Open Your Heart

Chapter 1

The sound of the rain was barely audible over the hum of the city. Not that he cared too much for either at this point. After all these years in Pentagram, he'd learned to simply deal with the sounds around him; the honking horns, screaming, breaking glass and crunching metal, gunshots. All of it. Running his fingers through his long blond hair, he stared out from beneath the awning he'd taken cover under at the cars as they passed by. Could he get away with blaming the rain for his lack of clientele tonight? He doubted it, given how Ruskov was on the matter. No amount was enough, even if he met some given quota that the pimp swore was for everyone.

Sighing, he pulled the cigarette case out of his pocket and easily lit one, thankful his lighter hadn't gotten too wet to work. The subtle burn of the smoke filling his lungs was a welcomed change to the cool night air. Watching the street, his eyes fixated on a large black SUV limousine as it eased up to the curb. The back door opened and a massive spider stepped out into the rain, an umbrella in one of his many hands. With a quick look up and down the street, he popped the device open and stepped to the side to hold it for someone else. Another long drag on his cigarette accompanied the curious thoughts that ran through his mind like lightning. 'It's most likely a woman. Probably a very wealthy woman. She's probably even spoiled by a lover or something.' Dragging his eyes away from the car, he tried to fix the hem of his skirt, which just wasn't sitting properly today. It kept riding up on his thighs a bit too high, and he'd be damned if he showed off the goods for free in his line of work. The soft pitter patter of rain against an umbrella pulled his attention back in front of him, and to a broad chest in a black suit.

"You gonna move, or am I gonna make you?" There was a slight rasp to the low toned voice that peaked his interest instantly. Something about the tone, however, demanded obedience. Following the chest up, he found himself staring up into numerous blood red eyes topped with thick furrowed brows. When his mind finally caught up with what the man had said, he glanced behind him at the door to the building he was taking refuge in front of.

"Sorry." Stepping to the side, where he was barely under the awning anymore, he watched the two men as they entered and disappeared behind the tinted glass. Finishing his cigarette, he sighed with another look out at the rain. 'Should I just leave? This place is deader than anyone here because of this rain. There's no way I'm getting anymore clients.' With a flick of the cigarette butt, he glanced down the street in search of the next cover to swap to. After all, there was no reason for him to get soaked if he could avoid it. Starting toward the other side of the awning, and preparing himself to run, the door to the building flew open. He didn't have time to respond before the other slammed into him, throwing him to the ground and into the one puddle he'd been avoiding for the last hour.

The other party scrambled to stand, but he grabbed the man and pulled him down to the ground. "What the fuck?! Let me go you bitch!" As the man kicked and screamed, he quickly, and efficiently, searched for his wallet.

"No way I'm lettin' you go without payin' for that!" Finding the thick leather billfold, he shoved the stranger away from him. Pocketing the article, he pushed to his feet and watched the man as he tried to get his bearings.

"Mother fucker! You can't just-" The sentence was cut off as the other froze for a split second. A second later, he was falling limp to the ground, the gaping hole evident in the side of his skull. Amidst the rain and commotion, he hadn't heard the subtle, silenced shot that took the man out. Unperturbed by the loss, he quickly started going through the wallet to remove all cards and cash in its pockets. The steps that grew closer from the building didn't worry him in the slightest, but that didn't mean he didn't hear them.

"I'd say thanks for that, but I know it wasn't for my benefit that you shot him." Discarding the wallet, he finally turned to look at the other. Unsurprisingly, it was the shorter of the two from earlier.