Married To An Assassin

Eliminating competition...

Rude bastard, I think to myself, as the man I'm about to kill throws R500 in my face. R500? Even a beggar would be mad. Maybe he thinks I'm one of the people who came here to ask him for money. What he doesn't know is that I have so much money, I don't even know what to do with it. When I don't move, he counts another R500 but this time he doesn't throw it in my face instead he throws it on the floor. Maybe he thinks I'm a petty criminal. If only he knew. When I still don't move, he hangs up with the promise to call whoever back. I wish he would have properly said his goodbyes because this is the last time he speaks to that person. In fact I was tempted to tell him, just to see his reaction.

"If you're not here for my money then what are you here for?" He shouts with a spittle flying around. He sounds annoyed. His shouting gets on my nerves. As if mingling with his annoying guests earlier wasn't torturing enough. The ladies kept asking for a dance. When I danced with them I kept imagining it's her just to cope and get through the night. I always vow not to do any more jobs for my brother, but that guy can beg it gets on my nerves.

"I'm here for your life." I tell him watching his face for any reaction or emotions. This is my favourite part but I love the getting away with murder part even more. This rude bastard laughs as if I just told him a joke.

"How are you going to kill me with guards just outside my door?" He asks, laughing. But as soon as I tell him I know this office is soundproof, that his guards aren't outside like they should be and then I mention my method. He's no longer laughing. I'm glad he can see that I'm serious. And I take my work seriously.

"How much are they paying you? I'll double it." The arrogance in his voice grates on my nerves even more. I'm going to kill my brother for this.

"That's the nice part. I'm doing this job for free." I tell him opening my jacket for my tools. The stubborn bastard refuses to beg for his life. I hate it when they pretend to be strong. Pretending like they won't beg. But he'll be screaming like a girl just now.

"Your biggest downfall is thinking you're untouchable." I tell my latest victim as I put my knives on the table, taking my sweet time, sorting them according to size. I watch him as he keeps swallowing his saliva. He knows screaming will be pointless. He told his guards to join the party because he thought no one would touch him. Like I said earlier his biggest downfall.

"You bastard. You won't get away with this," he screams when I walk towards him. I just smile at him. Of course I will. I am a trained assassin and I am good at my job. The best, I'd probably scoop every award if my company gave performance awards. This man doesn't know what he's talking about. But he's about to find out.

"I always get away with it." I don't even know I'm in a chatty mood.

"Who are you? Who sent you?" He asks in a shaking voice. This makes me smile. I love it when I make the most powerful men weak. When I tell him who I am he laughs like I just told him a joke.

"That guy is a myth." I tell him stuff about my previous jobs no one but his circle knew about. He goes pale.

"Who sent you? Can't I change your mind?" Oh now he's begging. Good to see that my name puts fear in men the world, my dark world thinks they are fearless.

"My brother Senzo Kunene."

And then I take one knife from the set. When I walk around the table my phone pings. It's a text from an unsaved number. From the one word text I know it's her. We exchange texts for a little while, while I'm standing by the door. Few minutes later my target didn't move. Maybe he accepted his fate, good for him. And then I get to work.

*****

"That was quick," my annoying big brother comments when I walk in through the parlour. My mom surely added this room so she can brag to her friends, if one can call them that. In my head they are a bunch of competitors. I knew he'd be waiting for me. I rush to the kitchen and I swallow painkillers before I answer my brother. That guy could scream, my God.

"Your death will be quicker if you keep sending me to these jobs." He laughs and folds me into a hug. He knows I hate that. But I also accepted that he's a hugger like our father. I make a cup of tea, while my big brother pours a glass of Hennessy. He also takes after our father. That man drank himself to a hospital and luckily he survived. Apparently now he's taking it slow. Whatever taking it slow means in his world.

"I can't believe you've never had a drink. You're almost 30." I ignore him. I don't know what my age has to do with drinking. I've never felt the need to drink. Especially when our father almost died.

"Stop getting on my nerves. Not when I'm in a mood to kill again." I walk towards my room blocking his laughter when I close the door. But my annoying big brother doesn't get the hint. He follows me inside, still laughing. I'm really in a prissy mood. He is making it worse with his stupidity and it won't end well. For him. My brother can hold his own, but not to brag or anything I'm more dangerous. I proved myself less than an hour ago. I can't wait to read about my handwork in tomorrow's paper.

"You forgot your tea. I'm sorry for earlier." At least he knows when to apologise. I just smile at him. We sit on the bed and we have a long serious talk.