Lovers and Reprisals (Lovers Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Uncle Sam had foot the bill, and back then, for eight years, he’d killed for a living.  It felt good feeling the jerk of the gun, and then there was always the pop.  This explosive motion fulfilled his fixation to kill.  When he’d been asked to take care of Tollin, he’d checked his bases before plotting out the job.  Then, when he’d called up Dash, enlisting his help as a lookout; the foolish man wouldn’t leave well enough alone.  He’d whimpered like a two year old on a playground, begging for his turn to pull the trigger.  Dash had never killed anyone, and instead of doing the job that Joplin had paid him to do; the young man had placed himself beneath the wings of a trained killer.  The sad part about this scenario was that, Joplin didn’t feel any pity for Dash.  In his brain, it had been Dash who’d placed himself in harms way because he should have remained outdoors, covering his ass while he dealt  with Tollin.  When he’d been in the Special Forces, he’d been trained to make his mark.  This time had been no different, and he’d spun his web months ago, setting his Tollin trap.  When Tollin made a call inquiring about a new security system; Joplin had been monitoring his outgoing calls.  Joplin had played his role to perfection and after installing Tollin’s Panic room, Joplin had thrown in the security doors as a special offer.  Tollin had been extremely grateful.  He’d even given Joplin a tip, and told him he’d be sure to recommend his service to his friends.  Like so many rich people who think money can buy them whatever they want; Tollin had been over trusting and he didn’t employ an outside company to inspect Joplin’s work.  Had he taken this precaution, the security expert might have found the override code, hidden in the security system.  The same code that had allowed Joplin and Dashiell easy access--gaining entry inside of his penthouse.  Joplin had entered through the front, and Dash had come in up the rear.  Killing Tollin had been a part of his plan--but Dashiell--his death had been a necessary evil.  Before arriving at the apartment building across from Tollin’s building; Dashiell’s role had been as clear as ice.  Joplin had employed this man for one reason and only one reason.  Joplin needed a reliable lookout.  He’d worked on a few security jobs with Dashiell and he seemed to be loyal and the dependable type.  From the beginning, Joplin had never explained that he’d been on a mission to kill Tollin.  In spite of this, it had been Dash’s insistent prodding and probing that led to an outcome that could have been avoided.  At one point, Dash had outright said, that he knew Joplin had been sent to kill someone.  Joplin didn’t know if Dashiell had been guessing or fishing for information and in the end, it really didn’t matter because his suspicions had sealed his fate.  In other words, Dashiell had asked one too many questions.  One thing he’d learned during his years in service was that, intelligent soldiers don’t take chances.  If an enemy combatant threatens the mission; there could be only one outcome.  That combatant would be as good as dead.  Joplin stepped over Dashiell Wrightly’s body, leaving his combatant in the stairwell.  His timepiece beeped five times, signaling the midnight hour.  Like clockwork, even though he was still in doors, he could hear Midtown Holy Cathedral when its bells began to chime.  This noise was followed by the computer generated bells blaring from the Samaritan Conclave’s outdoor speakers.  The New Year had officially begun.
    “Happy New Year.”  he mouthed to himself.  If people only knew about the secret dealings that occurred day in and day out all around the world, most would never leave the safety of their homes.  Joplin raked his free hand through his hair, then he stepped out of the stairwell, taking the hallway to the main lobby.  He passed the doorman, who smiled at him while