Page 10 of Captured

“Call it an intervention in your life, Rog. Now, go buy your lovely wife something before you go home tonight. Use the rest on Duft stock. Trust me. You’ll thank me for it.”

He was touched. I could tell that by the look in his eyes. “You’re alright, Mr. S. You know that?”

“Just a nasty rumor.” I grabbed the bag, immediately heading away from the counter since a new line had already started to form. I pulled out the cheeseburger as I stood on edge of the sidewalk, hoping I’d be serenaded by another song. Unfortunately, there was nothing but the sounds of horns blasting and tires squealing as brakes were applied with force.

After unwrapping my food, I took one bite then another, savoring the flavor more than usual. Now this was a fucking masterpiece, perfection on a bun. My only complaint was that he’d refused a long time ago to cook the burger the way I liked, blood red. He’d gone through five minutes of explain the basic of listeria, which had endeared me to the man.

After taking my third bite, my phone rang. There was nothing I hated more than being interrupted when feasting, fucking, or killing. I took another bite before yanking out my phone, glaring at the number. “Yes?”

“Is it done?” the voice on the other end asked.

“Of course it’s done. That’s what you hired me for.” The client from tonight. Why did they bother to check? My reputation was everything.

“Good. I can wipe the fuck off my payroll.” The man’s laugh almost made me angry and I wasn’t entirely certain why. Maybe simply because he’d dared call me when I’d told him to lose my fucking number. That meant I’d need to grab another phone, but only after the job I had coming up in a couple of days.

“You do that. Wire the other half of the money.”

“I’ll do that in the morning.”

“You’ll do it now or you’ll regret your… tardiness. That much I promise you.”

I sensed his fear since he knew all about my reputation, including the fact there wasn’t a promise I hadn’t kept.

“I’ll take care of it in five minutes, Talon. Thank you.”

“Sure thing. Nice doing business with you.” I ended the call, shoving the phone back into my jacket pocket. When I glanced at my other hand, ketchup oozing off the bun, I realized I’d suddenly lost my appetite. Damn it. I hated wasting good food.

I hurriedly tossed the mess into the trashcan, ready to head back to my estate when I heard the lilting sound of feminine laughter. Spinning around, I scanned the street. The door to the music school was still open, two young men and a girl walking out together. One guy had a violin case, the other a viola. I couldn’t care less about them, the pimply faced kids. But the girl skipping down the stairs, still laughing as she slipped into the light was something special.

I’d been with a lot of beautiful women in my life, those most would consider me lucky to have on my arm. But none so fabulous as the one with the blonde hair in a ponytail, the prodigy Roger had mentioned. Someone about her captivated me more so than usual, the sound of her joy drawing my attention as much as her stunning good looks. At least from what I could see coming from under the horrific yellow light.

Out of the shadows two men appeared. At first, I was ready to reach for my weapon, my instincts screaming the bastards were out to hurt her or worse. Then I realized they were protecting her, bodyguards. Wait a minute. Why would a musician so young need bodyguards? A sudden nagging swept into the back of my mind.

Maybe to some men she wouldn’t garner a second look. She was in jeans and simple shirt, tugging on the collar of her jacket as the storm continued to slide closer. But to me, she was a bright spot in my world of darkness, a sweet angel commanding my attention. I felt compelled to get closer to her, which was dangerous in and of itself.

But here I was crossing the street toward her, longing for a chance to bask in her beauty. As I drew closer into what felt like a web of a spider drawing me in, the oxygen was suddenly ripped from my lungs. Everything about her was exquisite, from the delight in her eyes as she spoke with her colleagues to the animation she used with her long fingers and the slight swaying of her voluptuous body. I was completely mesmerized, shocked that anyone could have this kind of effect on me.

All I wanted to do was stand and watch her for a little while.

No, that wasn’t entirely true. I wanted to snatch her off the street, taking her to my home where I’d keep her a prisoner. The thought was deliciously evil, but I was a sadistic man, my needs bordering on the depraved. But with her, I felt a strange sense of softness, a longing to get to know her before I dared defile her sweetness, robbing her of pure innocence.

Whew. I’d never had it this bad. I raked my hand through my hair, taking two more steps closer.

One of the young men started to walk away but not before she gripped his arms, giving him the kind of smile I wanted to experience. Another wave of desire rushed into my system but this time to crush the kid’s skull between my fingers. Sadly, I couldn’t do that.

When I was only twenty feet away, I was struck by the fact I’d seen her before. I was certain of it.

Fuck me.

It had finally dawned on me. While she looked entirely different in casual clothes, there was no mistaking her high cheekbones or that seductive smile. I reached into my other jacket pocket, retrieving the manila envelope I’d brought with me in case Michael had been late getting home. I liked to study my next mark carefully before I acted. When I pulled the single photograph of the girl I’d been sent, a little bit of light confirmed my fears.

The girl standing with her friends, the one who looked and played piano like a sweet angel sent from the heavens above was the woman I’d been hired to kill.

Taking a taste of her was suddenly all I could think about.

I knew what I wanted and what I would take.

Fuck the contract.

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