Dice 2 [h.s.]

XVI

"Reality is crushing the life out of me." - David Jones

-

I glanced between Harry and the pair of dice I had retired several months ago. I didn't know he'd found those or realized I stopped carrying them on me. Was he waiting for this moment?

"No. I can't go back there." I shook my head, beginning to rub my sweaty palms up and down my thighs.

"I need her. We need her." Harry threw on his stern, casino manager and ruthless killer, voice on.

We pulled up the building, both of us getting out without another word. I went straight up to the apartment as Harry dealt with the valet. As soon as I entered the room, all of the guys were already waiting for me standing around the kitchen counter.

None of them could look me in the eyes, reminding me of my very first day on the job. Everyone knew exactly who I was, while I knew nothing. This made me feel weak and enraged. I remember this feeling all too well.

"We have a mission tonight and everyone has to participate." Harry walked in behind me, pushing past me and walking over to the counter.

Harry kneeled down into our locked compartment under the island. He plugged the code in and began to take out various weapons. I pressed my hand to my chest as my blood pressure quickened when he pulled out the gun they had been specially made for me, to which I also retired.

"A team just like us is going to the poker tournament being held a few blocks south of the Alea casino. Our goal is to take them out. Each of us gets a target." Harry glanced towards me with a mix of worry and anger blended onto his face.

"She won't do it." Liam looked me up and down then back at Harry.

"She has to." Niall cleared his throat.

"Call your drivers, we leave now. We're already late." Harry pushed them all a new gun, leaving just his and mine on the table.

All of the guys walked past me, giving me sad looks. I tried to look away, hide in the shadows just like I used to. But it was hard now that I've made this name for myself. I'm no longer my naive self, as much as I try to convince myself I am.

"Kennedy." Harry spoke my name softly, forcing my eyes to look at him. He was holding my gun in his hand and the dice in the other.

"Please don't make me." I gulped down any tears.

"Xavier is our new Sucker's casino. Without you, we would have never taken down Leonardo and everyone who ever worked for him. And we can't do this next thing without you either." Harry pushed the gun and dice closer to me, forcing me to take a step back.

"I'm scared." I stiffened my posture and took a deep breath.

"I know. But I wouldn't be asking you to do this if I didn't think you could." Harry tightened his hand around the gun.

I can do it, that's not the problem. But I can't allow myself to. I don't want to taste the victory of taking someone's life. For people like us, it's our high. I've been trained to torture and kill. I've tried to put it all behind me but I know she still lingers.

That's what makes this so hard

"There can be a separation between you and the person you become." Harry took my hands and put them out, placing down the dice and gun in either hand.

"If I can't do it, promise me you can. So I don't let all of them down." I stuffed the dice in my pocket and stared down at the gun.

"I won't need to." Harry shook his head.