Tainted Blood

Chapter 1

Streaks of moonlight streamed through the fractured windows, creeping across the wall. Alex wondered how long the decrepit mansion could withstand the unwavering demand of gravity. During her search for anything related to the Cosa Nostra, she remained alert in case someone lurked in the shadows. The gang had been silent. The assassin hoped this was one step closer to finding her parents' murderer but seemed like just another mission for the Pyka.

Beneath her feet the wooden floor felt soft, not as much as even a firm carpet, but not right for oak planks. Alex moved down the hallway, her dark uniform brushing against the mildewed wall. The musty scent of rotten wood reminded Alex of things better left forgotten. Cobwebs billowed on the banister as she went down the corridor. In the grime, she could make out a faint set of shoe prints leading to a room.

She moved the beam of her flashlight, following the track in the room. She pressed the button on her earpiece, her only lifeline to her brothers. "Ace." She waited a second. "Storm is clear." Speaking in code came naturally to Alex and her brothers. "Moving to the library. Out."

Static crackled in her ear. Nikolai was the first to respond. "Ace, copy. Basement's clear. Found gold. Rage and I are headed clear."

Alex radioed back. "Copy that. Storm out."

"Copy. Stay safe," Nikolai replied.

At least Nikolai and Ryder had found something and were headed back to their jet. Alex knew Lev would be getting the jet ready to take off as Kellin would be ready for their older brothers. A smile formed as Alex glanced down the hallway, but left as quickly as it came.

Something doesn't feel right.

Alex was thoughtful for a moment, thinking over if there were warning signs. Of course, there were. A dark and empty house that was basically falling apart in the middle of nowhere. The Pyka telling them that the Cosa Nostra had used this place as a hideout, yet nothing much was here. The siblings weren't given much information in the first place, so it was like they were walking into a trap. Alex wouldn't be surprised if it was The Pyka just messing with them or controlling them like with everything else they did.

A chill rose across her pale arms. She spun, searching for the source of her unease. The flashlight's beam wavered, showing the way down a dark corridor. No eye-shine or indication of another presence, but she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.

When she eased through a doorway, past the wooden door hanging off its hinge, she stepped on something hard. Books laid scattered across the wooden floor, muted colors like a dying rainbow. Stacks of paper littered the desk and the floor around it. Someone left in a hurry.

A large cracked painting hung crooked on the wall. Alex bent over and brushed the dust off the closest book, flipping through the pages only to find them empty. What the hell? Puzzled, an open book caught her eye.

A book full of writings and maps. She could only imagine them being used as weapons of some sort or plans of the next target or more. It was everything she needed. What they had come for.

She reached up to contact her brothers, but paused when approaching footsteps echoed down the hall; Alex dropped her hand from her earpiece and took the safety off her gun, raising it a bit. This was a surprise and she didn't like them, not even on birthdays. She thought she was the only one still left in the house.

Adrenaline coursed through her. Everything was enhanced. The sounds of her breathing, her heart racing. Alex eased her breath just like she was trained. Her eyes fixed on the door, waiting for whoever was there to make another sound. She knew it wasn't one of her brothers for they would have announced over the comms.