Night Fury: First Act Read Online Free PDF Page A

Before I can overthink this, Marco pulls my chair around to face his. His expression unsympathetic, he orders, “Turn the page.”
    I’m suddenly anxious. My stomach does somersaults.
    The first page of the document is just a target bio; the second page lists the alleged crimes committed.
    I swallow hard and turn the page.
    The words begin to blur after a minute of reading. My anger pulses through my temples, and I hold the pages so tightly my knuckles turn sheet-white.
    I can’t help myself from asking a stupid question. “This has been confirmed?”
    Without answering, Marco turns to a third page.
    More photographs.
    “Yep,” he counts the photos on the page, “one, two, three, four times over.” I feel his eyes on me. I can’t take my wide eyes off the page. They flicker from photo to photo. Quietly, he asks, “You still feel something for this fucking animal?”
    My voice shakes with anger as I answer, “Not a damn thing.”
    And I mean it.
    Unable to glimpse away from the horrifying photos, I jump when a soft hand rests on my back. Blinking, I look up, flushed and emotional. Sister Arianne stands at my back removing her habit.
    Ari—codename: War Paint—looks over my shoulder to the photos and jeers, “ Choquant , no? Who knew? If I could take care of this salaud more than once, I would take pleasure in it,” she sneers and adds, “ Putain trou du cul .”
    Silence seems fitting, especially since I don’t know what to say.
    “Tonight, we will make sure he cannot hurt anyone ever again.”
    I remain silent. Ari softly strokes my hair and asks, “Does this not make you happy, cheri? To make the world safer? To protect?”
    My emotions run wild. My anger has always been a problem, and some small part of me prays for a release—an outlet for my fury. Standing quickly, I don’t look at either Marco or Ari. I simply announce, “He’s mine.”
    Neither one answers.
    I look up at Ari and repeat myself, “This fucker is mine.” Without a backwards glance, I make my way up the stairs, out of Mirage and find solace in the one place I can.
    The rest of the afternoon is spent reflecting and praying in my garden. I pray for God to give me the strength to hunt a fucking animal.
    Regardless, hunt, I will.

Chapter Six
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    Name: Marcel Dupont
    Age: 48
    Hair colour: Grey, short cut
    Eye colour: Blue
    Weight: 190 lbs
    Build: Medium
    Height: 5 feet, 9 inches
    Other: Distinct scar on upper lip. Large nose.
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    “T his will be easier than most. He knows us. He trusts us,” Ari whispers. “He will be sorry.”
    She stands in the middle of the ground floor of Mirage wearing black athletic tights and a black tank. Her arms raised, she stands patiently as Clark and Marco work swiftly, strapping her body with everything we need for the night.
    They’re so preoccupied, they don’t notice when I take the printed page of photographs, fold it neatly and place it in my pocket.
    Part of me was worried I’d feel too much. Now that same part of me is worried I’m not feeling enough. My mind is at war with my faith.
    I choose to ignore both. For tonight.
    “Cat?”
    I turn to face Ari; she nods down to her body and when I see it, my heart stutters. “ Koneko ,” I say in awe.
    My katana is strapped across her torso. The sword is the most beautiful thing I have ever owned.
    Ari winks at me, and the bright light reflecting off her blade causes Koneko to wink at me too.
    I get what she’s trying to do, but I’m not sure I want my favourite weapon tarnished by dirty blood.
    “You okay?” Clark appears in front of me.
    I do my best to sound chipper. “Heck yeah. Tonight is the night.”
    Unconvinced by my bad acting, he leans closer to me and says quietly, “You don’t need to prove anything.”
    My gaze slides back to Ari and I whisper, “Yes. I do.”
    He doesn’t respond. He doesn’t need to.
    We both know it’s true.

Chapter Seven
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    F inal