“Mr. Casey, how can I trustyou if you don’t tell me anything?”
“You’ll just have to. Youdon’t need to know everything, Katya, or you’ll never relax. Amoment ago, you looked as if you were going to passout.”
Well, maybe he was rightabout that, but still she couldn’t help feel irritated. She wasn’ta wilting flower. “Fine. That’s just fine. I’ll just let you be themacho bodyguard and me the damsel in distress, but don’t expect meto jump when you want.”
He actually smiled.Oh, you’ll jump when I want all right because Iwon’t give you a choice.
There was that challengingsmile again. The same one he gave her when he was tying her sneakerbefore they went jogging. It made her breath still in her chest.This man was way too good looking. “Why didn’t you tell me,really?”
“I had to assess if theywere a threat at the moment or not. They aren’t. I didn’t need yougoing into another panic attack.”
He had a point. “That makessense. I don’t like it, but it makes sense.”
“My first concern is yoursafety. You don’t have to like anything I do.”
He’d meant that. She methis confident gaze just as the waiter brought their food. “I don’tknow if I even like you,” she added with irritation. To her surprise he smiled againnot even bothered by her statement.
She turned her attention toher food. Arguing with him was a lost cause and she was starving.She’d hardly eaten anything the night before, and despite hisconfession about being followed, she was still hungry. She knewwhy. She really did feel safe with him near her. She didn’t likefeeling like she needed anyone, but she already knew, she neededhim.
Surprisingly, she cleanedher plate. She shouldn’t have been surprised that he did either. Hehad a healthy appetite, but she should have expected it with hisphysique. “I’m sorry you didn’t get your run thismorning.”
It was refreshing for himthat she didn’t hold onto her anger too long. Another trait of hershe liked. With her father, of course, it was a different story. “Idid.”
Her brows arched. “You did?When?”
“I went at five thirty. Youwere still sleeping when I got back.”
Didn’t this man sleep?“Aren’t you tired? I mean, did I keep you up?”
He sat back in his chairand stared thoughtfully at her. “No.”
She flushed a little andpretended to look at something past him. Apparently he got by onvery little sleep and found it amusing that she jumped fromridiculing him to concern.
The waiter brought thecheck and he paid for it even when she argued. It was her idea, buthe smirked and said he was pretty sure he could afford twenty fivebucks.
Once back inside the car,she felt the need to ask. “Is being a mercenary lucrative?” Helooked slightly chagrined. “What?”
“We’ve discussed this. I’mnot really a mercenary.”
“You are a gun for hire,though.”
He shook his head. “Notquite. I’m specially trained and I don’t run around assassinatingpeople because someone pays me to.”
“I guess I don’t reallyknow the difference.”
“I pick and choose who Iwork for. Money has nothing to do with it. There are specificreasons why I do what I do. I do not harm people unless I’mdefending myself, or protecting others.”
“You’ve killed peoplethough. How many?”
Ryan stared down at her. Heshouldn’t have said that. She was still so innocent in a lot ofways despite what she’d been through and for some reason thatworked against him. This wasn’t the first time he’d said too much.“I won’t share that part of my life with you Katya.”
Door closed. She bit herlip and stared at him. Yes, he had killed people. Again, it wasthat look in his eyes, the same one her father had.
He could see she wasdebating his soul. He certainly didn’t want her scared of him. “I’mnot a murderer. Just remember that.”
“That’s your way ofreasoning it, I suppose.”
“It’s the truth.” Yes, he’dkilled people. Maybe too many, but it was always for the sake ofothers.
She sighed deeply andturned away from him. She honestly was no better. She wanted thosemen that hurt her and her sister dead and rotting in the ground.She told him that. He never said anything.
She was full of hatred andanger right now and wanted revenge. So did he. He wanted it so muchhe could taste the bile rise in his throat.
***
That night after Katyaretired; Ryan messaged his boss and gave him an update. He replied.The sedan wasn’t theirs. He should have known. Also, they haven’tfound any more on that end about Georgy’s death. Well, neither didhe. He was impatient, which was something no one could accuse himof before, but this was different. It was personal. He stood up andwalked to the adjoining door. Katya was sound asleep, on her sideagain, facing him this time. She looked like sleeping beauty andshe certainly was beautiful. He eased the door closed to a crackand turned back to his bed stripping off his shirt and tossing iton the chair he occupied moments ago. He was heading into thebathroom to wash up for the night when there was a soft knock onhis door. It was Ivan.
The man’s eyes went downthe front of him. “Do you ever wear a fucking shirt?”
“What do you want Ivan?” Hesuppressed a grin. What did this man expect? It was one in themorning.
“Boss needs to see youagain. There’s another parcel.”
Ryan nodded and grabbed hisshirt off the chair, buttoning it up as he followedIvan.
This time it was a ringfinger and with it, a ring.
Peter had removed thejewelry and was spinning it on the tip of his little finger. “Thiswas her mother’s. Bastards! What does it say?”
Ryan scanned the note thatPeter handed him, then looked at Peter. They were toying with theold Russian and it was taking it’s toll. It looked as though he waswearing. There were bags under his eyes that weren’t there before.He returned his attention to the piece of paper in his hand. Thenhe clenched his jaw. The note actually commented on how prettyKatya looked today. That she was looking almost as tasty as hersister.
“Well?”
He met Peter’s eyes andtold him the truth.
Ryan could hear Ivan shiftbehind him. No, he didn’t like it
