"Are you nervous about today, Ashton?"

Father Atchinson is silent as he sits across from the hazel eyed man, like always. It had been 6 months and it only took Ashton one day to figure out all his ticks, his mannerisms. He was never bothered by Ashton's lewd and suggestive comments like he figured he'd be, but it didn't really matter. The guy decided to be a fucking chaplain for a prison, maybe he's got a few more screws loose than people understand.

Ashton stretched slightly in his chair and sighed heavily. "Nah," be answered dismissively. "I've been anticipating my inevitable death for years. Surprised it didn't come to me sooner, actually."

"Why is that," he inquired as he set his bible on the metal table.

"I devoted my life to becoming a serial killer slash hit-man," he answered without missing a beat. "Not really a job that promises a long and prosperous life."

Atchinson nodded slightly, pushing his glasses up on his face. "Today is your last confession," he stated, pulling his rosary from underneath his collar. "This is your last chance to present your sins before a man of the cloth before you answer for them before God."

"Before we continue," Ashton said, clasping his hands together on the table, "remember that you can take your God and shove him up your ass. I only agreed to these confessions because I can't wait to see the look on your face when you finally understand why this fucked up brain is the way it is."

He nodded once more, copying Ashton's hand placement on the table before speaking. "Start wherever and whenever you're ready."

The smirk that played on his lips looked like it sent a physically burning heat into Father Atchinson's skull.

"My pleasure."

~ ~ ~

"Ashley," Ashton called to the younger blonde standing by her desk, "talk to me about this assignment."

She shook her head without looking back at him, already seeming to be looking over the file description. "Well," she started, "I can tell you that this is probably going to be your biggest job yet. I know that Andrew is giving you a week to prepare for the mission, and there's a good reason behind that."

"Oh, yeah?" The man stood beside her, leaning on his elbows as she continued to read through the assignment. "Why do you believe that is?"

"The amount of money he's waging on it is a pretty big red flag," she said before pointing at the screen. "He's set the ransom for 1.5 million dollars, Ashton."

He let out a soft whistle, narrowing his eyes slightly. "I think this is it, Ash," he said, shaking his head. "Drew's officially lost it."

"Hey," the semi-deep voice said from behind the two, "remember, I don't set the ransom, Boss does. I just give out assignments and handle payments."

"Speaking of," Ashley said, saving the assignment file, "shouldn't you be in your office? Taking care of those things?"

"I came to get Ashton," he said, motioning to the curly headed man. "Boss wants to see you."

Ashley patted his shoulder softly, giving him a faux sympathetic look. "Good luck, buddy."

Ashton rolled his eyes and left the two behind as he made his way to the elevator to take him to Boss' office. He was one of the only members of our workforce to be allowed in Boss' office other than Andrew and another partner named Ashley, who was in charge of the service's Tact Forces. Once he made it to the top floor, he made his way to the large wooden doors and knocked three times, making sure he knew who was here. A soft 'enter' was heard and Ashton slowly creaked the door open before stepping inside and closing it behind him.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" he said professionally, his hands behind his back in an 'at ease' fashion.

"No one else is in here, Ash," he said dismissively, the back of his chair still turned as he spoke, "cut the 'sirs' and all that shit."

Ashton nodded and stifled a small laugh as he walked over to his desk. "What'd you need me for, Cal?"

Calum turned his chair to face him now, his chin resting in his palm as he sat casually in his chair. His dark brown - almost black - hair beginning to gray slightly and he looked like he needed a shave. It was more than apparent that this job was getting to him, but he ran this force just like he did when they started five years ago.

"I wanted to talk to you about your next assignment," he said seriously, motioning for him to sit in the chair across from his desk. He continued to speak as he did so. "You need to understand just how important this mission is. The Grand Rapids hit crew is our last competitor in the state of Michigan. Once the threat is extinguished, we will have free reign of any future mission that takes place here. Eventually, after this is all over, I will be sending you and a couple of other tact members to different states to make sure everyone knows that we are not a force to be reckoned with."

Ashton nodded his head slightly as the words sunk in. Calum always discussed his future plans for their forces with him because he knew that he had the best judgement calls when it came to this. Which, he assumed, is why he was here at that moment. "We may want to lay low for a while after this, then," he says, his eyes not meeting Calum's as he stared out of the large glass windows overlooking the city. "Everyone will be looking for answers, and if we aren't careful, they'll be written all over us."

Calum nodded once more and turned his chair around again, back facing the man. "This mission is important, Ashton," he said in a monotone voice. "I'm trusting you not to fuck it up."

He nodded even though he couldn't be seen and he started making his way toward the door. "When have I ever?"

As he exited the office, he pulled my pack of cigarettes from his pocket and placed one to his lips, lighting it as he got back into the elevator. As he rode back to the ground floor, Ashton recalled the seriousness in Calum's voice. He'd never been this adamant about laying a mission on his. This mission, however, would be the one that will start to change everything.

And he was determined not to fuck it up.

~ ~ ~

"I see you've chosen to start at the beginning of what got you here," Father Atchinson cut in once he stopped talking. Ashton nodded slightly as Father Atchinson looked at him with no emotion on his face. "You've also chosen to use the names of all of your colleagues, may I ask why that is?"

Hazel eyes glared at the man in front of him, anger coursing through his blood as he clenched his jaw. "What does it matter if I do or not? They're all fucking dead now. Can't rat out people who're already dead."

Father Atchinson nodded once again. "You've said - repeatedly - how your story would disturb me, Ashton. I've yet to be disturbed."

The man let a sadistic smile twist along his lips as he leaned across the table to where Father Atchinson could feel his words fan against his face.

"I've only just begun."