Page 15 of Broken Pawn

Her response stunned us all. We had no idea Fred Westbrook had any close relatives. He'd always been a loner and one who kept to himself, but I assumed it was because of his tough-guy demeanor.

I looked from Vanessa to Fred, but there was no resemblance. I trusted the terrified girl's word. She had no reason to risk her life over a simple question.

"You are full ofsurprises," I told Fred. I smiled, knowing that killing himin front of Vanessa would give me some satisfaction.

"Please, I'll give you anything you want," Vanessa said. Anything?

She moved slowly towards me. The guns turned to face her right away, but I held my hand out, motioning for them to be lowered and for her to approach me.

Inoticed her thighs brushing against each other. Her wild eyes had softened to submission, but that didn't make them any less appealing to me.

As she stood in front of me, I lowered my pistol. She was petite, about a foot shorter than me. It impressed me that she dared to comethis close to me.

"Please, just let him go," she pleaded, her voice softening. "He's the only family I've ever had."

"He might be. But he hurtmy family," I explained.

I was suddenly reluctant to leave the house. Even under these circumstances, I wished to spend more time with her.

My face remained expressionless as I awaited her next move. But what she did next surprised me. She took my hand in hers.

Her small hand trembled as it reached for mine. She held it and lowered to her knees ahead of me.

"Please, we'll leave. I swear you'll never hear from us again," she begged.

Anything, she said earlier. She would go to great lengths and give me anything to save his life. My mind began to play everything I could ask of her, but I was quick to shake that fog away. Fred had to perish. It was all about how things should be handled and settling old grudges.

Her eyes welled up with tears. "Please, I'll do anything," she said, and I looked at Tristan, who only shook his head slightly so I was the only one who noticed. I knew this meant he thought I should stop.

She stumbled a little, her hand slipping off mine. My gaze remained fixed on her, waiting for her to getback up. She slowly rose to her feet. Her head was only bowed for a fraction of a second before she moved.

Her hand shot up for my neck in a swift motion, clutching a shard of glass. Beyond the crude instrument of my death, I saw her determined green eyes as she attacked me. I liked her tenacity, but I'd love it even more if I broke it.

I easily grasped her hand.

"You shouldn't have done that," I told her, looking at her deep in the eyes.

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