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Dear diary,
this week was murder. (I know, I know)
I managed to lo lose 8 million dollars, ruin my reputation AND paint a target on my back for every mob in the country. And for what?!
Let me tell you the whole story:
So, I just got back from my last kill, took a few days off but by Tuesday I got bored and decided to just casually roam the dark web for a job or something.
I found a nice one: The target was a young man, 27 or so, Angus MacGyver- funky name, but a really handsome guy. I don´t usually like the blond,blue-eyed type but he was different. There was something in his eyes, something genuine. The company he was working for, the Phoenix Corporation or Foundation or what the heck was a secret non-official government agency sniffing out the bad guys and sabotaging their evil plans… So he was wanted dead by Codex- those guys are crazy with trying to save the world from the humans and so forth. The idea is good but their execution is a bit...rad even for me and I´m a freakin‘ assassin. The offer was 2 million Dollars upfront and another 6 on execution. For that money they really wanted him dead.
Anyway, I was about to accept when I saw a strange mark on the file.
It‘ s been a while but I would recognize that signature anytime:
We met a few years back in prison. She showed me hers, I showed her mine: Skills. She did some awesome programming and hacking stuff that landed her in prison and I got framed for a murder I never did and luckily was proven so. I am one of the best and never get caught so something was fishy from the start. Turned out it was Francesco from the Tizzio Gang who I refused to date back then and got pissed. She showed me few useful web-tricks and I showed her some useful kicking tricks. She was the best. But after we both got out, we kinda lost contact with each other.
Apparently Riley managed to sniff me out and hack into my line to send a message regarding that job- a video file. To others it just looked like a glitch in the coding, but I knew that it was meant for me.
The password was also easy to figure out- we had our secret sign in prison.
The video message started with a small person, Matilda Webber adjusting the web cam and taking a seat. I instantly recognized Riley's voice- she must have been behind the camera telling the lady that she could begin and takes a seat next to her right after.
They told me about who they were/ are and asked for my help.
They both continued to explain that the job to assassinate their team member was an open job. I could confirm that from the little open padlock symbol on the job file. Everyone would go out there, find that Mac person, as they called him and whoever gets to him first and presents his head to The Codex, gets the money.
I could see how nervous Riley was. She apologized for reaching out to me knowing she took a risk with that. I was kinda angry at first but when I saw how worried she was. That Mac seems to be worth it: „Becca I really need your help.“, she said. Coming from Riley, it‘s serious.
He was on a mission with his partner Jack when their car was intercepted and crashed on purpose. They took Mac while Jack was left with a broken arm with which he could do only so much.
„Please“ - that killed me. I couldn´t say no.
Riley left a hidden link which showed me where to meet them. I had to be quick for the hints and links self deleted after 5 seconds.
The red lemon bar at high noon.
I arrived half an hour before noon, assessed the situation, checked the area and waited. At noon sharp I saw her and the little lady walk into the bar. I had a visual on the seats by the window they took. I waited another 10 minutes to see if they were followed. Nothing suspicious so far. I went inside and sat down by the bar, far away from the windows and close to the back door.
A few minutes later Riley sat down two stools further. Not looking at me she said „Hi, good to see you. Wasn't sure you'd show.“
I ordered my drink. I have to say they still have the best golden tequila in town.
She now works for that Foundation. They got her out of prison. That Jack guy was something like her step dad and helped her back on her feet. Good for her.
That lady, Jack, her, a kid named Bozer and that Mac guy are like family. That hit a spot.
I never had that kind of family love and support. The only thing that came close to something like family was Riley. She was like a sister to me. Still is I think. I hope.
„We can‘t offer you the money. But I beg you to help us. Work for us. That is Matty Webber“ she said. Her boss. She offers to give me immunity. Well… Can‘t clean my cards from something you can‘t prove in the first place. I never leave anything behind.
When I saw Riley‘ s pleading eyes I had to agree to help.
We met later that night in their headquarters, the war room. All high tech stuff- my paradise. Jack was suspicious and followed me around like a shadow. He is kinda cute. Could be my father age-wise but he had the muscles, he had the looks, he had some blunt humour and just his all over Texan cowboy charm. I really dig that…
Anyway, the started to brief me on what had happened. I get it now why everyone wants him/ them taken out. They did some serious damage to the criminal world. Not that I'd care. I chose and keep choosing my victims according to what they have done, whether they deserved to die or not. That way my conscience is clear. More or less.
Mac was held in the Glasston & Frome building- those bastards are a huge underground operation disguising themselves as realestate brokers when in the background they are busy with money laundering and high tech weapons engineering. They use the houses, real estates and whatever they can get their hands on for their transactions before the sale. That way they stay untraceable. I had my eyes on the boss for some time now but never got close enough. Alone. Perhaps this time with the Phoenix team.
A few hours later we, that is Jack and I managed to get into the building. We worked our way through a maze of elevators and stairs. Jack kept up despite having just one functioning arm. The rest of the team stayed positioned outside the building, keeping an eye on us, warning us of upcoming obstacles and getting ready for extraction. We had to be quick and stealthy.
I remember asking „Which floor?“
„4th floor, VIP sauna locker room to the left of the stairs.“ I heard Riley over the comms and then everything went so fast I can barely recall.
We took the stairs, Jack followed close behind me, gun ready. I prayed we won‘ t need to shoot anyone yet – even with the dampener on a single shot would give us away and endanger Mac and us. Jack agreed.
We reached the 4th floor and headed for the door that would lead us into the locker room of the VIP sauna. I kicked the door in.
Mac was sitting legs stretched out on the white tiled floor with his back to the white tiled wall. His blue shirt was torn and blood stained, his face bruised. His hair was a mess, sticking to his skin here and there from sweat and blood. He was pale as a sheet and judging from the glassy shimmer in his eyes also drugged. He wasn‘t tied up yet he didn't move - just blinked weakly. They really pulled a number on him. My guess is, they wanted to have some „fun“ with him before they delivered Mac to Codex.
2 meters in front of me were the lockers and a big fat half naked hunk was wiping off his bloodied handy on the little bit of towel covering his manly parts. He stared perplexed for a moment before he charged. I held out both of my arms block the impact and let myself roll down backwards pulling him with me at the same time. I placed my right knee in his stomach and used the momentum to turn him to the side. He went out fast, rolled out the door and crashed into Jack first and then over the railing. The wooden railing cracked and broke out from the weight of the two men and I just saw them take a dive. Jack, however, grabbed onto a still intact pole and struggled to climb back up. I didn't have time to help him get up- he understood an urged me to go on. I nodded.
Quickly I got up and ran back into the locker room. Across the room was another flight of stairs leading to a balcony and another door. That one busted open and THE actual Roger Frome walked in with two of his goons. They headed for Mac, only Frome stayed behind on the balcony pulling his gun.
I managed to shoot his bodyguards and Frome between the eyes but unfortunately not before he managed to pull the trigger. He sank to the ground with a bleeding hole in his forehead. I looked down on me looking for a hole in my chest. I didn‘ t feel the bullet bite me anywhere, but I could be in shock, too. But no, nothing.
Then I saw it- him.
The bullet wasn't meant for me- he shot Mac into the neck, missing the main artery by millimeters- i found out later in the hospital.
He was sitting there, head tilted, gasping for air from shock, from the pain. He pressed his hand onto the wound but more and more blood ran down his side.
For a moment I thought about the money. 8 million dollars, I was so close to 8 million dollars. All I had to do was wait until he bled out. He was so pale already, eyes drooping. Just wait, wait and deliver. But he was innocent. And Riley,I certainly didn't want to lose her, again.
I grabbed a towel instead and pressed it onto his wound. It just would´t stop bleeding.
I had to do something. In the meanwhile Jack climbed back up- the cast on his injured arm cracked and broken of in some parts. Jack appeared and I urged him to sit with Mac and keep applying pressure to the neck wound. The gun I had was not enough. But in the fat guys open locker i spotted a semiautomatic gun. That would do it.
I jumped up to get the it calling out to Jack what I was about to do. He was ready. I fired the gun for a few seconds so the muzzle would be hot enough. We had to be quick.
Jack jumped out of my way, taking the blood soaked towel with. Mac wheezed, his eyes widened in horror. With the little strength left in him he tried to get away but Jack held him down. I had to be quick and pressed the muzzle against his neck where the bullet cut a deep graze into it.
The sizzling of the flesh was drowned out by Mac screaming in pain. It took a second or two, then he passed out. The bleeding stopped. Jack carefully placed a clean, wet towel on the wound while I also sank to the floor, adrenaline fading, exhaustion kicking in.
It wasn´t over just yet. We still had to get out of there.
I heard Jack shout orders over the comms. He called for backup, medical assistance, he called out to his friends, he called out to me.
The backup surrounded the building and arrested everyone within, I found out later.
The medics came rushing in with a gurney and equipment heading straight for the unconscious man on the floor. They moved so quickly, placing oxygen mask, IV s on Mac, getting vitals and… as soon as they came they were gone, with him. Shortly after I felt hands grabbing and pulling me up from the floor. They took Jack and me to the hospital, too. I was fine though. On the bed next to mine they barely got Jack to sit still for a new cast, no matter how many times they assured him that Mac was in surgery and would be fine. We then waited outside the OR with Riley and Webber for news.
After hours of waiting the doc came out: Mac was fine. He pulled through but lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusions. I don't know why I did it, but i told them I am 0 negative. I remember Riley hugging me and then I fell asleep while Mac received my blood.
I woke up to Jack‘s voice like a warm comforting blanket „Hey, you okay?“ But it wasn´t meant for me because I heard Mac answer weakly, so I didn´t open my eyes and pretended to be still asleep.
They talked about what had happened and at some point Mac asked about me.
Honestly, I didn´t expect Jacks answer. He said: „She saved your life.“ I was shocked and humbled and I felt like...a human, close to tears. After all the killings I hadn't seen myself human anymore than killer. who couldn't do anything else but take lives. He didn´t say I was just some assassin they hired to help them, no, I SAVED him.
„She was amazing.“I wanted to throw up right there. I could feel Jack‘s eyes lingering on me. I guess the younger agent noticed something in Jacks expression for I heard Mac shift in his bed. „Ask her out.“
I had to turn away- still asleep of course- to hide the grin that I was unable to suppress. I heard Jack almost choke on his coffee stating that I could be his daughter. That kinda settled it.
Well, long story short/ I am going out tonight, with Jack.
I had to promise not to kill anybody for payment in the future but to be honest, losing 8 million dollars, ruining my reputation in the criminal world and having a target on my back doesn‘t feel as bad as I thought. After all, knowing I have these guys by my side from now on makes it a lot easier.
So, dear diary, as per today, I am a Phoenix and I will rise to protect my team.
I go get some burgers now with Jack.
'till next time.
Yours truly, Becca.
September 3rd, 2022