1 PROLOGUE

CHOOSE your assignment.

Kaycynt quickly caught the envelope Piper had thrown as she entered their office. She frowned when she peeked at its contents. She immediately got the meaning of her friend when she saw the close-up shot of these three men. She took the photographs one by one. There was no doubt the alluring faces of the three men, each showing a glimpse of their personality based on the appearance in the photograph as well.

The first was formal in appearance and there was no trace of any emotion in the eyes. The second has glasses with uncomfortable smile on the lips as if his not used to taking pictures. The third is definitely looked handsome with those charming eyes which complemented his cheerful aura . And the latter is what caught Kaycynt's attention.

It was because the third man got the eyes and lips of his mother, unlike the two brothers who more closely resembled their father Raphe, the man they hated together with her friends because he ruin their families.

If the third man becomes Kaycynt's target, she will be able to control the anger somehow because she will not be tempted to cover her face every time she is with him. She took the photo and showed it to Piper.

"I'll take this one," Kaycynt said before handing two more photos to Helena for her to choose. The last will automatically go to Piper. Piper nodded.

"That's Jared McClenn, the infamous playboy. He's the second of the siblings and is rumored to be the most playful of the three. Are you sure, Kaycynt?"

Amused. Kaycynt smiled. "Should I be offended because you seem to doubt my ability, Piper?" Piper laughed. "You've come this far Kaycynt. How can I be able to doubt you?". She raised her hands as a sign of surrender. " Your always been an asset to our business; you have a way with people. So a tease versus a tease..." She wink at Kaycynt. "Will surely be a fight worth watching for."

Kaycynt's mouth opened to speak but was stopped by three consecutive knocks from outside the door. They looked at each other. A moment later Julian entered in the office. He swallowed hard before speaking. "Kaycynt, I need to talk to you-" Julian stopped speaking when he saw the photo she was holding. Julian was the only person she ever trusted; he was one of her best friends aside from Piper and Helena. But unfortunately ... he fell in love with her.

Given a different situation, Kaycynt could have allowed herself to fall for Julian too but she cannot. She still has many missions that need to be prioritized to indulge in the love that the young man can give.

"So ... you're going to continue the plan?" Only Julian knows their plan. She didn't keep any secret from him . "Yes," Kaycynt answered without emotion. Julian was stunned for a moment while her friends remained silent. The young man let out a series of breaths deeply before speaking again. "You don't have to go back to Country X and risk getting hurt all for revenge. I can help you. I have my men -"

"The best revenge is not hurting someone physically Julian. It's targeting the human's most sensitive part... the heart." Kaycynt replied mockingly.

"We're not like before. In fact, we can afford to take an easier way Julian," said Helena who, like Kaycynt, was also have choosen a target. "But the McClenns owe us too much for us to give up that way. We've waited so long. We can't be distracted by taking the easy road, no matter how tempted we are to do so." Kaycynt's chest tightened. When they were at the young age, they promised that Raphe McClenn would pay in front to their loved ones' grave. But they could not find the old man. And they had a strong suspicion that his children were hiding Raphe. So they decided to first destroy the old man's fences — his three sons, Ralph's offspring.

"You're really leaving?" instead Julian asked "Yes," Kaycynt answered without hesitation. She harden her heart despite seeing the pain in the eyes of the young man. In the severity of the hardship that Piper and Helena have gone through over the past few years to get to where they are now she has something to realize; life is a battle. To sacrifice is a must.

Because no one wins without sacrificing... a whole damn lot.