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Greek God of Erebus—“The personification of darkness and shadow”

The job was supposed to be simple.

But it turned out to be a fuckin’ nightmare.

Hawk sat in the dark with his back against the concrete wall and studied the line of homeless tents that stretched as far as the eye could see. His focus was on a row that sat deep within the homeless community of San Diego. It was almost rhythmic watching the people mill about, sorting through findings or huddled around burning canisters. The fire sent smoke up into the air in slow curling tendrils, and the smell of charred paper and melted plastic mixed with singed clothing drifted on the slight southern breeze.

Normally, Hawk would have done the hit at night, but it had proven fuckin’ impossible, because his mark had sat so far tucked inside the homeless community that he couldn’t get a bead on the guy, so here he was back in the daytime.

This one last job had turned into a month-long recon.

The coined phrase, “I’m too old for this shit,” came to mind and he snorted under his breath and situated his ass against the hard concrete of the retaining wall. Thankful for the heavy jeans protecting his ass and the worn boots and a black hoodie all designed so he fit in.

Fitting in around there wasn’t a problem for him even with his height and size. In fact, he’d seen several other men with the same bulk. And his mark also fit into the filth and stench, Hawk should have been able to get close. Only, he hadn’t been able to, and finding the guy became a game of cat and mouse in the stench-filled area.

Not that he had a problem with the homeless. Each person had to find their own way and he of all people knew that sometimes life handed you a pile of shit and the only way out was starting from the bottom up. Some people actually preferred to live on the margins of society.

Not him, though, and he thought of the shabby, rundown apartment he lived in with its bare walls and faded carpet.

One last job and he was out of there with enough money to last a lifetime living in the sun on a remote beach some-fuckin’-where.

They’d tried to decorate for the season with smatterings of garland and rummaged decorations that seemed to fit more for Christmas than the upcoming turkey day. The tattered arrangements looked worse for the wear, but it did give the area a bit of a cheery glow. What a fucked up way to spend any holiday. Oh, not for him, but for the people below. The ones who wouldn’t sit down at a table filled with food and gaze across at loved ones.

He grimaced and rubbed at the ache in his shoulder. He hadn’t had a holiday like that since he’d been a boy. With Halloween just last week, people would be preparing for Thanksgiving, then Christmas, all followed up with a happy fucking New Year.

“There he is.”

The old man sitting nearby hissed, yanking him from his thoughts, and pointed a gnarled finger in the direction of the cluster of bigger tents. A twenty-dollar bill and what was left of a fifth of whiskey had bought the old man’s help sorting through the mass of people.

Hawk zeroed in on his mark and gave the grizzled old guy a slow nod before he shoved to his feet.

“Bring me back some!” the man hissed, thinking Hawk was after drugs.

He’d never indulged in the shit himself. Not after his younger brother had overdosed and died at the age of twelve. If Rick had lived, he’d be forty by now.

Shaking off thoughts of his past—because fuck if that was productive—he picked his way through the trash and people and moved closer to the figure in the distance.

His mark was tall, but on the thinner side like a good wind would blow him over. He was stooped over a canister tossing trash into the flickering flames.

The guy was oblivious to his surroundings and had no idea Hawk was walking toward him.

The slender man had no idea that death had come calling.

Hawk was so focused on the guy that his foot kicked a can, bringing the man’s head up and around to him.

Hawk froze.

Eyes the color of a summer sky caught and held his and blond hair fell out from beneath the gray beanie cap, curling softly.

Like a fuckin’ halo.