Page 59 of Vas

Vas wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s take a break.” He steered them toward the exit.

A sharp contrast from the black light of the arena, the brightness of the hall made Anna squint as they stepped out the door.

“You’re limping.”

His words sounded like an accusation. As if she’d lied to him when she’d said she was all right. Which, in actuality, she guessed technically, she had.

“I’m okay, really. I just landed on my hip when I fell and it’s a little sore.”

“Let’s find a spot so you can sit down.”

He led her to the snack bar and they found a booth. She slid in, pulling off her helmet and shaking out her hair. Vas had already taken his off at some point and now set it down on the table.

“I’m gonna get a soda. Do you want anything?”

Anna looked up at the big menu board hanging over the snack bar. “Um… A Sprite.”

He nodded and started to turn away when she added, “Oh. And some nachos.”

“Anything else?”

“Um…” She glanced at the board again. “The bacon cheeseburger.”

He smirked.

“What? With all that running around, I worked up an appetite.”

Placing a hand on the table, he leaned over the booth and kissed her forehead. There was a soft look on his face when he stood back upright. She wanted to ask him what that look meant, but he said, “Be right back,” and was gone before she got the chance.

Chapter 20

It had taken less than twelve hours for a huge bruise to form on Anna’s hip.

Vas took one look at it and informed her, in no uncertain terms, she was taking the day off work. She hated leaving Tiffany in the lurch, but agreed, not sure she’d even be capable of standing all day.

She wasn’t gonna lie, getting a command to stay in bed by a big, sexy man wasn’t a hardship. Nor was being served breakfast in bed, after which Vas climbed in with her and they spent the rest of the day watching the John Wick trilogy.

“What is it about these movies that you like so much?” Vas asked when Anna stopped the second movie after the ending credits started to roll.

“You mean other than Keanu Reeves?” She shot him a saucy smile.

Vas didn’t find that amusing as evidenced by the low growl in the back of his throat.

Turning serious, she shrugged, “I don’t know. I guess I like what John Wick stands for. He may be a bad-ass hitman but he still has a heart.”

“You don’t think it’s wrong to kill people for money?”

“In the right context, no. There are a lot of bad people out there in this world. People who have escaped justice, for one reason or another, and deserve punishment. Now, while most don’t deserve death, there are some whose crimes are so heinous there’s really no other option. Just think of all the innocent lives that could be saved if even one murderer, human trafficker, or arms dealer were wiped from the planet.” She shook her head. “No, I don’t think it’s wrong. I’m glad there are people out there willing to do something that most of us wouldn’t have the stomach for to make this world a tiny bit safer for good, kind, and honest people to live on.”

Once she’d come down from her soapbox, she realized Vas just stared at her with an intense gaze, and she wondered if her tirade had come off too bloodthirsty. Maybe their relationship was still too new to express moral points of views.

After what felt like a long minute, he finally said, “I’m glad you feel that way.”

“You are?”

He gave her a brief nod. “I feel the same.”

She exhaled a breath, smiling in relief, happy they were on the same page with that issue.

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