Page 37 of Exile and Embrace

I’m in this for the long haul.

This job is going to take a long time, and I knew that when planning the move to Oregon.

Taking down Cillian O’Reilly is my only priority.

That and keeping Ava safe. No matter what I get involved with here, I have to keep Ava safe.

Cillian nods and wanders over to the desk, hitting a button to the right of the computer.

A low buzz sounds through the room as the door unlocks.

Another man walks in, keeping to the corner.

“I have a few people I need taken care of.” Cillian opens a drawer in the desk and pulls out a folder. “This is for the first man. Dawson here is going to show you the ropes.”

The man in the corner of the room nods. He stands a little shorter than me, but he looks like someone I might have a hard time killing which doesn’t happen often.

I’m going to have to keep my eyes on him.

I step forward and take the envelope. “You’re serious about this? You’re really giving me a job?”

“I am.” Cillian sits down behind the desk and stretches his legs out in front of him. “You do the work, and I’ll pay you. You’ll have the protection offered to all my employees.”

“Thank you.” I force a smile that stretches from one side of my face to the other. “I’m not going to disappoint you.”

Cillian waves a hand to the door. “You better not, Finn. Your job starts tonight. Do not fail me.”

10

AVA

Even though it’s almost two in the morning, I can’t sleep.

A tingle crawls down my spine as I throw the covers off the couch and head into the kitchen. Yet another glass of water isn’t going to fix my sleepless night, but at least it gives me something to do with my hands.

Finn left several hours ago, and he still hasn’t come back.

I can’t shake the feeling that something bad is happening to him. Though, I wouldn’t know.

Finn is making it clear that we’re nothing to each other beyond two people who happen to live in the same house.

Which is what I should want, right? All I need are his contacts, not him. Not his body on mine.

The front door chimes as I pour myself the glass of water.

The icy drink is a shock to the system, but it’s not nearly as shocking as the man covered in blood.

My scream echoes through the room as the glass drops to the ground. It shatters, broken glass and water going everywhere.

“Don’t move, Ava. You’ll cut up your feet.” Finn’s voice comes from within the blood-covered person, but in the dim light, it doesn’t look like him.

“What the… Finn?” My voice cracks as I take a step back.

Finn lets out a low growl as he flicks on the light in the front hall and locks the door behind him. “I told you to stay still, Ava. You’re going to cut yourself.”

Finn takes off his shoes and socks before stripping down to his black boxers in the entryway, leaving his bloody clothes in a pile.

“Is that… Are you hurt?” My heart races, my brain stuck in fight or flight mode, unable to process anything.

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