The Hitman

The Attack

Nick Sievers' POV

Time seemed to slow. Everything was so....so distant. It was as if I was just watching a movie, on onlooker and nothing more.

The assassin pulled back their arm in a whiplike motion, their fingers deftly grasping the handle of a knife.

And then their hand was moving forward, striking like a cobra. The knife flew forward, racing for its target.

I held out a hand and exhaled. My only chance was to catch it midair. I closed my eyes as the knife neared.

Silence. Total, crushing silence. Had the target been hit?

Slowly, I cracked an eye open. No one was on the ground. There was no blood painting the boardwalk.

My eyes moved to my hand.

Which gripped the handle of the knife.

I turned my head back to the person the knife had intended to hit.

To my father.

He was as shocked as I was that I had saved him. Like a fish out of water, he opened and closed his mouth, trying to make the words come out.

I shook my head. "Don't think I did this because I care about you." I smirked. "We only want you for the money."

There was a battle cry as the would-be assassin, along with several others, rushed out of the boats and toward us. I cracked my knuckles and couldn't help but grin. This would be fun.

The first man who rushed me was bulkier. I shook my head and sidestepped him, causing the man to stumble. He was now dangerously close to the side of the boardwalk. I lifted my foot and kicked the back of the man's head. Unconscious, he toppled forward into the water with a splash.

I wiped a stray water droplet from my cheek and curled my fingers inward. Finally, some action.

Brook Aldridge's POV

I didn't know who threw the first punch, but suddenly my fist was in her face as her hand connected with my stomach. Blood pooled in her mouth as I stumbled back, clutching my stomach.

That moment was only a brief second, before our eyes locked again and we were each filled with a burning determination.

I dodged her speeding fist and brought an uppercut of my own. Her icy blue eyes registered pain for a moment, before she tilted her head back and slammed it into mine.

Stars burst in my vision and I took a step backward, dizzy. But I shook it off, blindly throwing a sloppy roundhouse.

The woman easily sidestepped it, and laughed. I clenched my fists. She wouldn't be laughing when I was through with her. My blood hummed in my veins as determination and anger took over.

Jay Adler's POV

I backed up slowly and held my hands up. "Look, fellas, I'm not a fighter. So how about we all just back away and get back to what's really important?"

One of my assailants cocked their head. "And what would that be?"

I laughed nervously. "Have you ever heard of hide-and-seek?"

I dove onto the deck of the nearest boat and made a run for it, leaping over railings and climbing up stairwells, boat after boat.

Yet I could still hear the footsteps behind me. I cursed, but didn't risk glancing behind me. My hand shot out, and I flung open the door behind me. There was a thud as someone collided with the door.

I smiled, but my joy was short-lived. Suddenly, two men appeared in front of me. I came to a stop, practically tumbling into them. I tried to turn and run the way I had come, but another man blocked the route.

My heart pounding, I glanced back and forth. There was no escape.

Except....

I inhaled deeply before diving into the water.