Vicious King

She laughs at that and kisses me, reminding me to stay in the present and that tomorrow will come and no matter what, she will be right by my side for the journey.

Second Epilogue—Branch, The Hitman

Babysitting royals is better than the usual, I guess.

I inhale the last hit of my cigarette before dropping it to the street and stomping it out. Checking my watch, I guesstimate the pair will be dining for upwards another half hour before they will be ready to move on with their evening.

Just as I am getting resettled in my little nook, a car pulls up beside the curb and I see a piece of metal flash as a driver’s side window opens. Lunging into action, I jump out of my nook and slam down hard on the assailant’s wrist, prompting them to drop their weapon. Then, just as smoothly, I slam my hand into his throat and smash his head hard against the steering column, rendering him unconscious.

Glancing around, I notice that nobody witnessed the incident under the blanket of night and quickly open the man’s door so his body slumps forward. I grab him before he meets the pavement and pick up his weapon to conceal it behind my back. It’s harder than I realized, dragging his limp form behind the alley, but I finally manage to get him propped up by a dumpster.

“Not today, prick,” I mutter as I head back toward my little nook. As I round the corner, I spot the restaurant’s maitre’d inspecting the idling, empty car by the curb. “Shit,” I grumble to myself. I watch from my nook as they call for a tow truck and curse the oblivious lovebirds for their close encounter that they aren’t even aware of.

The queen would be so much safer if she’d stayed in the palace. She was by far safer when he was locked away, I thought to myself. After the two finish their meals and safely take their leave, I canvas the area for any more threats and carefully follow them back to the palace.

I press the speed dial on my car’s dash and my smartphone lights up the car. It rings once before Larz picks up.

“Branch buddy. What’s up?” Soft music beats in the background and I hear a woman’s voice calling Larz from someplace further off.

“Your parents are safe, but they were targeted tonight. Target is out and your parents are making their way back to the nest as we speak.”

“That’s good,” Larz says, distractedly.

“You know they are too infatuated with each other to realize a gun was pointed at their little royal heads tonight, don’t you?” I try to convey how serious this is, but I don’t think Larz gets it because he chuckles on the other line.

“It’s good to see Granny is right again,” he says, whatever that means.

I frown and disconnect. Bloody royals. Think they are celebrities. Except for maybe Fara. I laugh at the thought of that reckless princess and our first interaction. Rubbing my jaw, I smile at the memory of just how powerful a right hook she has and I’m once again impressed. Still, she’s just as careless as her parents and that isn’t making my job any easier. I curse under my breath. I now understand why their father is called the “mad king” but I also think they are all just a little mad.

Fara doesn’t even know I exist, but I have been watching and protecting her and those she holds most dear for months now. The more I think about what that Warsaw hog might have done to her, I stop my trail of thoughts when I realize I am about to run a redlight and slam on the breaks. Horns blare around me and my heart races against my chest.

That bloody woman is driving me mad! Can’t she see the danger her and her family have been thrown into since their father’s release and return? Not everyone believes the mad king is truly innocent! And those Warsaw jerks aren’t going away anytime soon either.