Secrets of the Crown Assassins

38

PHOENIX

I was back in Chicago—the city of thieves, Ravens, and the stench of shit.

Home sweet home.

I could sense Tressa's presence behind me as she carefully drew a fake Raven tattoo on her arm. Though the heirs were hiding behind the dumpster farther into the alley, I could hear every single word they shouted to each other. Mostly, it was Damien babbling and Arielle telling him to shut up.

"Should I draw one for you too?" Tressa asked as she finished up.

I shook my head. "Already drew it."

Tressa nodded and threw her used supplies into the dumpster before joining me at the mouth of the alley. She took a deep breath, fiddling with her multiple hidden weapons.

It was my idea to add Tressa in the plans. As the others schemed, I joined in—despite my father's protests—and suggested that we use Tressa to get more information on the Ravens. I knew she would look deeper and investigate Lucas's betrayal. She hated the Ravens and couldn't help herself from pursuing them.

I was right. She used our many connections throughout the city to piece together security camera footage of Lucas's operations as a Raven. Mostly, he seemed to haul supplies in and out of the Raven base, and probably gave them a cut of any stolen goods in hopes of getting promoted. It wasn't much, but it was all we needed.

Hiding along one of the paths Lucas used to enter the Raven base, the Crowns, Tressa, and I would hijack a supply truck and enter the Raven base. Once inside, Damien would find the Ravens' servers, extract any information he could find, and place bombs around the base. The rest of us would find Indigo Fluor and break her out. As soon as we get out, Damien would detonate the bombs and topple the Raven base, setting them back for at least a while.

"Damien, that's not funny!"

Damien laughed in response before hissing in pain. "It was a prank!"

"I could've died if I tried to use them."

"Oh, come on! As soon as you realized the bullets were toy darts, you would've sliced people to bits with your blades."

"I don't care! Don't touch my guns!"

Damien mimicked her in a high-pitched voice before hissing in pain again. I rolled my eyes. They never change.

Tressa eyed them over her shoulder. She wasn't too keen about working with the people who threatened her life only days earlier, but her thirst for revenge on the Ravens won out.

"Target incoming!" Damien shouted from where he was tracking the trucks. The alley fell silent.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to conjure up tears as the hiss of the moving vehicle echoed through the silent street. It was the factory worker side of the city, so everyone was either working or napping. But, it was still ripe with crime. The perfect conditions.

I let my hair cover my face and opened my eyes. Tears started to slip down my cheeks.

When the truck got close enough, I stumbled into the street, acting panicked as I looked side to side. I raised my hands in front of my face in feigned shock as the truck screeched to a halt. The main driver jumped out.

"Are you all right?" he asked, approaching.

I shivered as the memories from long ago came rushing back. There were too many similarities.

As the passenger stepped out of the truck slowly, I shuddered out, "Yes, but—I just—"

"It's okay," the guy said gently as he slowly knelt down in front of me only a few feet away. I almost pitied him. "What happened?"