She took a deep breath, she didn’t know if she could trust this guy completely, but he’d come to her and they both knew she could have killed him easily. He’d also enlightened her about her body language. She’d have to work on that. It had never occurred to her that her body could give her away.
Perhaps working with this man had an upside. She’d have someone other than Nobu watching her back. If he betrayed her in any way, shape or form, she’d kill him without hesitation.
“Fine, but know this. You lie to me, you step left or right and I’ll kill you fast. I’ll kill your cat too.”
“Fair enough. I won’t though. You don’t know me and I don’t know you, but I’m actually an honest man. By your works, I see you are a moral woman. We do our job, because we’re good at it. But you’ve gone a step farther, and done something very good, very noble. I truly admire that, and again, I’m kind of ashamed that I’d not thought of it myself and done it. I want to change that.” He said.
Imani snorted, this guy was poetic, he was a romantic. She shook her head. It takes all kinds I guess, she thought.
“Alright Haiden, I’ll let you know when we are either contacted by Lawbreaker for another job, or any job in fact. I wouldn’t put it past this poser to use another name to set me up. Nobu has an extensive network of friends and trolls. Thus far, all of Lawbreaker’s hired hits have been within the continental U.S. Should I get anything new, I’ll let you know.” Imani stood, indicating that the talk was over.
“Okay, and I’m in apartment 1007.” He grinned, his dark brows bouncing up and down over his gray eyes.
She snorted, “Of course you are. Idiot. Now go, before I do shoot you.”
She shut the door behind the man and went into the control room. Nobu looked up grinning.
“I like him.” Nobu’s grin widened.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, you just met him.”
“You like him too.” He sniggered.
“I do not.” She protested.
“I heard you call him an idiot and you didn’t kill him.” Nobu grinned and batted his eye lashes at her. She promptly smacked him on the head and sat down beside him.
“I want that bastard, and I want to know who he is. That son of a bitching backstabbing lowlife.” Imani sneered.
All humor fled Nobu’s face and he shook his head, his fingers never leaving the keys as they flew over them.
“I can’t believe that fucker tried to have you wacked. You’ve done a lot of work for him over the years. Don’t worry Ima, I’ll find him and you can end him. I’m just glad lover boy didn’t take that shot.”
She ignored his verbiage, this was serious.
“This means all U.S. hits are suspect. I’m glad most are scheduled for out of country. We really need to find this guy fast.”
Nobu grunted, and pulled up Lawbreaker’s IP address. Nobu looked at her.
“This IP is from Washington D.C. I’ll have to go carefully now, and backend myself, so I can’t be traced. I have a feeling your guy is in politics.” Nobu said, his head rocked back and forth and he chewed on his upper lip.
“No shit Sherlock, all of his hits have been in some form or fashion a political figure or associated with a political figure.”
“Don’t get nasty Ima, I’m just saying.”
“Sorry Nobu, this has just got me really rattled. Add to the fact that we have another hitter here in our building, let alone in Chicago. I’m sure there are others, but this is the first time I’ve met one, besides the one I see in the mirror every morning.”
“You’re forgiven, I’m as upset as you are kiddo. Some counterfeit badass thinks that he can take you out. That’s just bullshit. Why don’t you go for a run, clear your head and let me do my work? You’ve got a trip coming up in two days and you need to get your head right.” Nobu suggested, taking her hand in his. He squeezed it and she squeezed back. How did she get so lucky to have such a good friend?
“Okay, I will. Thanks buddy.” She said and left the room.
Ϫ
Haiden walked into his apartment and fell back against the closed door. He let a long low whistle out and looked down at Jezebel who was ramming her head into his shin. He stooped and picked her up.
“Daddy almost got his goddamn head blown off. You’d have been an orphan.” He said, holding the cat to his chest. He shook his head. It had gone better than he’d hoped. He’d walked out alive and he’d be in on the intel about Lawbreaker. He’d also help her with the traffickers. He still didn’t understand why he’d vomited his guts out to her about wanting to help. Christ, he sounded like a babbling idiot. Then he laughed, she’d called him an idiot, but it had been said with a laugh.
He put the cat down and went to the window and looked out over the city. In all the meeting was good, a face to face with another assassin was verboten at best and deadly at worst. This was very good, and seeing the sleek and stealthy killer in her jammies helped, he thought. He’d seen the hardness in her eyes, and he’d seen her in action and the results of her actions. He didn’t underestimate her in the least. She was as capable as he.
He’d also seen the décor of the apartment, many Asian pieces. She’d spent years in Asia, because some of the pieces were those of some long-ago loved things. Like worn dolls. He himself held on to his Hot Wheels, or at least some,
