An Oath In Blood (Book #3)

Chapter 15: A Lousy Killer

CORVINA HAWKE

I stared at the new text from Warren, wondering if the man had a death wish. I had seen many twisted men in my life but no man had ever tried to pursue someone who was after his life. But there was Warren Hale, who had been flooding my phone with fifty messages, asking me to accompany him to the gala.

Warren:

Consider it my last wish.

You can't deny a man who's dying his last wish.

These were his last texts that had come in a few minutes ago. "Wow. The man is really desperate." I jumped about a foot in the air at Seb's voice. I pulled the phone close to my chest, hiding the screen from him as I turned to glance at him.

"What the hell are you doing?" I breathed out, spooked from him sneaking up on me like that.

"I came to get breakfast." He answered, tilting his head to look at my face. "But this is much more interesting. Who is this guy?" He pushed away from the couch that I was sitting on, walking into the kitchen. I got up and followed him; I had already prepped pancakes for breakfast.

"That is none of your business." I responded as I grabbed a pan and put it on the stove. My brother got to work, cutting up the strawberries in neat dices.

"Come on, Vina. Tell me." He pleaded. "Is this the same man whom you won't kill?" He asked and I looked at him, eyes wide. "Oooh, it is him, isn't it?" My brother grinned at me.

"H-how do you know that?" I asked as I focused on the pan in front of me.

"Lily told me." I rolled my eyes. Of course she did.

"And why were the two of you talking about me?" I spooned some batter onto the pan when it was hot enough.

"I asked her why you looked so troubled these days. I thought it was because of me, you know. I know you haven't spent time with me in a long time so it might be a burden for me to be here." His reply had me pausing and turning toward him.

"That's bullshit and you know it." I was quick to respond. "I know I haven't been around much since you got here but I am about to change that. And I don't think of you as a burden, okay? I am glad to have you here." I ruffled his hair, placing a kiss on the side of his head.

"Ew. Woman, calm down." He stepped away from me, making a face. But a smile betrayed him and as I flipped the pancake to the other side, he asked, "So, are you going to grant him his last wish?"\

"What?" I raised my eyebrows, surprised by his question.

"The man seems to be dying to go out with you, Vina. Are you going to say yes?" He popped a piece of strawberry into his mouth, looking at me expectantly as he chewed.

"I have already turned him down," I said. "About fifty times." I added after a moment.

"Why don't you just go out with him?" Seb seemed confused and I wondered if he was deliberately choosing to ignore the fact that this was the man I was supposed to kill.

"Because," I waved my hand around and Seb ducked as I almost hit in the face with the spatula in my hand. "Oh, sorry." I smiled sheepishly as I put the spatula on the plate by the stove. "But as I was saying, I can't go out with him because I am supposed to stab him in the gut soon and watch him bleed to death in front of my eyes." I sighed.

"But you don't want to." Seb pointed out. I hated how everyone around me seemed to see my reluctance to kill Warren. I hated that I knew they were right.

"I have to." I poured more batter on the pan and waited for the second pancake to be done. Sebastian nodded as he went back to cutting up fruits.

"So, do you want me to take on this man?" He sniffed, earning an amused look from me. "You know, I am your brother. Do you want me to be like, 'Hey man. Back off. That's my sister.'? Or like beat him up?" He mimicked throwing punches, his face set into a grimace.