Page 42 of Sanctuary

“What ways?” I demanded.

Mia’s gaze dropped to her hands. “The agency doesn’t accept resignations, Connor. When you join, it’s for life. Those who try to leave end up like Craven—or worse.”

A knock at the door made us both jump. I motioned for her to stay put as I checked the peephole. Just the pizza delivery guy, looking bored and impatient. I paid him and brought the box back to the bed.

“Eat,” I said, opening the lid and pushing it toward her. “Even if you’re not hungry.”

She took a slice mechanically, nibbling at the edge without any interest. I watched her for a moment before continuing my interrogation.

“How many people have you killed?”

The question hung in the air between us. Mia set down her slice of pizza and met my gaze steadily.

“Seventeen,” she answered, her voice quiet but unwavering. “All of them were targets assigned by the agency. All of them people deemed as threats.”

“Were they really? Or just threats to Matheson?”

She shrugged and splayed her hands palms up. “I really have no clue.”

Despite him being old and sick, I had to know. “And Tomas MacGallan? My father? Was he one of your seventeen?” The words felt like broken glass in my throat.

She shook her head. “No. I never touched your father. His death was natural, as far as I know.”

Relief washed through me, stronger than I expected. At least that part of my life remained untainted.

“Then Declan was the only target in our family?” Mia’s eyes remained fixed on mine.

“Initially, it was Declan. Then when he found out who was to take over as captain... it became you.”

The pizza tasted like ash in my mouth, and I set it down, losing my appetite. “Yet here we are. You had plenty of opportunities to complete your mission. Why didn’t you?”

A small, sad smile crossed her lips. “Because you aren’t truly the captain yet, are you?”

“You’re right. The swearing-in ceremony hasn’t happened. But that’s just a formality at this point.”

She shook her head. “Not to him, it isn’t. The hit was specifically for the captain, doesn’t matter who it is. Until it’s official, I had... wiggle room.”

I let that sink in. “So, you were buying time?”

“No,” she admitted, finally meeting my eyes again. “I could have easily taken Declan out. He’s a killer like me and a bit of an asshole if I’m being honest. Normally I would have been all over a hit that paid so well. But because of Wren, I couldn’t do it.”

“How much was the hit?”

“Five hundred thousand.”

I widened my eyes. “Dollars?!”

She nodded. “Yeah. And when I refused, he upped it to a million, and I still refused it.”

That was a lot of money. “Why?” I pressed, needing to hear her say it.

She set her plate aside, drawing her knees up to her chest. “Because I got to know you at the wedding.” Her voice caught. “Matheson paints targets as monsters, makes it easier to pull the trigger. But you... you cook breakfast for everyone. You stick your foot in your mouth when you try to flirt. You’re the sweetest man I have ever known, and you risked your life for a woman you barely knew.”

“A woman that was sent to kill me,” I reminded her, though the bite had left my words.

“Yes.” She didn’t try to deny it. “But I couldn’t do it. Not just because of the technicality of the title, but because I...” She trailed off, looking away.

“Because you what?”

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