He never had the chance to finish his sentence. My hand was a blur as the pen streaked across the room and embedded itself deeply in his forehead, his eyes went wide with shock before he slumped forward from the chair and fell to the floor. I lifted him up by his now bloody collar and looked him deeply in the eyes.
“Damn you for doing this, damn you.” I raged between clenched teeth, knowing that my life on the island was over. I had been compromised and I had maybe twenty minutes tops before this place would be swarming with government agents.
Move Charlie move. There was no time to waste and every moment counted. I ripped the back of the painting open and removed a stack of dollar bills and two unused British passports from the back. Grabbing a nearby bug out bag with extra clothing and supplies, I headed to the kitchen and ripped out the main gas line before lighting a packet of matches. With one last look over my shoulder, I left my life behind, the glow of the burning beach house lighting up the streaks of tears running down my face.
I had to find Katherine and get off the island as soon as possible. All hell was about to be unleashed and I had no choice but to run again. Run and hope these bastards didn’t find me again. Was it too much to ask to live in peace? Too much to be left alone? To be happy again?
Don’t think, just run. There is still time for you to get away. Run and never look back.
But even as I raced across the dark sand with the sounds of fire engines howling in the distance and a burning building behind me, I knew the bitter truth was staring me squarely in the face. My demons were alive and well and they were coming for me again.
Charlie O’Donnell is dead.
My name is Charlotte Corday.
I am an assassin.
From 'The Venom Protocols' by John Murray McKay. Now available on Amazon @
UK ~ https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07C1W1SKX
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