Page 21 of Bound in the Dark

“No, I’m sorry.” She laughed, the sound lacking any mirth. “I don’t know why I thought you would know. No one does. Nadya is my niece. Alena is my half-sister. She was the one shown off to guests. I was just the bastard’s dirty secret.” Bitterness was obvious in her tone.

“Do you still work for him?” He remembered Tomasso saying she was the Don's favorite cleaner. He doubted that she worked as a maid, so she must be a hired killer. It was odd because the Mafia and Bratva families rarely shared resources.

“No, not for a very long time. Most have forgotten that I was ever a part of the Bratva. I’ve worked as a freelance fixer for the last nine years.”

Her voice was so dry and cold it reminded him of when they had first met at the club. It was her walls trying to keep him out as if she feared how he might respond to the new information. Fixers came in so many varieties from the barely legal to assassins who preferred a different occupation name. He was starting to get an idea that this woman was so much more complex than he had ever imagined.

“Why did you approach me at the club?”

“I told you why back then. Nothing has changed.”

He remembered her words clearly."I picked you because you are a focused, calculating, selfish perfectionist."She claimed nothing had changed, but for him everything was different. He knew every inch of her body and could make her orgasm almost on command. Had been able to for over a month. Usually that was the point where he grew bored, but he had never even considered ending what they had.

He pushed off the desk and stalked over to her. She looked taller in her combat gear but the reality was she was small compared to him. Her chin was up as he stood in front of her but he could see her iron control slipping. He cupped her cheek and took in how beautiful she was.

“I was worried when you disappeared like that.”

She blinked and her eyes softened. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more. I never lied to you. You may have assumed some things that I didn’t correct, but I never lied.”

Highdive shook his head and chuckled. “Like what?”

She smiled. “You assumed the men I told you about were ex-boyfriends. They weren’t.”

There had been a few nights when they had shared stories about awful dates and her lack of satisfaction from her partners. “If they weren’t boyfriends, what were they?”

“Either marks I was getting information from or targets that I killed.” Her muscles tensed under his hand as if she was readying herself for a blow.

Was that all she had ever known before? Not that he had ever gotten serious with a woman but there had been a few who had been more than a casual fling. How lonely must her life have been.

“Is that what I am? You never tried to get any information out of me. Do you plan on trying to kill me?”

“No! The truth is, being with you was the first selfish thing I’d ever done.” She sighed. “I guess things have changed. If I was still the same woman as I was when we met I would have left you as soon as we started getting close. But talking with you, submitting to you, is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me the truth?”

She pulled away from his touch and started pacing the small room. She was like a caged tiger, sleek and beautiful. “I thought about it. Several times. I almost did, but I was worried about how you would react. I didn’t want to lose what we had.” She stopped pacing and put her hands on her hips. She made quite a tempting picture with all the weapons and black clothing. “Besides, how do you even start that conversation? Hey, thanks for the fun time, by the way have I mentioned that I kill and steal things for money? Oh and you should know I’ve been stalking you and your club for months because my sister wanted to keep an eye on her husband. Hope you're not too mad and still want to tie me up and give me mind blowing orgasms.”

Highdive laughed. He couldn’t help it. The whole situation was ridiculous. For years he had harassed his Brothers telling them not to get mixed up with women because they were too complicated. Fate had a wicked sense of humor.

Diana scowled at him. “I’m glad I’m amusing you. I guess laughter is better than attacking me and forcing me to kill you.”

Highdive strode over and she backed up until her back was against his bookshelf. Pressing his body against hers he leaned down and whispered into her ear, “I don’t think you would kill me.” He nipped her earlobe and enjoyed her shiver.

“I could.” Her breathy response held little of the bravado she had been showing.

He ran his hands down her neck then across her shoulders slowly removing her shoulder holsters. She didn’t fight him. Instead she stood still, her breath even. If it wasn’t for her dilated pupils you would never know they were doing anything but having a pleasant chat.

He placed her rig on the chair next to them.

“I didn’t say you couldn’t, I said you wouldn’t.” He unbuckled her belt and slowly pulled it from the pant loops. The knife and dart sheaths slid off and he caught each one before they fell to the ground.

Diana swallowed. “I would have if you had attacked me. Most people don’t take it well when they find out I’m an assassin.”

He placed the weapons on the growing pile and got down onto one knee. She was beautiful from this angle as well as every other one. Highdive removed the knife from her boot then ran his hands slowly up her legs. He found another gun and two more knives in his explorations and took those as well.

“Do you know what I was thinking when I saw you take down Tony?”

“No.”

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