Insincerely Yours

The Escapee

"Boss, is everything...?" The door opens and I glare at him from the chair.

Greene cuffed me to the chair, but she did it right. I know how to break out of any cuffs as long as I can reach the lock, but she kept the lock away from my fingers so I can't escape.

She stuffed a gag in my mouth so I couldn't warn my men, and I watch helplessly as she puts him in a hold that knocks him unconscious in seconds.

"It was a pleasure doing business with you," she smirks, waving my dagger in the air in triumph. Three more men await her.

I feel my head cloud with anger as she effortlessly renders the other three unconscious and waltzes out, leaving me to wait until one of them wakes.

She's good. But I'm not finished yet.

~

"Listen, I'm not-"

"I don't want your apologies or petty excuses, I had enough of those from my son." The man's voice is cold, and I purse my lips as I allow my body to sink into the hotel bed, "I asked you to get the job done, and I don't want to receive another call from you until it is. I'll message you more information, although that is being a bit too gracious for my taste. I practically gift-wrapped her for you at that office party."

"Maybe you should throw another. See how fast she shows up."

"Don't be smart with me, Iris, I'm not the one who can't finish my job."

"You never told me she was prepared for combat! I would have kept her at a better disadvantage."

"I told you I didn't want your excuses. She's now frightened, and I have no clue just where she'll be," I feel my teeth grit at the memory of her.

I was soft. Why? I could have flipped her over, but I wanted to see what she would do.

I saw it in her eyes, I was like looking in the mirror. The same rage, same passion. She's just as crazy as I am.

And that's what intimidates me. I've never failed a mission first try before, and I know I won't fail the second.

"I can get you her address and you can start at convenience stores nearby. Finish the job this time."

I nod, "alright." I hang up and toss my phone across the bed. "Fuck." I whisper as I cover my face with my hands, pressing just enough to feel.

"She's a difficult one to catch," I jump to my feet and turn towards the voice. I reach for my dagger at my hip, then pale when I remember it's gone.

A teenager stands by the curtains, a smirk spreading across their face, "don't bother grabbing your gun, either." They wiggle the weapon in their hand and I feel my heart race.

No, not again.

"I'm her assistant. Here to give you a fair warning," their eyes are dark and the light hardly reflects off their ebony skin. "She won't surrender. Won't back down. She's not scared of you, not like your boss thinks she is. And she's never," they pause, their glare holding my own, "never lost. So don't bother."

"What am I supposed to do? Shake hands with her and make up? Listen kid, I don't know how much she paid you to sneak into my room, but I can triple it if you show me where she is," I reach behind me and grab my wallet.

The teenager laughs, "Right. Like I couldn't get that much bounty off this gun on the black market anyways," they smile as they let out the cartridge, checking the ammo, "and my business is beyond money. I run on loyalty. You should try it."