4. Ivy

Chapter 4

Ivy

T he Femme Fatale Freakshow?

They're actually real? And they want me ? Holy shit. I mean, obviously, they should want me. I'm awesome. But do I want them? I've been doing just fine on my own since my parents died. I'm my own boss. I make my own hours. Pick my own assignments. It's a pretty cushy job.

On the other hand… It's possible the guild may have more resources than I do. Maybe I could get something more out of my membership. Maybe I could put the guild to work for me. Maybe I'll finally be able to find out who killed my parents.

The drive home is silent as I consider my options. Normally after a hit, I tell Kira how it went. But tonight, my mind is a million miles away. Kira seems to understand something momentous is happening.

We pull into my driveway and the garage door opens as we approach. As Kira slows to a stop in her parking spot, I blink, coming back to the present. I don't even remember the drive.

Letter still in hand, I climb out and head towards the door at the back of the garage on autopilot. My mind may be churning with thoughts of the guild, but my body remembers I have to feed my babies before I can do anything else.

I open the door to my shop and flip on the lights. I like to keep my work out of my home, so I designed a workshop where I can research my targets. It's also where I keep my collection of venomous pets. Most people stay far away from my babies, but I feel most at home when I'm surrounded by other deadly venomous creatures. It makes me feel not so alone in this cruel world.

My first stop is the commercial-size refrigerator, to get a dozen frozen snacks, one for each of my babies.

"Hello, Frank," I say as I drop a frozen rat the size of my hand into his enclosure. Frank's a six foot black mamba, and a real asshole when he doesn't get fed first.

He snaps the rat out of the air and swallows it whole. Shaking my head, I chuckle as I move on to the next enclosure. One by one, I feed my snakes until I reach the last enclosure. Kelly is my most venomous, an inland taipan, and also the shyest. She may be able to kill 100 people with one dose of her venom, but she's the sweetest girl and loves to cuddle with me.

After feeding my spiders, I take Kelly with me and lock up the shop. Kelly is like my therapy snake. Just holding her calms me. After a night with her, I'm certain I'll know what to do with this whole guild thing.

Once in the house, I go to my bar and pour myself a double shot of Old Rip Van Winkle. This letter requires the good stuff.

Glass in hand I head to my office. Unlike the one outside, this office has my computer equipment and all of my files. I fire up my computer and log in. Clicking on the folder I need, I enter another password before the file on my parents' murder is open. I've been working on it for years and I still don't have the information I'm looking for. I know there's more to their deaths. My parents were the best assassins I know. They wouldn't go down easily. I can't find evidence that a hit was put out on them, but there's no doubt in my mind, the people responsible are professionals.

I pride myself on being resourceful and can normally dig up dirt buried so deep no one would know it even exists. The fact that I haven't been able to find much of anything is extremely frustrating. What if the guild knows? The letter says they see and know all. Could they know what happened to my parents? Would they tell me if they did?

I spend hours going through every detail of my parents' case with Kelly asleep on my shoulder until the early morning rays shine through my window. Finally, I give up, knowing I'm at an impasse. There's nothing new to learn from the information I have. I need more. I need new intel.

Sighing, I push back my chair and stretch as I stand. Walking over to my painting of Adam taking the apple from Eve, I touch the center of the apple, causing the picture to move aside, revealing my safe. Placing my right hand on my scanner, my left eye slightly turned so the retinal scanner can verify me, I wait for it to open.

You can never be too safe in my line of business. Once open, I put the letter inside the safe alongside some of my prized possessions. My father's watch and my mother's dagger are amongst them. Then I lock everything back up and return the picture to its proper position.

I drop my glass off in the kitchen sink before climbing the stairs to the master bedroom, leaving a trail of clothes behind me. Once in my room, I deposit Kelly into her cage on my dresser then head for the shower wanting to wash the night off me before I collapse into bed.

The master bath is one of my absolute favorite things about this house. It has an Egyptian-style tub that could double as a small swimming pool, and there's a glass skylight right over the tub so I can see the stars at night. A massive vanity with a large marble sink with a small mirror over the top and a full-length mirror beside it takes up the wall across from the tub. I take off my Jessica Rabbit wig and set it on the counter before turning to face temptation.

I love a long soak in my tub, but tonight calls for a quick shower. It would not do to fall asleep in the bath and drown. I'm a feared assassin. Death by drowning in a tub would be too embarrassing. I'd never live it down, even in the afterlife.

Walking over to the huge glass walk-in shower, I press the button to start my pre-programmed shower. Over a dozen nozzles come on at once, pelting me with hot water from all sides. My shoulders relax as the heat soaks in, loosening my muscles.

The shower shuts off and I only groan a little at the loss of hot water. I wring out my hair before grabbing my towel and drying off. Dropping my wet towel in the laundry hamper, I stride to my bed and throw the blankets back. Grabbing the black Egyptian cotton sheet, I slide in naked. I love the feel of my soft sheets against my skin. Despite the long night, and countless thoughts running through my head, it's not long before I'm fast asleep.