Page 105 of Assassin's Obsession

"It's here to make the entire house accessible to your mom." I push the button to take us to the second floor.

Mira looks at me, startled. "You installed it for me?"

"Yes."

As the doors begin to close, Mars bounds inside and sits on his haunches next to Cookie. Boomer says my dog doesn't like the elevator and whines when he has to ride it. He's not whining now.

"I hope this elevator doesn't break down like the one in our building." Cookie gives Mars scritches behind his ears.

"I have it checked and serviced weekly."

Candi cocks her head to one side. "Um, isn't that a little excessive?"

"I clean my guns daily. Sometimes, twice a day."

Mira bursts out laughing, her expression untainted with wariness for the first time since she arrived. "Good to know my elevator warrants the same attention as your guns."

"If you want me to have it checked and serviced daily, I can," I offer, not sure what's so funny about cleaning my guns.

An improperly cleaned gun is the difference between life and death in my line of work.

"That won't be necessary. Once a week is plenty." She and Candi share a wry look.

I don’t know what that's about either. Elevator maintenance isn't any more amusing than gun maintenance. Both are necessary tools that are dangerous when they don't work properly.

This not getting the joke is nothing new for me, but for the first time, I share special secret knowledge with someone too.La mia piccolo gatta. Like the gray and teal thing and how Candi's face shows her ecstasy when she comes. And now she knows I share that knowledge with her deepening the connection between us.

Candi slides her hand into mine as the elevator doors open. "Thank you for installing an elevator and making sure it'll never break down with my mom stuck inside."

"You're welcome."

We come to Cookie's room first.

She stops just inside the door and Candi gasps.

"It's likemaami'sheadwrap," Cookie says reverently.

Candi stares up at me. "Where did you find the fabric to do that?"

"I gave a picture of it to the designer." I don't bother spelling out that I took it while going through their things one day when they were all out of the apartment so I could get to know them better.

"How long have you been working on this house?" Candi's hands curl around my forearms.

The sound of Mira and Cookie talking turns to a buzz in the background. "I bought it two weeks after I first saw you dance."

"This is more of that love at first sight stuff."

"You don't sound as dismissive of it today."

"How can I be?" She steps closer and speaks low for my ears only. "This isn't just obsession, it's consideration. You made space for me, my mom and my sister in your life."

"Of course." My life would be as empty as it was before I met her without the other half of my soul that allows me to feel.

"I felt a connection the first time I saw you too." She leans up and kisses the underside of my jaw before turning to her mom and sister.

Stunned by her casual affection and words, I stand back and watch. It's something I'm very good at.

"If we lived here, I could have friends over without bothering you and Candi," Cookie says to her mom.

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