Page 55 of King of the Dawn

“It’s done,” I said without preamble. “I’ll be heading out now.”

There was silence on the other end. Her silence was damning. The woman was rarely ever quiet when she had something to say. The fact that she was quiet now spoke louder than anything else.

“I can hear you judging me,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“What?” she said with faux innocence.

“Say what you want to say.” I rolled my eyes, my forehead still on the glass.

“I’m not a bodyguard,” she sighed. “I don’t protect. I’m a fucking killer. This isn’t a mission suited for me.”

“No, but you are good at stalking, staying in the shadows, and observing. So do that, and hopefully, you won’t have to kill anyone.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

I chuckled. “You’re sick.”

She audibly swallowed, and I wondered what more there would be from her.

“Just keep her safe.” I wanted to sound commanding and strict, but my voice was pleading instead.

Should I follow up my request with a threat? Tell her I’d kill her and her husband, and her twins, if my wife wasn’t safe?

No. There’d be no point.

With Lea, and Caledonia Security, I knew that if any harm came to Eve, it would be over her dead body. That’s why they were worth every penny.

“Thank you, Lea,” I finally said, knowing that this wasn’t her preferred assignment. The fact she took it at all was a testament to our long working relationship.

She didn’t respond right away. Instead, she weighed her words carefully.

“You cleared my name, and Callum’s,” she finally said. “I owe you for that.”

I had. She had killed a billionaire - he was a bad guy, sure, but he was a famous man with a lot of connections and his death sent shockwaves over the world. For her, it was self-defense, but that wasn’t likely to hold up in court. Not in the media, and not with a jury of her peers.

So I made it all go away. I covered it up, staged the bodies, and if anyone investigated her - the deaths were sanctioned by the highest levels of office, thanks to me and Corbin.

I didn’t do it because I liked her. I did it because she did a good thing.

“Consider this a thank you,” she finally said, clearing her throat, clearly as uncomfortable with emotions as I was.

We hung up after a feeble, mumbled goodbye.

The die was cast, the pieces were in place. I had no reason to stay here any longer. So why did my feet feel like they were knee-deep in mud.

I brought the phone to my ear again, calling another number. She was my conscience. The other light of my life. Once upon a time, three women were the stars I guided my ship on. Now, one of those celestial bodies would disappear from view.

“Tell me I’m doing the right thing,” I said, as soon as the phone clicked on.

I didn’t even give her a chance to speak before I laid my problems at her feet.

“You’re doing the right thing.” Her voice was laced with sarcasm, as she parroted the words back to me without conviction. “And what are we talking about?”

“About my wi– about Eve.”

Long silence.

Nothing but static.

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