Chapter 19

Paige POV

Rolling over, I scurried my hand to the other side of the bed... But it was emptied. Opening my eyes I searched the room for Arlington but he was already gone. Taking a deep breath, I let out a sigh of anxiety, today was the day real killers will be separated from the clichés, and I can't help but wonder what were the assignments, deep down I knew it was something important, but I can't keep my self from thinking about it.

"Paige," Mary knocked lightly on the door,

"Yes— umm... Give me one second—" I managed to pull the sheet over my nakedness before she barged in,

"What happened in here," she stepped up into the room, looking around at the decors Arlington and I knocked over last night,

"No clue... Probably a mini earthquake," I chuckled nervously,

Narrowing her eyes into tiny slits, she did something I didn't expect, she smiled.

"Did it shake off your clothes too?" She taunted,

Biting my lower lip, I shifted my gaze to the corner of the room,

"What is it Mary, it's early... I need to rest for later,"

"Well, I saw this at your door," she waved around a brown envelope, my assignment,

"The door is way too high so I guess that's why they didn't get a chance to push it under,"

Reaching upwards, I used my other hand to secure the fabric over my breast,

"Thank Mary," I playfully snatched it from her,

"And—" she continued, "I wanted to know what you wanted for breakfast,"

"No... I just want to sleep... Where is Priscilla?"

"Somewhere around... Probably drooling over the trainee's irresistible bodies," she chuckled.

"They training?"

"No... Not really, well I don't think so, Miguel isn't there, I think he is in his room though,"

"He isn't with Arlington?"

"No... Why would he be?"

"Oh, I don't know..." I scratched the back of my head, I couldn't tell her why I thought he would have been with Arlington because then I would have to tell her how I know he was out,

"Ok. So... Breakfast?"

"Tell the chef that I would love a cup of peppermint tea and scrambled eggs," I smiled,

"Coming right up," she skipped away, closing the door softly behind her,

Taking a deep breath, I stared down at the envelope in my hands, my lips were slightly parted, this is only an assignment I thought, so why am I nervous. Closing my eyes, I ripped the envelope open, pulling out the information sheet and the picture of the target. His name is Rodriguez, a mastermind behind many human trafficking rings and extorting small business owners, he seems Caucasian, straight black hair topping with a cunning smile, but I wasn't fooled by it, he was a bad man. Now, this is the tricky part, I thought I was going to teach Rodriguez a lesson, a good spanking... Turns out I am wrong, this was not only my first assignment, it was a mission.

Picking my clothes from the floor, I slipped into them, pacing back and forth in the bedroom, can I do this, it's not like I haven't killed before but can I do this? Miguel says I am the best but shit is different on sandbags and mannequins, I am going up against real people and I could get killed. What have I done?

"Paige," I heard Miguel's voice on the other side of the door, "I am... Sorry about last night—last night— you should be able to date who you want to I guess... I got a little carried away,"

Opening the door, I confronted him, hold up Rodriguez picture to his face,

"Oh... You got your assignment... Good,"

"I can't... I can't do this,"

"Hey... Hey... Hey," he took my hands into his, "You’ll be fine, I know you will,"

"I have killed a man before Miguel, and it's not the greatest feeling in the world... Trust me,"

"That's how I felt when I killed for the first time too, but it either him or me... So think about it in that way, I am sure you don't do want to die, and our boy Rodriguez here doesn't have the nicest record," he chuckled, trying to cheer me up,

"How the hell am I going to kill this man, in the picture he is surrounded by bodyguards,"

"You know Paige, a woman's greatest gift is seduction... You all do it daily without even realizing it, "

That's my way in, that's how I will get to Rodriguez, I have to make sure he believes I am going to have sex with him, that's the only way I am going get him alone,

"Is there a possibility that I can book  reservations to see him?"

"It's already done. I was just waiting for you to figure it out, the only you guys have to do is go, make the kill, and get out,"

"You say that like it's easy,"

Chuckling lowly, Miguel walked towards the door, "Be ready by 7:00 PM, however, I want to meet with everyone before the departure,"

"Paige," Mary hurried in, "Here is your breakfast," she set the tray down the bed, "Thanks,"

"Oh, and I just confirmed for that Arlington is out, not sure where he went but one of his men told me that he left this morning, and he didn't want any of them to tag along,"

"Oh, why is that?"

"He usually travels alone if he is visiting his sister and her mother, so I am guessing that's where he has gone... Sebastian will accompany him sometimes but... As you know he isn't here anymore,"

"Oh, okay, I really need to rest... So talk to you later,"

"Ok, make sure you come back to us,"

Smiling faintly, I nodded, watching as she skipped away. Shoving the tray aside, I climbed into bed, I have lost my appetite now, and all I need is sleep.

Hearing a loud bang on the door, I jumped out of my sleep, my heart pounding out of my chest,

"Paige," Miguel wailed,

"Umm... Come in,"

"It's time," he threw a small bag on the bag, "Get dress,"

Pulling the zipper aside, I opened the bag, it was an outfit, lingerie, knee-height boots, a black wig with a blow bang, and a brown coat, this perfect to hide my daggers, I thought. Quickly I showered, slipping into costumes, Mary helped me with my make-up and tacking the wig down,

"You look... Different," Mary mumbled, "In a good way,"

Standing up, I walked over the full-body mirror, jaws dropped as I staring at my reflection, I did look different, with bold red lips, and smoky eyeshadow, the wig sat neatly on my head as if it was my natural hair, Mary was right though, I did look different,

"Thank you, Mary," I flashed her a smile as I walked towards the door, "And I will be back I promise," I ambled away, leaving seated on the bed in the room. Walking down the steps, the heels of the boots clicked with every step I took, it was distracting.

"All you need now is red nose waitlist," Ice walked up next to me as I strolled down the hall, "To complete your clown attire,"

"And what about you?"

"What about me," he adjusted his necktie,

"Since you're all dress down in a fancy suit and all, I figured you will be collecting the admission fee from patron to attend the circus show," I shrug my shoulders before the doors of the training room,

"You get way too much credit than you really deserve,"

"Maybe. But remember I kicked your ass a lot, give up." I joined the rest of the recruits,

Good evening," Miguel tucked his hands behind his back, "Tonight you all will know if you belong to the life of crime or if you're not. You all have received your assignments and after that, I will know if you're ready to join us as we stand by Arlington's side. Now... Soon as you're in the building, you will give thirty-minutes to get in, get the job done and get out... If you get caught you will be killed before they can extract any information out of you... If you fail, I will kill you. There will be a car waiting for you, so every minute count, use your time wisely... You can go ahead and chose your weapons... Any questions?"

While hiding my daggers, I looked around the room, I saw a raised hand, great let the stupid questions begin,

"Yes," Miguel pointed on the person,

"What if the car leaves us?"

"Don't let that happen... We are running late so, let's go,"

Matching outside, we found waiting drivers with our names on the place,

"Cool," I heard Ice breathe out behind me,

Quickly, I paced up to the one with my name, sliding my backside across the interior of the car as the driver made his way to the driver's seat, noticing a handbag next to me, I snatched it opened, inspecting what is inside, but it was only whips, handcuffs, chains, another part of my costume I suppose, well here we go I thought as the driver brings the engine to life, going about our way.