Samantha checked, 10 pm in New Orleans is 8 pm in San Diego.

Around the same time tonight she and Chance decided to have dinner at his place before he left for work, Samantha wondered what excuse to give Chance so that she can call Edwin.

Later, that night Samantha headed to Chance's house at 7 pm only to be greeted by a tired looking, exhausted man.

"Why do you look so tired?" Samantha was worried seeing his state.

"Had a hectic day at office. Since, I was not in the office the last one week, a lot of things piled up, too much work. I am exhausted."

"The work you went for in the last week was of different clients, right?" Samantha was trying her best to understand and keep up with his work.

Chance faintly smiled and hugged her, "Hmm, you are right" He closed his eyes and stayed still, resting his head on her shoulder.

"Chance, you feeling sleepy?" Samantha looked at the man who was sleeping, hugging her.

"Hmm, I am"

"Hey, how about I'll order food tonight? I also feel tired."

Chance kissed her head, "Hmm, do whatever you want to do"

Samantha held his arm and dragged him to his bedroom and made him lie on the bed. Chance obediently followed her as he was too tired to say anything.

After helping him lie down, Samantha loosened the tie around his neck and removed it, she unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, to help him breathe easily.

After adjusting the temperature of his bedroom, Samantha covered him in a comforter and whispered in his ears, "Sleep for a while, I'll wake you up after dinner is delivered"

"Okay" Chance muttered in his drowsiness and fell asleep.

Kissing his forehead, Samantha was about to head out when Chance held her wrist and muttered, 'sleep with me'.

Samantha didn't have the heart to leave him and she still had time before her call with Edwin so she lied next to Chance, observing the tired man.

Chance was totally worn out and she could see the hard work he might have gone through looking at his state.

She was not sure why, but whenever she saw Chance like this, she found him more attractive than ever.

Samantha stroked his head and kept looking at him.

Only after ensuring he is sleeping peacefully, she headed out of his home and entered hers, she decided to order the food after her call with Brimstone.

Samantha was relieved to see Chance so tired; she racked her brain to come up with some plausible excuse to make this call. She initially planned to lie saying she has to call her father and would talk to Brimstone instead but she didn't have to lie or use her excuse as Chance was tired already.

Seeing his state, her heart wrenched in pain but for her right now talking to Brimstone was more important.

At sharp 8 pm, her secret phone rang.

Happily, she answered her call.

"Edwin" She softly called his name.

"Sam, how are you?" The man had a smile on his face, when he heard her voice.

"I am good, how you doing?"

"Sam, did you message me to ask me about my wellbeing?" The man on the other side chuckled at her question.

"Hey, you asked me how I was, I was just being courteous by asking the same" Samantha pouted at being taunted but she didn't mind it as this kind of banter was common between them.

"God, you never change, do you?" Edwin made fun of her.

"Ed, I messaged you as I have something important to discuss, can we please do that first?" Samantha didn't let herself get distracted as after this call she had to order food and wake up Chance. She had to talk to Edwin in the little time she has.

"Yeah, please explain why you had to message me in all capitals?" The guy again laughed.

"Ed, it is something serious." Samantha's cheerful voice suddenly turned cold which was clear for Edwin to take her seriously and he realized it was a matter he couldn't take lightly.

"Hmm, I am listening"

"Did you kill Maestro?" Samantha just wanted to be sure of his deeds, before she reveals the truth to him.

Edwin was shocked to his core, when he heard her question. Their lives were so secretive that even people working in the same organization might not have access to the information on other assassins in spite of being colleagues.

Bill owns that organization, and Samantha was his daughter, so it was normal for her to have access to this piece of information.

What surprised Edwin was Samantha's interest in this.

As far as he knows her, she always keeps to herself and never meddles in other people's business.

Till date, Edwin didn't meet a woman as cold and as indifferent as Samantha but today she surprised him with this question.

"Why do you ask?" Edwin counter questioned her instead of answering her.

"Ed, first answer my question" Samantha was firm.

"Hmm, I killed him"

Although Samantha knew this and was sure of it, directly hearing it from Ed made her anxious.

She knew, the day Grim Reaper finds out Ed is behind his friends' death, then he will surely kill him, this made her even more nervous.

"Why?" She couldn't help but ask him, she wanted to shout at him, 'Why did you kill Grim Reaper's best friend, you fool?' But she controlled herself.

"I was jealous of him and his success. He was involved with Italian Mafia, they wanted him out of their way so they came up with the plan to get him killed. Their plan was to first hire him for one mission and gave him the details of target's location. But there was no target as Maestro himself was the target. Then these people hired me to kill Maestro, who was unaware of the total scheme. I hate that man but I know he is better than me and I am not good enough to harm him. When I got this mission, I couldn't refuse as this was the perfect opportunity to get rid of my nemesis."

Samantha tightly closed her eyes when she heard the confirmation from him, she was for the first time really worried about Edwin.

When Bill told her this same story, she felt like she can still save Edwin from Grim Reaper but hearing this story first hand from Edwin himself, the fear of losing him was instilled greatly.

There was no regret in Edwin's voice which gave chilly vibes to her and she was sure she will lose him if she goes with Bill's plan.

"Why would you kill him, Ed?" She only asked him this.

"Sam, how do you know about me killing Maestro? Why did you dig into it?"

It was now Edwin's turn to ask her questions so he did.

"It is a long story but long story short, Grim Reaper is looking for you" Samantha calmly dropped a bombshell on Edwin.

The phone almost slipped away from Edwin's hold when he heard Grim Reaper's name and even more so that he was looking for him. Which only meant bad news.

In the world of assassins, Grim Reaper was considered the best assassin, if he once lays his eye on the target then that target has to die. There is no turning back.

"Why.. why is he looking.. for me?"

Samantha could sense Edwin's nervousness in his voice.

"Apparently, Maestro is Grim Reaper's best friend" Samantha informed him.

"Bullshit, I don't believe that."

"Why not?" Samantha was confused at his aggression.

"How can two assassins be best friends?"

"Aren't we a family too?" Samantha was hurt by his words.

Edwin calmed down as he realized the effect his words can have on her emotionally.

"I am talking about them Sam, not us."

"Hmm"

"Are you sure about Grim Reaper looking for me?"

"100% sure"

"Fuck, does this mean I am going to die soon?" Edwin was clearly terrified with the thought of Grim Reaper looking for him.

"He doesn't know that you are the one who killed Maestro but he might find out about it soon. So, I am calling to warn you"

"Fuck, what should I do now, Sam?" Edwin had no idea where to go and what to do. Grim Reaper looking for him was not a small thing. It was fucking scary.

"I suggest you go underground. No one should know about your whereabouts, not even dad. If you ever have to contact someone, it has to be me, only me" Samantha warned him.

"Why not uncle Bill?"

"Just to avoid involving more people. I don't want to drag dad in the mess you created. I am stepping into it, that's enough already"

Samantha lied to Edwin only because she couldn't tell him all about Excalibur and other information.

Also, she knows how much he respects and admires Bill.