The Playboy's Assassin

A Ball of Sunshine: Vanessa.

“Rise and shine, Sunshine.” I tapped his cheek hard and his eyes blinked open then he groaned.

“Oh God! My head is banging,” he complained.

“Nice to see you hale and hearty. Now get out of the car.”

“What?” he grabbed his head and frowned.

“I’m sure I didn’t speak Chinese just now. Get out of the car!”

“What? Why?”

“Hmm! Let me see. I saved your ass, warned you of your impending death and got you out of the city. You’re welcome. Now, get out of the car.”

“I can’t. You can’t leave me, I have nowhere else to go.”

“Sorry, I don’t take strays. You know what, I’ll get out of the car. They’d probably be looking for it anyway.” I got out of the car and he followed me.

“Scarlett, you can’t leave me. You saved me once so please help me. They’re going to kill me,” he said in a voice way too loud for this conversation.

“You might want to say that louder, I’m sure half the block didn’t hear you the first time.”

“Please.” He stepped in front of me. I glared at him. “Would you like me to punch you again?”

“Help me, please. I don’t want to die,” he whispered. His brown orbs pleaded at me the same way Arabella’s had and I clenched my jaw.

“It doesn’t matter if I help you, you’re dead either way. Helping you is what got me into this mess, I should’ve killed you when I had the chance.”

“Then kill me now, I’m a dead man anyway. What does it matter if it’s now or in my apartment later?”

I chewed the inside of my lip, glaring at him fiercely. I should kill him now and get it done with. It’ll solve all my problems and everything would go back to the way it was. But I couldn’t, I already killed one innocent person. I didn’t know why they wanted him dead but he didn’t seem guilty of any crime to me. Other than being a p*****t of course. Killing him wouldn’t make them stop coming after me anyway. Sniper wasn’t one to forgive mistakes. He caught on to my hesitation.

“I’ll pay you,” he added to sweeten the deal and I scoffed.

“You can’t afford me.” I folded my arms and stared him down.

“Right. But I’ll do whatever you want, I’ll be your boy toy, clean your shoes, paint your nails. Anything.”

“Eek!” I grimaced. “You’re pathetic.” I rolled my eyes and he pouted, making him look even more pathetic. “Fine. I’ll help you.”

“Yes!” He did a fist pump in the air and I sighed. I was already regretting my decision.

“From now on, you’ll do as I say. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He smirked, then licked his lips. “I like it when you get bossy.”

Did he seriously just flirt with me?

I ignored him and surveyed my surroundings. There was a small coffee shop across the road, not far from where we stood. I walked towards the place and he followed me. “Where are we going?” he asked.

“Now, we eat.”

********

“There’s still something I don’t understand. Why would anyone want to kill you?” I asked as I took a bite out of my bagel.

He took a chunk out of his burger. “I don’t understand too. I mean I’m lovable and not to mention cute. Everyone loves me,” he said as he chewed. I grimaced as I watched him take another bite. He had ordered a mountain of a burger with two chocolate-filled doughnuts with sprinkles and a mocha. I didn’t understand how he could eat all that and not have an ounce of fat in his body. It was all muscle. I know from having to log him around all day. He ate like an animal and chewed loudly. Even I wanted to kill him for just the way he was eating alone.

I decided to ignore him and took a sip of my coffee. “How do you enjoy that anyway?” he asked, pointing to my coffee. It was a double expresso. I liked my coffee without milk or sugar, just plain coffee.

“What’s wrong with it?” I took another drink for added effect and he shuddered.

“No wonder you’re so bitter.”

“Careful there, I might change my mind and decide to dump your ass.”

“Fine.” He rolled his eyes.

“You eat too much and you talk too much. Did anyone ever tell you that?”

He laughed. “That’s what I do for a living. I eat and I talk. What else were you expecting?”

“Uh! You lost me there.”

“I’m an influencer, didn’t you know that? I go to places and talk about them on my website, leaving a review about the place. The free food and free clothing and products are just one of its perks.”

I frowned. “So you just sit in front of your laptop and make videos?” That would explain why I never saw him go to work.

“Basically, yes. When I’m not out exploring. And not to brag but I have a huge fan base.” He winked.

I scoffed. I never saw that coming. I looked him over and saw him in a different light. He was just a lazy bumpkin paid to sit on his ass all day. “That makes no sense. You’re a freaking nobody. Why would anyone want you dead?”

“Uh! My ten million followers would beg to differ. I’m famous, I’m not a nobody.” He drank his mocha and belched. In my face. His breath smelled of cheese and beef. I wrinkled my nose.

“Don’t get too familiar. I wouldn’t hesitate to snap your neck.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Noted.” He raised his hand in surrender.

“You’re a famous guy with no money. Remind me again why you’re so important? I have a target on my back because of you and you’re not even worth anything.” I shook my head. How did I get myself into this? Since when am I so soft? The job was simple. Go in, get to know the target and kill him. Why has that suddenly become so hard to do?

“Well if it’s any consolation, I am great in bed and I certainly wouldn’t mind relieving you of your stress.” He smirked cockily and trailed his finger on my hand. I clenched my jaw and splashed my coffee on his face.

“Imbecile!” I spat, grabbed my backpack and got out of my seat.

“Oh my goodness! You’re crazy,” he shrieked. I ignored him and dropped the bills for our meal on the table then walked out of the shop.

“Look what you did to my robe,” he whined as he came after me. “As if it wasn’t bad enough that I’m parading around town barefoot and dressed in my nightwear, now I’m soaked.” He glared at me. Steam flying out of his nostrils like a raging bull.

“Suck it up. You’re going to get a change of clothing anyway.” He was so dramatic. This was going to be a nightmare.

“Argh! I hate you,” he shouted.