Page 157 of Overcast

“You were made into a weapon, and they expected you to find peace,” she mutters. “You’re not that anymore. Whether you want to admit it or not.” Her lips press into the stubble of my cheek. “I have a small piece of you.”

“Fuck.” I uproot my dick from inside her and come in my palm, stroking it to get every last second and drop of this moment.

Stormi twists around to face me, leaning against the wall behind her and examining me with contentment in her eyes.

“You have nails, and you like to bite,” I taunt through labored breaths. “What else do you like to do to me, Stormi, with no middle name.”

She smiles. “Nothing.”

“I beg to differ, sweetheart.” I kiss her forehead. “I’ll make us some breakfast when I jump out of the shower.” I start to head that way, but she halts me mid-step with her next words.

“Are you going to kill the other man?”

I peer over my shoulder to consider her through furrowed brows. She’s never going to let this go, and I’m not going to change.

We’re at a crossroads—been there, really—and one of us has to make the trip without looking back.

I nod and straighten my spine. “Yeah, eventually.”

“I’m never going to be okay with you killing other people, Marty.”

“Are they good people?” We stare at each other, ethics and pride clashing together in a perfect cocktail of the facts. I talk a big game, but I’m anxious about her answer even though it’s at the tip of her tongue.

We’re not good for each other.

I can’t keep her from the evils of my life, and she wants to start over. And this isn’t what she imagined in her head.

“I don’t kill innocent people. I obliterate threats to this country. Men and women who would trade secrets for money and blow up towns to wage war on others. Politics is a very shady game, sweetheart, I’m just the one who takes out the trash.” I step towards her, enclosing on her personal space again. “Because without me, we could have enemies overtake this country and sell you for a horse. There would be men who’d tame and claim you in ways that I’d never do to you. I’m the movement in the shadows, baby. You just don’t like seeing the aftermath.”

“Killing isn’t right,” she mutters.

“Then who’s going to stop the bad men, Stormi? You asking nicely with your sweet voice and face of a fucking angel? That won’t work. This is the world we live in. And right now, mine is revenge. Call it bullshit and injustice, but Reagan is all I have. So, yeah, our beliefs are different. But the cops move too slow for me, and these people against my sister just proved they won’t stop until she’s gone.”

“I...I don’t...want you hurt.” Her lashes flutter, trying to keep her emotions in check. But unlike her, I’m good with keeping mine from ever leaving the surface.

“I won’t,” I reply. “And you won’t be either. Because when this is done, Stormi won’t exist. I’m getting you a new life, identity, the whole thing. You keep your light, sweetheart. I’m not going to be the one to darken it.”

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