Chapter 2

Angela…

Clio and I are hanging out at a fancy five-star hotel in Las Vegas right now.

I guess having a sister who's a big-time lawyer at such a young age has its perks, and then there's me, a notorious criminal with a knack for assassinations. Not to mention the cash I rake in from underground fights, which I usually donate to charities and hospitals.

I appreciate that Clio tells her friends I'm her younger sister, whom she hasn't seen in ages. I didn’t even think about them grilling her on why we don’t see each other regularly, but thankfully, she always has a solid cover story. It’s a nice advantage to have a sister who practices law; people tend to trust her.

Clio mentioned the bachelorette party will go on for three days, which threw me off since I didn't know about this. Today’s just the first day, and it’s a low-key dinner. Knowing Clio's friends will bombard me with questions, I’ve decided to stay in, order some Chinese food, and do a little digging on Mr. Donovan Brown.

"Hey Angela, how do I look?" Clio asks as she steps out of the bathroom in a stunning off-the-shoulder black dress with a thigh-high slit. "That dress fits you like a glove! If you end up going home with someone, just make sure to pick a different hotel room. And remember, if anyone gets too handsy, just drop my name—Angel of Death—and they'll be out of there in a flash," I say with a cheeky grin.

"Thanks, Angel! My card's on the table if you want to order takeout. I’ll catch you later tonight after dinner, and if I don’t... well, you know I’m having a blast," Clio winks at me.

"Stay safe, I love you!"

"Love you too!"

Before long, I found myself alone in the hotel room, having ordered some food. Once it arrived, I plopped down on the bed and opened my laptop to check out where he’d be roaming around Vegas over the next few days. I knew he’d be around for the week.

Suddenly, my phone started ringing, and I accidentally grabbed my burner phone instead of my regular one. "Hey Ares, did you or Maya manage to dig up any info on Donovan Brown?"

Ares and Maya are orphans I met when I got into the underground fighting scene. I ended up facing both of them at once and somehow managed to take them down and win.

After the fight, they approached me, asking if we could hang out sometime, but I had to decline because I couldn’t risk anyone finding out my secret. Later that night, I saw them getting cornered by a group of guys. They tried to fend them off but were outmatched, so I jumped in and took them out one by one. I totally forgot I had an audience while I injected the poison into the guys while they were knocked out. I offered to walk them home, not expecting to find out they lived in such a tiny place.

They told me the money they made from fighting was how they got by. I felt a pang of guilt that night and promised to teach them my fighting skills. I even gave them enough cash to move into a two-bedroom apartment in Athens.

What I didn’t see coming was how they’d become my closest friends and the most reliable people I could count on. Maya is my brilliant hacker, which is how I can track people down so fast. Ares keeps me updated on new clients and digs deeper into the backgrounds of the targets I need to take out if I haven’t already found them.

“Maya mentioned that Donovan will be at Moonlight Lounge tonight, and it’s just a quick ten-minute walk from your place. So, Angel, grab that sexy black dress you bought and go make an impression!”

"Sounds good! Tell Maya I said hi."

"Will do! Have fun out there, Angel!"

Ares hangs up, and I toss my trash aside before getting off my bed. I rummage through my suitcase and pull out a dress to change into. It’s the one Ares suggested—a black number with a thigh-high slit and a plunging v-neck.

I straightened my hair, slipped in some brown contacts, and applied red lipstick. Just as I was putting on my black heels, Ares texted me.

"Remember to act as a teenager in front of him as much as possible, wear that shoulder-length wig, and apply some milk and honey perfume!"

Good news, Ares! Milk and honey is my go-to scent, and I’m always playing innocent around guys. But I could’ve used that tip half an hour ago before I started straightening my hair. I quickly pulled my hair into a low bun and put on a dark red shoulder-length wig.

I checked myself out in the mirror, and everything looked perfect.

I grabbed my black purse, stuffing in my gun and the poison I planned to use. I was surprised it all fit in there. I strapped a knife to my upper left thigh and adjusted my dress.

Alright, it looks like the Angel of Death is ready to make her move.

I took a cab to Moonlight Lounge since I wasn’t in the mood for walking. I left the driver a $100 tip before hopping out. As I approached the club entrance, I pulled out my fake ID.

I'm an adult, but I don’t use my real ID when I’m on missions. After the bouncer let me in, I slipped into the VIP section and made a beeline for the bar. "What can I get you?" the bartender asked.

"I'll have a Mastiha margarita, please." I handed her my ID, and she glanced at it for a moment before returning it and mixing my drink.

"Here you go, babe."

"Thanks!" I replied with a smile as I took a sip. I started scanning the room for the guy I was after. He’s tall, with brown hair, green eyes, a beard, and a skull tattoo on his right arm... and there he is.

It looks like he’s on the other side of the bar. I watch him for a bit, hoping to catch his eye, and he does. I give him a wink while sipping my margarita. His gaze is glued to my chest.

Before I know it, he gets up and strolls over to me. "Is this seat taken?"

"Not at all," I say sweetly, which makes him smile. Innocent vibe check.

"So, what’s a gorgeous girl like you doing in a place like this? You must be, what, twenty-two?"

How did he guess? "Can you keep a secret?" I asked, playing coy.

"Absolutely."