Page 96 of Lies (Wicked Empire 1)

“Morbid curiosity, I guess. And besides, somebody wants me dead, and apparently, they are willing to spend a lot to make that happen. I’m curious about how much.”

“At least a hundred thousand dollars,” he said.

“A hundred thousand—” I began before breaking off and leaning back in the chair.

“What kind of reaction is that?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I mean, I’m being vain, but that’s so little. Like surely my life is worth more than that, you know?” I said.

He laughed then shook his head.

“What?” I said.

“I don’t know if anybody but you could make me laugh in this kind of situation.”

“Thanks. I guess…” I responded.

“But something I’m considering is that price,” he said.

I furrowed my brow. “This isn’t my area, obviously, so what do you mean?”

He breathed out deep. “You’re an easy target, not especially high profile, not a lot of work or risk involved in taking you out. That price doesn’t reflect the market,” he said.

“And what does?” I asked, not sure I wanted to know.

He didn’t speak immediately, and I could tell he was considering whether to answer. After a moment, he shrugged, seeming to have come to his decision.

“Low end, seventy-five hundred. Upper end, twelve to fifteen thousand.”

“So, if this guy is as good as you say, someone paid ten times market price to kill me?” I asked.

He nodded, his dark eyes unreadable.

I had no idea how to react to that. So I leaned back in the chair and went quiet for a moment, staring off into the distance.

“Amethyst,” he said a moment later.

“Yeah,” I responded, though I didn’t look at him.

“Amethyst,” he repeated.

I breathed a sigh, knowing he wanted me to look at him and knowing he wouldn’t say anything until I did.

I met his eyes and inhaled deeply, taken aback by the ferociousness in his expression.

“Yes, Davit,” I whispered, the moment shifting, becoming more charged.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said.

I believed him.

“Come here,” he said, his voice low.

He was looking at me so intently, it was impossible to deny him.

And besides, I didn’t want to.

This is absolute insanity,I thought as I moved toward him.

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