Hitman: Captured | #1 - HIATUS

► Chapter 20

Neil Madden

Water swirls down the bathroom's porcelain drain as I gather it in my hands to throw it at my face, attempting to wake myself up. Exhaustion claw at my body from the irregular hours of sleep I've been getting for about ten weeks. Normally as a hitman, it wouldn't be my job to get involved in the Capro's personal affairs—except I'm not like any other hitman. Rather than an associate of Donovan, I am his family just like every other man who follow him.

That's what I've been telling myself in order to find Matt.

Heaving a deep sigh, I push myself away from the sink not bothering to look at myself in the mirror, passing by the toilet to the door left ajar as I exit. The room is large fitting two full-sized beds, two wardrobes, a television mounted on the wall facing the beds, and a desktop table at the left corner of the room next to the windows.

Gaze lands on the brown hair man with inky tattoos peeking from under his sleeves and stops at his knuckles. Frank remains seated on a black leather chair in front of a monitor, thin spectacles at the bridge of his straight nose. His other hand is scratching his beard across his round jawline.

"Dad," I call out to him tiredly. "You got anything yet?"

He doesn't say anything at first. He never does. Growing up with him I learned to be patient with his delayed responses—especially when it's related to computers. My adoptive father, Kai Madden was a hitman like Frank and worked for Donovan Capro. I was adopted by Kai first before a sixteen-year-old Frank came into the picture, babysitting me while Kai was busy.

Once Frank was an adult, Kai and Frank became lovers. Kai was four years older than Frank too. Recalling those memories of the past rouses bitter emotions. It all came crashing down by Kai's disappearance leaving no warning, no clues or a letter to tell us where he'd be. Hell, I don't even know if he's alive.

All I remember was the grief Frank went through. By then he was in his twenties, taking care of a high school kid. Frank left his life as a hitman and got a job in IT security. Things weren't the same after Kai left yet Frank tried his best to take care of me, even going as far as reporting Kai missing in order to adopt me.

Considering Frank's history, it wouldn't have been possible without Donovan's help.

"No," he finally answers peering a glance to my direction. I break out of my thoughts, blinking hard, approaching his side and place my head on top of his. "You look like shit. Go back to sleep." His scolding voice almost brings a smile to my face, wrapping my arms around him over the chair.

"I can't, Don called me in."

Frank scoffs. "You should've retired. You already graduated last year and you had a good job as a lawyer instead you're doing this."

I groan, "Can we please not do this? I made a choice."

"You were sixteen."

"Dad, you know why I did it," I hug him tighter around except not enough to choke him. Eyes sweep across the large screen running a series of programs I've learned throughout the years to be satellite facial recognition and security cameras. "I'd make the same choice if I had to."

The brunette grunts to himself, patting my arm. I bury my nose in his mango butter scented hair much like I used to do as a kid serving to push away all the emotional distress plaguing my mind. "Don't die on me." He intones.

This time I do smile, "Same goes to you, dad." I unwrap my arms around him, kissing his scruffy cheek earning a grunt from the grumpy man.

I leave him to his own devices, rubbing my eyes in the process while shutting the door behind me. For a split second, I thought I had no idea where to go until I remember I am going to Donovan's study. Turning to the left I make my way down the corridor past a series of doors and open archways leading to living rooms, gaming rooms, or a kitchen.