For her...

Mist rolled in. The night was yet young. The moon shone brightly in the dark sky freckled with stars. The street was empty and devoid of any movement or activity. Somewhere in the distance a dog howled. A tall figure leaned on a streetlight - its features in shadows. His overcoat ruffled in a chill draft of air and he merely lowered his hat further.

There was a brief flare of light and smoke twirled languorously among the dust motes seen in the flickering light of the streetlamp. The man shifted on his feet and took a deep puff, welcoming the warmth. His shifting momentarily revealed a strong jawline and a prominent nose - the features that were almost as famous in the underworld circles as himself. The murder of the Governor, the industrialist by the harbour, and Spider Reilly the gangster...all works of this one man.

He stood across a villa, foreboding and forlorn. Cracked windows, a broken front door, weeds growing everywhere...There was an altogether ominous look about it - memories of a turbulent past, refusing to leave like the cold, dank air that hung about the walls.

His thoughts wandered back to that fateful night that had turned his life upside down. That night the villa wasn't deserted. There was a solitary lamp that glowed through a window. He had stood across the street in the same way. But murky clouds had blotted out the moon. A quick turn of his wrist - 1:05 AM. It was taking longer than he thought. While he waited he thought about Jennifer. A reluctant smile came to his face. It was for her that he was doing this last assignment. He wanted to stop this life of risk and danger. He wanted to settle down with her - the one he loved so truly. So this was his last big job for money. And after this a lifetime with Jennifer to look forward to.

2:00 AM. The time had come. He stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets and strode toward the house. Silhouettes moved around inside the room and deep voices floated out onto the street, "Ah, that's the river, mate. The time for the final showdown...our deal must work out today." The man on the street tensed like a tiger ready to spring on unsuspecting victims.

A deep rumble overhead. Like the low guttural of some phantasmal mythical beast up in the sky. Lightning forked across - the beast bared its fangs in a maniacal grin. Drops fell like icicles from the heavens. The drizzle soon turned into a downpour and the wind rose to a howl.
Rivulets of water flowed down the man's coat just like the blood pumping through the sinews of a hunter. Water was dripping from the brim of his hat.
When he stepped up to the door the warmth of the fireplace permeated through to where he stood. A thunderclap - the door lay hanging weakly on its hinges. The man held two Berettas in his hand. Six people, six bullets, three seconds. The guns were back into his coat before his victims dropped their cards and glasses.

A whisper of a movement behind him and he whipped around to find himself face to face with a pistol. Jennifer stood behind the gun. Her hands were trembling but her eyes were set in a cold hard stare. "I hate you Paul," she said. "I had loved you once. But you never did love me, did you? You were my everything. But what was I to you more than just another object in your life?" She laughed hoarsely. "Always the professional, aren't we? Wherever we go, the secrecy, the lies. You said we'll settle down, just you and me. But now I realise it's just another thread in the web of lies that your life has become." Her voice now became strained, as if she was choking back tears. "Sometimes I wonder if you even know yourself. Or even if there is the Paul whom I had loved waiting for me behind that web. But enough is enough. I've done my waiting. But I'm not the one leaving, Paul. You are."

With this she levelled the gun to his forehead. Paul hadn't reacted till now. But with a gun pointed to him instinct took over. With a flash he twisted her arm, the gun fell. Another swipe of his hand the gun was pointing to Jennifer's throat. Her face paled with fear but she put on a defiant expression. He pulled the trigger......

All these thoughts came crashing back to him now as he stood under the flickering streetlamp across the derelict villa. He felt nothing but a deep sorrow, a pain at the betrayal of his trust, languishing that his love was questioned so. He had answered. But the answer had cost him a part of his life, his love, Jennifer. Her beautiful soft eyes that had stared lifeless after she fell haunted him. A sense of emptiness overwhelmed him. He wiped away a tear.

The road was empty again, the sky clear as ever. There was nobody beneath the flickering streetlamp. But a cigarette stub lay on the pavement. And footsteps were heard fading into the shadows of the night....