Page 139 of The Mercenary's Guide to Mishaps and Romance

“Is it too late to go with Jackson’s team? Actually, how did we pick teams? Was it like in high school where everyone got to pick first, and I was last choice?”

“You were first choice. Everyone wanted you. You’re too cute to not want. But I am king among these men. I get first choice. It took a lot for me to leave my sweet fence climber to Cassel, but I did it for you. Now let’s go.”

He stops what he’s doing and retreats back to the man before plucking the candy out of his pocket.

“I thought you were leaving that for him.”

“I was, but I’m really craving a snack right now. Swimming always makes me hungry,” he says as he pops it into his mouth and hurries on his way. “Okay, we’re nearing the house. If Cassel is doing his job properly, the security system will be down. This house is massive, so we’re going to split it by floors. You and I have the topmost floor.”

“Are we scaling up the side of the building?”

“No, we’re taking the stairs.”

“Oh thank god,” I say.

“I mean… god might be a bit… excessive. I generally go by Leland, but I don’t ever want to prohibit anyone’s love for me,” he responds. “Now, there are two guards at the door. You’re going to stay right here and I’m going to come back for you. Got it?”

“Super got it.”

“Okay! Perfect! I’ll be fast. I’m sure you know all about that, being with Tavish.” He tosses me a wink and then slips off toward the door. It’s like watching my very own action movie as he just rushes off to fuck people up. And I find myself weirdly mesmerized by it. I sure as fuck don’t ever want to join in or be a part of it, but it’s fascinating how good he is at it!

That is, until I see someone creeping around the corner.

Leland didn’t mention a third guy. What if he doesn’t see him? What if he needs help?

No… NO, I should be good. I should just stay back…

What if I got Leland hurt? Or even killed?

I pull the taser out, immediately drop it and scoop it back up. I have to be within what? How many feet? I don’t remember! Twenty? Twenty sounds good! I’ll just… go, and I’ll… uh… tase him and Leland will be fine and yes. I will accomplish this.

I creep forward, holding the taser tightly in my hands. As I try to figure out how far twenty feet is, I finally get within an appropriate distance. The guy is fixated on Leland; he has no idea I’m here. I’m just going to tase him. Tasing isn’t bad… it’s not as bad as shooting a man’s finger off. Definitely not that bad.

I’m going to motherfucking save Leland. I’m going to keep this man from getting too close to him. Keep him from?—

I pull the trigger and watch as the two darts skim right on by the guy and bounce off the side of the house. It’s like the man’s head is on a fucking swivel. It snaps over to me so damn quickly that I’m left just gawking there.

And then I do my final act of defiance and fling the taser at him. It hits his broad chest, bouncing off to where he steps on it as he starts toward me.

He doesn’t say a damn thing, just comes after me as horror settles deep into my bones.

What have I done? What the absolute fuck have I done?

I start grabbing for the other tasers, but I didn’t have them ready, and now I’m fumbling, and I need to be running.

The man snatches me up with ease as Leland comes around the corner.

“That is mine,” Leland says.

“Yeah?” the man asks as he lifts a gun and presses it against my head.

“Sure as fuck is. Now do you want to give him back to me or do you want to start crying? Those are your two options.”

“I don’t cry,” he says.

Leland gives me a look. It’s an odd look. It’s a confusing look. His eyes are going wide and he’s doing some weird head tilt thing.

My captor is now tilting his head in confusion like he’s mimicking Leland because he’s equally confused. Is this some wild tactic like hypnotism or something? Then Leland’s eyes getreallywide and I’m just fucking bewildered. Like… is this some kind of secret assassin code? Is he expecting something out of me? There’s a motherfucking gun to my head! What the hell am I going to do? I’m just going to sit right here and question why the hell I didn’t listen to Leland and hide.

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