Page 35 of Obsession

“You can look away, Miss Price.”

“No.”

I pull the trigger.

Violet watches with a slight frown as his body hits the floor, blood splashing on the floor beside her. She kneels and takes his pulse.

“You’re right. He won’t.”

I call Joe.

“429 Might Street. Team alpha.”

“Five minutes out, sir.”

I hang up the phone and look at Violet. She doesn’t look upset, as I expected her to. She doesn’t even look disturbed. Her lips are a thin line, and something like triumph lights her beautiful, vivid eyes so they sparkle like amethyst.

That should warn me. Sane people don’t watch someone being executed and rejoice in their death. But I don’t feel anything but a sort of camaraderie.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.”

She gives one short shake of her head. “Don’t be. I’m sorry his death was so quick.” She stands in silent acceptance that I just killed a man. We both know it’s only a prelude to what I’ll do when I find who he was helping.

We don’t talk. We barely look at each other.

There was a time when I could still remember the names and faces of the people I’d killed.

That was a long time ago.

In exactly three minutes, our team has arrived to take care of the details.

I jerk my chin at her. “Let’s go.”

This time, she walks with me of her own accord and there’s no need to threaten her.

“You didn’t hesitate.”

“Hesitate?”

“To kill him.” Her voice is a bit strained, but she looks otherwise normal.

“No. Why would I?”

She shrugs. “You just… you didn’t second-guess.”

“No.”

“You shot him because he deserved it, and you have no regrets.”

I don’t even think about my answer before I speak. “Yes.”

“If I ask you an honest question…”

“You’ll get an honest answer.”

A beat passes before she tips her head to the side and asks, “Do these pants make me look fat?”

I stifle a snort. “How can you make jokes at a time like this?” I can’t help the corners of my lips from turning upward.

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