by Nicole Fox
“Where is this coming from?” Of all the things he expected her say, this was not it.
“Answer the question.”
“I’m not sure exactly.”
“Guess!”
“Whoa, calm down,” he said. “What’s this about?”
She pulled the car over, stomping the brake heavily, and screeching to a halt on the side of the road. She turned to face him, her eyes wild. “Ten? Twenty? A hundred?”
“Closer to twenty. Why?”
She closed her eyes, finally sending the tears down her cheeks. “I can’t believe I slept with you,” she whispered. “You get paid to kill people. I never should have let you into my house. I have a daughter, Hunter. And she needs a father, not a trained killer in the next room. I need someone in our lives who will be there for us. To do things like cook dinner or take out the trash, to mow the lawn and go to the movies with. I don’t need someone who owns more guns than pants, and who pays the bills by ending lives. I’m sorry. I let this go much too far.”
“You’re telling me,” he snapped back.
He knew this was a mistake. Hadn’t he thought that earlier? That getting too close to her was a mistake? That having feelings for her would only cause problems? And sure enough, now she was flipping out on him for not being the family man he never claimed to be.
“If you can’t trust me, then don’t go to the farm,” he said.
“I’m not saying that I can’t trust you,” she said slowly. She seemed to be calmer now. Slightly. “You’ve proven that much to me. And you’ve protected me. I’m not saying I don’t appreciate all you’ve done for me, for us. I do. I just can’t…” She bit her lip and looked away. “I just can’t.”
“Fine.” A new plan came to his mind. He needed to do what he’d promised and get on with it. No more time to mess around. “I have a new plan. Take me back to my hotel.”
She pulled back onto the road and drove at a normal speed. Their silence spoke volumes. There was no way they could ever have a relationship. No matter how much he wanted her or she thought she had wanted him, it would never work. He wasn’t the kind and loving office worker who’d go off to the job all day and come home and be Daddy and Hubby. This was who he was. If she didn’t like it, fine. He knew she wasn’t his type from the start, and this was just his confirmation. Further proof that it wasn’t worth it to fall for someone. In his line of work, getting involved only meant trouble. He didn’t have time or patience for trouble. He had a job to do.
Chapter Fifteen
Vanessa
“So, what’s this new plan?” Vanessa asked when they pulled up to the hotel.
Hunter opened his door. “Inside.”
She followed him and sat on the bed, watching him. He gathered the clothing lying around and stuffed it into his bag.
“I’ve been thinking about this wrong. I kept thinking that I’ll protect you and Opal. That if Jeremy shows up and threatens you or tries to hurt you, I’d take him out. But that’s not going to work. It’s a defensive move, and we need to go on the offense.” He zipped up the bag and unzipped another bag, then began taking out the weapons. “I’m going after him. I’ll lure him in and take him out. We’re not going to sit around and wait. I’m going to kill him, and then you and Opal will be safe and all your problems will be solved.”
And his biggest problem would be solved, too. He’d be finished with this job and could get away from Vanessa before things got any worse. Now he knew for sure that nothing could happen between them, that they wanted two very different things. He needed to be rid of her. Being around her might only make him want her more. And worse, it might make him fall for her more.
“So, what exactly are you going to do?” she asked. Her expression was somewhat hesitant. Like she didn’t think this was the best idea.
“Tell him the job is done. I’ll take a photo of you looking dead and one with me with Opal and send it to him. Then meet him to collect payment and take him out.”
“Just like that?”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “I guess if you want to look at it that way. Just like that.”
“How could you just kill someone like that?”
“Are you serious? After all he did to you and Opal?”
She raised a shoulder and looked away. “I know, but it’s murder.”
“Do you really think he deserves to live? He’s hurt you so deeply, and he’s hurt Opal. Who hits a child? Their own flesh and blood? He doesn’t deserve to breathe.”
“I don’t think we can be the ones to decide that.”
Hunter picked up a gun and opened the magazine to reload it. “Well, that’s what I’ve always done. I don’t just take any job. I only kill people who deserve it. People who do awful things like beat their wives and children.”
“So, a murderer with a conscience?” She tilted her head at him.
“Exactly.” He slammed the magazine back into place and tossed the gun onto the bed with the others.
“I was being sarcastic.”
“Well, it’s true. I can’t think of anyone who deserves a bullet in the head more than Jeremy. You don’t agree?”
“I don’t know.”
“If he was in a car accident and died, would you be sad?”
She thought for a moment. “No, but that would be an accident.”
“Then just pretend he accidentally fell into my bullet.”
She rolled her eyes. “Right.”
“Think about the alternative, Vanessa. He hired me to kill you. Do you think that me failing to do so is going to stop him from wanting to kill you? He’ll just hire someone else. He won’t stop. And then he’ll have Opal. It’s your life or his. That’s how you have to look at it. You might not like the idea of murder, but you’re only going along with it to protect your daughter.”
“I guess that’s the only way I can look at it. Any other way, and I can’t stomach it.”
“Then do that. It’s like self defense, really. He’s after you, so you’re going to have me kill him first, before he can kill you and take Opal.”
She twisted her face to the side, looking confused.
“What’s that look?” he asked.
“Well, you do this for a living. People pay you to kill for them. So, if you’re killing for me…”
“I don’t expect you to pay me.”
“Why not? This is what you do.”
“You didn’t hire me. Jeremy did, and technically, he already paid me half. So I am getting paid. Let’s just call it a discount job since you’re so pretty.”
She gave him half a smile. “Good looks come in handy sometimes.”
He winked and dropped another newly-loaded gun onto the bed. “Good looks also cause me to get handy sometimes.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Don’t act like you didn’t like it.”
“I did, but Hunter…” She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked away.
“I know.”
She met his eyes for a moment, and he wished he could read her mind.
# # #
She looked deep into Hunter’s eyes. How could she tell him there could never be anything between them when she wanted there to be so badly? She was so torn. It was like being back in the days when she was still with Jeremy. Then she’d been torn, too. Torn between wanting so badly to leave but still wanting Opal to have a family. It had taken seeing Jeremy hit Opal before she changed her mind. Would there be a moment like that with Hunter, too?
She wanted him and saw good in him. She wanted to feel safe and protected, especially after feeling so unsafe for so long with Jeremy. But the violence and the danger were too much for her. And it put Opal at too much risk. Maybe he’d hurt her and prove he was no protector after all, and she would be able to leave him like she left Jeremy. Or, there was the possibility he might turn from his hard life. If she provided him a sort of safe place, a real home, a family. Would he ever change his killer ways?
She stood and walked over
to where he was messing with his guns. “Why do you need so many guns?”
“Some are better for concealing. Some are better for distance. Some have more rounds if there are many people. I need to be prepared for any situation. And not run out of ammo in the middle of a gun fight.”
She reached out and gently took the gun from his hand. It was lighter than she expected. It felt almost like a toy, it was that weightless.
“That one’s better for carrying,” he said. “Nice and light and small.”
She put the gun down and looked over his small artillery. “I don’t want you to have to kill Jeremy. You’ve killed too many people already. You’re better than that.”
“I’m not.” He pulled his mouth into a half smile. “I’m doing this for you, though, so you won’t have to worry.”
“I know.” She stood facing him, and put her hand on his chest. “Yes, you are better than that. I know you like to think of yourself as a bad man, a hard ass, a tough guy. But you have far too much compassion for any of that. Real killers don’t have consciences. They don’t change in the middle of a job, because they realized the person they were hired to kill wasn’t who they thought they were.”
“You think far too much of me.”
“You’d kill for me. Not for money. Not for any reason but to protect me and Opal, and really, now you’re saying you’d do it just to make our lives better.”
“It’s still to protect you.” He covered her hand with his.
“But you’re going after him, not waiting until he attacks us. And you’re doing it for me.”
“I am.”
She looked into his eyes and knew she’d never let him do it. She couldn’t live with the guilt of knowing he’d murdered for her. But just knowing that he would, that he cared that much about her and Opal, made her warm all over.
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his. Even though they couldn’t have a relationship, even though he wasn’t what she needed long term or for Opal, he was what she needed right now. This man who would end a life to save hers. Who cared that much about her and her safety. She’d never had anyone care about her like that.
Hunter’s arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. She pressed her body against his, feeling his hardness press into her. She liked that he wanted her, and it made her damp with desire.
She broke from the kiss suddenly and turned. With one sweep of her arm, she knocked all the guns and his bag to the ground. The weapons tumbled over each other with a clatter and when she looked back at him, he gave her a raised eyebrow and an unamused look. But when she threw herself backward onto the bed and motioned to him with her finger, his expression changed to raw hunger.
As he climbed over her, she pulled his shirt over his head. Her fingers tangled in the hair at the top of his chest and she pulled him down to kiss him again. His hands found her breasts roughly, pushing aside her bra so he could squeeze and pinch her nipples. He bent down to suck on one, then the other. Each suck or pinch sent a fresh wave of wanting through her.
Vanessa wiggled up and out of her pants and yanked her shirt and bra off. They hit the floor beside the guns. Hunter pushed her legs open and slid down to put his tongue in her.
She grabbed the pillow, gripping it hard as he pushed his tongue inside her and around her lips. He flicked her clit and slid a finger inside her.
“No,” she said, pulling on his hair to get his face away from her.
“What?” he asked breathlessly.
“No. Not your finger.”
His eyes grew dark with desire and he slid her bottom over to the edge of the bed. The rough motion of it, the harsh possession by someone who she wanted to want her, electrified her.
Hunter knelt in front of her and thrust inside her in one deep movement. She cried out as he filled her, and it took a moment to stop the room from spinning.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and sat up, hugging his neck to be closer to him. In this position, she could rub her clit against him, sliding in her own wetness.
Hunter took a fistful of her hair and pulled down. Vanessa’s head tilted up, exposing her throat. He bit gently along her neck, then to her earlobe. She rocked on his hard cock, the intense pleasure rushing over her.
He lifted her off the bed, holding her with his arms. His muscles bulged against her as he bounced her up and down on his dick.
“Oh God, yes,” she said.
She was getting close. Hunter slid one hand under her and slipped his pinky finger into her ass. Instantly, the orgasm crashed over her. She dug her fingers into his back, screaming in pleasure. He grabbed her waist and slammed her hard, going even deeper and harder than he had before.
“I’m coming,” he said, groaning in her ear.
When he stilled, he set her back down on the bed, sliding out of her as he did. Vanessa crumpled to the bed, unable to move except to breathe heavy. The sweat covering her body grew cold in the air of the room.
He stood, but slid onto the bed beside her, pulling her close to him. Their bodies stuck together with sweat and heat. She shivered in the afterglow and closed her eyes.
She almost wished he wasn’t such a fabulous lover. It would be easier to say goodbye to him if he didn’t make her feel so good.
Chapter Sixteen
Hunter
After he’d collected his guns and sorted them from when Vanessa carelessly tossed them to the ground, and after they’d showered and dressed, they were ready to head out. He took his bag of ammo to the car then returned to lock up.
When he slid into the driver’s seat, Vanessa looked over at him and put her hand on his to stop him from starting the car.
“Wait, Hunter.”
He looked into her eyes, waiting as she’d asked.
“I think there’s another way to do this,” she said.
“Do what?”
“I think we can get Jeremy out of the way and keep us safe without having to kill him.”
“How?”
“We could go to the cops. Tell them he hired you.”
He gave her an incredulous look. “Right. Go tell them I kill people for a living.”
She shook her head. “They don’t have to know that you’ve done it before. Only that he hired you to do it this time, and you couldn’t go through with it. Is it a crime to take money to kill someone if you don’t actually kill them?”
“Yes.”
“But it has to be a much lesser crime, right?”
“Vanessa.” He dropped his hand from the ignition. “We’d need a lot of evidence to build a case against him. They’re not going to just take my word for it.”
“But there’s your word and mine and Opal’s.”
“Not enough. And we’re all on the same side. Too easy for us to all be lying for each other. It’s not evidence. Not enough to put him away for any length of time.”
“How do we get evidence?”
“I don’t really know. I’ve always been better at avoiding having any sort of evidence than gathering any.”
She tapped her finger, thinking. “And there’s evidence against me. Like from the doctor, and from CPS. They’ll say I was the one who hurt Opal.”
“Exactly.” He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. “It’s much better for me to kill him. Otherwise, you might end up getting yourself arrested, and it would be too hard to try to get enough evidence for us to get him arrested.”
“There has to be a way to make it work. I don’t want you to have to do this.”
“Why not? I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again.”
“I know, but I don’t want to be the reason. I don’t want to feel guilty for the rest of my life, knowing you killed for me. What if you get caught? What would I do then?”
He looked over at her with an unamused gaze. She clearly didn’t have enough faith in him and his ability to do his job well. “I know how to do my job without getting caught. I’ve done this many times.”
“And you nev
er once came close to getting in trouble?”
He took a moment to answer. Should he lie or just be honest? “Not any time recently.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Recently? So you have been arrested? Have you been in jail?”
He clenched his jaw and nodded.
“When? For how long?”
The last thing he wanted to do was sit there and describe his horrible decade and what led to it. He tried to give her enough info to satisfy her interest without going too much into it.
