Page 41 of When He Hunts

Chapter Nine

Safety.

She’d craved it for as long as she could remember, and now, when she was on the run for her actual life…when she was supposed to start answering to a fake name and staying with a fake husband…somehownow…

She actually did feel safe.

Even though a killer was on her trail.

Even though a hitman was her companion.

She felt safe.

Becausethe hitman was her companion.

Because he’d kill to keep her safe, and she knew it. Because while Ronan might try to act like the bad guy, he did nothing but protect her.

They were at the promised safe house. His GPS had taken them off the interstate. Away from the crowds. Down a small, twisting road to a house that sat near a spring. It had been too dark for her to see the water clearly, but the moonlight had hinted at the beauty that waited for them.

Without a word, Ronan had unloaded their bags. Taken her inside. He’d put her stuff in one bedroom. He’d told her to sleep.

And…he’d left her. Gone to the room right beside hers.

After all the hot talk in the car, the kiss, the sensual promise—she’d expected more.

Safety. That was what she’d gotten.

Was it so wrong that she wanted both safety and sin?

Live. Live before you die.

She stared at the closed bedroom door. The house was almost eerily silent. What had she expected, really? For him to rip her clothes off the moment they walked inside?

Um, yes.

For him to pick her up and fuck her against the door?

Would that have been too much to ask?

Instead, she’d had a coldly professional protector leading the way up the stairs. Telling her that she was safe. That he was right next door.

She did feel safe.

She also felt like she was about to jump out of her skin. She wanted Ronan. She wanted the wild release that he’d promised. She wanted to stop beinggoodall the time and see what it was like to be bad, just for a night. To not care about consequences or rules.

I could have died again today.If Ronan hadn’t been there when the shooter arrived…

Her shoulders squared. She’d put on a pair of black pajamas—soft cotton pants and a matching shirt. They’d been in the suitcase for her. A perfect fit which, yep, that had been a bit creepy. Every article of clothing was exactly in her size.

She figured Grayson had ordered Kane to bring the clothes for her and Ronan. Apparently, the FBI knew everything about her.

Not that there was a whole lot to know.

She’d barely traveled during her life. Never gone out of the country. She’d paid all her bills on time. She’d worked at the middle school since college. She’d just tried to start her new business and that had immediately crashed and burned.

I was always so careful because that’s what I was told to be. I had to be careful. I couldn’t take any risks.

That had been her world for a long time.

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