Page 6 of Hitman's Prize

No. Not maybe. She’s eighteen years old, freshly an adult. She’s the last thing that should be on my mind. But if she’s been hidden away from the world for all that time without anyone at her side, does that mean she’s innocent in every way possible?

Digging my palm into my eye, I grunt. My thoughts are not even safe anymore. Need to keep talking. Silence is dangerous.

“Two years long?” I get it to a point. I’ve got no friends, no family. Nothing that can be used as leverage. I’m a loner who lurks in the shadows. Opportunities to stop and have a chat are rare to come. A cabin in the middle of nowhere is my dream home, for fucks sake. I am choosing the life she’s been put in.

“Yeah, something like that. My uncle talked to me a little at first. It was awkward, more than you’d think. I mean, I didn’t even know about his existence until her funeral. He was in the room when the will was addressed too. He wasn’t parent material.”

Sammy’s already talking about Hector in past tense now like she’s accepted his state. I don’t know if I want to feel relieved or not. When she goes silent, the weight in my gut doubles down.

The topic must be exhausting because she looks like she’s one blink away from dozing off.

“Get some sleep. We’ve got a long drive ahead of us.” The words come out like an order rather than a request. The roughness of my voice doesn’t startle her, not like it should.

“What’s going to happen to me, Javier?” She wraps her arms around her knees and my coat swallows her body.

“I don’t know.” The truth spills out too easily. I can’t take her to Texas with me. Kidnapping her from a house she can hardly call home is one thing, but I can’t force her to share the same dream as mine.

This woman looks like she hasn’t seen the sun. Like a canary trapped in a cage. I’d only be shifting her from one prison to another if I kept her at my side unwillingly.

Even if the voice in the back of my head is demanding that I never let her go, I can’t possibly succumb to my greed. Ineedto get her somewhere that isn’t within my grasp. For her safety and my sanity.

“I’ve got a few safe houses throughout the country. I planned on selling them off now that I don’t have a need for them anymore. I’ll let you pick one out and we’ll get you over to it one way or another. You can start a new life without anyone holding you back. You can do whatever you want at that point.”

“I thought hitmen were supposed to be cold-hearted. You don’t seem that way at all.” This poor woman trusts me enough to close her eyes. I don’t deserve even to be in her presence.

She doesn’t know how much blood I have on my hands. Or how much money I’ve got saved up after taking job after job despite being financially set. I’ve been a killer for all these years because I’mgoodat what I do. I enjoy taking out every single bad person who doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as the innocent. I don’t think twice, ever.

Well, not ever. If that were the case, Sammy wouldn’t be starting to doze off. She’d be shot dead in the dining room of that filthy house. The image of her covered in her own blood crossing my mind leaves a horrible taste in the back of my throat. Every time a bad thought of the woman crosses my mind, I suddenly have a weak stomach.

“Looks can be deceiving,” I mumble under my breath before letting out a sigh. It hardly helps ease the tension in my shoulders. “Keep your guard up angel, don’t go trusting someone just because they offer something.”

I look her way only once to see a hint of a smile on her lips like she’s humored by my advice. I can’t look at her again after that, not without risking that smile of hers being burned into my mind.

I’ve seen the woman in tears, fearful for her life. This is something entirely different. Something foreign. I can’t make her smile, it feels illegal.

Once my actions really settle, she’ll realize what I’ve done. She won’t ever smile at me again once she understands how undeserving I am.

Sammy dozes off within the next ten minutes. I’m not surprised. It’s the dead of the night and she would’ve been sleeping if I hadn’t interrupted her night. While the radio plays softly, I listen to her light snores. Making sure not to hit a single dip in the road, I continue forward.

We’re on the highway within the hour. Road clear, I speed along and erase some distance between my future home. We’re nowhere close and I’m almost thankful. Eventually, I’m going to need to take a detour and take her somewhere safe. Somewhere no one can hurt her.

I’ve got a safe house in New Mexico, the one closest to my final destination. It’s technically on the way. Do I want to keep her that close? Maybe I should take her to the one in Utah. A little further outside of my reach, but still close enough that I can make it within a day if need be.

There won’t be a reason though, will there? Sammy will get on her feet and won’t need me in her life. I’ll give her some money to get a start, I’ve got more than enough. Hell, I can make it where she’ll never have to work for anything.

Scratching my stubble-covered cheek, I frown. I’m thinking too much about this.

It would be easier just to drop her off at some police station. She could tell them the truth and they’d help her out. Maybe she’d end up homeless and on the streets after.

Cracking my window, I light up a cigarette. I need something to ease the throbbing above my temple. The more I think about the woman’s future, the worse the pain gets. When did I suddenly become the caring type? Someone’s well-being shouldn’t be my top priority.

I look her way each time she stirs in her sleep, caving to the temptation too easily. Every single time, it feels like she snuggles closer and closer to my coat. Honestly, it’s her coat now. I can buy a new one. Yeah, I’m not sure I’d want to steal it back from her.

Finishing my cigarette, I flick the bud outside and resume my attention on the road.

I last another hour before the urge to sleep starts to crawl in. I can’t stay up forever, I’m only human after all. When the next rest stop comes my way, I pull in.

Sammy’s still snoozing away, hardly reacting as I shut off the engine. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for the cold air to start creeping in. Thankfully, I’ve got a blanket sitting in the backseat. It’s thick and meant to help keep the cold out.

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