part one

After dumping the woman on the floor, Sage impatiently rapped on the black wooden door in the middle of nowhere.

what was taking them so long?

The door creaked open, still chained to the doorpost.A blue eye looked at her once, blinked and then opened the door.

"My payment," Sage demanded, not bothering with formalities or pleasantries.

"You brought her quickly." He looked at the unconscious mess on the floor.

"Is that a problem?" She bit out, her teeth gnawing with impatience. She wanted her money, and she wanted it now. Hours in front of the bar had made her tired and she was more than ready to rip this man to ribbons if that meant she would get her money immediately.

"No, definitely not." He said, rubbing his chin.

"Where did you find her?" He asked again, making no move to go fetch her payment.

"She was at The Dumb Man. Hopelessly drunk. Tell her if she wants to go rogue, she should do a better job of hiding in the crowds." I gruffly say.The man chuckles. "

"Please wait. I shall send someone down with your payment." He bent to drag the woman in, and in an instant, he discovered a glinting knife poised over his carotid.

He was so naive, this man. Did not even realise that Sage was on edge, and she could rip this man's throat in an instant.

"Payment first, delivery later," Sage purred, pressing the knife almost to the point of drawing blood.

" Very well." The man cleared his throat, attempting to look as dignified as he could while bending with a knife to his throat. His heart was beating so loudly that Sage could hear it with her sensitive ears.