‘Spare her life for now, Caleb ordered. At thest second. Dorian’s gun barrel veered off, the bullet grazing ck Rose’s cheek as it whizzed past


    ck Rose’s whole body went limp, her back drenched in cold sweat. I was this close to meeting my maker! she thought.


    Caleb approached slowly. “Do you know my sister, Aria?”


    ck Rose’s pupils contracted. So, he is indeed connected to Echohawk, she thought. ck Rose forced herself to stay calm and insisted, “I swear, I’ve never killed an innocent soul.”


    Though I hate to admit it, I’ve admired Echohawk for years. That’s why I started practicing with silver needles, just to be a little more like her, ck Rose thought to herself.


    She thought, ‘Actually, I wanted to join the Solemnity Guild at first, but they only ept kids under ten, so I had no choice but to settle for the Blood Association


    ck Rose had always held herself to the Solemnity Guild’s code, being highly selective with contracts. But no matter how hard she tried, her ranking never improved. In the assassin world, she remained a nobody.


    Later, she decided to take on easier contracts, hoping to emte Echohawk’s wless record. Only to end up getting taken


    out herself.


    “I’ve done jobs for Aria, and she knows me ck Rose blurted out desperately. ‘Spare my life. I can be useful to you.”


    Dorian instinctively looked to Caleb for guidance. Caleb’s gaze sharpened ‘Got any proof you’re with Aria?”


    ck Rose pulled out a phone she’d concealed in an inner pocket. I have our text messages,” she said frantically.


    Caleb took the phone as ck Rose’s heart hammered wildly in her chest. There were barely any records, nowhere near enough to prove anything.


    I’m not even part of Aria’s crew, she admitted to herself. But if I don’t say that, I’m as good as dead. I hope this boss will spare me.


    ck Rose was beyond tears. I actually tried to seduce Echohawk’s own brother, she thought bitterly. “This is what I deserve. It was all karma.’


    “Inform the Blood Association it was the Wolfshade Syndicate’s doing,” Caleb ordered, tossing the phone back.


    ck Rose was about toply when a thought struck her. She nced at her fallenpanions and asked hesitantly, “Could you make the bodies disappear?”


    The trio exchanged battled nces, and they were all confused about that.


    “Truth is, I’ve wanted out of the Blood Association for ages, but I just couldn’t get out,” ck Rose exined desperately. “Let me fake my death this time. I’ll devote myself to working for Aria from now on.”


    Caleb paused for a few seconds. “Alright.” He turned to Dorian and the others. “Handle the bodies.”


    Dorian arched an eyebrow. “Are you ordering us around now?”


    “Is that not allowed!” Caleb shot back, his toneced with challenge.


    The trio was speechless again because they found they had no reason to refuse.


    +28


    ck Rose picked up the map and suggested, “Mount Soultaker is riddled with cliffs. There’s one nearby, perfect for dumping the bodies.”


    Dorian rubbed his temples and sighed. “You two, handle the bodies.” Without a word, the Wainwright brothers shouldered


    the bodies.


    Caleb cut in, “Hold it. Strip four sets off them first.”


    Dorian snapped, “Are you out of your mind?”


    Caleb shot back, “You chicken?”


    As the only “dead weight” in the group, Caleb actually had the gall to ask if they were chicken. Dorian let out a mirthlessugh. “If even you dare, what’s stopping us?”


    Dorian thought, ‘These three siblings are all wolves in sheep’s clothing. Each one’s got more guts than thest.’


    Seeing this, ck Rose staggered to her feet and frisked each of her fallenrades, collecting nine pieces ofms gear. She even found a phone in a guy’s bag.


    ck Rose straightened up, dumped all the stuff on the ground, and asked, “So, which identity do you want to take?” Eachms device had a name on it.


    With a resigned sigh, Dorian bent down, picked up one of thems devices, and started stripping the body.


    ck Rose looked at Caleb, her voice trembling. “Is there an antidote?”


    Caleb replied calmly, “The effects will wear off gradually.”


    With visible relief, ck Rose seized the chance to make herself useful by helping Caleb strip the clothes off a corpse.


    The trio couldn’t help feeling miffed. ‘Why’s she only helping that pretty boy and ignoring us?’ Dorian thought irritably.