Page 62 of Twin Deception

“But Drago told you to kill me?”

I nodded, fighting a yawn. “First, he asked me to kidnap you, and I protested.”

She shifted to gaze up at me directly. “Why?”

“That’s not my style. That’s not what I do. Kidnapping is messy. It’s more complicated. I am and always have been a contracted killer. Nothing else.” Smiling at her, I laid my heart on the line as much as I could at the moment. “But then I saw you, and I didn’t want to do anything that would hurt you.”

She leaned in to press her lips to mine. Tenderly. Slowly.

Cupping her check, I stared into her eyes and marveled at how I could’ve found her, found a better purpose in my life. How we could’ve hit it off and gotten so close so quickly.

Before things could get heated again, she pulled back so she could stare into my eyes. Her brow furrowed again, and I knew she was still awake enough to remain serious, not sleepy and relaxed.

“But what about these other men trying to kill me?”

“Like the man in the hotel room?

She nodded. “And the sniper. And, if you’re correct, that man who said he’d rape me in the alley.”

“I don’t know.” I hugged her closer and sighed, savoring every note and hit of her jasmine scent. “But if I had to make a guess, the hit placed on you could’ve been shared with other contractors.”

“More people might be hunting me down?” She blinked her eyes open wide.

“I will protect you, sweetheart.”

She grinned. “I like that.”

“My protection?”

After another drugging kiss, she nodded. “That too. I meant that little name you’ve used a few times now.”

“Youaremy sweetheart.” I sealed it with a kiss.

“Last week, I was a target for you to kill,” she mused. “And before that, we were strangers.”

I shrugged. “Now, we’re…”

“We’re what?”

“Partners,” I said quickly. That seemed like the easiest label.

“I like that, too. Partners.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if others are trying to get paid for the hit placed on you, but they won’t succeed.”

“It won’t work. It doesn’t matter who tries to get me or kill me. Louis will not care. He’s made it clear that he only cares about himself.”

“Whoever placed the hit seems to think that he would care. That it would lure him out of hiding.”

She rolled her eyes. “What is he even hiding for? Who’d he piss off to have a hit placed onhim?”

“I don’t know. But we’ll look into it.”

“And this femme fatale thing… I can’t see him having anyone to work with him. He’s a pariah. He’s such a cruel loner that he would never accept a woman ashispartner.”

“What about your mother?”

“She was given to him. She never chose him in marriage. It was arranged, probably as a bribe. And for as long as I can think back and remember, he was never faithful to her.”

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