How to Raise an Assassin

CHAPTER 44: KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE

After accepting the mission, Ash took me aside, gripping both of my arms and shaking me out of my shock.

"Zay, we don't have to do this. Just say the word and we can both stop right here."

Stop? But, I was so close to finishing my mission. I'd be a member of two of the most powerful criminal organizations in Chicago. I could stop the Locusts from within, and with my father gone, I could help steer the Reapers in the right direction...the direction Momma Emma would have wanted.

"Zay," Ash called again, grabbing my attention.

"No, we do it. We just have to figure out how."

"But," Ash shied away. "It's your own father. Why would you want to do something like this?"

The answer was simple. "He's a villain, and he must be taken down." Not to mention he destroyed Noa's life, tainted mine with violence, and is slaughtering thousands of innocent people as we speak.

Problem was, Ash didn't know that my father was directly behind this. He knew he was connected to it, so I had to make it clear. "Last night my father told me everything, about Cosecha Meadows, how he designed it to weed out the weak from the fallen. He wants to end poverty at whatever cost, even if it means murdering those who simply refuse to climb the social ladder."

Ash was silent at the news. The silence was broken when my phone vibrated like a heartbeat. It was an email from the devil.

"Another contract," I gulped. I read through the first lines of the email: It's time.

"For who?" Ash asked.

My hands shook as I scrolled down to the picture of the target. I showed it to Ash. "Your father."

Ash was motionless. Then his mouth creeped into a smile that burst into an awkward chuckle. "Very funny Zay."

But I wasn't laughing.

"My father told me weeks ago that eventually there'll be a contract put out for your father. At first, he wanted me to handle it," I said, clearly leaving out the fact that I asked for the task after seeing what the Mayor did to Ash. "But according to this email, he wants to help."

Seldom have our family members worked on contracts together. Assassination was a solo job. However, after running away from the house, I'd imagine my father wanted to keep a close eye on me.

"You're not going to take it," Ash's voice cracked. "Are you? I mean, he's my dad."

I looked at the photo of the Mayor. "Would a dad leave you beaten to near death and then rush to work afterwards as if his job was more important than your life?"

Ash had no words for that.

"Let's face it Ash, both of our dads are horrible people in their own ways. Of course, my father is probably way worse..."

"My dad hit my mother once," Ash blurted out. Then he tried to cover his mouth as if he hadn't meant for that to slip his tongue. He slowly uncovered his mouth and gave into the repressed memory. "I remember them always arguing and fighting, but this one time he got very angry at her. It had something to do with work. She was on the council; he was a police officer. He said that her and the council were cutting money from him and his fellow police officers—that not every cop was bad and deserved this. He got angry and hit her so hard she didn't wake up until the next morning."

Ash paused for a second and tried to shake away the memory. "He apologized the next day. Promised to never do it again. They stopped arguing. They stopped talking. Then she was soon gone."

Ash was wandering around a forest of emotions, not sure how to get out. "I admire his drive, his ideals. But I always felt that he seemed disappointed in us.... At least your father loved your family enough to never hurt them."

I shouldn't have tried to one-up him, but hey he was my best friend and I was twelve. "My father had my brother Noa killed."

Ash's body flinched as if a ghost passed through him. "That's why you were so sad last night. He told you."

I nodded. "He made a threat, said that the last person that labeled him as evil in the family was Noa and now he's dead." I gripped Ash's shoulder. "Ash, my father will stop at nothing to get what he wants. I don't like the idea of killing him, but this is the only way I can think of to stop him."

"And my dad will let the power get to him," Ash spoke while holding me like we were in a slow-tuned dance with each other. "He will weed out the corrupt allies of the Reapers, militarize the police to fight them, control the political world and the criminal underworld to get what he wants done, and he'll soon expand his power to get loyal Locust members elected to high places. I'm afraid if he gets strong enough..."

"The Locusts will simply become the next Reapers," I finished.

Ash nodded. "I don't want that. I see it in the other hives. They kill indiscriminately. They deal in illegal and dangerous stuff. They instill terror in the neighborhoods they should be protecting. That last enclave of hope is the Royden hive. As much as Auntie comes off as mad, she's the only person holding the good side of the Locusts together."

Ash took a deep breath. "If things go well and we both pass stage eight, might you consider not killing her?"

I smiled. "To be honest, I never really wanted to do that anyway—okay maybe a little part of me wanted to burn the witch when she made me eat the Locust Stew."

Ash sighed in relief and gave a half-chuckle. "I didn't say she was popular."

I took a step back and got down to business. "My father wants me to ask you to organize a dinner with the Mayor so that our fathers could meet. It's there where he wants to do the deed."

"I can ask him to organize one for this Friday. I'm pretty sure he'll love the opportunity to meet your father," Ash threw a cheesy smile that faded back into seriousness. "And my dad?"

"It's up to you Ash," I said. "If you don't want me to do this, then I'll find a way to keep him alive."

Ash hugged me. "Thank you."

I wrapped my arms around him. "Sure," I said with hesitation. Deep down I wasn't sure if I was jealous or impressed that he still loved his father enough to be concerned for his life, even after all the trouble he caused him.

At that moment, I couldn't say the same for myself.