A/N: I can't apologise enough about the incredibly late update, but unfortunately, I had a lot of schoolwork and also an operation to worry about :) the lack of reviews was also a bit disappointing, I'm up for constructive criticism, so please just tell me what you think :) I appreciate it!

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'I hate it when you're annoying…' he mumbled and I shook my head,

'It doesn't happen often, savour it'

'Whatever…' and we walked to the bar in lighter spirits.

RPOV

There was a sound emanating from the back alley and I was instantly put on high alert. This job was meant to be easy. A quick take out, that's all, my boss Stan had said. Some fat, far-too-rich businessman who'd been a bit too frisky with a client's daughter. Well, it seemed like you didn't mess with this kind of client.

'Hey!' the target shouted. I froze, thinking my secrecy had been compromised, but a figure appeared from the shadows of a tall building, and I knew that I was safe.

'Christ, Ivan, you nearly gave me a heart attack…' the fat guy laughed, his rotund body shaking with him as he did so.

'That wouldn't be unlikely… what with your size…' the other voice, presumably 'Ivan' sneered. He had the sexy lilt of a Russian accent and I felt a smile grown on my face. There was an awkward silence for a few short moments, before it was broken by my target. He emitted a fake laugh and said,

'I have the money.' And that was all it took for me to totally lose my focus and instead stare at the man, who was holding a large brown briefcase, which I hadn't before noticed. He unclipped the catches and the top swung open, revealing thousands of neatly stacked bills. I gasped quietly, leaning forward a bit.

I was perched on the roof of the tallest building in the alley, a block of flats which smelt of cigarettes and sweat, much like the rest of the alley. I made a mental note not to visit this part of town again. I was lying down, invisible in the darkness, my gun fixed on the target's receding hair line.

I was a pro at this, I reminded myself, pros don't lose focus. I shook out my long dark hair, releasing it from the prison of the hair tie I used and aimed the gun again. I had to time it just right. This Ivan couldn't see me take him out, or I knew I'd be headed into a whole load of shit. I had to wait for the money to be exchanged and then shoot him to high heaven. I had to be done by the next six minutes, or I'd have to abort the mission and get even more shit from Stan. The fat guy bent down with a heaving groan and pushed the suitcase across the ground. I took in the detail of Ivan: broad shoulders, high cheekbones and pretty damn good looking. It would be a shame to waste that but if he didn't clear off soon, I'd have to take him out too.

'Is it all there?' Ivan asked, breaking my thought patterns.

'Sure is. Fifty thousand dollars of my own wealth, just as you asked. Now will you please, please burn the pictures?' Fatty begged and I finally figured out what was happening. Ivan was blackmailing him and Fatty was paying him off to keep quiet about some photos.

Ivan took the case and produced a stack of black and white prints, their contents too small for me to make out. He laid them on the ground and set light to them.

'There' he concluded. I looked at my watch and grinned as Ivan left, marking the end of the six minutes. I placed the silencer on and aimed – zip.

He fell to the floor without making a sound and I climbed down the ladder to go check the body. I felt for a pulse on his bulbous neck, but found none. Grinning, I wiped my hands of blood and walked out of the alley. I packed away my gun into the carry-bag I'd brought along.

Sighing, I thought about last week with the gorgeous trainer up at the gym. After remembering that I had indeed got a sort-of boyfriend, I had run away from him. Since then, I'd looked up information on him, finding out that his name was Dimitri Belikov and that he was a native of Siberia. I had been going on to discover more on his family and friends, before my boss shut the laptop. It seems he didn't like personal quests for information.

I thought of Adrian and suddenly a wave of guilt washed over me. What I was doing to him wasn't fair and it should've stopped by now. He was an amazing person, just not the right person for me. I needed someone who I could trust not to tell anyone that I was secretly an assassin. Not even Lissa knew entirely what I did; I had to mask my frequent disappearances as a party-girl attitude. Even tonight, I'd claimed I was going to the new club recently opened in town. I hired men to come to my house and pretend to be interested in dating me, which wasn't hard as most of them wanted to in the first place. I sighed, this whole thing was messed up.

Turning into a less pungent alleyway, I knocked on a large metal door, with a small opening at the top. The bolt was drawn back across it and the familiar eyes of Stan were revealed through the small rectangular box.

'Done it?' he muttered after a pause. I nodded, lifting my bag up so he could see.

'Did he squirm?' he grinned and let me in. I didn't bother replying; I wasn't as keen as Stan in fulfilling client's wishes to kill their enemies.

'How much blood? A lot… or not so much? You never know with obese people, do ya?' he laughed and turned, looking at me expectantly.

'The usual amount' I said simply.

'Any idea what he was doing in that alley?' I turned away, making a face at his constant questions.

'Nope' I made my way slowly up the stairs, barely glancing at the clock to see that it was two in the morning and I was regrettably still up and about.

'What's up with you today, Rose? If it's getting too much for you, I can easily-'

'I'm fine' I stressed, throwing the bag onto the sofa and leaning over the top banister, 'I'm just tired, that's all'

'Tiredness can cause lack of focus, Rose…' he warned and I nodded,

'Yada yada yada, I get it! I'm honestly fine. It's just tonight, that's all.' I turned away and unpacked the gun, cleaning it and replacing it in the cabinet where it belonged.

'Coffee?' he called, his voice more distant now that he had moved to the kitchen.

'Black, no sugar' I replied.

'So just a cup of hot water for you, huh?' he laughed heartily at his own joke. I decided against telling him to go fuck himself, instead consoling myself with the thought that soon I'd be tucked up in my warm bed, back at Lissa's place in the centre of town.

'Hardly, there's coffee in it' I muttered, looking into the mirror and frowning at the mess that was my hair. I grabbed the spare pair of straighteners that I'd equipped Stan's house with and used them. After seating myself on the sofa, downstairs, Stan returned and handed me my coffee,

'I got another job for you.'

'Tonight?'

'Yeah'

'No, I can't. I'm too tired, I might 'lose focus'' I cast him a sidelong look

'It'll be an easy take out'

'You said that last time'

'Well was it easy?'

''Spose'

'Exactly' I sighed,

'What is it then?' he grinned at my acceptance and pulled out a file.

'Take a look. Conman, enemy wants him done quickly, cleanly and most of all quietly. He don't want him found either, so dump the body in the lake or something'

'You expect me to carry a dead body through town at three in the morning, when I'm exhausted, plus then find any old lake to throw him into? You have to be joking.'

'I'm not, so get your ass off of that couch and go kill that guy.' I rolled my eyes and took out my gun, heading back out. Tonight was going to be long, that was for sure. Looking in the file, I saw that Stan had left a note saying that he'd be night-fishing, conveniently, by the city river. I rolled my eyes, I should've known how much Stan liked to wind me up; of course I wouldn't have to carry his body through town.

I went to the river as requested and spotted a single figure doing just that, night-fishing. I never understood the point of fishing during the night, surely all the fish would be asleep… or something.

I looked through my binoculars at the man, trying to get a good look at him. The face was familiar, but no… it couldn't be…

I looked in the file and my suspicions were sadly correct. In black and white, the name Ivan Zeklos.

Along with it was a photograph of him with another figure, whose face was turned away. I suddenly felt immense pity for the man with him.

I was killing his friend.

I aimed for his head, which was easy to shoot at, seeing as he was totally at ease and even facing me. I saw the briefcase full of cash from earlier beside him.

Feeling the immense guilt for having to do this, I aimed downwards and shot his leg, picking up my gun and running as fast as possible. I turned back briefly to see him lying on the bank, screaming as blood ran freely from his leg. I fled, back to base, calming myself before entering again.

'Ooh that was quick' Stan pointed out and I nodded, perhaps a little too quickly

'He was a clean shot, didn't need to push him in, he fell in'

'Oh, good… anyway, you can go back home now, Rose. You've done a very good job today; a cheque will be in the post tomorrow morning.' He smiled, none the wiser and I nodded hastily, taking my things and leaving.

The next morning I awoke with Lissa sat beside me.

'Hello' I smiled, but she didn't return it.

'You were in a 3:30 this morning.' She stated, her face devoid of all emotion.

'Yeah sorry… long night' I laughed and she raised an eyebrow,

'Your boyfriend rang around nine-ish; he was confused as to why you didn't meet him?' I cursed,

'Damnit… I totally forgot…' I muttered, getting up and grabbing the phone to ring him back.

'I wouldn't bother, Rose. He said that they might not be in. He was going out with his roommate, I think' I replaced the phone and dressed instead.

'Where did they say they were going?' I asked, slipping on my favourite black combat jeans

'He didn't say, but what he did say was that they'd be going at midday. And it's…' she paused to look at her watch, 'eleven thirty now… so, you might wanna run down there now' I nodded and did just that, catching the bus and getting off just outside their apartment.

Adrian was just making his way out of the front door.

I ran over and grabbed his arm,

'Oh my god! I am so sorry, Adrian. I was so busy last night, I forgot about our date… can I make it up to you?' I babbled and he laughed,

'Sure, I mean, I stood you up. I suppose you have a right to do the same to me' he said, winking.

'I'm so sorry…' I repeated and he nodded,

'It's fine, don't worry' he smiled comfortingly and kissed my forehead, 'I'm off to the hospital with my roommate, so you wanna come too? We could get some coffee after?'

'Great idea, where's your roommate?'

'He's just coming' Adrian assured and we waited patiently outside the apartment block for his roommate, who I had yet to meet. I'd heard plenty about him, but suddenly I realised that I'd never got his name. Turning to Adrian, I asked for it. Adrian was just about to answer when a figure emerged from the block,

'Rose, this is Dimitri Belikov, my roommate' Adrian smiled and Dimitri turned around, looking at me with the same piercing eyes that sparked my first interest in him.

It's the gym guy, it suddenly dawned on me and my eyes widened.

Oh shit.

A/N: Some reviews would be nice? Especially constructive criticism :)

BelikovsRoza1697

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