TO KILL IS TO SERVE

Chapter 23: The Boys' Night

 “Esther is putting the kids to sleep.” Jabez sat beside me and reached for the wineglass on the coffee table. “Samson will be coming down later, too.” He added and poured himself a glass of wine.

I did not ask. But I kept my thoughts to myself.

Jabez, although he sounds and acts stupid and dumb whenever he’s around his wife, is actually a meticulous half-Dutch guy, who can m*********r 20 people in a short breath. His codename was changed when he got married to Esther, five years ago, to make their codenames match. But no assassin in the double-digits code number can ever forget his previous long codename, Massamoordenaar, a Dutch equivalent for mass murderer. He joined THD a year after I did as 123rd hitman; nonetheless, he climbed the rank faster than anyone else and stayed hiatus after he reached Stealth in three years when the triplets were aged 1.

Unbelievable as it is, but I am on the same coffee table, breathing the same air, with one of the most notorious mass murderer assassins in THD, Mister Bloodstains.

Samson came after a while and so did Dad. Samson poured a drink on Dad’s wineglass and on his. I just stared at the scene and realized how crappy I am feeling right now. All I wanted is to go home early. I mumbled silently to myself. How did I get caught into sitting with the men of this household while they’re enjoying their wines as part of Dad’s scheme? I thought again, carefully not letting a word to slip from my mouth. This huge mansion has a mini bar downstairs and they still wanted to drink their expensive drinks in this coffee table while in the midst of silence.

“Grei,” Dad called and I turned to him with my asking face. “You’re still not into alcohol, not even wine?” He asked as he notices how bored and unpleasant I am feeling. I shrugged and sighed as my answer. I have 0 tolerance on alcohol and I might get wine-drunk after three f*****g sip. How dare I lose my cool in front of you, hitmen? Of course, I cannot say that out loud.

“Dad, you know how frail Grei is.” Samson butted in, with his feet placed on table. Dad just scowled at him and he looked away, seemed pissed. Dad was never fond of Samson for his egoistic and inconsiderate attitude. He’s more into kind, patient and gentle person, even though he is not one and it would be bullshit if he were one. Nonetheless, he still got one, which is Carol. He can get whatever he wants and that only proves that life is unfair.

Dad cleared his throat and asked for another pour from Samson. Samson did as told and avoided opening his mouth. “So,” Dad spoke and I looked at him. “I heard she’s back after her 50th kill.”

“She called me a while ago.” I exhaled and fixed my hair using my fingers. We will be graduating together in the next summer, huh? “I am not as interested as I was before, though.” I added when it seemed like Dad wants to hear more. I don’t have to be distracted by f*****g romance. That just doesn’t suit me. Dad simply nodded as he accepts my short response. I cannot say that her f*****g twin brother even visited me at my current residence.

Jabez put his wineglass down and loosened his belt. I bet he’s been feeling uneasy since dinner. He’s not the formal type of guy. I thought as I look at him. “How was your graduation and debut preparation, Grei?” He suddenly asked and I lifted my gazes to his stares. Those are the eyes that can kill masses in a blink. “Kill, I mean.” He added. I feel ecstatic by just imagining of how good he is.

I exhaled and removed my black shoes for my feet have been feeling crammed since earlier. I need to buy another pair of black shoes. I thought. “I’m very busy on investigating my target and my client and here is my busy self, talking to an assassin on break.” I answered and he chuckled. “When you took a break from assassination, did your guilty conscience take a break as well?” There was nothing but warm breathing that filled the air for a moment. How could the three of them look empathetic now, of all times? I gently furrowed my brows in frustration. I don’t want to f*****g kill myself yet but my mouth runs annoyingly at times.

“Grei.” Dad called to shut me up from triggering Jabez. I glanced at Dad once but took my gazes back to the one I’m talking to. He doesn’t want me to harm Jabez when I’m not holding a gun but just using my mouth? That’s another level of hypocrisy.

“Did it?” I asked again. I wonder if he can still do his fast jabs and hand slashes even on break for three years. I am so f*****g curious—it would be my death.

Jabez sighed and picked his wineglass again, and then he turned to me, with those glares that can make any weak man’s knees trembling. But he knows full well that won’t work on me. “Do you think that it’s my time to go back to serving through killing now?” He asked with his blank expression but eyes full of blood lust, as if he’s a lion, ready to devour me.

I shrugged and crossed my arms. “To kill is to serve.” I sardonically beamed as I recite the English name at the same time, the motto, of THD. “Maybe you’ll get rusty if you won’t try to move on from that day that—” And like lighting, everything surely happened in the blink of an eye whenever this guy’s involved. At least I am confirmed that he is still as fast as ever. Body grows old but skill doesn’t, indeed.

“Shut your tiny mouth, Agent.” He whispered as he loosened his well-controlled grip on my neck, as Dad told him so. Dad’s always handy Fairbairn-Sykes was probably pointed at his back for he did not make any movement after just grasping my neck. Samson was sitting pretty as he watches us with a bright grin plastered on his sickening face. “Stop picking a fight with me in front of my wife’s father and my boss.” He added and fixed his sitting position right after.

His control, speed and technique are still as exceptional as the day I saw a video through Info of him killing twelve well-trained body guards and a mafia boss. How could he still move that fast? I wondered as I watch closely. Assuming that he took a break, his moves could be slower and sloppier by now but he’s still remarkably fast. I was just in my first week of investigating Alora when I already demanded Info to get me another quick contract client or else I’ll get rusty. Mayhap Jabez is secretly training still. I nodded gently to myself as I conclude.

“Grei, stop being insensitive.” Dad spoke with a wineglass on his right hand and nothing on his left. Dad’s also as fast as lightning, obviously. He can hide and show his daggers and blades whenever it is necessary without any sound and needless movement. A pro killer, indeed. I nodded and uttered a half-assed apology whilst not looking at Jabez’s way.

Jabez entered his hiatus phase after his last major kill, three years ago. Everyone, including himself, thought that he’s meticulous and careful enough, but his last kill was actually Martha’s kidnapper, his very own apprentice. He went berserk that day and killed his first apprentice and his innocent family. He’s also killed his client, who turned out to be the kidnapper’s accomplice. The well-known Mr. Bloodstains felt the need to stop assassinating for he’s making quite a number of enemies for himself, in front or behind him and it even threatened the life of one of his children. Esther agreed to the idea of him taking a break and so the whole Loverios, for the sake of the kids.

But no assassin can come out clean—everyone will eventually be needed to come back into this field of work, get arrested by the authority or completely quit and get assassinated later, like Mister Saragossa back then. He knows that he needs to get back to his work anytime soon, but he’s still spineless to do so and gets agitated by the mentioning of that event, three years ago. I can’ believe you were f*****g notorious. I rolled my eyes by the thought of him wearing that title and being this feeble at the same time.

The silence filled the whole mansion for about some time, until I’ve decided to break the ice by standing up. I faced Dad and bowed slightly as I prepare myself to exit after putting my shoes on. “I’ll be on my way now, Dad.” I uttered and turned a little to his right and left and bowed as well, to Samson and Jabez. “Kindly tell Carol that I liked the meal tonight and Esther that she better teach the kids not to say asshole like it’s a nice word.” I added and stepped out of the area, with Jabez chuckling.

“We’ll have our next dinner when you’ve become a Stealth already, Grei.” Jabez called, now back in his innocent-sounding self.

“Yeah, looking forward to that.” I replied and walked off the mansion. Not at all. I rolled my eyes after getting out of the place.

This family dinner is not that bad as I expect it would be. Good thing Jabez managed to get a grip before I snap his neck, though. I thought and inserted both my hands on my side pockets. “Let’s have a blissful Monday, again.” I sarcastically chanted as I sigh, remembering how restless I currently am.