Selina's POV
I slid the key into the door and it opened. I walked in still in my Muslim attire, Kat looked drained, she must have been shouting without considering her situation. I pulled the chair on my work desk back as my buttocks landed on it. I let out a weary sigh and removed the niqab and hijab to allow her to see my face.
I pulled down the belt that I had used to cover her mouth and she took a minute to breathe unsteadily, easing herself of the stress of being tied up for hours.
I disarmed myself to make her feel safe and relaxed. "What the hell happened here a while ago?"
"I need water," she pleaded, her voice sounded so strained that I didn't hesitate. My eyes landed on a bottle of water standing beside my computer as I was about to go get a glass of water for her. I took it, opened it, and poured half-drunk water into her mouth. She gulped heavily and just as the last gulp settled in her stomach, a soft sigh slipped out, heavy with relief.
"Thanks."
My eyes met her, surprised to hear that. I felt that just wasn't necessary.
"Now tell me who the hell they were and who the hell sent you?" I asked generously.
"I am a secret member and a contracted assassin for Roup-De-Conti's group, I was sent by the group to hand you over alive. And about the men who were here earlier, I can't say much about that but I think they were also from Roup's group… I only go to where I am sent to, I have no personal beef with you. You can just let me go to avoid any more complications for you."
The sharp ringtone of my phone caused me to flinch. Who the hell was calling me now? I grabbed the phone and stared at the screen. It was Bright. My thumb quickly slid the red button to the right side of the screen and I placed the phone to my ear.
"Mom, I don't wanna stay here anymore, please!" Helen's voice sprang through when I thought Bright had something important to tell me.
"Why would Bright and Michael call me for this?" I yelled, believing they were listening in the background.
Michael collected the phone from Helen and said, "We're sorry ma'am but I think she's having a fever and all she's been saying was that she wanted to speak with you."
"She's got no fever! She should be there if she wants to stay alive! I have said this countless times. These guys would kill her for free if she dared to step out of there. I do not want any more calls from you guys again except I put a call through myself."
"Mom, I'm no fucking kid!! I am twenty and all you do is lock me up here because of your god forsaken…!"
I hung up, my face tightened.
"Your daughter?"
"Mind your fucking business!" I snapped. I took the belt again and clamped it across her mouth. She didn't move or fight back; she remained calm. I paced around the small room, sweeping my hair behind me.
"What would you do if you were me, Kat?" I asked her when I got closer to her. "What would you do if all you ever wanted was to eliminate the people who killed your parents and turned you into an orphan and yet you want to keep your daughter safe, I mean out of their sight and reach…" Then I realized she wouldn't answer. I loosened the belt and she spoke.
"I can help you, Selina"
My expression shifted into something more serious. "You really can?"
"Yeah, I am willing to help you fight these men."
"How can I trust a killer!"
"I do this to survive! You can't just call me a killer like that. At least, I haven't killed you yet or anyone you know."
I stood frozen, aggressively reading her from my inner intuition. A million thoughts raced through my mind.
Katarina Stone… Our eyes locked on each other for a long moment of silence.
I took the belt again and gagged her with it, then I walked to my computer, turned it on, and started surfing the internet.
I saw pictures online, back-view pictures of me, walking along the streets like a thief.
"Look at that shit, Kat! Someone's really watching me! What the hell! Why would anyone put this out?"
Kat remained silent, watched, and read me closely.
I walked over to the leftover vodka on a small table at the far end of my room. I loosened the cover and drank from the bottle. The burn ran down my throat and settled in my tummy, I let out a hot breath and I slammed the bottle on the table.
"I just want to give Helen a good life… that's all I want. I don't want her to be a killer like me." I cried out, hoping to be fine after I let out all my pain and worries.
"She won't, Selina. All you need to do is take her far away."
"Where, Kat? Where can be more hidden than where she currently is?"
Kat was quiet for a moment. I stood at the front edge of the table where I sat with one buttock. I walked to the pinboard.
"Are those the people you've killed and the ones you are yet to kill?" Kat asked in a friendly tone and I nodded.
"Correct!" I blurted, tilting my head backward to drink from the bottle again. "These fools have long been forgotten but the others, hahaha. I am coming for them." I stopped hoping Kat would say something but the silence only thickened.
"I can help you find her. I know where she is," Kat said.
"Which of them?" I asked staggering forward to point at the picture she was referring to.
"Yeah, she's Brenna. The head of the group of assassins, she's more deadly than poison."
"Is that so?" I asked.
She nodded. "She killed my father too! I know where she is right now…"
I placed the bottle down and walked in her direction, squatted when I got to her.
"How can I trust the words of a killer?"
"Give me the benefit of the doubt and I will prove you wrong. We can work together to bring down her empire. I hate her as much as you do"
Release her, you'd be just fine.
I stood up and moved away, believing it might help clear my head.
Just then I heard the sound of engines turning off outside my apartment. I peeked through the window to see three black jeeps waiting outside my apartment.
I turned to face Kat but she was getting up to attack me. I removed my knife from behind but she caught my hand mid-air and punched my face, the knife fell.
My vision blurred as she suddenly became two. I didn't know which to fight. I threw a kick at the second Kat but my leg only swung past the air.
Kat giggled and grabbed my hair, placing my knife under my throat. "Surprised at how the table suddenly turned around? I had removed the key from behind your pocket with my teeth when you came closer to me. Impossible right?"
I breathed heavily, utterly defenseless. "Come in and get her!" she yelled into the air as though someone was in the room with us. Then she dug her fingers into her hair and removed a small device.
What the heck was that!