Page 50 of Bad Guys Need Love Too

His smile was downright evil and so sexy it threw her totally off guard. “Conscienceis a strong word. More like I’m a killer with a highly developed since of justice.”

She swallowed hard. “What would you need to know about me to decide if I should live or die?”

Nico waved off her question. “Oh, I decided long ago you don’t deserve to die. You’re a florist who volunteers at the children’s hospital and the animal shelter, for fuck’s sake. No one deserves to have a hit on themlessthan you.”

Wow. This guy wasfullof surprises. “And the mafia is OK with you deciding who lives and dies after they’ve put a contract out on someone?”

He shook his head. “No, of course not. Everyone I’ve ever killed for the mafia definitely deserved it. But the mafia is not exactly like it is in the movies,bambina. People generally fall in line when threatened. I don’t have to kill for work that often.”

The implications of that statement made the bottom of her stomach fall out. “So…you kill for…funthen?”

“Everyone needs a hobby.” He rolled his eyes at her horrified expression. “I kid,” he said. “But I do take the occasional side contract, make my decision on if they deserve the hit, and go from there.”

“What happens if they don’t deserve it?”

“Most of the time, they never even learn of the contract. The person who took out the hit on an undeserving victim…well, they aren’t so lucky. But with you—” he had the audacity to boop the tip of her nose “—I couldn’t do my usual amount of research becauseyoufell off the face of the earth.”

That gave her pause. If Ren hadn’t been watching her, she might’ve never even known about the contract that had been taken out on her. And without the hit, Ren never would’ve let her see him. What would her life have been if she never knew Ren was out there? Would she ever truly have dumped Neal? Dear God, would she have married Neal if Ren hadn’t stormed into her life, making her realize how much she hadn’t really beenlivingwithout him?

“I guess I owe you a thank you then,” she said, her voice going a little raspy.

His eyes widened. “That’s…not a reaction I typically get.”

She shook her head, feeling a little dazed. “Short of being shot at, this whole thing has been the most fun I’ve ever had. I never realized how boring my life was until this happened—untilyou trying to kill mehappened, that is.”

“I didn’t try to kill you,” he repeated.

She waved him off. None of that mattered. Whatmatteredwas that she was falling in love with a man who’d stalked her, protected her, made her feel more treasured than she’d ever felt in her life, and empowered her to take care of herself, all while positivelydyinginside because he wanted more than anything to keep taking care of her. Althoughfallingwas a bit of an understatement.

“Holy shit,” she said, much louder than she’d intended. “I love him!”

Nico looked disgusted as he gestured to Neal. “This blubbering idiot? Why? He is not nearly good enough for you.”

“Not him. Re…actually, no, I’m not going to tell you his name. But, yes, I love someone. And…I have no idea why I’m telling you any of this. I guess the point is that you brought us together. So…thanks.”

She’d never seen a man look as confused as Nico did in that moment. Until Ren popped up directly behind him, that is.

The scrimmage that followed was so brutal Lark could barely watch. The punches they threw at each other were so fast it looked like they’d been choreographed by Hollywood. Elbows flying, knuckles colliding with flesh, joints being manipulated and popped in ways that made Lark a little queasy…shit, she felt like she’d just stumbled intoThe Bourne Identity.

Ren had a size advantage (he was at least an inch taller than his opponent and probably forty pounds heavier) but Nico had speed and sheer brutality on his side. She winced when he caught Ren in the cheek with an elbow, then winced even harder when Ren responded with a headbutt that knocked Nico back several inches.

He kept punching, though. The body shot he hit Ren with was definitely hard enough to crack a few of his ribs. Which must’ve pissed Ren off, because with a feral growl that reminded Lark of a vicious Rottweiler she’d once fostered, he dodged a right hook Nico threw at his head and delivered a bone-crunching kick to the assassin’s thigh.

The thigh with the still-fresh bullet wound.

With a grunt of pain and a string of Italian that didnotsound he was saying anything nice, Nico slumped back into his metal chair, glaring up at Ren. “That was fucking rude,” he hissed, pressing his palm to the wound that was now bleeding through his expensive-looking pants.

Ren straightened and twisted at the waist, grimacing. “Yeah, well, so was the kidney shot. I’ll probably be pissing blood for a week, you dick.” He pointed a stern index finger at him. “Stay down. If I have to fight you again, I’m breaking that fucking leg out of spite.”

Dammit George tugged against his leash to nose Ren’s palm. “I’m OK, buddy,” he told the dog, but turned his gaze immediately to Lark. “Did you mean what you said?”

His gruff voice did things to her heartandher libido. She swallowed hard. “I?—”

He cut her off with a quick, hard kiss.

Neal made a disgruntled sound behind his gag. They ignored him.

Lark pulled back to catch her breath and rested her forehead against Ren’s as Tenley waltzed in through the back door, heels clicking against the concrete floors.

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