Free Good Intentions - Adrian Hell #6 (Adrian Hell Series) by James P. Sumner Page B

it. Let’s see just how free I really am, shall we?
    I lash my arm out to the side in a swift arc. The splintered chopstick connects perfectly with my target, piercing the thin flesh of his throat, just below his Adam’s apple. I turn and stare at him. He looks around at me slowly, his eyes wide and his mouth open. I let go, leaving the makeshift weapon sticking out of him. He clutches at it as he makes an awful gurgling sound, desperately trying to take a breath, but slowly choking on the blood gathering in his esophagus.
    No one’s reacted yet. The people in the immediate vicinity haven’t quite registered what’s happening. I stare into the guy’s wide, disbelieving eyes, waiting to see the light in them begin to fade.
    It doesn’t take long.
    I reach across and yank the chopstick from his throat. A thin fountain of blood erupts from the wound, soaking both the table in front of him and the person sitting opposite. I quickly place my hand on the back of his head and slam him face first into his plate. He tries to struggle free, but his efforts are futile. I hold him there for another moment, waiting.
    I lean forward to check and…
    Yeah… that’s it.
    He’s gone.
    I sit back in my chair and look at Lily. Her expression is neutral, devoid of any sentiment or emotion. We stare into each other’s eyes until the shock wears off the people around us and the screaming starts. Neither of us makes a move. As people leap to their feet and rush around in a panic, fleeing their tables in all directions, we both sit, silently regarding one another like a game of chicken, seeing who will move first.
    I shrug. “See, I told you—all I need is a valid reason. Job done.”
    She finishes her drink. “What if I was lying?”
    “You weren’t.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Because, believe it or not, I’m better at reading people than you might think. And I trust my spider sense. You weren’t lying. You were just reluctant to give me a reason because it’s against your rules.”
    She flicks her eyebrows up and flashes a perplexed smile. “Okay. And what’s your spider sense? Is that something out of Star Wars ?”
    She pulls a face, possibly being facetious. I shake my head. “No, it’s not out of Star Wars… Good God, woman!”
    She chuckles and stands. “Come on, the police will be here any minute.”
    “I thought they weren’t a problem?”
    “They’re not, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any paperwork. Let’s go.”
    I follow her outside and we head left. I glance back over my shoulder at the restaurant. There’s a crowd of people gathering out front, cell phone cameras going crazy.
    Some things never change…
    That actually felt quite liberating—getting back to basics and just taking out a target. No fuss, no fallout… just me and the kill, like the old days. It’s almost comforting to have something I’m familiar with, something that makes sense to me. God knows those things have been in short supply lately.
    Lily strides confidently and carefree next to me, as if we have all the time in the world. A warm, stifling breeze catches her hair, blowing it gently and causing it to flow like black water behind her as she walks.
    She’s an absolute vision…
    “So, do you always act so impulsively?” she asks.
    “I wouldn’t say that was impulsive, as such. I tend to operate using calculated risks and instinct more than anything. It’s always worked well for me in the past.”
    “How did you know he wouldn’t fight back?”
    I look over at her and raise an eyebrow. “Are you being serious?”
    She holds my gaze for a moment and then smiles. “No, not in the slightest.”
    I smile and shake my head. She might be a little frosty at times, and really hard to read, but I’m starting to like her. And she seems to be warming to me, which is unexpected but not altogether unpleasant.
    “So, where to now, Lily?”
    She spins around so she’s facing me and walking backward. “Time to meet the