Chapter Kill Who?
It had been 5 months since my first hired kill and ever since then the assignments just kept coming in. They ranged from rapists to murderers to down right just evil people. After my 15th one I had finally gotten past the jitters and was able to hold back my emotions. I was a killing machine and an unstoppable one but nothing could prepare me for what was about to happen next.
My gut was telling me there was something wrong so I opened the door of my room and the strong smell of caramel and bourbon hit me like a ton of bricks. It was almost sickening it was so strong and the thought of following it only made my stomach turn more. I rounded the corner running smack dab into the same noxious smell. My eyes watered and my nose started to run as I knocked on Romero's door hoping the pungent odor wasn't coming from in there.
Damon opened the door and ushered me in while a group of men sat there in a heated discussion with Romero. He noticed me enter and immediately stood up from behind his desk. The other four men turned their attention to me as Romero began to talk.
"Gentlemen, this is Li, my number one hired hand. She is extremely skilled and has completed every job in record time."
"Li, this is the Honorable Justice Julius. He has come to us with a very important mission."
I looked between Romero and Julius as they both eyed me cautiously. There was something evident in their stares that caused an uneasy feeling inside me but I was intrigued by the interaction so I stood back and waited for him to talk.
"Li, I don't know if you are aware or not but this year is the year that the new Wolf King is to be elected. This tradition started thousands of years ago when one Alpha male was chosen by a secret council every 300 hundred years. And this year the selection is to be made on the first full moon of the lunar year, which according to our calendar is four months away. Now we as ambassadors have had trouble with these rulers for as long as they have been appointed and we have always been around to clean up their messes but we have come to an executive decision and have decided that whoever the newly elected King is, needs to be taken care before the blue moon which also happens to be his coronation night."
My eyes began to roam around the room at the six men who were waiting for my reply.
"What did he do wrong?" I asked in confusion. No one has ever asked us to eliminate such a prestigious citizen before especially a presumably innocent one so naturally my mind was whirling at the possible accusations.
"Let's just say it would be better for our species if the National Werewolf Association would take on a more diplomatic view of ruling. The kings who have been appointed to rule us have had certain issues with being guided in their decision making and we are always the ones having to fix the problems. Plus once this particular wolf becomes appointed they are immune to any and all punishment. They have adapted a laissez-faire attitude and allow too much to slide."
"So can't you just overthrow him? I mean killing him doesn't seem fair if he hasn't done anything illegal." I said as I crossed my arms over my chest and gave him a glare. If Romero thought I was going to do this he was crazy. I wasn't going to kill an innocent man because this little cheese ball didn't like how they ruled. I mean this is the King we're talking about and the repercussions could be severe.
"Well then, how does punishing elderly pack members who have done anything wrong make you feel? What about abusing women and children of their packs to prove their title? Raping young she wolves to increase their pack numbers with strong genes? Poisoning neighboring packs for property and sacrificing innocent pups for the sake of their own families? The list goes on and on but I don't have all day. The things I have told you are what the potential candidates for King have on their records."
I was speechless. Did these men really do what they were accused of? And if so how would I know who would be elected King? How would I even do this?
"Julius, I'm sure you understand that I have to discuss this with my team before a decision is made. How long before you need an answer?"
"I will give you a week but I will also give you all the information you need for each man to help you with your decision." He nodded at me and shook Romero and Damon's hands.
Damon escorted them to the front door while Romero and I sat in his office staring at each other. Did that just happen? Were we really just asked to murder a King?
"Are we really going to do this?" I asked as he paced around the room.
The door to his office opened and Damon walked in holding a stack of folders containing information on the Alpha's that Julius thought could potentially become King. He handed them to me and sat downing in a chair across from Romero's desk. I opened the first one skimming through the information, cringing at the allegations before me. Blackmail, extortion, and shady business practices were just a few of the crimes that were being committed within the pack not to mention the drugs being trafficked in from the border directly through their territory.
I closed it and moved onto the next one quickly flipping through the notes about vicious murders and inhuman practices on their grounds. I slammed it shut then moved onto the next one which seemed worse than the last. One after one the folders were sifted through and the decision to do this seemed easier, although it would have been better to just kill them all after what I had seen in these files. I tossed the folders onto Romero's desk and sat down into a chair with a huff. I rubbed my face with my hands as I tried to forget some of the things I had just seen.
"Li, we don't have to make a decision tonight. I need to make sure you are going to be highly protected if I'm even going to consider letting you do this." He said as he searched my face for any sign of hesitation.
"I want to do this. I need to, these...these men have all done despicable things to their pack members and even their families. I can't let that go unnoticed and neither should you."
"Now that I know how you feel, I will take it into consideration but ultimately the final decision is mine." He said as he grabbed the folders from the corner of his desk and began flipping through them. His face became hard and I knew he was feeling exactly like I did. If I didn't know better, he would be on the phone with Julius tomorrow morning accepting the job. I felt a twinge of guilt deep within my body trying to seep its way out of my skin but just like all other emotions I locked it back into its dark hiding space and threw away the key.