His Secret Assassin

Chapter 19: Kiara

My heart pounded in my chest, the sound of it nearly loud enough to distract me from my task- getting the fuck out. For the last three weeks I'd been staying at Roman's place, trying to keep up the façade that I was afraid that Matias would come after me and needed somewhere that had no connection to me. It'd gone well at first, but the last few days I'd been feeling like my skin was crawling every time Roman looked at me. It was different from when I'd first come back, like he knew that I knew and was just waiting for me to do or say anything to give it away.

So I'd told him this morning that I believed I was safe, that if Matias had wanted to come after me he would've by now, and that it was time for me to get out of his hair and head home. His smile had creeped me out and I hadn't been able to completely control my reaction to it; something I knew he'd noticed.

The sand in my hourglass had run out before I'd been able to complete my plan, and my best bet was to get back to Matias and beg for his help. My palms were sweating at the thought of his anger, but I was willing to risk that more than I was willing to bet I was safe with Roman.

I grabbed my duffel bag and snuck out the back, jumping into my car and speeding away from the man who'd betrayed my trust, to the man whose trust I betrayed. Hope filled me that he still loved and wanted me, after secretly spying on him periodically during my absence. He'd nearly caught me a couple times in the beginning, and I knew I had to be more careful so I'd stayed away as much as possible, for the safety of both of us.

I practiced and rehearsed how I would tell Matias the truth when I finally saw him all the way to his house, and before I felt ready I was pulling in to the driveway. I'd half expected to see him running outside at the sound of an unfamiliar car, so when he didn't I was slightly disappointed. I trudged up the driveway to his front door, and when I finally focused on it, I froze mid-step. His door was cracked open, damage from it being kicked or bashed in obvious.

"No, no no no please," I whispered. My feet were already moving with haste to the door, shoving it open and seeing exactly what I'd been afraid to see.

His house, the only place I'd ever really felt at home, in shambles. Furniture broken, blood splattered on the wall, shattered glass and porcelain all over, crunching under my shoes as I walked through the disarray. I didn't even realize I was crying until I caught a glimpse of myself in a broken mirror in the hall. I wiped the tears away as much as possible, ignoring the new ones streaming down my cheeks, as I hurried to his "secret office" that I'd pick locked my way into in the first few days I was here.

It was a mess in there as well, but I sorted through the spill of papers, looking for any clue as to exactly what happened here. I just knew it had to be because of Roman, but I needed more details, more proof, so that I wouldn't waste my time when I went after the bastard once and for all.

It wasn't until I clicked on his computer and found a picture of me from a few years ago, one that Roman had taken while we were out doing some recon for a mission. At the bottom of the picture was a flashing word, accepted; one that had my blood running cold because I recognized that, and what it meant. I'd seen the very same thing every time I'd accepted a kill contract. And that meant that Matias had accepted one on me. Fresh tears feel at the idea that he hated me that much that he would break his own code, and a sob ripped from deep inside my chest with sadness and anger.

"It's not what it looks like, you know."

I jumped and whipped out a knife I'd had hidden on my person, pointing it straight at the person who'd spoken. I was able to blink away my tears enough to see Jasper leaning against the broken wood of the doorway. I sniffled, the shock having scared my tears away, and lowered my knife.

"You scared the shit out of me, you know that right?"

He chuckled. "Yeah, sorry. I figured there wouldn't really be an easy way to announce my presence."

"That's fair," I shrugged and re-sheathed my knife. "What did you mean, btw? That it wasn't what it looks like. Because it looks like Matias hated me so much for leaving that when someone put a contract out on me he accepted that. And now, he's either dead or hurt."

"Hmm. Well, you're not completely wrong I suppose. Come on, lets' get out of this mess. The back patio is untouched and there's a few chairs out there we can sit on while I explain."

I followed him outside, plopping down into one of the chairs, and stared out into the open yard, thinking of all the time I'd taken advantage of here with Matias.

"Where should I start?"

I shrugged again at his question. "Wherever you feel is best, I guess."

"Alright. I'll start by saying that I've known who you really are since the night we met. Kiara, known in our world as 'Azreal' because of your looks and kill ability. It's not many times you meet the well-known angel of death named in the Bible in real life."

I couldn't help the small smile. "You're more than you seem, old man. I did find it ironic that Matias called me his 'little angel' when we met, but I liked it."

Jasper barked a laugh. "He's always been one to know more than he realizes. I think he knew the truth about you too, but just wasn't ready to admit it to himself. I knew the truth, but that's also partially due to the fact that I have connections from my time in your world still that owe me a few favors."

"If you knew who I was and, I'm assuming, why I was here, why didn't you do anything? Say anything?"

"I noticed how you looked at Matias, how he looked at you. Despite whatever reason you came for, it changed pretty quickly. Or am I wrong about that?"

"No, you're not wrong." I shifted in my chair as he continued.

"I figured. So I let it lie, hoping that you would be able to come clean with each other, but I also knew that Jacob- who you know as Roman- would eventually come for either or both of you, to get at me."

"Wait, what? Jacob?"

He sighed. "Roman is the name he took after I exiled him from my services. I knew him as Jacob, and he was my trainee. Think of it like Zorro; I was raising him to take my place, hoping to teach him a better way to use his talent for breaking the rules for his and the world's benefit. He was supposed to take on my title, my burden, of 'The Savage', but when I realized that he wouldn't keep the honor of the name, I banished him. He feels I cheated him from that, and has been seeking revenge since."

Everything he told me started to fit in with what I'd learned before I left Matias. The horror of that filled me once again, and I knew I had to reveal what I knew.

"He..." I stopped and cleared my throat. "The day before I left, I'd snuck back to my house where I heard Roman and one of his cohorts talking about this. He said... He said that he set the fire that killed your family, all save for Matias. That he was using me to come after you, and will kill us as well as Matias. That's why I left, to try and stop him first and to protect you both."

Sadness filled his face, the lines and wrinkles becoming more pronounced and showing the truth of how old and tired he really was. "I'd suspected as much, but even with all my skills I'd never been able to find the truth."

"Maybe you just didn't want to," I said quietly.

"Yes, I suppose that's true. It's hard to carry the burden of feeling like you've caused the deaths of your own family."

I reached over and offered my hand in comfort and he took it in his weathered and calloused one. We sat there for a moment in silence, before he coughed and sat up straighter.

"Now," he said in a strong and determined voice, "what are we to do about getting Matias back and stopping Jacob- Roman- forever?"

I grinned, my thoughts already racing with a plan. "I think I have a plan."