The Billionaire's Assassin [COMPLETE]

File 9: A Partnership

Seattle, Washington

Maya 2018

Rain tapped idly against the window of Mia’s office, the twilight sky darkening over the harbor. Watching the passing cars zoom with flashing lights of red and yellow. The edge of her lip pulled at the recognizable white Cadillac pulling to the side of the building. Her eyes lingered on the three figures exiting the vehicle. A female she knew as her personal assistant, Fiona, stepped out the back, unhinging an umbrella. The second, Kingston, who drove and also made sure Fiona stayed safe when picking up their guest from the airport. Mia’s heart flipped when she spotted him, fingers pressing to the glass, mesmerized like a child.

Rex stepped out the back, popping the collar of his trench coat upwards. From the sixth floor, she couldn’t quite distinguish all her favorite details of him. But in time, she’d be so close to him, all those features would blind her with satisfaction. She licked her lips at the thought.

“When I tell you to leave, I need you to not fight me on it, Hanna,” she informed her, Hanna sitting on the couch in the shadows of the room.

“What? Mia, I can’t leave you with him!” she argued, standing to her feet. “Rex...isn’t Rex anymore. He’s gone mad. And when he sees you, he’ll kill you. I can’t leave you alone with him.”

Mia waved her off, still watching them until they climbed up the stairs, out of view. The tapping along the window grew stronger. “That’s not your choice to make.” She turned to her, a worried expression gracing Hanna’s porcelain visage. Walking around her polished mahogany desk, Mia headed towards her, stopping inches apart. Solemness creased her heart-shaped face. “I’ll be fine. David is snipering on the next building over. You and Kingston will man the doorway. Fiona has the rest of the security on standby. Plus...” Mia took in a deep breath, feeling the cool touch of her steel dagger line the arch of her back. “...I’m well prepared if something goes astray. Remember, I trained you.”

With a heavy sigh, Hanna bobbed her head in acceptance. “Just be careful. He doesn’t love you, not like he used to.”

Mia nodded with a reassuring smile. “I know.” She made sure to turn away, feeling the tightness in her chest lurch when she spoke those words. She repeated them in her head slowly. He doesn’t love you...not like he used to. They were like icy needles burrowing into her skin, expelling every drop of her composure. Why would he? You killed everything he ever truly loved. You broke him. She knew this for years, yet it still pained her. Biting her lip, she calmed herself, heading back to her desk when she heard the knock on the door.

He’s here.

She straightened herself, fluffing the curls running down her shoulders. She wore a strapless bustier and long, bootcut slacks with heels. All black. Tied together with a deep crimson silk string bowtied around her waist. Even if she died tonight, she’d leave a burning imprint in his memories.

“Come in.”

Fiona opened the doors, tablet in hand. “Mr. Thomaz Rex Henson is here to see you, Ms. Lee.”

Mia leaned back against her desk, crossing her legs. “Thank you, Fiona. Let him in.”

She nodded, taking a step out the door. Mia could hear the clicking of Hanna’s gun preparing in case he tried to do anything, although Mia was certain he wouldn’t tonight. It didn’t hurt to be prepared. She knew she couldn’t afford to die just yet. Too much to do.

Rex entered with thunderous strides colliding to the marble floor. He towered broadly over her, even at a distance. Mia’s breath hitched at the sight of him, plucking the differentiation between the man who stood before her and the man she once knew. He was more strapping than before. The muscles along his chiseled jaw tightened with a scowl. The boyish twinkle in his green eyes had vanished long ago, replaced with two opaque voids breathing her in. His hair had an orange tinge to it, even in the blanket of night.

A cornucopia of emotions shredded through Rex like a hungry beast ready to devour a long-awaited meal. Anger for the past. Overawed by her presence. Envious of her accomplishments. A desire to play, tatter and devour her maniacally. That’s what Mia had always been to him. An unconcluded meal he never forgot the taste of, leaving the pit inside of him forever expanding and begging for nourishment. Nourishment only she and her venomous blood could alleviate.

The doors closed, an electric pulse coursing in the air between them. Something was off though. Rex sniffed the air, the familiar aroma of sweet mint stimulating his heart. And another familiar scent that made him sick. From the corner of his eyes, he glowered at the girl holding a gun in his direction.

“Nice to see you again, Jenna,” he greeted coldly.

She winced. “It’s Hanna actually. And the feeling isn’t mutual.”

Mia kept her eyes glued to Rex. “Hanna, please leave us. We have some business to discuss.”

Hanna’s mouth dropped. “So soon?” Mia shot her a hefty glare, Hanna hesitating before cursing under her breath. She relocked the gun back, pointing it to the ground. There couldn’t be any weapons on him, the security patting him down at the airport, in the car, and when he entered the building. But she would keep her guard up. “I’ll be outside if you need me.”

“She won’t,” Rex smirked, watching ‘Hanna’ sulk passed him towards the door. Once gone, Mia crossed her arms across her perfectly displayed chest he’d taken note of when he entered. He licked his lips, noticing how they’ve grown. The tattoo of their time together still inked across the blade of her shoulder. A potato chip leaning against a chip of wood, the ink refreshed for their reunion. How heavenly the sight of her was to him. This was real. After eight years of dreaming, she was here in front of him. “You are a brave girl, letting the only person between you and death leave so soon.”

She exhaled, pushing herself off the desk. “Did you read over the LOI and statements properly?”

Rex tentatively opened his trench coat, watching Mia’s calm expression closely. He scoffed when he didn’t receive the reaction he wanted, shaking his head. “You really are something,” he sighed, pulling out the thick manila folder. “Memorized it word for word. You want to grant me a CEO position here.” He took a step forward. “Regain every cent of my parents' wealth I lost because of you.” Another step forward. Mia noticed a glint of wickedness blooming in his eyes. “Move some precious cargo to an undisclosed location.” He stood only a couple of inches from her, the heat of his body staggering her senses. “And then I get to kill you. Makes me wonder if this is just a trap to get me close and off me before I do the same to you.”

The comforting reminder of the blade along her back kept her balanced under his inquiring gaze. “I have no intention of killing you as long as you abide by the terms of the agreement.”

“That I won’t kill you until the tasks are complete?” His half smile had Mia pressing herself to the desk once more, nails chipping at the wood. “There’s a task you don’t mention, someone you wish for me to kill. But who?”

Her heaving breath rolled down her chest. His virulent gaze drilled into her, the quaking of her heart hindering her thoughts. She turned away just to gain some peace of mind to speak. “The Sun. The secret head of Red River Agency, your agency...and formerly mine.”

Quickly, a frown pulled at his lips, the familiar name dripping annoyingly within his brain. The Sun. Rumors of his list of deaths were earth-shattering. The name fit him well, always watching from afar, so natural yet there were times he’d hide behind the shadows and blind you when you least expected. The foundation of the agency, a gory rags to riches legend. He was clever, deadly. Hardly anyone has seen his face and if they did, they didn’t live long to tell the tale. Even Rex knew crossing paths on the wrong side of that man was suicide. Rex’s mind raced in contemplation. This had to be a trap. If he didn’t die at the hands of Mia, going after The Sun would cause him to lose his life indefinitely. The tapping of the window followed with a gust of car horned wind. The sound made him feel unsettled, unshackled in front of this woman who knew exactly what she was asking for.

He gritted his teeth, feeling the childhood sensation of foolishness clench within him. “What do you take me for, mujer? That’s suicide and you know it.”

There was no denying it, Mia nodding in agreement. “It’ll be difficult but it isn’t impossible, especially with the both of us.”

“Nice try. The Sun isn’t someone I need on my back right now. I’m not that stupid anymore, playing your games only for you to stab me repeatedly.” He squinted at her, the tightness of her features more apparent with his proximity. “Unless you’ve already ticked him off?” A grin spread along his lips when she didn’t deny it. “Wow. You want me to risk my life because you don’t want to face the consequences of your mistakes.” He sneered at the revelation, tucking the manila folder under his arm. Maybe he wouldn’t be making any more deals with her.

Always the trickster.

Mia’s nails scratched at the underbelly of her desk, feeling a heated storm arise within her. “I didn’t make any mistakes. In fact, it’s the sheer accuracy that did me in.” She shot him a dark glare. “And it’s all because of you.”

He scoffed. “Me? If you can recall, I wasn’t the one who entered your life for the sole purpose of killing everyone you ever cared for!”

The brutal detonation of his words rang in her ears, cutting at her eardrums. She pressed her back further into the desk, noting the sinister look in his eyes, recalling the utter hatred he felt for her. If she lifted her hand in the air with a fist, David would tranquilize him in a split second. That is if she felt threatened. Despite the seething rage etched into him, she didn’t feel the desperate cry of a threat bellowing inside her.

She lowered her gaze. “Rex, I--”

“What? You’re sorry? You never meant to hurt me?! Cut the bullshit, Mia! All you ever do is hurt me then leave me! This time, I’m the one leaving you!” Turning with the manila folder, he presented his back, heading towards the door.

“Isn’t killing me on your priority list.”

He looked over his shoulder, stuffing a hand into his pocket. “Oh, I’m still going to kill you. I just don’t need to hear your lies while doing it. Now you have two assassins after your ass.” The smile at his lips taunted her vindictively. “What a lucky girl.”

Placing a hand on the door handle to leave, Mia caught his attention once more. “It’s a shame. Cattleya Trianae was expecting your arrival.” Rex turned back around, caught in her web of deceit once again. “That undisclosed location led right to Cattleya Trianae. But now...”

“You’re lying,” he accused bitterly.

Mia pushed herself off the desk, feeling the spark of upcoming victory tracing her skin. “I know you’ve been looking for Cattleya Trianae for some years now. I’m personally acquainted with them. And they’re expecting you.”

At the name, Rex didn’t know what to feel hearing those words slip off her deceitful tongue. Overjoyous to have another lead, heading straight into the lion's den. Or fearfulness of getting his hopes up. He approached her, feeling the last thread of his sanity starting to unravel. “I’m losing my patience with you, mujer. No more cryptic phrases or mundane contracts. Tell me what is going on or I swear to God…”

Feeling the sudden sting of a threat prickling at her skin, she maneuvered herself away from the window and towards the wall. She noticed the thick lining of his trench coat when he tried to intimidate her with the manila folder. He hid something else. Clever. And if he pulled it out in the sight of David, he’d shoot him regardless of signal or none. He followed her foot, keeping his blazing eyes stuck to her entrancing movements. Before her back could hit the wall, her fingers inched towards her blade the second Rex’s hand drew into his trench coat. The taut string of destiny closed between them in a flash, the blades pricking each other's throats with a hiss.

Rex pressed his blade into her throat, watching a stream of blood bubble from her golden skin. His body held her steady, the curvature of her body pressed into him, molding perfectly. He chuckled against the cool steel of her blade. “Great minds, huh?”

Mia rolled her eyes. “I’m not lying to you, Rex,” she stated, getting straight to business. “I want you to live through this. But I can’t defeat The Sun on my own. I took someone’s life years ago that he cherished and now he’s coming for revenge.”

He tried to hide amusement of irony. “Why now?” The tantalizing scent of her sweet mint calmed the nerves vibrating beneath the sinew of his skin. He inched forward, allowing the unwavering blade to prink his own flesh. “He has the means to kill you at the snap of his fingers.”

“An eye for an eye. Taking my life wouldn’t be fitting. So he waited until there were people I cherished. Now he’s coming to collect.”

The tinge of jealous coated the lining of his tongue. A bitter, salty taste he disliked. “A boyfriend?”

She ignored his inquiry. “As CEO, you’ll be by my side. He’s close enough to be watching me, my every move, he’s made that clear. Especially at work. Every cent I...took from you will be deposited, half when you agree and the other when you’re finished. Once The Sun is six feet under, I’ll send you with my precious cargo to Cattleya Trianae. And I’ll be waiting wherever you wish for me to be, waiting for you to kill me.” She whispered the last words with lustful seduction. “In every way you ever imagined.”

Keeping the blade close to him, she allowed him to inch closer. The touch of his body so close had her sighing at the heated pleasure between her thighs. He was the last man she needed to be around, which made it all the more tempting. The sensation had been alert within Rex the moment he set eyes on her, an uncontrollable desire taking over.

The blade clinked together, steel hardly a hindrance to them.

“I can’t die at the hands of The Sun.” He licked the blood running down her neck, her head arched above his knife. Metallic liquid glazed his tongue. “I waited too long to get my hands on you, to make you suffer beautifully.” He murmured the words in her ear, feeling her body heat pulling him into her embrace. She moaned at the bold contact. “So we have to do this right and without mercy.”

She nodded in agreement, her breath hot and heavy. “Do we have a deal?”

He slid the knife from her throat, grazing the blade between her chest. “More than that.” Stealthily, he slid the knife back into his trench coat, Mia placing hers behind her back delicately. Their embrace remained, Rex’s fingers twisting the ends of her curls. “We have a partnership.