Don't Make It Harder

"Don't Make It Harder"

Chapter 1: The Trap

Julian Brooks had always thought himself clever.
Broker of secrets. Seller of silence. Lover to the highest bidder.
He’d danced between crime lords, sold data to billionaires, and never once got his hands dirty.
Why would he?
Others did the killing. He just pocketed the reward.

Until tonight.

He stood in his hotel suite — penthouse, of course — wrapped in nothing but a pair of Calvin Klein briefs and smug arrogance.

But when he saw them walk in — he knew.

Two women. Armed. Unapologetic.
He recognized one immediately.

Vanessa Duval.
Sharp-tongued, French, ruthless. The black silk robe, the perfect pink trim. That wasn’t a fashion choice — it was her uniform.

And behind her?

Celeste. Quiet. Deadlier. She didn’t smile. She didn’t blink. And her pistol hung in her hand like an extension of her soul.

“Ladies,” Julian said, lifting his hands. “This is... unexpected.”

Vanessa raised her silenced pistol, leveling it directly at his heart.

“Don’t make it harder,” she said in her thick Parisian accent. “You know what this is.”

Chapter 2: Confessions

“I can explain,” he said quickly.

Vanessa rolled her eyes. “They all say that.”

“I didn’t give up your names. I swear. I sold the location of the vault, not the operatives.”

Celeste moved to the side, cutting off his escape to the hallway. Her heels were soft against the polished floor, but the pistol in her hand said everything.

“Julian,” Vanessa said, circling slowly, “you put a price on our heads. Do you think we give a damn if the buyer used your tip to kill someone else instead?”

“I didn’t know they’d go that far!”

“Bullshit.”

Celeste spoke at last. “He watched the feed. Smiled when Torres got gunned down.”

Julian swallowed.

“Okay,” he whispered. “Fine. I made a mistake. But I can fix it. I’ve got files. Bank logs. Hidden accounts—”

Vanessa tilted her head. “Do you think we’re here to negotiate?”

Chapter 3: Dominion

Julian stepped back instinctively, bumping into the bed. He stumbled. Sat. Still trying to calculate a way out.

Vanessa took a step forward.

Celeste followed.

Julian looked between the barrels of their guns and held up his hands again.

“Wait, wait. You two—you’ve worked together for years. You don’t kill for free. You’re mercs.”

Vanessa’s lip curled.

“We’re queens.”

She moved even closer, now just a few feet away. She could see his chest rise and fall. Could smell his cologne. Could see the thin sheen of sweat at his temple.

“You don’t betray queens.”

Chapter 4: Powerplay

Vanessa lowered the gun. For a second.

Julian blinked.

She leaned in slowly, her hand trailing over his bare shoulder.

“You were good in bed,” she whispered. “Charming. That thing you did with your tongue…”

He dared to smirk. Hope flickered.

“Yeah?” he whispered.

She leaned closer.

“I thought about cutting it off first.”

He flinched.

She laughed — cold, elegant, cruel.

Then, unexpectedly, she climbed onto the bed.

Pistol still in hand, she pushed him back with one leg, pinning him with her knee.

Celeste didn’t move. Just watched.

Vanessa grabbed Julian by the jaw, forcing him to look into her eyes.

“I want you to know,” she said, breath against his lips, “that we didn’t come to kill you out of rage.”

“Then why?”

She leaned in and kissed him. Brutal. Deep. Claiming.

When she pulled back, her voice was steel.

“We came because you’re not worth letting live.”

Chapter 5: The Silence

Julian struggled.

Too late.

Vanessa gripped the pistol and pressed the silencer against his cheek. Her other hand still on his throat.

“Beg,” she said.

“I—I’m sorry.”

“Louder.”

“I’m sorry!”

Celeste finally stepped forward, the silence stretching between gunmetal and breath.

Vanessa looked to her, nodding once.

Celeste raised her weapon — then paused.

“No,” Vanessa said. “Not yet.”

She stood up. Let him roll to his knees, coughing.

Then she looked at her heels. Perfect. Lethal.

She stepped forward, placing her heel under his chin. Lifting his face up like a captured dog.

“You think betrayal doesn’t cost anything?” she whispered.

She placed her heel gently on his throat.

“You sold us for digits. Now let’s see if you bleed binary.”

Chapter 6: The End

He choked as her heel pressed into his skin.

His hands grabbed at her ankle, weak, panicked.

“Vanessa—please—Vanessa—”

She didn’t blink.

She pressed harder.

Celeste watched silently. The light overhead flickered. A single tear rolled down Julian’s cheek as the tip of the heel pierced his throat.

His gasps turned to gurgles.

He dropped to the floor, twitching. His body jerking as air and blood fought for space.

And then—stillness.

Chapter 7: After

Vanessa stepped back.
No remorse.

She turned to Celeste.

“Burn the accounts. Leave the body. Let Interpol wonder what he was into.”

Celeste nodded.

“What now?” she asked.

Vanessa lit a cigarette. Took a long drag.

Then smiled.

“Now?”

She turned to the window. Looked out over the city.

“We find the next one stupid enough to think we won’t do it again.”

The lady doesn’t bluff.
She executes.

And she’s not done.

Not by a long shot.