Serpent's Kiss

Chapter 10

I listened as the buzzing office grew quieter. I leaned back in my chair, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the sun setting over the buildings. It was time to get moving and finish the task at hand.

I walked to my car, popped the trunk, and retrieved my backpack. I placed it in the passenger seat and slid into the driver’s seat. I pressed the start button, and the engine roared to life. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes to get into the right frame of mind. When I opened my eyes, I was ready.

I drove down a seldom-used access road that ran along his property line. Changing my clothes quickly inside the car, I donned the black and white skull mask. I put on my black leather gloves and hopped out of the car.

I tucked the silenced pistol into the holster of my pants and moved silently through the small wooded area. I scaled the fence with ease and approached the house. Climbing up the side of the home, I reached the back patio door. When I tried the door, I found it locked. I inserted the snake-branded key, quietly opened it, and slipped inside. I quickly navigated through the room and wasted no time. I heard the soft sounds of a television coming from another room and headed toward his study, where he should be. I heard his wife call for him, followed by the sound of his chair sliding back against the floor. I slipped into the closet outside the room and quietly closed the door.

I listened as he walked by, hearing his footsteps on the stairs. I stepped out of the closet and made my way into his study. I quickly glanced around the room and positioned myself so that I would have a clear shot when the door opened. I pulled the gun from my holster and waited for him to return.

A few minutes later, I heard his footsteps echoing down the hallway. When the door opened, he entered the room and walked back to his desk. After the door shut behind him, I aimed at the back of his head and said, “The Serpent’s send their regards.” When he froze, I shot him. His body fell to the floor. I walked over, took his phone, and snatched the pendant necklace we all wore from his neck.

“You don’t deserve to wear this,” I whispered through gritted teeth. I checked his phone and saw that he didn’t have a passcode or fingerprint to unlock it. Good; I wasn’t in the mood to deal with any complications tonight. I walked over to the desk, unhooked his laptop from its power source, and placed it inside my backpack along with his phone.

I slipped out of the house undetected and retraced my steps. When I reached my car, I called the unknown number. Once the call connected, I said, “It’s done. I have the phone and laptop secured.”

“Take it to the spot where your mission began and leave it on the desk. Your payment will be deposited in two business days,” the voice on the other end instructed before hanging up.

I drove back to the house and walked along the pathway. I pulled the phone, laptop, and serpent pendant necklace from my backpack and placed them neatly on the table. I glanced around the room for a moment before leaving.

I headed back to my house, pulling into the garage. I walked to my office, opened up the secret passageway and put away my items I brought with me. I closed everything up and headed into the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of bourbon.

I settled onto the couch in silence, slowly sipping my bourbon. The warmth of the alcohol spread through my body, soothing my frayed nerves. After finishing my drink, I placed the empty glass on the table in front of me and leaned my head back to rest against the couch.

Taking a life used to bother me, but if I didn’t do as I was instructed, consequences would follow. I was numb to it now, just another job, another round of payments. Just another day in the society I was born into. My father, as terrible of a business owner as he was, used to be just as lethal as I am now. My mother, on the other hand, knew nothing of his “business dealings.” I remember her getting upset when he would have to go out of town for weeks growing up. When I was a teenager, he told me the truth, told me I would inherit everything if I followed the same path.

It was why I was put through so much training as a child. It all made sense. I needed to learn how to defend myself. Being the son of a dangerous man, I needed to be able to protect myself then and now.

My eyes closed as I slowly drifted to sleep on the couch, only waking in the middle of the night after dreaming of her.