Page 35 of Darkest Retribution

I yelp in surprise, which is actually really fucking embarrassing, whipping around to find a man standing in the open door of the garage.

His eyes widen, and he rushes forward. “Careful! You’re going to fall. Jesus, woman. That table doesn’t even look like it can handle a toddler sitting on it, let alone a grown adult. Get down from there.”

Inwardly, I roll my eyes and gaze down at the man. He has dark hair that’s a little messy and eyes that are kind of blue, kind of gray. For some reason, he’s in a suit, even though it’s eighty degrees out.

Maybe that’s why he’s frowning.

Idiot. I bet he’s one of those asshole businessman types.

“Listen, mister, I don’t know who you are or why the hell you’re in my garage, but I don’t take orders from anyone. Especially strangers.”

His frown turns into a full-blown scowl. “Pardon me for not wanting to have to rush my new neighbor to the emergency room after she falls and cracks her head open.”

“Oh, I’mfine.” I glare at him, my hands still on my hips, in what would be averyintimidating position if he knew all the ways I could kill him in under sixty seconds.

He doesn’t know, though. Which is probably why he offers a hand to me. “Let me help you down before the table gives out.”

“You’re being overly dramatic.” Batting his hand away, I step down myself. He’s worried about me falling fromthis?I’ve scaled entire buildings before, for fuck’s sake.

“And you’re being stupid!”

What a grouchy man.

Now that I’m on the ground, I’m several inches shorter than the guy. Annoying. It’s hard to intimidate a man when he’s not already aware of your reputation.

“Look, grumpy—”

“My name’s Dominic. Dominic Grayson.”

For a split second, I panic. A Grayson? Directly across from my new house?

No, there’s no way. It’s a popular enough surname. It’s just a coincidence.

“Yeah, whatever, grumpy. You can leave.”

“Are you going to keep stacking furniture in precarious ways and then climb on top of it?” His tone is so condescending, my mind downspirals into thoughts of strangling him.

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want, you nosy grump. Now please take your annoying self elsewhere. I’m quite busy.”

For a second, he looks so pissed that I wonder if he’s fantasizing about strangling me, too.

Dominic closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. When he looks at me again, he seems slightly less irritated. “I have a ladder. You know, if you need one. I’m the house across the street.” He gestures behind him. “If you have to reach any other high places, just let me know, and I can bring it over.”

I suppose I should find it nice—maybe even cute or endearing—that he’s offering his help. But I don’t want it. I don’t want things to get complicated. First it’s a favor, then it’s a long, end-of-driveway conversation, and then all of a sudden, you’re friends with your neighbor.

I can’t have friends. I have to stay focused on my plan. That means no distractions, and absolutely no attachments.

Dominic takes a step back, andthank god, he’s finally leaving—

Of course, he stops, nodding to the ceiling. “Not in your top one hundred?”

“What?”

“You said it wasn’t in your top one hundred accomplishments. Changing the lightbulb like that. If you thought that was nothing, I’m curious about the things you’ve done.”

A lot of shit that would keep you up at night.

“Oh.” I laugh, and it comes out sounding like the easiest thing in the world. Like I’mnotabout to lie to this man’s face. “I did gymnastics in high school.”

---