NIGHTSHADE
San Francisco (Santa Clara) 2021.
De Louis Bar was very popular in San Francisco, It was familiar with visiting rich tycoons and business people unlike other regular Bars.
At a corner, Six people sat around a table gambling and smoking.
"Vlad look, another murder in Santa Clara," Ted one of the men who was short, fat, and bald said as he went through his phone.
"It is President Harris of Harris Cooper Enterprises, He deserved it, he is so arrogant," Vlad frowned as he put out a card.
"I heard he went to chill with a bunch of ladies in a hotel, and was found dead with a cracked spine," Ted explained.
"We have had more deaths this year" Luther anothe said with his curious eyes fixed on Ted's phone as they examined a blurry picture of the corpse online.
"Yeah, and it's quite disturbing." Vlad agreed.
"Must be that killer from last month, I hope they catch him soon" Wayne hissed. It was something that was eating everybody up, no one was safe anymore.
"What killer?" Noah asked curiously, he had no clue what his colleagues were discussing.
"You haven't heard of the tragedy that occurred last month? about the death of everyone at a party hosted by a business mogul at Oasis Hotel? investigation has it that it was a massive poisoning." He explained.
"Woah! I have never heard of it." the clueless Noah exclaimed.
"The man was the only survivor and he iwas charged with murder, " Hugh the oldest who hadn't spoken since the discussion started replied.
"Some think it's a set-up, but there are no suspects and all evidence points to him as he was once a puppet for a mafia group, people believe it's an unidentified psycho killer, I don't know what they call him?" Ted said trying to remember when Vlad cut in.
" I think it's nightshade or needle guy, Some say he leaves a poisoned needle on the neck of his victims" Vlad revealed, dropping an ace card.
"Nightshade or whatever, that mother fucker kills like a psycho," Wayne said taking a sip from the glass of wine in his hands. Hugh sighed. "Is it even possible it is the same person?"
"I don't know for sure, but with the needle trails last month, five murder cases have been traced to him, he must be a psycho killing people like that."
Behind the Men sat two lovely ladies, one blonde and the other was mixed dark-haired and green-eyed beauty
"You must be famous in San Francisco given the short period you have spent here Bella Darling, or should I call you by your new nickname?" The blonde-haired girl said smirking as she sipped her glass of champagne while the other puffed out smoke dryly from her plump lips.
" Darling?, Seriously, doesn't she ever give up? Bella scoffed.
"I must say you're a very diligent person, that's why Don Armando trusts you very much, and I guess that's why he gives you very important missions. I'm honored to be your partner in this new one," she said putting down her glass, smiling at Bella who looked displeased by her presence.
"Well, forgive me for not leaping for joy Lilith but you know your boundaries and I presume he told you that I'm not used to having partners, I work Alone," she said coldly, inhaling and exhaling smoke from her mouth.
"Yes he did, he told me how important this mission was to the gang. he said it was quite sensitive, Lilith grinned, she knew Bella didn't like her one bit. being an acquaintance of Don Armando she knew how cold she was, a trained bloody killing machine, a f*cking lone ranger.
"Oh! Did he?" Bella's cold voice rang out as Lilith reached for a bottle of whisky.
"We should celebrate then, to our partnership!" Lilith grinned pouring herself wine from the bottle.
A sly smile that went unnoticed by Lilith crawled up Bella's lips, running her thin fingers around her glass of whisky, Lilith wondered what went on in her crazy head.
Maybe she thinks I spiked the drink or something. Lilith thought, shrugging her shoulders, she smiled.
"Cheers! To our partnership!" Lilith raised her glass and both clanked their glasses together. they drank from their glasses and immediately Lilith winced in pain as she forcefully spat out the drink from her mouth and the peach-coloured tablecloth was mixed with a sprinkle of red hue. Lilith put her shaky fingers carefully into her mouth and pulled out a small needle, wincing in pain with her eyes locked with Bella's as she chuckled and took a sip of wine from her glass.
"Yo…you did this, why?" Lilith said frowning, her eyes watered as they locked eyes with Bella's who looked unperturbed. Well, she didn't expect Bella to welcome her with open arms but not this.
"no reason, consider it a welcome gift. At least it wasn't poison, it'll help seal your tongue", Bella sighed boringly as she twirled the glass of wine in her hands.
The mere presence of Lilith pissed her off, was she trying to rub the fact that she was forced to work with her on her face? Hell no! She'll never let that pass.
She was the best, most capable trained Assassin of La Gambino, giving her a partner was belittling, she was a loner, and it showed that Don didn't trust her on this mission. Lilith was a very skilled Capon, an Assassin from a family gang but to Bella, any partner was like a spy to her. Lilith clutched her purse, wiping blood from her Slightly swollen lower lip with her fingers as she stood in fury.
"Our flight will take off by 10:30 tomorrow morning and I'll be waiting at the airport, make sure you arrive early. Good night," she said leaving fuming with rage.
Bella watched her retreating figure which suddenly became blurry to her, She didn't know she had taken more than 4 glasses of whiskey.