Gold's Assassins

[ 5 ]

"I think you all know why you are here. I think you also know what will happen if I choose to prosecute you. It certainly will not be pleasant."

The holding cell in the prison wasn't awful, considering the other places we'd been stashed over the years. It had a white tile floor and grey concrete walls, but it was clean. The man speaking to us was just as antiseptic, with his trimmed silver beard and pristine white coat.

"Pardon my French, but who the hell are you to arrest us?" Xander sneered.

The man chuckled. "Who the hell am I?" He laughed again. "My dear boy. You know exactly who the hell I am."

"Andar Gold," muttered Radian.

"Very good, dear. Very good. That's a smart crew member you've got, Miss Verano," Gold said, glancing at me.

"Thanks," I replied. "Trained her myself."

Gold laughed again, goatlike. Taunting. "Hilarious!"

We all looked at each other. Gold kept laughing.

"Ah, nothing like a good laugh to keep your constitution bright and shiny!" Gold grinned at us. It quickly melted into a sneer. "Well. In that case, I will get straight to the point. I have a deal for you.

"Lidakun Riddin is margravine of the End Dynasty and an old enemy of mine. I have decide I want her dead, and you are going to do it for me."

There was silence. My eyes widened as I snuck a look at my crew. Their faces held the same stunned expression as mine. We may have been criminals, but we weren't killers. None of us were.

"And what if we don't?" Isaias challenged suddenly.

"Did I mention your lives are on the line?" Gold lashed back. "I trust you know where she resides." He grinned. "I believe someone has pulled some strings to get you out of here. You should thank him while you can. After all, you're going to betray him later."

Another wolfish smirk, and Andar Gold left us.