Chapter 21

The moment she saw his white dress shirt on the bed she nearly forgot how to breathe. He knew how much she missed him and left a part of himself with her. She crawled onto the bed and held the shirt. Three buttons were missing; she smiled and brought it to her nose. His fresh masculine scent revitalized her. Although she didn't know when he would return, she was certain that when he did it would be forever.

Patricia Gateson sat down for lunch in her beautiful kitchen and waited for her husband to arrive. In silence her roamed around her opulent surroundings, she couldn't help but feel ashamed and repulsed. Until she found out the truth about her husband's profession she used to take pride the home and life they had built together. Unlike most husbands he actively participated in the construction and design of their home and in the lives of their five children.

Things were different now. Knowing that their home was built with blood money and the exploitation of children was overwhelming for her yet she didn't bring it up with Norman last night or this morning. The man that she loved had lied to her but she couldn't bring herself to directly confront him. It made her wonder what else he has kept from her and if she really wanted to know.

"Good afternoon Darling," Norman kissed his wife's cheek before sitting across from her.

"Hello Dear, how has your afternoon been so far?" she grinned and placed her napkin on her lap trying to sound and act normal despite her true feelings.

He poured himself a glass of juice and smiled, "Perfectly fine. It's quite boring as you can imagine," he shrugged.

It upset her to see how believable he was but she pressed on, "That's nice to hear..Guess to who I spoke to this morning?"

His eyebrow rose, "Don't make me guess, Darling. I'm horrible at it."

"Helena. She and Paul are separating."

"Really? I didn't even know they were having problems," he pulled his head back and looked at her.

"Yes..he's been seeing a younger woman for over a year now. She found a voicemail message on his mobile," she poked at her chicken salad with her fork and continued. "She even asked him if he was cheating many times before but he lied. Right to her face."

"He's a cad and a fool," he firmly nodded his head then took a sip from his glass.

She searched his face, "I don't understand how he could have lied to her for so long. The woman he claimed to love."

The way she looked at him prompted him to say, "Well, some men are soulless spineless assholes but luckily for you I'm not one of them," he smiled then leaned across the table to kiss her.

She reciprocated his kiss but didn't enjoy it, "I am. However.."

"What?"

"I'm not as..young and..well, firm as I used to be so.."

He reached across the table and held her hand, "You're mother of my children, my dearest friend and the love of my life and because all of those things you are more stunning to me than the day we first met. If I wanted to continue my playboy lifestyle I would but I got tired of it and stopped when I first saw your face."

Seeing his handsome face and warm smile assured her that he was being honest. There was a never a time in their marriage where she questioned his loyalty to her.

"Darling, are you feeling well?" he asked her.

"I'm fine..it's just so awful to hear how upset Helena is," she squeezed his hand and stared into his beautiful blue eyes.

He was touched by his wife's concern, "Well she is very blessed to have you in her life, as am I."

With genuine graciousness she accepted his compliment. They continued to talk and dine on their lunch. His loyalty should have been enough for her; it would be for most wives. Then she thought of the many children that had been (and still are) being exploited by him and his family—it crossed the line. She couldn't be with a man she didn't trust and one who treated children so cruelly. So, she pretended to listen to Norman while devising a plan to leave him.

The most important hit of Agent 47's career prove to be emotionally trying, it was a first for him. Moments before a carrying out an assignment he usually felt indifferent and would review his every move. This was different, it was personal and difficult. In a way, he was killing himself only to be reborn into a new life with the woman he loved; he didn't feel any less guilty for it.

Before he could knock on the front door a Latino man's voice said from the intercom, "It's unlocked. I'm in the living room on your right."

He entered the lavish but inviting home but stopped in the corridor where framed family photos hung on the walls. The tips of his gloved hand touched a photo where a young Karissa happily held a Golden Retriever puppy while being surrounded by her family as a Christmas tree stood in the background. His lips almost drew into a smile before he realized that in a matter of moments he would rob his first true friend of future joyous occasions.

"I know you're there. You cannot prolong the inevitable..that is up to me." Karissa's father said in gentle yet commanding tone.

Without wasting another moment, he strode into the living room and let his eyes fell upon the man he was about to kill. He didn't expect Agent 18 to look almost a decade younger than his true age of fifty-four years. His body was fit and well-built but was not overly muscular. The dark penetrating pools that stared at him were a mirror image of Karissa's eyes and his mocha complexion matched hers. Black short curls of thick hair stood atop of his chiseled handsome face with barely noticeable wrinkles sitting at the corners of his eyes and on his forehead.

The sunlight shone through the windows and onto Agent 47's shaved head. Agent 18 was riveted and chilled by the sight of Agent 47 in his home. It was like seeing a ghost of his past self. Although this ghost befriended his daughter and was about to take the life that he fought for but he held no bitterness towards him. He resigned himself to the fact he would die at the hands of the world's greatest assassin; a title that he once proudly held. A small part of him couldn't help but feel flattered.

In his right hand he held glass of wine and offered his left to Agent 47, "Miguel Vasquez, it is an honor to meet you."

An offering of his hand was the last thing Agent 47 expected from him. He simply stared at Agent 18.

"Would you prefer that I call myself Agent 18?" he asked with a wry grin.

"It's..Sorry," he shook his hand and unlike the older agent he had killed in train station in Russia, Agent 18's strength hadn't weakened with age.

A scoff came from him, "It's all right..do you prefer Frank or Agent 47?" He didn't give him a chance to answer, "I'll use Frank. Agent 47 is what you were branded with and only cattle are branded. And you are not cattle. I on the other hand," he turned his head and parted his hair showing his barcode tattoo.

Confused, he asked him, "You kept it?"

He shrugged, "There were no laser treatments during my time. After a few years..I grew comfortable and a little cocky then decided not to bother," he took a sip from his glass and tasted the sweet wine on his tongue, "you?"

"It..it felt right to remove it," he told him.

"I understand..then again, we are literally two-of -a -kind," he gave him a proud yet sad grin and added, "soon to be one."

His eyes went to the floor.

"Hey," he spoke and waited until Agent 47 looked at him, "it's ok, it was a bad joke," he cleared his throat. "You must have questions for me. Lord knows that I would if I were you."

It should have surprised him to see how well Agent 18 knew him but it didn't, "You have an accent?"

"Ah, that I do. There used to be schools in different countries, mine was in Spain until I turned fourrteen. ICO decided to cut costs and place all of us unwanted and disposable children into one facility," he explained.

With a slight nod he asked the only question that mattered, "Why did you leave?"

Agent 47's question amused him. With a knowing stare and tone he answered, "My reason is the same as yours; a woman."

"Karissa's mother."

A serene expression came across his face, "My Isabella. Did Karissa happen to tell you how we met?"

He shook his head, "She didn't."

"It was 1972 and I had just finished off a nuclear arms dealer. I was returning to my hotel when a delicate hand opened the lobby door for me. Isabella was the first person to ever show me such kindness and it didn't hurt that she was the most breathtaking woman I had ever seen." he smiled remembering that glorious day.

"Was that a first for you?"

He softly chuckled, "She wasn't my first lover, not by any means. I was released when I was sixteen and I knew how to play the strong silent type because..Well, that's who I was. There were a few women who were drawn to me but Isabella was different."

"How?"

A gentle sigh escaped his lips, "When my eyes met hers, I didn't just want to bed her. I wanted to love and protect every part of her body and soul. I know you understand how that is like," he smirked.

"Absolutely," he agreed.

He laughed remembering how uncomfortable he was, "I wasn't the skilled conversationalist that I am now. So, approaching her at the hotel bar was..to say the least, a challenge. She wasn't like my previous lovers; she actually wanted to get inside my mind and heart before stepping into my bed."

"What did you do?"

"First, I asked for the time which she gave me and then I asked if she was going to use her napkin, she handed it to me. At that point I was very embarrassed and was about return to my room but she gently took a hold of my wrist. Her touch breathed life into me," his eyes closed as he felt that same rush of emotion travel through him. "She then offered her hand, introduced herself as 'Isabella Stellari', said she was on vacation and an American. I thought her name was stunning as she was."

He wanted to know more, "When did you tell her the truth?"

"On the fifth day we spent together. She was-she grew withdrawn and I thought I had lost her but I knew that I couldn't lie to her, not to the woman that I love. You see, she is a doctor and values life, no matter how despicable.."

He thought of Nika as he asked, "What changed?"

"I was about to leave for Morocco when she stopped by my room and told me that she believed that I.." he cleared his throat swallowing his tears, "that I was a good man..one that she was in love with. After that, we made love for the first time. It was amazing. Nothing like my past encounters. Of course, I didn't love those women."

The year that he stated perplexed Agent 47, "You left ICO in 1973."

"I know, I was there," he joked.

He couldn't help but grin.

"In January of that year, Isabella called me, she was pregnant and we had yet to marry. She told me that she couldn't raise our child without me and I agreed. So, I continued carrying out my hits until she was in her last trimester. That's when I asked to be released from ICO knowing full well they'd refuse."

"Why'd you do it?"

He shrugged and casually stated, "It would have been very rude if I just left without asking first. I'm a professional. Besides, I believe in stabbing people in the front so they can at least try to prepare themselves."

Both assassins laughed easing some of unpleasantness that hung in the air.

"Anyway, I took clients and continued to fulfill my contracts until the last month of Isabella's pregnancy. It's strange, at the school they taught us to be great assassins but it took a woman and a baby boy to teach me how to become a real man," he nodded feeling proud of himself.

"You just quit?" he was fascinated and shocked.

His dark piercing eyes met with his, "I am..semi-retired. It felt wrong to just stop but I knew I had to find a way to settle down. So, I opened up the wine boutique; it was and still is a great success. But I still have my contacts. They let me choose certain contracts to fulfill. And so, once every season I travel the world and get rid of the bottom feeders that populate mankind. Only Isabella knows, the children will never."

"Yet, you taught them how to shoot.."

"And fight, they also took classes. I wanted them to be prepared for the worst, especially Alana and Karissa. Women are much more susceptible to attacks than men are but I still made sure to teach my son, Marcelo," he turned his head away after he uttered his deceased son's name.

"How were they?"

With pride he answered, "Their mother is very athletic and with my skills..they're excellent. So much that it impressed and frightened me to see how quickly they learned," he eyes went to his glass before returning to Agent 47.

Seeing where his stare went provided him with another question, "Do you ever regret leaving?"

"Almost..only once," he looked at the family photo on the coffee table where a young Marcelo held Karissa in his arms. It was the last photo they had taken together before the plane crash.

He knew what his fellow assassin was referring to, "Marcelo's death."

With a slow nod he felt his eyes become wet and spoke with a quiver in his voice, "That was devastating for all of us. To lose my only son and first born..It felt like a part of my heart died with him and burned into ash like his body did when the plane crashed."

He placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you," he muttered then wiped his tears. "The pain, it was too much for me, I let it turn me into its slave. I became a coward. I thought it was better to shut everything out instead of allowing time and the love my family to heal my wounds.

I packed up my weapons and called my contacts. As I was about to head out the door..I felt a little hand tug at my pants. It was Karissa, my baby. She asked where I was going and I looked into her eyes…my eyes. I couldn't say anything," he held his forehead and wept then spoke again. "She asked me if I was going away forever like Marcelo. When she said that to me..I knew I was about to make the greatest mistake of my life. I couldn't leave my children and the life that I had made with Isabella.

I picked her up and put her down for a nap. Then I unpacked. No one else knew about that day, not even Isabella It is my most shameful moment because I had shown such weakness. But I'm grateful for it because it made me appreciate life's most beautiful gifts," his crying ceased and his stare met Agent 47's.

To see the honesty and vulnerability in Agent 18 scared and intrigued him. One of the many reasons he chose to not build emotional attachments to people was because of the pain and grief that came with those relationships. However, the time he had spent with Nika made him feel invigorated and fulfilled as a man, unlike the empty shell he once was.

The man who stood before him was surrounded by photos and memories of a real and full life. A life that ran through his veins and emanated pure contentment from every part of his being,

"You wouldn't go back, knowing what you do now?"

Without great dignity he answered, "Never. I married my true love and we raised three wonderful children. Both of my daughters married two honorable men, Nick and Jason. Alana and Nick gave us a perfect grandchild, Marcey. And I am a successful business man. I've led a full life and I only wish that you have the very same blessings that I have been given," he gripped his shoulder and smiled.

He had one last question, "Why not fight for it?"

The smile on his face faded. His forefinger pointed at him and with a mix of grief and a hint of anger he replied, "I don't want to leave my family but if I want to have a chance to see them in the afterlife..I must do this. All the blood I have shed..I have tried to balance it with charity. This is different. It's noble, the ultimate sacrifice. But at least I am being taken out of this world by you. A good man and the very best there is," he sat down in his chair.

Agent 18's words floored him. He couldn't believe the kind of man he had become and hoped he could honor his fellow assassin by living a life as wonderful as his was.

"Potassium chloride?"

"Yes," Agent 47 took the syringe out from his coat's inner pocket and approached him.

"Before you..If they ask, tell my wife and daughters that they were the greatest gifts that God has ever given to me. I was honored and blessed to have been a part of their lives. And if I don't see them in the afterlife..it was out of my hands but I did try," he choked back a sob.

Despite his guilt he answered, "I will." He brought the syringe to his neck.

"That's more like it," Diana said to herself as she looked at the recently cleaned bedroom. It was her day off and she was determined to finish the household chores that she had been postponing.

"Darling, lunch just arrived and..this room looks fantastic!" her husband Gabe stated when he entered the room.

"I know," she smiled and put her arms around his neck, "I left my purse in kitchen. Did you happen to her my mobile ring?"

"Not at all, why?"

She blinked and lied, "It's my work. You said something about lunch?"

"Yes, it's in the kitchen I've set everything up," he pecked her mouth.

Her hand took his and she led out of bedroom then downstairs, "Thank you, my love."

"I also ordered your favorite beverage as well," he followed into the kitchen.

"You are just lovely!" she beamed and began looking through her purse, Agent 47's mobile phone wasn't there. She looked around the kitchen and didn't find it.

"Is everything all right, Diana?"

"Um..Have you seen a silver mobile phone anywhere?" She held her composure but felt panic grow in her chest.

"No, I haven't. It's your work mobile, right?"

"Yes..I need to find it immediately," she exited the kitchen and began searching for it in the living room to no avail.

"It might be in your car. You've forgotten things there before, Darling," Gabe suggested as he curiously watched her.

"You're right!" she returned to the kitchen and retrieved her cars from her purse then bolted out the front door of their home.