Chapter 8:

<Gavin Forrester>

My hands shake as I open up the door to my apartment and set the file down on the table by the door. I slam the door shut and lock it tight. I walk around my apartment and close all of the blinds so no one can look in at what I'm doing. I put a sticky note over the peephole in my door and then let out a deep breath.

After securing my apartment, I grab the file and sit down on the couch with an apprehensive expression. The worn paper of the file cover is taunting me and I bite my tongue as I flip it open.

The first thing in there is a picture of Victoria. She's dressed in a trench coat and has a pair of dark glasses on her head, making her look a bit suspicious. She's seated at a table near the window of a coffee shop, one I think that I saw in the Bronx while I was doing a job there. What is a rich, socialite like Victoria doing in the Bronx of all places?

The picture seems to have been taken from across the road due to the fact that the details of her face aren't extremely clear. The next few pages are pictures as well but these are all taken at a closer range. Now, I can actually see the color of her eyes and the pink of her lips.

A smile crosses my lips as I turn the page, which is an information page as opposed to a picture page. I sigh and begin to read the information. It says her birthday, her height, weight, eye color and address. Then there's a paragraph about her daily routine. Apparently, whoever writes the master files was watching her very closely because they knew what time she woke up, what products she used to wash her face, what makeup she used and what she'd regularly eat for breakfast.

They knew the exact restaurants and coffee shops she went to and what university classes she attended. Whoever made Victoria's file was tracking her because this isn't a normal amount of information that Talon's company gathers on their victims. I mean I guess I never asked for the reason I was killing a specific person before but this just seems extensive. Why is Victoria more important than any other victim before?

I continue turning the pages and then a page of reasons catches my eyes. It's a rumor around the office that before each new assignment, Talon writes an extensive essay on why this specific person has to go.

I let out a nervous breath as I begin to read. I skim over the first few paragraphs and then a few sentences make my blood run cold.

Victoria Grayson is my biological daughter. She is the reason my wife left me. She must die.

Anger courses through my veins and I suddenly feel like ripping the file apart and burning it, just so that I can forget what I read and so no one else can discover the horror. However, forgetting is not possible, those words straight from Talon's brain will haunt me forever.

I flip to the end of the file to make sure I didn't miss anything and I see the signature of who put together this master file. The name is written in blue ink and will now be burned into my mind for eternity.

Carter Jacobson...

What the hell is he doing putting together and signing murder files for Talon Tenebris?

Then I realize something major, those cameras weren't cheat cams; they were helping Carter put together Talon Tenebris' master file on Victoria. She was right, Carter Jacobson was stalking her, but not for the reasons she thought. She probably thought he was just creepy but no, he was preparing a file so someone could put a bullet through her head. Why would he want his own fiancée dead?

A million questions are racing around in my head and I can't focus on trying to answer any of them. There's no good reason Carter would be working for Talon and there's no good reason as to why he'd want Victoria dead. Talon has a more valid reason and his reason is crap.

I stand up and walk over to a cabinet in my kitchen, grabbing the bottle of Tequila. I unscrew the top and take a long swig, not even bothering with a glass. I walk back over to the couch and sit down. I'll return the file tomorrow but tonight I just need to forget about everything.

~~~~~

My head is killing me when I open my eyes the next morning. There's sunlight streaming in through the curtains and the sounds of the city on the street below me are already in full swing. I look at the bottle in my hand and discover that I haven't even finished a quarter of it. I guess I fell asleep or something before I could have anymore Tequila. That's probably a good thing.

I stand up and find the file sitting on my kitchen counter, right by the alcohol cabinet. I roll my eyes and walk into the bathroom, searching for the Advil. I pop a few in my mouth and swallow them with a glass of water. I shake my head and walk back to my kitchen. I grab the file and lock it up tight in a safe I have in my room.

I take a pair of jeans and a t-shirt out of my drawer and grab my towels before shuffling back to my bathroom to take a shower. I turn on the water and drop my dirty clothes in the hamper near the sink. I hop under the warm water, hoping the questions will stay away but they return and chase each other, faster and faster around in my head. The Tequila didn't do its job.

I wrap a towel around myself and comb my hair out. Someone needs to tell Victoria about this whole thing but it can't be me because then I'd have to admit that I'm the person that was sent to kill her. I'd also have explain to her that her actual dad is a murder boss and not someone who puts murder bosses away.

I mean, how is that conversation supposed to go? Hey Victoria, yeah your real dad is a career murderer and he sent me out to kill you because you made his wife leave him. I will do everything in my power to make sure I'm not the one who has to have that conversation with her.

I pull on my jeans and dry my hair. I put on my t-shirt and fasten my leather bracelet to my arm. This bracelet is basically how Talon knows who's on a mission at the moment and who he can still send out. He gives each one of his operatives a leather cuff at the start of their job and when he assigns a new mission to one of the operatives, they take their cuff out of his special cabinet and wear it so he knows who is working and who's not. It's a genius system, if only it wasn't used to keep track of murder missions.

I walk out of the bathroom and into my mess of a room. I avoid a few piles of dirty clothes that didn't make it to the hamper and finally make it to my closet. I grab a checked flannel out of my closet and shove my arm through it while I grab my converse with the other. I finish getting dressed and then unlock the safe where I put the file. A look of disgust takes over my features as I pick up the worn pile of paper. I grab my jacket and my keys before walking out my apartment.

I unlock my car and set the dreaded file down in the passenger's seat. I slip into the driver's side and turn the key in the ignition. I drive down the busy New York streets and bite my lip as I think about what I have to do.

Should I confront Talon? Is it actually a smart idea? I mean he can't do anything to me because then I'd expose him. Sure, he could kill me but he has said it himself, I'm his best operative and if he wants to rid the world of his enemies then he kind of has to keep me around.

Maybe what I found out can be insurance in a way? I mean I know his deepest secret now and if he does anything to me, then I can tell everyone and ruin his master plan. His daughter will live and his wife will move even farther away from him. I could use this against him to get him to do whatever I want. What I want, though, is for Victoria to live and he doesn't want that. He'll just get someone else to do his dirty work for him and this insurance will be gone.

However, I as an operative, already have more insurance than I could ever imagine. I know about his operation and that is my weapon. I can expose him at any moment and he has to trust that I won't. I could essentially threaten to tell people about his little murder business unless he gives me answers. Maybe that's how I'll get him to give me the whole story. If I play my cards right this could work out in my favor.

But is it really a smart idea to blackmail Talon Tenebris?

I shake the thought from my head and search for a park in the garage attached to Talon's office building. No matter what I do, I have to return this file before it burns a hole in my hand. I put the car in park and shove the file inside of my jacket. I open up my door and put my feet firmly on the concrete ground of the parking garage. I lock my car and walk over to the elevator that will lead me to Talon's office.

~~~~~

I curse under my breath when I find out that Talon is in his office and will be in there all day. I need to return the file without him noticing but apparently that won't be possible and I can't hold onto to it any longer; the anxiety is eating me alive. I guess my choice is clear. I'll have to confront Talon Tenebris.

"Gavin Forrester," Talon's deep voice booms, beckoning me into his office.

I unwillingly walk in and slam the door behind me.

Remember, you have the insurance...Play your cards right...

"What can I help you with today? Need anything else?" Talon narrows his eyes as I take a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk.

My stomach churns as I think of the best way to play my cards.

"I need answers," I mutter and toss the file onto his desk.

His eyes widen as he reads the name on the label.

"Where the hell did you get this, Forrester?" He's fuming as he clenches the file in his hand.

"I told you I wanted answers, give them to me and I'll give you the answers you desire." I cross my arms and stare at him calmly, despite the rapid beating in my chest.

"You don't hold the cards here, Forrester." Talon glares at me and lets out a fuming breath.

"Oh don't I? Talon, I work for you. I know all of the crimes you've committed, the money laundering, the false records and building permits and the bribes. I know everything that goes on in your business, I know who's been killed, I know how they've been killed and best of all I know what would happen if any of this got out to the public. They'd have you in handcuffs before you could wire any more money to your contacts. No one would come to save you and you'd be sitting in jail for the rest of your miserable life."

"You can't say anything about my business without incriminating yourself." Talon laces his fingers together and attempts to look in control, even though it's completely obvious that he's freaking out inside.

"That's the difference between you and me. I'm not afraid of owning up to my mistakes. I'd be fine to get this all off of my chest but it's you who's afraid of what will happen once it's all out." I tilt my head and give him a challenging look.

"I'm a man and I'm perfectly capable of owning up to my mistakes." His eyes narrow as he takes in a deep breath through his nose.

"Fine, since we both want to own up to our mistakes, I'll go down to the police station and tell them everything, including the fact that the chief's daughter is actually yours." I go to stand up but Talon grabs my wrist, his grip tightening as he pulls me back down into the chair.

"So, now you know why I want Victoria dead." Talon lets out a sigh and glares at me again.

"Yeah, and if you tell me the whole story then I'll keep everything I know about your business and her under wraps." I cross my arms and wait for him to make his move.

"I guess I owe you that much." He looks at me with defeat, probably expecting me to say he doesn't actually have to tell me.

Fat chance, Talon