The Hit

Chapter Sixteen

 I woke up the next morning to the smell of coffee brewing and the sound of Alissa working on breakfast. I was hungover and didn't remember falling asleep. There was a pillow under my head and a blanket covering me. The cats tail was moving back and forth on the back of the couch. I sat up looking into the kitchen. I was surprised to see Alissa was only in a t shirt and panties. Clearly she was becoming comfortable around me. I couldn't help but smile. The cat turned and rubbed her head on my hand. It was as if the events of the previous night had changed her opinion of me.

 "Hungry? I'll be done in a few minutes. Hope pancakes are okay."

 "Perfect!" I said. Referring to both her and her selection for breakfast. I got up and made my way to the kitchen. She was pouring me a cup of coffee which I gladly accepted. I stood there watching her mix up some pancake batter for a few seconds.

 "Can I help with anything?" I asked.

 "It's pancakes not rocket science Ryan. You can let Emma out."

 "Why Emma?" I questioned as I headed for the door.

 "It was my mothers name." She said.

 "Fuck! I'm sorry. I knew that." I was embarrassed at having not made the connection.

 "Of course you did." She said turning around. "You know everything about me. I know almost nothing about you."

 "You know the worst about me. I'm afraid there is nothing that will change that."

 She was staring at me. Staring into my eyes. She seemed to be debating something. The mixing spoon was dripping batter onto the floor.

 "What? Are you alright?" I asked.

 She put the mixing spoon on the counter, never breaking eye contact. Suddenly she was right next to me, grabbing my head and pulling my lips into hers. There was a passion to the kisses unlike anything I had ever experienced before. I wrapped my arms around her waist pulling her closer. She pulled me back towards the counter slamming into it. I grabbed her ass and lifted her onto the counter top. I kissed her neck and she leaned in letting out a small moan. I felt as if I couldn't get her body close enough to mine. She tore at my shirt, almost violently, ripping it over my head.

 The phone Reginald had given us started pulsing out notification tones. I pulled back just a little.

 "Don't" She said. Another two tones going off.

 "I'll be right back. Let me tell him now isn't a good time."

 "No!" she whined as I left her to retrieve the phone.

 I picked it up and looked at the messages. I could feel the color draining from my face. It was photos from an unknown number. Photos of Alissa on the patio with the cat. Photos of us shooting cans. Photos of us on the couch from the night before. Photos of us just moments before. The last message was in text. "Hope she was worth it."

 Alissa hopped of the counter and walked over to me.

 "What's wrong? What is it?"

 "GET DOWN!" The words were cut off by the ear splitting sound of shattering glass followed by the thump of Alissa hitting the ground. I fell to my knees beside her. Blood was already starting to pool under her head. She was trying to say something and her eyes betrayed fear. The extreme fear felt by someone who knew they were dying. I had seen it before. In Iraq, Afghanistan and in my own victims.

 The bullet had passed through her neck. I put my hands on either side of her throat, trying to cover the wounds, knowing there was nothing I could do. Tears started falling from my eyes. "No! Fuck! No no no!" I leaned down and kissed her. "I'm sorry, forgive me." I said. I pulled her head into my chest. My tears mixed with the blood that matted her hair. I thought I could feel the life leave her body but I didn't let her go.

 Time stopped. I held her for what could have been five minutes or five hours. It didn't matter, nothing did. I didn't hear the door open.

 "Stand the fuck up!" a familiar voice said. I ignored it. "Stand the fuck up Ryan. Leave that bitch where she is and face me."

 "What the fuck did you call her?" I gently laid Alissa back down. I turned seeing a pair of black hiking boots. As I stood tight black pants came into view. The butt of a rifle attached to a sling that ran diagonally across a black tank top, the barrel emerging past the opposite shoulder. Anneka's face was stone cold, her pistol trained on my me.

 "You fucked up Ryan. Did you really think I wouldn't find you?"

 "Fuck you!"

 "Fuck you Ryan! Why didn't you just do the fucking job. She was a whore. You threw everything away for a whore!"

 "She wasn't a whore!" I charged at Anneka. Two shots rang out. I didn't feel them hit me but they stopped me dead in my tracks. I fell to the ground next to Alissa. Anneka approached slowly, squatting over me. My vision was hazy but I could see a conflicted look in her eyes. A mixture of anger and pain. Tears were beginning to roll down her cheeks.

 "You did this Ryan. I loved you. You made me do this."

 "Just finish it." The words were strained. I could feel the warmth of my own blood spreading across my chest.

 Anneka walked outside, returning moments later. She was pouring liquid over the furniture and floors. She took the cigarettes and lighter out of my pocket, lighting one as she walked to the door.

 "Enjoy your last moments with her" she said. She took a drag from the cigarette and then tossed it on the floor. The fluid ignited, the waves from the heat distorting her figure.

 I clutched Alissa's hand and watched the fire climb the walls. I wasn't scared. I couldn't even feel the heat. Alissa was dead, as far as I was concerned I had no reason to live either. I closed my eyes and waited for the flames to take us.