The JAX Chronicles by Jen Lemons

Author:Jen Lemons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE:

FIRST HIT

Dinner was silent. I passed the time burying croutons and chicken with lettuce and eventually pushed my plate away. X took my untouched dinner and put our plates in the sink, sat on the stool beside me, and looked over the contract.

“Thought about your approach?” he said.

“Um … no. You gonna help me?” I said.

He looked up from the paper, face torn between pity and duty; Dark Knight all over again.

“Part of the test is to see how you handle it on your own.”

“Course it is. Why am I … Killing him?”

X’s eyes rose from the paper and focused on the wall. There was a heaviness to his voice. “Does it matter? Ace doesn’t give details. The less you know, the easier it is.”

Those warm, freckled-amber eyes were black holes, sucking up all human emotion, but I understood. The mark needed to remain a lifeless photo. Knowing info caused sympathy, something we couldn’t afford. They were a job; a contract to be filled.

“So, what’s your strategy?” he said.

I took the paper from him and read the info for the twentieth time. “Well, Ace said he lives alone.”

I strummed my fingers on the counter. Getting to him was one thing, but killing and getting out without a trace was something else.

“I need tools to pick the lock.”

X seemed relieved I knew what to ask for. Jerk.

“Be right back,” he said and disappeared into the hall.

He returned with a black zippered pouch.

“We call it our Pick Kit,” he said. “Has everything you need. Just like in training. Remember to be fast, otherwise yo--”

“I’ll blow my cover and won’t get in. X, I know.”

“I know. I just …” He handed me the kit.

“Thanks. Still no other way?”

“Knocking,” he said. “Though I doubt he’ll let you in once he sees the gun in your hand.”

“Anyway. So break in, blast his head off, and leave. Sounds easy enough.”

His brow cocked and dad face started to form. “That’s your plan?”

“You got a better one?”

He did a palms up as a reminder no helping.

I picked up the contract and stood.

“Come on. Let’s go.”

“You sure you’re ready? You don’t want to think this through first?”

What I wanted was to crawl into a hole and sleep this nightmare away.

“I’m good,” I said.

His dad face questioned my answer. I swear mind-reading was another of his super powers. He stood and followed me into the hall.

I changed into my black cargo pants and an old black tee, headed to my bathroom and ran the sink. I splashed cool water on my face, cut the flow, and toweled off. As I lowered the towel I looked at my reflection. My aura flickered between me and Creature, as if trying to tune her in. Over the past four months she’d grown stronger, darker. The more I learned and tried to harden myself to kill, the weaker her cage became. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold her back.

She waved to me through the bars, confident of a future release.

I will destroy you.

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