When Red Roses Die

Chapter 17

Scarlett

A week later I had grown tired of sitting and reading all day.

A month ago I was busy all day with my "job" and now I'm stuck recovering at home. I never thought that I would miss my "job".

My phone has been buzzing day in and out for weeks now, thanks to many of my contacts growing impatient. Why they didn't just stop calling and hire another assassin, I don't know.

I can't tell them that I'm injured though because some of the darker of my contacts may feel the need to "tie up loose ends". Meaning hire someone else to kill me.

Twisted and confusing, I know.

After much convincing and a few well-placed promises, the guys agreed to let me go out by myself.

Although only for two hours and only if I responded to their check-ins which were every thirty minutes. Either way, I deemed it as a win.

I found myself grocery shopping, figuring that I might as well be productive if I'm going to be out and about.

I grabbed ingredients for some dinners this week. It was about time I started cooking again. Ever since I got from the hospital, the guys have been cooking all the meals. This is nice but it also makes me feel useless because I'm not allowed to do anything requiring labor.

I pulled up some dinner ideas on my phone and went through the aisles grabbing everything I needed.

While I shopped, I couldn't help but shake the feeling of being watched.

Subtly, I looked around the aisle I was in. I pretended to be looking at the shelves in front of and behind me, as if I couldn't find what I was looking for.

Sure enough, I spotted a man staring at me. He was at the very end of the aisle.

A part of me wanted to wave him off as just browsing, but my instincts told me he had bad intent.

My instincts were never wrong.

The dark side of me grinned.

Finally some action.

I grabbed some noodles off the shelf and placed them in the cart and as casually as I could manage I went on with my shopping.

Temporarily ignoring my stalker, I found myself in the lady part of the store. After doing some quick mental math I figured it best to pick up a box, just in case.

I also grabbed some more shampoo and toothpaste.

Ever since the guys have started staying at my house I found that we go through toothpaste fast.

I was surprisingly able to finish my shopping before my stalker finally made his move.

After I had loaded all my groceries into my car and returned the cart, he showed himself.

He suddenly pushed me against the car and barked in my face.

"Come with me and don't scream." I felt the cold barrel of a gun press into my abdomen.

I rolled my eyes and sighed, "Lemme guess, one of my contacts hired you."

"Nah," He chuckled darkly, "your dear old daddy did."

I managed to keep my shock from filtering to my face.

So it seems my old man finally got the message that the five guys weren't going to kidnap me.

My "kidnapper" was maybe early thirties. His brown hair had a few silver streaks in it, well his skin showed some aging. This job had not been kind to him.

Deciding to go along with him, I pushed off the car and allowed him to lead me to his car. He grabbed my hands and held them together with one hand well the other held a gun to my back.

Like every other assassin I know, he had a very fancy and flashy car. You think they would try to be somewhat incognito opposed to sticking out.

Right before the man could push me into his car, I slipped my wrists easily out of his grasp and turned on him.

He was shocked by my sudden movement, my father must've forgotten to tell him I'm well trained, but he recovered quickly.

Instead of trying to subdue my kick, he just stuck his gun in my face.

"Move and I blow your head off." He spit at me. As the gun pointed at my forehead, I noticed a tremor in his hand.

Not from nerves or fear, no, he had some condition.

I bet my father offered to help him with whatever medical condition ales him, in return for him bringing me to my father.

"Parkinsons?" I asked him suddenly.

He didn't recover from the shock of my question.

"What?"

"Your hand tremor. Is it Parkinson's?"

"How could you kn-"

"It's my job to know. I'm a fucking assassin." I cut him off and scoffed. "I apologize for this," I said quickly as I suddenly grabbed the gun, aimed it up, and disarmed him.

Without a second thought I swiped his legs out from under him and rolled him on his stomach.

In the middle of the parking lot, I sat on his back while I held his hands behind him.

He choked on a sob. "Please."

"Please what? Let you go? No can do." I grabbed his gun with one hand and emptied the mag and chamber before focusing back on him.

"No please. Kill me."

Now it was my turn to be shocked.

"Excus-"

"Kill me!" He shouted into the pavement. "Your right about the Parkinsons. I'm going to be in a wheelchair soon if your father doesn't kill me soon. So please just kill me and spare me." His body racked with a sob.

I found myself in a moral dilemma. On one hand, a couple of minutes ago this man was ready to kidnap and take me back to my father. On the other he was suffering, and would suffer even worse soon, either way.

"Why would you accept this job if you could barely physically handle it?"

"He offered me a lot of money that could help with treatment if I could successfully bring you back. But if I failed he threatened terrible things."

I sighed. I've never had a problem with killing people until now. No one had ever begged me to kill them.

"I can't-"

"No please."

"No. Trust me when I say it won't be better. Run and get out of here." I got off of him and stepped aside well he got up. "Don't look back. Live out your life."

"He will come for me."

"Then make sure he will never find you."

Done with the conversation I turned and walked to my car. Before I shut my door I heard a familiar click. As I shut my door and started my jeep I heard a silenced bang, as if muffled by a car.

Damn.

I cringed as I drove away.

Once again my father has manipulated and killed another person.

That bastard needs to die.

I responded to Lincolns check-in text then drove away from the store. All the while coming up with an excuse as to why somebody was dead in the parking lot of the store that I had been at.

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Thank you for reading Chapter 17. I hope you liked this chapter. Let me know who your favorite character is so far in the comments.
~Until Next Chapter