Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 352(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
“I got Rex out fast both times. He was fine.”
“Says you, who was free to take regular breaths in and out and not have to play dead while the guy who supposedly shot you is arguing with some girl.”
I chuckled. “He’s safe?”
“He is. I delivered him to the agreed spot.” Sean plated the sandwiches and added them to a tray. “How’s our guest?”
I snickered. “Feisty.”
He leaned back. “Why, Cian? We’re so close.”
I ran a hand over my face. “I couldn’t leave her there, Sean. She saw too much. It was too risky.”
“You could have told me to take care of her. I would have arranged it with the boss. She’d be safer there.”
I grabbed a sandwich, bit, and chewed. How could I explain the urge I had when I saw her in front of me, shaking and trying so hard not to show her fear? The hopeless look in her eyes when she asked me to kill her fast made my chest ache. I didn’t want her hurt; I wanted her safe. I needed to be the one who made her safe. I needed to keep her close.
“She could blow everything we’ve worked for,” he pointed out.
“No. She won’t. I’ll take care of her.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.” He indicated the tray. “You want me to take that to her?”
“No. I will. Her room is wired, right?”
“Yep. I scanned the whole place. We’re clean from any outside sources. I made sure the feed in her room was working, and I patched it to your laptop.” He stretched. “I’m gonna go have a shower. I’m too old for this shit, man. Harper looks wiry, but he weighs a ton. My back is killing me.”
I clapped my hand on his shoulder. “Last one. For all of us.”
Our eyes locked.
“I know. We’ll get him, Cian.”
I nodded. We would.
I pulled out my gun, balancing the tray as I unlocked the door. Skylar needed to see I was still dangerous, and the gun was a reminder of that.
Skylar was back in the chair, looking cleaner but even more terrified than before—her eyes focused on the gun, like I knew she would. Her hair was loose, long, damp waves down her back. I set the tray down in front of her with a smile. “You look better.”
She sniffed. “Well, great. I’m so happy my smell isn’t bothering you anymore. I’d hate to think of you as uncomfortable.”
There was the feistiness I liked.
“Sorry the clothes aren’t a better fit. I’ll have Sean pick you up something more your size tomorrow.”
“Oh, I’ll still be alive then?”
I sighed. “Yes. You’ll be alive.” I pushed the tray toward her. “Here. You must be hungry.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Wait. I thought his name was Carlo.”
Shit—I’d let that slip.
I shrugged. “Think of Sean as a nickname. He uses Carlo professionally.”
“I don’t know your name.”
I sighed, unsure what that had to do with eating a sandwich. “My name is Cian.”
“Cian? Your parents not like you or something?”
I rolled my eyes.
“So, Cian…” She paused. “Is that the name you use professionally as well?”
“No. I go by Anthony.”
She snorted. “How original. Tony the hit man.”
I glared at her and pushed the plate closer with the edge of the gun. “Eat the sandwiches, Skylar.”
“No.”
I was truly perplexed. “Why? I know you’re hungry.”
She sniffed. “You probably drugged them. God knows what you’ll do once I’m immobilized.”
I bit back a laugh. “They’re not drugged. And I told you. Nothing’s going to happen to you while you’re with me.”
“Why should I believe you?”
I nudged the plate again. “Nothing will happen to you. Eat.”
Her stubborn little chin stuck out even farther. “No.”
“Sean will be so hurt. He made these for you himself.”
“If you’re so worried about his feelings, eat them yourself.”
I lifted the plate. “Pick one.”
“What?”
“Pick one, and I’ll eat it to prove there’s nothing wrong with them. Then you can eat the rest.”
I could see her wavering. I knew she had to be hungry.
“It could be a trick.”
I slammed down the plate in exasperation. “How can it be a trick, Skylar? I don’t know which one you’ll pick!”
“You could be betting against the odds,” she insisted.
“What?”
“Well, maybe only a few of them are drugged, and you’re betting I choose the un-drugged ones for you.”
“How the fuck does that make any sense?”
“Don’t swear at me! It’s rude!”
“You swear at me all the time! Just eat the fucking sandwiches!” I roared.
“No!”
Beyond furious, I grabbed one of the cut sandwiches and took a bite. Then I grabbed the next one and took a bite of it. I kept going until each one had a bite out of it, chewing and swallowing rapidly as I went.
“See? They’re all fucking fine. Now eat them!”
“Well, that was unnecessary. Rather disgusting too—now your DNA is all over them.”
I let my head fall forward, and I used the end of the gun to rub my aching temples. This girl was gonna be the death of me. “Eat the sandwiches, Skylar.”