The Assassin's Atonement VIII

Ewan, a Confradia assassin, finds grim satisfaction in delivering justice. Tonight, his targets are the Corleones, a sadistic couple feasting while their victims suffer. But as he executes his meticulously planned retribution, an unexpected encounter with a woman from his past—Taryn—ignites a fire he thought long extinguished. Haunted by his first love, Tamsyn, Ewan must navigate a complex web of family secrets, a forgotten connection, and the volatile emotions that surface when the past collides with a present he never anticipated. Will his path to atonement lead to new love, or will the shadows of his past consume them both?

The Assassin's Atonement VIII

Ewan, a Confradia assassin, finds grim satisfaction in delivering justice. Tonight, his targets are the Corleones, a sadistic couple feasting while their victims suffer. But as he executes his meticulously planned retribution, an unexpected encounter with a woman from his past—Taryn—ignites a fire he thought long extinguished. Haunted by his first love, Tamsyn, Ewan must navigate a complex web of family secrets, a forgotten connection, and the volatile emotions that surface when the past collides with a present he never anticipated. Will his path to atonement lead to new love, or will the shadows of his past consume them both?

The vast, onyx darkness of the sky freckled with twinkling stars stretched above, mirroring the quiet hum of my newly acquired Los Angeles home. Outside, the crash of waves against distant boulders formed a rhythmic symphony, a stark contrast to the brutal efficiency of the night’s work. My hands still tingled from the taser, and the metallic tang of blood and disinfectant lingered faintly in my senses. Dalton and Bonnie Corleone were no more, their gruesome game brought to a permanent end.

I stepped into the living room, the neon glow of my pool casting an ethereal blue across the space. It was past midnight, the only sounds the chirping of crickets and the rustle of leaves. A glass of bourbon in hand, I gazed out at the tranquil scene, seeking to center myself after the horrific events. Memories, collected over years of military life and working for the Confradia, clawed at the edges of my mind. They were the kind that could torture the strongest soul, and sleep rarely offered true escape. The restless hours ahead promised little respite.

Morning arrived swiftly, bringing with it the familiar ache of too little rest. Usually, Logan, Bella, and his golden retriever Seph would join me for a run on the beach, a routine that had become a small comfort. But they were in New York, leaving me to face the dawn alone. Slipping on running shorts and sneakers, I headed out, the soft rays of the sun already warming my bare chest as I sailed across the sand. Nearly a mile down the beach, my body slammed into a soft, female form. A startled cry escaped her lips as she gripped my naked shoulders, steadying herself. My heart stuttered. Beautifully long, red hair, a curvy form cradled in my arms. The heady scent of strawberries. "Ewan?" she gasped, her voice laced with surprise. My brow furrowed. She knew my name. But I had never met a creature so breathtaking before. Or had I?