Never Judge

Alexi's men had just confirmed that William Trent and Jim Walker were staying at the hotel owned by a family friend.

Cedric couldn't help but wonder why they would stay at such a public place.

"Maybe they thought it would be safer to be out in the open? That way Ian couldn't go after them and assassinate them." Camilla suggested.

She and Ram had followed to Ray's fortress while the others stayed behind to monitor Eric's condition and to keep the companies running.

"This will work perfectly for our plan." Kai said as she looked at the images of William Trent and Jim Walker as they flashed on the screen.

Cedric had sent several men in advance to observe the two, they needed to understand their behavior. They weren't going to leave anything to chance this time around, everything needed to work perfectly.

"When do we execute the plan?" Alexi looked at Cedric for directions, he was calling all the shots this time.

"Tonight." Cedric declared. "There is no point in waiting any longer. We have everything set up, we have a solid plan, and we have the perfect opportunity."

"There will be a party at the hotel tonight." Ray informed Cedric as he handed him an invitation. "It was given to one of the Mafia bosses that we planted as spies. To the public, they are traitors, to me they are the most loyal."

"Seth?" Ian asked as he raised an eyebrow, spotting the name on the invitation.

"Yeah, it seems that a rumor has spread that he is not happy with me choosing someone else to be my third in command." Ray chuckled and shook his head.

"Yeah, when he was the one that pushed me to the role." Ian rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Kai and a few other assassins will be joining Seth's group. They will execute the plan." Ray explained, ignoring Ian's comments. "We will be nearby, keeping watch."

The day passed at an excruciatingly slow pace. Cedric got bored and decided to explore Ray's fortress with Ian.

"How is Eric holding up? Did you get any news from Nicole or Miguel?" Cedric asked as they walked around the training areas. Fire ranges, sparring rooms, even labs for practicing the creation of bombs and poisons line the halls.

"I would have told you if it was good news." Ian sighed as he shook his head. "Eric is fighting, but his condition is getting worse and worse."

"I have faith in Eric, if anyone can fight his condition, it's him." Cedric said in full confidence.

They eventually stumbled upon Kai, who was in the firing range.

"Mr. Reyes, Mr. Lim." Kai said with a small bow as she acknowledged their presence.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Ian asked Kai as he picked up a gun and shot a few rounds himself.

"Impressive, Mr. Lim. One would think that someone of your background and rank wouldn't be that skilled." Kai praised, making Ian laugh.

"I may have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, but that doesn't mean I haven't had my fair share of hardships." Ian said with a grin as he placed the gun down.

"I've heard the stories." Kai nodded.

"Stories?" Cedric asked as he sat down, not wanting to embarrass himself in front of two master marksmen. He could fire a gun, he could fight, just not as well as Ian.

Cedric knew his talents lay elsewhere.

"Mr. Reyes won't give it a shot?" Kai asked as he offered him the gun.

"I'll pass." Cedric said with a chuckle. "So tell us Kai, Ray mentioned that you were the best person for the job against Mr. Walker. He seemed to be implying something. Why is that?"

The question had been nagging Cedric since they first met.

Ray wouldn't say things like that or put someone in that position if it weren't important. He had tried to ask Ray, but his friend said that he should ask Kai since it was a personal matter.

"It's because my past is very much intertwined with Mr. Walker." Kai said as she cocked the gun and started shooting at a target.

"How so?" Ian was now also quite curious about the relationship between Kai and Jim Walker.

"Did you look into his past, Mr. Lim?" Kai asked Ian as she placed the gun down.

Ian nodded.

"And what did you find?" Kai asked as she walked across the room and took out a can of beer. She gestured to Ian and Cedric if they wanted one and both men nodded.

"That out of all the Rajas he had the least we could use to manipulate. He no longer has any family and all he truly is after is his personal gain." Ian told Kai as he recalled what he had found on Jim Walker.

"No longer?" Cedric asked as he looked at his friend.

"His wife and children all died years ago." Ian explained.

"That's what he thinks." Kai chuckled. "We survived?"

"We?" Ian asked, his shock clear on his face.

"Jim Walker was my father." Kai revealed, much to Cedric's and Ian's surprise. "Only Mr. Laurence knew about my connection to him, and he told me as long as I didn't bring any harm then I could stay."

"Why fake your death?" Cedric asked Kai.

"Isn't it obvious?" She asked as she threw them a judgmental look. "He is evil. He was not a good father, he was not a good husband. All he cared for was power."

"So you faked your death and ran?" Ian asked Kai.

Kai nodded. 𝒇𝑟e𝙚𝑤𝙚𝐛𝗻𝐨ν𝚎𝘭.c𝐨m

"That's the plan, isn't it?" Cedric said as he thought carefully about the plan Ray had helped him come up with. "You will be a ghost that drives him mad."

"I will also be the ghost that pulls the trigger and ends all the pain and torture he has put so many people through." Kai nodded as she picked up a gun and placed it in its holster.