25. Swift
"He's going to be a problem. I think we need to eliminate him now."
Darius der Hoeven studied Felicia Brand. "Think of his father."
"Derrick and I were very close, especially after Catherine's death. That man does not look much like Derrick, but he acts even less like him. Those felons from the Razashould have another murder added to their rap sheet. Derrick Moss is dead.
"And that man we got out of prison—he's now made a street urchin the heir of CoreLactic Industries. If we cut our losses now, it won't be that bad. If we wait…"
26. Decisive
"But if we eliminate him—you just said the girl would be his successor."
"If we act quickly, I can burn the paper trail. The adoption documents probably won't hold up anyway, his signature looks nothing like Derrick Moss's."
Darius nodded slowly. It was a difficult decision, but the well-being of the company must always be paramount. Threats must be dispatched swiftly and decisively. "You know someone?"
"I've got a few connections. And I think I know someone who will do it for almost nothing."
"Take care of it. My shuttle leaves in the morning."
"See you at the wake."
27. The Job
"There may be a child, a teenager, in the apartment. If she is, you'll need to take care of her as well. I trust that won't be a problem?"
"Why, is she radioactive?" Corso growled. What kind of soft-heart did this idiot think he was? He wouldn't usually even bother with such a measly job, but he had a personal interest in seeing the target erased. And, of course, he'd be getting a nice chunk of change for a few minutes of his time.
The lawyer chick continued to prattle on. Corso wasn't even listening as he counted his money.
28. Indignant
Jace Corso entered the front door of the hotel and strode straight to the elevator. His pistol was barely concealed beneath his jacket, yet no one gave him a second glance. The man behind the check-in counter actually nodded at him. Given the non-existent security, he shouldn't even have wasted time casing the place the night before. He hit the button for the penthouse and the elevator began to rise—it didn't even require a passcode.
This was absurd. Typically, he got paid more for more difficult jobs, but he should have demanded extra for the sheer indignity of this.
29. Indifferent
Four shots to the chest. It was excessive, but seeing the man with his stolen face had pissed him off. The girl screamed and Corso put a bullet in her throat. That shut her up.
The imposter was dead on the ground, but Corso put two more rounds in his head—one in his forehead, one shattering his nose. He was supposed to make sure the body could be easily identified, but he couldn't stand to see his own features lying there on the floor.
The man, if he could call him that, hadn't even put up a fight. Pathetic.