Page 26 of Shifter For Hire (For Hire 2)

“I won’t hurt them, and I will help you to protect them.”

“Say what?” He couldn’t have shocked her more. “You’re going to do what I want?”

“Yes.”

“But why?” Her thoughts spun in confusion. What did it matter to him what she thought about his convictions?

Just as before, he seemed to struggle with his answer. Not out of fear, but out of trying to make her understand. She also had the feeling he didn’t want to share everything that was on his mind.

He stepped closer to her and hovered a hand above her cheek before pulling it away. “I’ve lived alone a long time.”

“You aren’t close to your brother? Or your parents?”

“I haven’t seen them for many years.”

He spoke without emotion, but she didn’t believe a person could feel nothing when it came to their family. She would be nothing without her sister, not to mention her parents and her brother.

“Declan is about marry my sister. Gerard, you need to talk to him. I’m sure he would love for you to be at the wedding and to meet your nephew. He’s the cutest, sweetest thing in the world.”

“No.”

“No?” She rested her hands on her hips. “What is your deal?”

He didn’t answer. She’d had enough of his flat answers and his matter-of-fact attitude. Standing in front of him where he couldn’t ignore her, she stretched up onto her toes and pulled on his chin so he had to look at her. Of course, if he

wanted to he could resist. The man was strong.

The pale eyes flicked over her face but not in dismissal. He always seemed to look into her soul as if he did everything he could to absorb her without losing himself. Why that should be, she couldn’t imagine. It wasn’t as if he liked her the way a man liked a woman.

“You listen to me, Gerard Hughes. I don’t know what your problem is, but I need you to explain it right now! There is nothing like family. You’ve got them, so appreciate them. Call them, see them, whatever it takes. And…”

She paused to catch her breath.

“And?” he pushed.

She rolled her eyes at him. “Why do you say you’ll help this person who hired you to kill humans? Then you say you won’t because I don’t want you to. Why won’t you see your family? Why don’t I just turn your behind in to the police and go about my business?”

“I can’t answer your last question,” he admitted.

“God, you’re annoying. Start talking.”

“Like this?”

She still held his chin and stood far too close. It brought back the fact that he was dressed only in boxer shorts. She released him and moved away. “Put some clothes on, for pete’s sake.”

While he dressed, he explained a few things to her. “Many years ago there was a civil war among my people. My parents were killed. I believed for a long time that my brother was as well. Recently, I heard he was alive and leading my people. I came to see for myself and found that it was true. That’s enough for me.”

“What do you mean? And I’m so sorry to hear about your parents. That’s awful.”

He nodded. “You don’t have to worry about the safety of your people. You don’t have to worry about anything. Because you see, I don’t want anything to do with your people or mine.”

“But why?”

It was the first time emotion thickened his voice. He spoke low with his head bowed and his gaze on the lapping of wave after wave on the beach. “Because I’ve failed them. Many lost their lives, and you can’t take that back. You can’t fix it. Not ever.”

“Gerard.” She choked on tears and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his chest.

“Don’t cry,” he rasped. “I don’t like that.”

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