Free Black by T.l Smith

behind her.
    “He’s dangerous,” Sax says, standing, not moving.
    Casey waves a hand at him, blowing him off. “They said the same about you, and look where we are now… I’m knocked up with a ring on my finger.” Her hand flies to her mouth, and she turns to me biting her lip and worry lines appearing on her forehead. “I’m so sorry, Rose,” she says. I wave her off.
    “Its fine, don’t worry. I’m happy for you.” I smile. She knows my situation with Roger. The bastard.
    “You’re pregnant?” Sax asks, clearly shocked. Casey’s eyes go furiously wide in front of me. “Whoops…” she says, turning around. “Sorry, baby, I planned to tell you tonight.” I sneak past them and go to the spare room, which I can’t stay in for much longer now, now that she’ll be having a baby of her own. I hear Sax cheer and Casey giggle in delight. I lay on my bed, smiling at them and pick up my phone, planning to send one last message before I drift off to sleep.
    Me: When can I see you again? Can we meet up? Please. x

 
     

    “You…” he stutters, shock coating his face. He doesn’t know me but knows of me. Knew I was here for him, to take him away from this thing he calls a life. My gun is in my left hand, my finger on the trigger, ready to be pulled.
    “Why?” he asks, looking around desperately for help. There’s no one here. I made sure of that before I set this up. This hit is my only one this week. I didn’t lie to my body man when I told him I’d be taking things slower. My phone hasn’t stopped. My name and number are being spread faster—almost time to change the number I think.
    I don’t know his story, I choose not to. I like these cases better, not knowing helps me sleep at night. Helps me not to care. This is a job, a job where I do not need to know all the details.
    “Are you ready?” I ask him. The safety goes off, and my hand goes up. His head is now full blown shaking and words keep leaving his lips over and over, “No… no… no…”
    “I will pay you whatever they are. Triple…” he says in between head shakes. That’s not how I roll. I don’t do it for the money. Yes, it’s a big factor. I charge more now than I did when I first started. I don’t go back on my contracts, no matter how much money is thrown in afterward or how much begging goes on.
    “Say your prayers.” My finger pulls down, the gun goes off. The man drops to the floor. He wasn’t old, mid to late thirties I would guess. Fit, just not smart. Blood oozes from his head wound, his eyes wide open staring at the black sky above us. I grab a black tarp, roll him in it, and move his body over. I throw bleach over his blood then call my clean-up crew.
    Another job done, another piece of my soul chipped away.
    Another calling card left.

    Her text sits on my phone. It’s been all week. I haven’t answered her or even when she tried calling yesterday. It won’t do her any good to contact me or be in touch with me. Nothing good comes from me, the blood on my hands only goes to prove that.
    Jake walks through my door. I’m not even home for ten minutes when his voice calls out. He walks in, Stella behind him. I shake my head and watch as she walks to him and wraps her hands around his mid-section. She eyes me like she’s looking for a reaction, one she won’t get.
    “Got your pussy, brother?” Jake asks, tapping her ass. She squeals and I turn my head back to finish washing my hands.
    “Have it,” I reply.
    “Some chick’s been asking about you,” Jake says. I dry my hands clean and nod my head to the door for Stella to leave. She doesn’t listen and Jake removes her arms from him.
    “Car,” he says, looking at her then straight back to me. She cries out in frustration and slams the door when she walks out. “That bitch is crazy! How do I get rid of her?” I want to laugh at him, but he looks at the door then back to me.
    “Good luck with that one.”
    “Yeah, she’s a great fuck, but a mind