Page 43 of Killer Confections

The elevator dings and Dom stalks out, his gun drawn as he clicks off the safety. We move together, throwing the fire escape doors open and following the clicking of heels.

“She’s sloppy,” my friend observes. “She’s out here with no protection.”

“Wrong,” Alana interjects. “There’s been a distress call from the South syndicate. Three different assassins have answered and are on their way, but it’ll take them hours to reach her.”

“Really fuckin’ sloppy,” I say. “And really fuckin’ dead. We’ll make quick work of this, then move Thalia’s location.”

“I’ve already got her another hide-out on the opposite side of the city,” Alana smiles into the wire, sounding proud.

“Good work,” Dom praises as we hit the first floor.

There’s scuffing in the distance and we track the sound until we round the end of the hallway. Thalia is straddling the blonde, pinning her with tight legs. Jane kicks, harsh grunts leaving her as the two struggle against each other.

I spot the gun in Jane’s left hand. Thalia holds the woman’s wrist in a bone-breaking grip before tucking the arm under hers and using her fist to hyperextend Jane’s elbow. There’s a loud pop as the blonde assassin screams and the gun clatters to the ground.

“You’re so fucking stupid,” Thalia laughs, the sound maniacal. “I know you’ve been onto me. I had the plan to break into your room and waterboard you for information, but it seems my family can’t stop meddling.”

Thalia grips the woman’s right arm, tossing her legs around until she has the blonde in an armbar. She wastes no time lifting her hips and breaking the bones with a sickening crack.

Jane wails, tears streaming down her face as thick black makeup leaves tracks on her cheeks. “Fuck you!”

“I want your teeth for a necklace,” Thalia smiles wickedly at her prey before pulling out a pocket knife.

“Seriously—” Dom begins to protest, but I put a hand on his shoulder.

“Let her work. Let’s see how this goes.”

We watch silently as Thalia shoves a piece of cloth into Jane’s mouth before digging the knife into her gums. The gag muffles the screams of the assassin, and she can’t move either of her broken arms as my sister saws away at the bone.

Thalia pops out a few teeth, collecting them in her hands as she goes. Once she’s content, she ceases Jane’s sobs by plunging the knife into her neck.

Everything stops. The blonde’s limbs go slack and the only sounds are the light trickles of her blood as it leaves her body.

My sister’s head whips around, and she looks pissed. “I had it under control! What are you doing here?”

I shrug. “Rowan didn’t seem to think so, and now you have the whole South syndicate in a frenzy.”

“Fucking cowboys,” Thalia stands, staring down at the dead woman. “Let’s get this cleaned up, then call Row. I’m sure he’s dying to bitch me out.”

Dom collects a suitcase and a few blankets for us. We all work silently, mopping up the remains and using a harsh cleaner from the supplies we brought to get rid of any evidence. Dom and I fold Jane’s body up before cramming her down into the suitcase and zipping it closed.

Once everything is squared away, we carry the evidence back to the room and get on a call with our brother.

“IF YOU WOULDN’T WASTE YOUR TIME DOING STUPIDSHIT…” Rowan bellows into the speaker. The phone rests on the room’s desk as we all sit around it, listening to the ass-chewing of the century.

Thalia’s eyes find mine, and my lips pull back in an over-exaggerated wince. A hand flies to her mouth as she attempts to hold her snort in.

“…AND YOU HAD BETTER NOT BE FUCKING LAUGHING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I WILL DRIVE UP THERE, THALIA!”

Her lips turn downward, her face looking ridiculous as she finally lets a single, loud snort out. My shoulders shake as I bury my face in a hand.

There’s a slew of curses from the other end of the phone before it goes silent and Rowan gives a loud, defeated sigh. “Get to your new hotel and try not to do anything else stupid. Atlas and Dominic will handle the body. I’ll deal with the South syndicate and Alana will erase the camera feeds, but when you get back, you’re paying that fucking fine. Do I make myself clear?”

My sister rolls her eyes, “Crystal.”

“Good,” he barks. “I’ll keep in touch.”

He hangs up, and we break out in hysterics. Dom shakes his head at our antics.