Page 18 of Marked for Execution

“You weren’t handlingshit. Now, tell me where the weapons are so I can clear my tab and get the hell out.”

I laughed humorlessly at that. “Whatever. Fine. Let’s get this shit done so you can get back and rest up before training tomorrow.”

“What the hell? Once I’m done here, I’m done. That was the deal.”

I kept walking until I reached the back of the house where there was a dented cabinet full of weapons. “The deal,Sili, was that you become part of my team while we keep pretending you're a boy. But with the way shit went down with Mrs. Reyes, I’m sure your cover will be blown by now. But who knows? She’s a recluse. You might get lucky.”

“Seems likeshe’sthe one who wanted to get lucky. How didIend up with this asshole?” she grumbled under her breath, making me bark out a laugh.

I grabbed the first weapon closest to me and shoved it into her chest. She gave me a little snarl and yanked it out of my hand, walking toward the little table I had set up nearby. She sat down with more attitude than her little body should have and stared at me.

She shouldn’t look so attractive with that gun in her hand.

“Well? Are you just going to stand there? I need some rags, or whatever you use to clean this stuff.”

That little bite to her words had my insides boiling.Rags first. Discipline later. Narrowing my eyes, I ripped my shirt off and tossed it at her face. It fell into her lap and left her mouth hanging open.

“Use that. The old rags were too worn out. I expect half of that cabinet to be done by the end of today.” Turning, I walked away toward the downstairs restroom and slammed the door.

The doctor’s puncture wound on my arm still itched. The fucker probably didn’t even sanitize his needles. I leaned my hands against the sink and stared at my foggy reflection in the dirty cabinet mirror. I cracked my neck as the aches from today caught up with me. Opening the cabinet door, I grabbed the bottle of pain killer I had stashed away. There were only a few pills left. I popped one into my mouth and ground down, letting the bitter chemical taste fill my mouth.

I stared at the old wounds I had on my chest, each one a memory from a time I couldn’t seem to forget.

The smell of flames burned my lungs as I ran towards my home, hoping nothing had happened to her.

The screams of women and children pierced my ears like razors while my heart beat out of my chest. I almost slid past the door as my hands grabbed the edge to stop my momentum. Waving my hand in front of my face, the metallic smell overwhelmed my senses.

My heart stopped.

There, lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood, was my wife, with her stomach and legs mutilated beyond recognition. Her eyes were glazed over in an expression of fear, turned to the side.

Darting my eyes around the room, I took tentative steps, trying to see if our unborn child was alright…but there was nothing. Nothing but the blood of my wife christening the grounds of this place.

My fist landed on the mirror, coating it with red cracks. The pain in my knuckles dislodged the memory as I buried my face in my hands.

Chapter 4

Fitri

It had been strange around these men the past few months.

After clearing my tab and completing training with them to their satisfaction, I found a sense of camaraderie growing between us. When Gunner and Reed found out about my truth, they didn’t even skip a beat. Everything was business as usual. They had been good about keeping my secret around others, and that was something I appreciated greatly.

“Again!”

I threw my punch at his face, but he dodged, twisted, and shouldered me in the back then elbowed me into the ground.

I groaned and turned over, staring at the sky, trying to catch my breath. What the hell? How did he move so fast?

His hand stuck out toward me, and I grabbed it, letting him lift me up. Reed’s smile took over his face as he released my grip and got back into position.

“Come on, kid. You’re getting better, but it’s not good enough. What if you call for backup and we don’t make it in time? You need to stay alive long enough for us to make it there.”

He was right.

“Quit yacking, you two. Again!” Eliseo’s voice booms, and I flinch subtly. Asshole.

Reed’s eyes sharpened on me, but he didn’t say a word; he only lifted his hand and curled his fingers in the come-hither motion.