Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Hunter has the audacity to look offended. “My bad decisions? I’ll have you know that I went in there fully prepared and with an unshakable plan. And for the record, we’re both still alive, so if you ask me, the hit was a hit.”
Unease rocks through me, and I turn my attention back to Maddox, unsure what this means. Is he a killer too? Or was he just there to help Hunter? Because God knows he took one hell of a beating while just trying to help his friend.
“Tell me you were the getaway driver.”
Maddox cringes. “I can’t do that, Savage.”
Fuck.
I sink against the end of Hunter’s bed as I look up at Maddox, trying to piece together all the little puzzle pieces. “You’re a killer, too?”
Maddox winces, and he quickly meets Hunter’s stare before looking down at me. “Before I answer that, could you do me a huge favor and just remember how much you like fucking me first?”
“Shit.”
I get to my feet and storm back out into the living room, needing more space to pace than the spare room could offer.
Both of the boys follow behind.
Hunter pauses by the kitchen counter, leaning against the island as he watches me freak out, while Maddox strides right over to the back of the couch, getting much closer but still giving me the space I need.
“So you’re both just out there killing people for sport?”
Hunter shakes his head. “No, I don’t kill for sport.”
Maddox cringes again. “I mean, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I find it incredibly rewarding.”
My eyes widen in horror, and as I stare at Maddox, I start to laugh. He’s a complete golden retriever who bought me a lifetime’s worth of tampons. He’s not the guy who goes around slaughtering people for fun.
“Oh my God,” I laugh, dragging my hands down my face. “You almost had me for a second.”
Maddox’s brows furrow. “Wait. What?”
“It’s a joke, right? A pretty twisted joke, but a joke all the same.”
He winces. “Uhhh . . . no.”
I just stare. Then I blink. Then go straight back to staring. “Not a joke?”
Hunter shakes his head from the kitchen. “Sorry, Lyra. Not a joke.”
My knees go out from under me, and I drop to the couch, trying to process. “Well, shit. I’m screwing two serial killers, and that makes me just as sick as you two.”
Maddox lifts a finger. “I’ve never been a fan of labels.”
Hunter clears his throat. “Contract killer, if you will.”
“Jesus Christ.” I get straight back to pacing, still frantically trying to process when my gaze lifts to Maddox, and a wave of betrayal cuts into my chest. “Wait. Why are you only just saying this now?” I ask him. “Why didn’t you tell me when I found out about Hunter?”
He presses his lips together. “I, uhhh . . . really don’t have a good reason why I chose to keep quiet at that time. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to tell you at all. But last night when I had to slip out while you were fast asleep, I couldn’t help but feel the dishonesty there. I was torn up with guilt, not over what I was doing, but because I wasn’t being honest with you about it, and I value this relationship too much. I don’t want to lose you over this, Savage.”
I scoff. “And if I do choose to leave. Are you going to kill me for knowing your secret?”
Hunter scoffs. “Like I’d ever let him do that.”
“That’s not what I’m asking,” I reiterate, holding Maddox’s stare. “You said that you find it rewarding. So what happens if I threaten to leave and you panic? Will you try?”
Maddox steps around the couch, walking right into me and taking my chin. “I’d sooner throw myself into shark-infested waters than ever bring you harm,” he tells me. “I wasn’t kidding that first night we met when I said we’re soulmates. I could never hurt you, Savage. Not even if you were plunging a blade right through my chest.”
I nod and take a step back, needing to be outside of his magnetic orbit.
So they’re both contract killers. I can handle that, right? It’s not as though I wasn’t already handling it with Hunter. I suppose I should just think of it as a two for one deal. The only thing that really guts me is the fact that Maddox had an opportunity to tell me, to be upfront and honest, and he chose to keep quiet. Though to be fair, I’m a killer isn’t exactly something somebody can just blurt out. It makes them vulnerable and there needs to be a level of trust there before they can bear that kind of secret. And who am I to rush either of them into exposing themselves in that way? I’m not really an open book, either. Everybody has secrets.