Page 95 of Assassin: Part 1

How many times did I run through them? Hundreds? Thousands? I was prey for the sick fucks that wanted to take me down. They thought they were expert hunters until they realized the only thing hunting was me. I still remember where I let their bodies fall, disfigured and dismembered in some cases. Pasha used to despise he couldn’t get anything over on me. The beatings and torture I received for the first few months were almost constant.

I stop at the edge of a small clearing, taking it in. Nothing but trees, thick foliage, and native flowers growing. It looks serene, with sunlight giving it a glow that could be considered angelic.

The devil has a funny sense of humor.

Others see angelic, I see the mirage of a gate into hell.

I walk through the clearing, the bite of the cool breeze slapping hard at me, almost like it’s telling me to turn back. Well, it’s a good thing I don’t listen, isn’t it?

The trees back here are thicker, planted to keep prying eyes from above seeing below. If I look up, I’ll find the sensors and cameras placed in every tree. No one was getting through here undetected.

Or with all their limbs intact.

Pasha was clever where he placed his land mines, so sure none of us would ever figure them out. Unlucky for him, I made it my mission to find them. I’m still not sure if he knew what I was doing, but I’m alive, so I suppose if he did, he didn’t see me as an actual threat.

How wrong he was. Now, he’s chopped up into little pieces and scattered all over Ilya’s grounds for the animals to feast on.

I wasn’t about to risk anyone coming to try and find him.

Finally, through the trees, I see it. The house built under thick trees. It appears as a simple cabin, small and unassuming, possibly abandoned with how things were left strewn about, but I know differently.

How many times did he bring me here? How many times did he give me an assignment at the old table covered in scratches and blood? A reminder and warning to anyone who sat there.

I block out the memories. They’re done and finished. Not important. Finishing this, ensuring nothing of his is left to be found, is.

I take in every last piece of glass and wood. I can appreciate the time and craftsmanship of it, but not what it stands for.

I glance over my shoulder, sensing him behind me. “Come to see what you can find as well?” I ask Mishka. I’m not surprised he followed me. The man might be grumpy and stoic on a good day, but he’s also nosy.

“I figured you wouldn’t allow them to come here.” He stands next to me. “Hunter and Reaper could handle this too.” It’s a quiet offer with lots of meaning.

“No, this one is mine to see to.” I glance at him. “Go back and help them. I’ll be finished here quickly, and we can get moving. You have a territory to claim. Which, by the way, Ilya is probably already trying to claim.”

Mishka shrugs. “He can try. I’ve already sent my men to ensure he doesn’t take any more than I’m willing to give.”

I smirk. “A thank-you gift for helping you take down your father and brother?”

“A reasonable concession to ensure he realizes I’m not about to be a pushover. I’m not my father or brother, and I’m going to clean up their messes.” He arches a brow. “And I assume you’ll be going back with me to see your man?”

“I’m going back with you to help you clean up the mess and see what information I can find that Timur stored. Then I’ll be going to Simeon’s. I want to know all the players, Mishka. Then we start letting them know their days of running unchecked are finished.”

He doesn’t argue. We both know he doesn’t have a say anyway.

“Oh, and I already contacted my guy to start work on our new meeting room,” I add as I head up the steps of the cabin.

“You are not putting a meeting room for the society in my fucking house,” he gripes. “You have that place on Ilya’s land. Which he hasn’t found, even though he and his men have circled it enough times.”

“You mean my men.” I smirk over my shoulder. “You really think I wasn’t going to have my own people infiltrate Ilya? They made sure no one came along during the construction. And yes, we’re going to meet there, but I’m thinking we need to diversify. One location can be found far too easily. I’ll be looking at Reaper’s and Hunter’s areas as well.”

“Oh, they’ll love that. And I’m not paying for this shit, either. You want to do it, you pay. Not like you’re lacking for cash.”

I find the scanner and set to work dismantling it. Thank God for Pasha’s hate for anything digital to track him here. He was very old school that way.

“You make it sound like you’re poor. I’ve seen your accounts; you’ve got plenty. Enough that you won’t have to take another contract for the rest of your life. Well, after I’ve deducted your contribution.”

“Stay the fuck out of my shit, you crazy bitch.” There’s not much heat in his words, but he’s definitely pissed. “I haven’t seen any money missing, and I check all the damn time.”

“You haven’t in the last twenty-four hours. Don’t worry, I only took ten million. Enough to do the renos on your space and ensure we have everything we need. I’ll pay for the tech and the other important things we’ll need, though, so don’t worry, it’s an equal contribution.”