I finish the grocery shopping and open my front door, only to get an instant angry mark at the dumbass sitting in my living room.
"What the hell do you want, idiot?"
I drop the bag of food on the counter and start pulling out ingredients for dinner. He happily walks over and begins to help like he owns the place.
"I've come with some good news," he says with a grin.
I grab an onion and start chopping. "Oh? And what would that be? Wait—don't tell me you're leaving town and never coming back!" My voice is full of fake excitement.
He looks genuinely hurt. "What? No! You're so mean to me sometimes." He pouts before continuing. "No, what I was going to say before you crushed my heart was—I've been watching Thomas Granger. He's on edge. There are more guards now, and he's been holed up at home all day."
I pause for a moment. "Hm. Well, at least he knows we're onto him and that the attack was meant for him. But the extra security… that sucks for us."
I keep chopping while David grabs a bowl, scooping the vegetables in and giving them a stir. He can tell I'm not thrilled.
"Look," he says, "last night was a shit show. We both forgot how dangerous this job can be, but we're not gonna let that happen again."
I give him a side-eye and nod. "You're right. We've dealt with way worse. We just misjudged who we were dealing with. I won't let that happen again."
He pats my shoulder. "That-a girl. So—what's for dinner?"
I immediately get another angry mark, smack him on the back of the head, and yell, "You idiot! Who invited you?!"
We both laugh, but then I realize something. "Wait… where's the girl?"
"Oh, she's resting at my place. Found out a little more about her. Her name's Ruth. She's fifteen. Sold to Granger when she was eight—been working for him ever since."
His tone is serious now, knuckles white around the spoon. I put a hand on his arm.
"It's okay. Tomorrow night, we'll make him pay for everything he's ever done. I promise you—he'll never hurt another person again."
He just nods, and we finish cooking. I make extra for Ruth, and later that night he heads home.
The Next Night – The Underground
The underground is dark, the city lights the only glow cutting through the shadows. David and I are outside Thomas Granger's house, ready to finish what we started earlier this week.
"Okay—this time, we finish it. No fuck-ups. You've got my back, I've got yours."
We nod to each other, dressed head to toe in our assassin gear—hoods up, weapons ready.
"Let's finish this."
We burst through the front door. The men inside freeze for a second before readying themselves for a fight.
I smirk. "So… who's ready to play?"
They charge. We dodge and counterattack. One man hurls a knife at me—I sidestep, and it slams into the wall behind me. I rip it out and throw it back, the blade sinking into his skull. He drops.
I sprint toward the next guy, a dagger in my hand. He swings a punch—I duck low, come back up, and drive the spike into his chest. He starts to fall forward, and I shove him aside.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see David holding his own. But before I can turn back, someone grabs my arm and hurls me across the room.
I crash onto the couch, flip it over, and roll over the top to the floor. Before I can stand, he's on me, fists raining down.
I grit my teeth, bridge my hips up with everything I've got, and throw him off me, sending him tumbling to the side.
I shoot to my feet, dagger in hand, and drive it through his shoulder before he can stand. He screams but still swings at me. I grab my other dagger and plunge it into his other shoulder, pinning his back to the floor.
"Fucking asshole, that hurt! Next time you pick up a girl to sweep her off her feet, do it with some damn grace!"
With that, I slam my forehead into his nose. Blood pours out before he drops, knocked out cold.
"Tsk. Pathetic."
I step off him and glance at David—he's still busy. I sprint over and leap onto the back of one of his opponents, punching wildly. My dagger slices into the side of the man's neck. Blood sprays across my face and clothes as we both crash to the ground.
"Eww, gross." I spit out a warm metallic taste—ugh, his blood made it into my mouth.
David finishes off his guy and grins at me. "Oh, you have a little something on your face." He points to his cheek.
I growl, socking him in the arm. "Idiot."
A voice cuts through the room. "Hey, if you two are done chatting, I'm ready to kill you both."
We exchange a look and start laughing. I point between us. "The only ones dying tonight are you—and that scum of a pig you work for."
We charge him together. David slips around to flank while I go head-on. He blocks and swings, but he's slow. David's blade finds his throat.
I scan the room—empty now. They've probably gone to guard Thomas.
"Okay," I tell David, "let's go kill that fucking pig."
We sprint upstairs, checking each room until we find him in his study—three massive men flanking him. My eyes lock on Thomas Granger, and a spark ignites in me. I head straight for him, but one of his giants steps into my path.
His kick is brutal, but I block it—barely. David takes the other two, leaving me with the biggest one. We trade blows, my dagger flashing, but he parries with a knife.
I glance at Thomas. He's grinning—confident he'll win again. Not tonight.
The man's hits keep coming. I can feel them in my bones. David drops one of his guys, but the other's still fighting hard.
A punch catches me, dropping me to a knee. I spit blood. Snarling, I jab my dagger into his foot. He roars, then smashes his fist into the back of my head.
Lights out.
David's POV
I hear a yell and catch sight of Scarlet stabbing the guy's foot. Before I can react, he slams his fist into the back of her head. She drops like a ragdoll—unconscious.
"Fuck!"
I block a couple of incoming punches, but my eyes flick over just in time to see the other guy scoop up Scarlet's limp body. He bolts out of the room, and Thomas Granger follows right after him.
"Oh, looks like they've got plans for your girlfriend," the man I'm fighting sneers.
"Shut your fucking mouth!" I snarl, landing a solid punch across his jaw. He staggers back but recovers quickly.
"I'd better finish you off fast so I can join them. Mr. Granger's a generous man… always willing to share."
He laughs. That does it. Something in me snaps.
"Don't you dare talk about her like that!" I charge him, slamming my knife straight into his mouth. Blood gushes as he collapses.
I rip the blade free and don't waste a second. I'm already sprinting out the door, my chest tight and fury boiling in my veins.
"I'm coming for you, Scarlet."
Scarlet's POV – TW: Sexual Assault (Implied)
I wake to the bitter taste of cloth between my teeth and the bite of rope digging into my wrists and ankles. My head throbs, the ground beneath me cold and uneven. When my vision clears, I see nothing but dirt walls — and two shadows looming above.
Thomas Granger.And the thug from before.
I'm in a pit — a grave, maybe — and my gear is gone. Panic kicks my heart into overdrive. I jerk against the bindings, muffled curses escaping the gag.
"Well, look who's finally waking up," the man sneers, crouching. His eyes roam over me like I'm something on display. "Boss, she'd fetch a fortune if you put her to work."
Granger chuckles darkly. "Tempting. But she's more than just a pretty face. You know who this is?"
The thug shakes his head.
"She's the one who burned down my brothel," Granger says, his voice tightening with venom. "Killed more of my men than I can count. The so-called assassin who decides who lives and who dies. And she thought she could waltz into my home to kill me."
He jumps down into the pit, landing hard enough to send dirt sliding. I scramble back, but the wall's at my shoulders. His shadow falls over me.
"Let me show you what happens when someone crosses me."
He grabs my ankle and yanks me toward him, the ground scraping against my back. I kick and twist, but the thug drops in beside us, seizing my shoulders and pinning me against his chest. My heart is slamming, breath coming fast and sharp through the gag.
Granger leans in close, his grin twisted. "I want to see fear in those eyes."
I thrash harder, rage and panic blurring together. My heel connects with his shin — not enough. The thug's grip tightens like iron.
They're laughing.
And all I can think is: I am not dying here. Not like this.
My mind goes blank. My body goes limp. I can't fight anymore — but I'm still shaking from the assault, from the hands that won't stop grabbing me. Tears burn behind my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won't give them the satisfaction.
Thomas grabs my face, ripping the gag away."Oh? No more smart mouth? All bark and no bite?" He leans in to kiss me—
But before he can, movement flashes above him.David.
He drops down into the pit like a hammer from the heavens, slamming Thomas against the wall and pinning him there with one arm tight around his throat.
The thug behind me moves, but David shouts, "Duck!"I drop low, and his boot connects squarely with the man's face, sending him crashing to the ground.
David doesn't take his eyes off Thomas. His voice is pure rage."Who the hell do you think you are—touching her? I'm going to make you suffer."
Thomas kicks and claws, but David's grip doesn't loosen. I try to stand but stumble. David glances at me."Don't move. You're safe. Just… give me a minute."
I nod, pulling my clothes back into place with shaking hands.
David raises his knife, ready to finish it, but my voice cuts through the air."Wait."
He looks at me, searching my face."I… I want to do it."
His jaw tightens, but he lets go of Thomas, letting him drop to the dirt. He slices my bindings with a single swipe. "Take your time." He presses the knife into my hand.
Thomas looks up at me, coughing, desperate. "What do you want? Money? I'll pay you anything—"
"I don't want your money."
I grab his hair and yank his head up, forcing him to meet my eyes. "What I want is to watch the light leave your eyes."
I shove him back against the wall, his pleas tumbling over each other in panic. The blade flashes, and I don't stop. His screams echo in the pit — but this time, I drink them in.
Every strike is deliberate. Not enough to kill. Not yet.I want him to feel it.To know it's me.
Blood slicks the dirt. His strength is fading fast. I kneel over him, forcing his gaze to mine. "Not so fun when you're the one pinned down, is it?"
He mutters something about hell, voice weak and shaking.
I smile. "I'll see you there."
The last thing he sees is my face — calm, unflinching — as I end it.When it's over, I sit there for a moment, breathing hard. My hands are steady, but one tear slips free. Not for him.
For me.