CHAPTER ONE
"Sam that's ridiculous," Michael said as the two climbed out of his car.
Making there way to Michael's place, Sam was going to say something when Michael drew out his gun.
At the top of the metal staircase to his place sat a strange woman. She tugged on her ponytail, her brunette hair was pulled back tightly. The stranger wore nothing more than sandals, shorts and a swimsuit top.
Sam stepped forward. "Paisley?"
"Hey Axe, we both know I'm the last person you would like to see." Standing as she spoke.
Removing his sunglass. "Your damn right." By now Michael lowered his gun but kept it out just in case.
"But I wouldn't even be here if I didn't need your help. Badly."
"No, actually make that hell no." He said firmly.
When she took in some air it was shaky. "Sam I'm begging you, please help me."
"We can at least hear her out," Michael said.
Sam struggled, he didn't want to hear her out, every fiber in his body said don't do it. Sighing he rolled his eyes. "Fine so say it"
Paisley looked around. "Not out here. Can we go inside?"
Heading into the apartment. "Were inside what is it?" Sam said as soon as the door was shut.
She looked at the two debating how she was going to say this. Paisley never really thought that Sam would agree to talk with her but she had to try.
"There is a man out to get me and I need him to be killed."
Giving her a quizzical look. "Why don't you take care of it yourself?" Sam asked.
"Because I can't. I haven't for almost going on seven years."
Shaking his head. "My answer is still no."
"You of all people should know if I am asking for help, especially from you, I need it. You know for a fact how much I hate asking for the help of or even beg of any kind. So please, this one time."
Michael looked to Sam. "Come on, why won't you help this poor woman out?" He asked.
Sam paced as he battled with the decision. Every ounce of him was telling him, no, but she made a valid point. He has never really known her to beg or even ask for help for anything that she would rather do herself. Even if she needed the help and she knew it she wouldn't ask for it. There was a time she would have cut her right hand off before asking for help.
"We'll do it under one condition. You tell me why you need help and I want the truth."
Spitting in her hand. "Deal." Holding out her hand Sam did the same thing and they shook hands.
"Just one thing. Is it absolutely necessary to kill the man?" Michael asked.
"Yes. If you guys don't feel right about this I can find someone else. I just figured if I needed help I'd get the best."
Motioning to some chairs. "Why don't you have a seat and tell us everything," Michael said.
Pulling some papers from her purse. "I have everything you need here. Where he lives, eats, works, the car he drives, everywhere he goes. All of it." Sam paced after getting a beer shooting evil glares at her.
"And what does he want with you?" Michael sifted through the papers.
Twisting her hands within each other. "He has had it out for me for a long time, but that's in the past now. How he found me I'm stumped, and even after talking with him and letting him know I'm not in the game anymore he still wants blood. And it happens to be mine."
"And your sure that there is no other way but to kill him?" Michael asked again.
Shaking her head. "No matter where he is if he is alive and out for blood there is nothing stopping him but his death. But again if you don't want to or don't feel right about it I can find someone else."
"FI has been itching for some real fun since she gotten those new guns," Sam said.
"That she has." Looking up from the paperwork she brought with her. "We'll do it."
Paisley bit her bottom lip. "You guys don't happen to know a good place for me to crash do you?"
"I have a place you can stay." Michael closed the folder all the paperwork was sitting in.
"Mikey if it's where I'm thinking, no. She can stay at a hotel down the street or something." Sam suggested.
Michael pulled Sam out on the porch. "What is going on here? She's a pretty girl, I've never known you to be this cold to one. And she is begging for your help."
"Trust me when I tell you this woman is bad news. She makes Fiona look normal. We should let her find another person to do this."
"She needs our help and that is what we'll do." Michael went back to Paisley.
Paisley was brought to Mikes mother's place to stay while they did her case. Fiona was thrilled about it and even more so in trying out her new weapons.
Night had fallen when they three returned. Michael's mom was in the living room as Paisley was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Paisley?" Sam asked.
Shutting off the TV. "Outback. How'd it go?" Seeing Sam go to the backyard.
"He's not home, won't be till tomorrow," Michael answered as him and Fiona sat on the couch.
"I don't know where she came from but I like her. She not only cleaned my house from bottom to top as a thank you for letting her stay here. But she fixed my dishwasher as well."
Michael looked where Sam had gone. "I think there is something Sam is not telling us. You should have seen the face he made when he first saw Paisley. There is more to that women than we know."
Sam found Paisley in the backyard with headphones on and doing yoga. He stood there watching her from the doorway.
Turning the music off she was listening to. "Well?" Removing her headphone as she got up.
"You're getting sloppy." Stepping outside.
"What happened?"
Placing his hands in his pockets. "He took an unexpected flight to Las Vegas. Won't be back till tomorrow afternoon."
"Are you freaking kidding me?! That was a laid out, detailed plan. It was perfect, I think working with others has made you stupid and sucky."
Scrunching his eyebrows. "Sucky? Is that even a word?"
"Listen here word police that job was laid out perfectly and handed to you on a silver platter. You could have gotten him before he even left."
Pointing at her. "If the job was so easy, why didn't you do it? Since you are so perfect."
"I told you I can't."
Rolling his eyes. "That's a bullshit answer and you know it. Why don't you tell me the real reason."
"When you finish the mission you'll know. Even though it's everything I'm against." Crossing her arms firmly.
Running a hand through his hair. "What happened to you? You don't ever ask for help."
"That's because I gave all that up. That life doesn't interest me anymore."
Gasping. "So it's true! I figured when I heard you quit it was just your way of going into hiding. Figured you had a job go wrong."
"My jobs never go wrong. They're perfect just like me and you know that." Sticking her head up.
Laughing Sam shook his head at her. "Your still as cocky as I remember you."
"And you've gotten old."
Pointing at her. "I'm surprised your mouth has never gotten you killed."
"If you can remember my mouth is one of my best features."
Rubbing his hands over his face as he remembered. "How can I forget? No one has even come close."
"I have that effect on people. There was and is no one like me." Paisley told him.
"You're really not going to tell me why you asked for my help till after?" Moving close to her.
Shaking her head. "My mouth is sealed till the job is done."
"Whatever it is, it must be big."
Chewing on the inside of her cheek. "It's of epic proportions. Why haven't you told them about me?"
"Ya and risk the chance of either Mikey or Fiona if not both killing us? No way."
Rolling her eyes. "Well, no worries. The moment this is over I'm out of your life forever."
"Good." Paisley punched Sam in the arm when she passed him.
They heard Paisley come in. "Everything ok?" Michael's mom asked.
"Sam's a prick and I hate him." Storming to the empty room she was staying in.
Walking in. "What?" Sam looked at the three.
"What did you do?" Fiona asked.
Opening his beer that he found in the fridge. "I didn't do anything, Paisley is being Paisley."
Michael made his way over to Sam. "What is her story? I have a feeling you aren't telling us something."
"It's like she said, it's all in the past. There is nothing to worry about." He secretly hoped there really wasn't. Michael wouldn't forgive him if anything was to happen to his mom. And he wouldn't either.
Michael stared at him for a moment. "If it's nothing we need to know about fine."
"Nothing at all." Taking a swig of his beer.
Mike's mother woke the next day to the smell of something delicious. She found Paisley up and making breakfast.
Seeing her come in. "Morning. I hope you don't mind, as I took my run this morning I grabbed something at the store. I'm making some French toast, eggs, and bacon."
"Not at all, it smells great."
Going for a plate. "Good. I made enough for both of us."
"You must have been up early." Seeing the time was a little after 8 am.
Giving her a full plate. "I'm up by 6 every day. So I took a jog to the grocery store and back. Than showered before starting because being sweating and making breakfast is not a great combo."
"This is amazing." Pointing at the French toast with her fork.
Joining her at the table. "Thanks. I wasn't sure what kind of syrup you like so I went with the original."
"Original is good."
Paisley cleaned up once they were done eating. After that, she was left to wait, which she hated more than life itself.
Madeline was in the living room flipping through a magazine and smoking, while Paisley was in the kitchen making dinner. Both their heads went to the front door, Michael came barging in, getting close to Paisley. She was looking down the barrel of a gun.
"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shoot you right here, right now."
Her eyes darted to Sam. "You told!"
"Wasn't me, it was the guy you sent us after. Spilled the beans as he was dying."
Michael cocked his gun. "Michael is this absolutely necessary?" Madeline asked.
"She lied to us mom."
Holding up a finger. "Technically I never did such a thing. I withheld information that is from a past I like to forget that you never asked of me."
"What are you talking about?" Madeline was feeling really clueless now.
"I use to be an elite spy slash hit person. I was hired by everybody to do whatever it was they paid me to do. And one good reason you shouldn't shoot me is we are in your mother's house."
Not moving the gun from her face. "Not to mention you're a vicious killer. The only spy to ever kill for fun." Fiona added.
"That was a rumor spread by me. I couldn't help that you are all gullible and I'm awesome at what I did. I never asked for help. I hate it and I'm a firm believer it's beneath me. Ask Sam. So when I came to you I genuinely needed it."
Dropping the gun to his side. "Job is finished. I never want to see you again. Don't even think of asking for help again."
"So I'm banned because I neglected to tell you who I was?"
Moving away from her. "Because you are dangerous."
"Only to myself, besides pretty much everyone but like one or two people think I'm dead. The guy you went after was the only guy who had to make sure that I was dead. And if not he was going to kill me by his own hands."
Glaring at her. "Why should we believe you?" Michael asked her.
"It's true Mike. I have done a few jobs with her. I have seen her get stabbed, shot at and broken a few bones to avoid asking for help." Sam said.
Michael pointed at her. "How can you trust her? She's an ex-elite spy/hit person."
"Sam Michael has a point," Fiona said.
Paisley moved to the pans off the fryers. "Don't answer that Sam. Apparently, the only people who do horrible things that can change their life for the better are everyone in this room beside me. Madeline thanks for letting me stay here, it was awfully kind of you." She slammed the door behind her as she left the house.
"Whatever that girl is you claim her to be Michael. She has different priorities now." Madeline pointed at the door.
"But this women is not who you think she is. If you heard even half the stories I have you'd think different." Fiona said.
Shaking her head. "As a mother, you know when someone changed their life and for the better. Shame on you for chastising her for that."
It took a while but Sam eventually found Paisley. She was sitting on the bench in some local park. Taking a seat next to her. "You still owe me an explanation."
"The guy really dead?"
"Like Swiss cheese and now feeding the fish. Fiona was furious with what she learned about you and got carried away."
Snorting. "I heard that women were crazy. Someone you really didn't want to cross."
"What is the reason you sat on Mikes doorstep half dress as usual and asking for help? Which you never do."
Looking at her watch. "Fifteen more minutes and you'll have your answer."
"How will we pass the time?" He smirked scooting closer to her.
Pushing him away. "For a guy who was all ready to kick me to the curb yesterday your awfully cozy about picking up where we left off seven years ago."
"Just because I still think you're a crazy bitch. Doesn't mean I forgot how much fun we had on our last mission."
Giving him a sideways glance. "And your still a horny ass. Now I remember why I always wanted to break your nose. Besides we slept together one time even if we did it multiple times that night, which I kind of wish I didn't."
"Why?" Looking hurt.
Tucking a stray hair that escaped her ponytail. "Because you're my only friend. Well by your warm welcome was my only friend."
"Were friends?" Amazed by her confession.
Shrugging. "Why do you think we did all those jobs together? I wasn't going to let just anybody work with me. I needed someone I could trust, rely on."
"Wow, I never figured someone like you to have friends."
"I normally don't, you grew on me like fungus."
Chuckling. "I have been called a lot of things, but never fungus."
"Well, there is a first for everything. Like shaving. It's a miraculous invention that has been around forever and a day." Poking at his chin.
Feeling the stubble on his face. "Women happen to adore this."
"So how are the freshman girls in college who don't know any better?" Grinning at him.
Looking straight ahead. "At least they won't kill me in my sleep."
"You do know I can kill you right now and no one would be the wiser?"
Crossing his arms. "If you were going to, you would have already done it."
"And kill my only friend? I still have a use for you."
"What happens once you have no use of me?"
Watching two people play Frisbee. "I don't think I ever will. If I was I would of a long time."
"Guess you're stuck with me." He smirked at her.
Snorting. "In more ways than you think." Looking at him.
Both there head shot forward. "MOMMY!" A little boy came running up to them.
The little boy jumped into Paisley's open arms, she thanked the lady bringing the kid over. Sam watched the two hug, the boy gave her a big kiss on the cheek.
"Where were you, mom? I missed you so much." The little boy asked.
Setting him down. "Mommy had some things to take care of."
"Who's that?" He pointed to an awestruck Sam.
Taking his hand Paisley brought him in front of Sam. "I would like you to meet a friend of mine. Sam meet my boy, Samuel."
"Mom!" Samuel moaned.
"I'm sorry Sam meet my boy, Sammy. Sammy meet my friend Sam."
The little boy held out his hand. "Nice to me you." He said politely.
Shaking his hand Sam looked to Paisley. "Honey, why don't you go swing for a bit ok?" He cheered running over to the swings. "I can explain." She looked back at him.
"How old is he?"
Sitting back down next to him. "Six."
"Is he mine?" Sam's eyes widened.
