Page 129 of Awakened by Sin

He shook his head. “I can’t imagine you and Lyla on the road by yourselves. It must have been dangerous.”

“It can be, but we had guns, and we didn’t stay at ghetto RV parks, only the best. When we needed a break, we’d rent a place for a week or two before going back on the road. It was a good break.”

“From what?”

“Life.” She sipped her drink and thought of how young and reckless she used to be. “I used to be a fighter.”

“You still look like one to me.”

“You don’t know me,” she said quietly.

“Of course, I do.”

She frowned. “You don’t. If you really knew me, you’d run.”

Marcus raised a brow. “Try me.”

She clamped her mouth shut. She wanted to stay at the house, wanted the sex, and she liked his view of her even if it wasn’t accurate.

“You are one of the most complex women I’ve met,” Marcus said thoughtfully. “You and Lyla are thick as thieves, yet you two couldn’t be more different from one another. You’re the mastermind behind a lot of Vinny’s projects and can network even better than me, and that’s saying something. You’re gorgeous, reckless, and the best I ever had. Is there something I’m missing?”

She liked his description of her more than she should. Damn, he was good with that mouth. “I’m a killer.”

“Yes. You killed to protect yourself and Nora, and then you killed the leader of the Black Vipers because he said something about Vinny.”

It wasn’t a question, so she didn’t answer.

“Blaine went over to the dark side a long time ago. If you hadn’t pulled the trigger, someone else would have.” He cocked his head to the side. “I doubt an evil person would have donated ten thousand dollars’ worth of items to an animal adoption or want to rescue an abused pit bull.”

“I’m a wreck,” she said, determined to make him see the real her.

“You’ve been through the wringer. You have reason to be.”

“You’re making excuses for me.”

“Someone has to. You’re human. You have feelings; you make mistakes.”

“You’re trying to make me feel better.” His dismissive attitude was working wonders on her, which relieved her of the perpetual heavy weight on her shoulders. That same sense of good she felt while being with Maddie and Marv now had a new and unexpected source.

“You’re hurting. It makes people do crazy things,” he said.

She looked down to hide her reaction. She grabbed a handful of pretzels and focused on the tiny bits of salt instead of his words, but his voice was penetrating when she didn’t want it to.

“Carmen?”

“Yeah?”

“Look at me.”

She braced herself before she met his gaze.

“I don’t know what you’re searching for, and I’m not going to help you find it, but I’ll keep you company until you do.”

She blinked hastily and nodded. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

She mentally scrambled for another topic, but he provided one when he said, “I can’t imagine living on the road. I’ve never been out of Nevada.”

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