Page 51 of Bad Guys Need Love Too

“Don’t answer that question,” Ren whispered. “Not just yet. I want to hear what you have to say. More than you know. But not until all this is settled.”

She let out a disgruntled oof. Did he not realize how hard it was to hold an epiphany in? “Fine,” she eventually grumbled. “We can wait.”

Nico shook his head. “Suddenly I feel like I just stumbled into a fucking Hallmark channel movie.”

“That kiss was way too R-rated for Hallmark,” Tenley said. “More like Lifetime.”

He scowled at her. “How did the two of you even get in here? I rigged the back door with explosivesandit was locked.”

“Those explosives were a joke,” Ren said at the same time Tenley said, “That lock was a joke.”

“That doesn’t explain how this Sasquatch was able to sneak up on me,” he grumbled. “Or how he heard anything we were talking about to begin with.” He turned accusing eyes to Lark. “I swept you for listening devices.”

She smirked at him. “You didn’t sweep the dog for listening devices.”

Dammit George wagged his little stub tail at lightning speed.

Nico frowned, but said, “I’m surprised. I thought you were more trusting than that.”

“I’m trusting, but I’m not stupid.”

“Damn straight,” Ren said.

Nico looked like he was going to ask another question, but Tenley snapped her fingers in his face. “Focus, man. Your lax security is not the point. Let’s figure out what we’re going to do now, yes? Because I want to go home.”

Lark never thought she’d see an assassin pout, but Nico wasdefinitelypouting. “The least you can do is give me back my watch.”

Fishing it out of her hoodie’s pocket, Lark handed it back to him. “Sorry about that.”

Tenley frowned at her. “You’re a terrible criminal.”

“Which is why I wasn’t going to kill her,” Nico said, exasperated. “So that kick to my bullet wound was completely un-sportsman like.”

“No, you just had someone shoot at her, kidnapped her ex, and threatened to frame her for his murder, even if it was an empty threat,” Ren said, arms crossed over his chest. “But if I apologize for the kick, will you stop whining about it?”

He sniffed. “Maybe.”

“Sorry you’re a whiny asshole,” Ren deadpanned.

Lark giggled. Actuallygiggled. Had sheevergiggled before? She didn’t think so. But she liked it. And judging by the look in Ren’s eyes, so did he.

Nico sighed. “Fine. So, what do we do now?”

“Well, you said you’re not going to kill me,” Lark said. “Doesn’t that mean we’re done now? It’s over?”

The look on Tenley’s face mirrored the one on Nico’s and Ren’s. It was pity. She’d never seen that look directed at her more inher life than she’d seen it in the past week. But it was Nico who finally found the balls to tell her, “When a hit fails or an assassin quits, the person who took out the contract on you will just hire someone else.”

“Someone who doesn’t have a problem killing an innocent woman,” Lark said quietly.

“Exactly,bambina.”

Ren gave him a light smack upside the head. “Don’t call her baby.”

Tenley rolled her eyes. “Sure, because his casual use of endearments is the problem here.”

Lark rubbed her suddenly aching temples and turned to Ren. “Any luck with the listening device in Neal’s office?”

He shook his head. “The box made its way to the dumpster behind the building.”

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