his head up to the ceiling before looking back at me, that creepy as fuck mask staring down at me.

“It was your boss,” he says, his smirk creeping into his voice. “Must have done something to piss him off. Then again, mine gets pissy if I don’t answer on the first ring. Maybe you don’t deserve it, but business is business.” He shrugs.

I attempt to lift myself, to run, defend, attack. Anything. I can’t, though. My body is getting weaker by the second from the two gashes on my arms and the gaping one I’m trying to hold in my stomach, I don’t have long, and we both know it.

“Nice knowing you, Griggs,” he says as he stands over me, lifting his knife as I throw up my hands.

“Please, Zayden,” I beg. I can’t even believe I’m begging. I never thought I’d go out begging, but I have to try. I have something worth begging to live for now. “I got a girl,” I wheeze. “She’s everything. Please. I can’t leave, not when she’ll be alone in this world.”

Because I don’t give a fuck about the other guys. My siren will never be as protected as she is with me.

Something in my words seems to stir at Zayden, at least for a second. Then, any sympathy or window I was planning to play off disappears as he raises his arm once more and plunges his knife into me. My mouth opens, a squelching noise escaping me as Zayden twists the knife deeper and lowers his head to mine.

“Say hi to your mom and dad for me, kid.”

With that, he rips the knife out of me and stares as a rush of blood escapes my upper abdomen. Pain like I’ve never felt lances through me until I don’t feel anything at all. A biting cold sets in, and I feel my body begin to convulse in shock before I go completely still. All I can see is Skyla’s face. She’s smiling at me, holding her hand out for me.

I try to take it, but I can’t lift my hand, and she frowns before walking away. I try to call out to her, to beg her to wait for me, but she doesn’t. She vanishes into thin air as she walks away. A numbness settles over my body before I slip away.

I love you, Siren. I always will. Even in death.