Page 35 of War Games

“There’s no ulterior motive.”

“Oh sure. I’ll just believe the word of the world’s most wanted contract killer.”

The waiter returns right at the wrong time, two plates in his hand, and I watch as his brain comprehends exactly what was just said. His eyes widen in horror, and the plates in his hand start to shake.

“Fuck me,” Reaper mutters under his breath, having to take the plates from the terrified waiter before fixing him with a haunting stare. “You heard nothing, and if I get wind that you’veopened your big mouth, you’ll have me to deal with. Is that understood?”

He nods so fast that I fear his head will pop right off his body, and not a moment later, he stumbles away, leaving me to deal with Reaper.

“You really must scan your surroundings before you open your mouth.”

“Why would I possibly need to do that when I’m sitting with none other than the infamous Reaper? Haven’t you heard? He’s taken a career change. He’s no longer in the business of ending lives. He’s taken up stalking instead.”

Reaper just stares. “Are you done?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I could go on. I had more about you being a sex-crazed psychopath, but I can stop. Talk of sex clearly makes you very uncomfortable,” I say, raising my foot under the table and pressing right between his legs, taunting him. “If you can’t handle it, I could always stop.”

Reaper sucks in a breath, not knowing me well enough to know if I’m just bluffing or if I’m about to crush his crown jewels. “You don’t know who you’re fucking with,” he says as his hand shifts beneath the table and casually rests on my ankle, more than ready to disable me if it comes down to it, but all I can do is grin.

“Tell me, Reaper,” I say, pressing my foot into him a little harder. “What’s your ulterior motive?”

He narrows his gaze. “You tell me what you think it is.”

I think for a moment before finally deciding it doesn’t matter if I were to be honest. “I think you want to work with me. I think I’ve surprised you, and while I might have made some questionable choices that you don’t necessarily agree with, I think you see the value in having me as an asset. I’m already ahead in the game by miles.”

“Did you forget who you’re talking to?” Reaper questions, making me realize he actually doesn’t give a shit if I try to castrate him with my foot or not; his reflexes are too fast. “I don’t mean to insult you, and while I do agree that you are certainly an asset, I’m a solo act, always have been. Plus, five nights ago, I watched you accidentally hang yourself at the scene by your hair. You are valuable, just not to me.”

“Well, shit,” I laugh, releasing the pressure under my foot, only he doesn’t release my ankle, just happily allows me to leave my foot wedged between his legs. “Way to kick a girl when she’s down.”

“That was certainly not my intention.”

“I can handle it. I’m a big girl,” I tell him, removing my foot anyway, not sure I’m comfortable enough to be that bold with him. “But for the record, I wouldn’t want to work with you either. You strike me as themy way or the highwaytype, and I’m sure from your senseless stalking, you’ve realized that I don’t mesh well with that bullshit.” He arches a brow, and for whatever reason, I feel I need to go on. “I don’t play well with others.”

“I don’t believe that to be true.”

“No?”

“You had compassion for Eagle. Had a fair fight and agreed to watch over her younger sister, and when 343 was bleeding out on the ground, you made awkward small talk despite almost being scalped. You’re a kind person despite your tough exterior.”

“Is this supposed to be some kind of gotcha moment?”

“No, just an observation.”

“And what other observations have you made?”

“That The Texan Reaper and The Boneyard Slayer are going to be issues.”

“The brothers?” I say. “I figured they were working together.”

“You knew they were brothers?”

I nod. “I have a photographic memory, plus I am diligent in my research. I tracked their prior kills and narrowed down the location. They were all within a thirty-mile radius, and once I found one of the brothers, finding the other was a piece of cake. They’ve been working as a team since they murdered their parents as teens. They’re brutes. It wasn’t hard to find information on them. There’s a bunch of it, starting from their younger years. They’re reckless and violent, and while they don’t come with brains, it doesn’t make them any less dangerous.”

Reaper watches me through a narrowed gaze. “You were able to find out all of that.”

“Like I said, I’m diligent in my research. I have a thick file on every contender in these games locked securely inside my brain. I know just about everything there is to know about everyone . . . Well, except you and Shadow. You two seem to be a mystery.”

“Perhaps you’re more of an asset than I gave you credit for.”

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