Page 30 of Tabitha

“I know everything that I need to know.” Bast’s voice is grim, his gaze focused on the road. “By the end of the month, if we don’t find McNeil, you’ve been ordered to sanitize the area.”

As we pull onto mansion row, I suddenly feel very exposed. It makes me want to finish the mission as soon as possible and squirrel myself away.

Bast pulls up to the house, cuts the engine, then glances over at me. “You have a job to do, just like us. All I ask is that you give us a chance to do ours before you take action. Can you do that?”

“I have my orders,” I grumble, then straighten my shoulders and meet his gaze directly. “I won’t hinder your investigation or act before the allotted time—not unless one of you is in danger.”

“Good.” Bast stares out the window, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel. “Just promise me that no harm will come to my men when you finally take action.”

It stings that he thinks I’m just a random murderer without a code of ethics.

It’s too close to the truth.

The thought that he spent the entire afternoon charming me leaves my stomach churning.

“Are you trying to appeal to my better nature? Because I don’t have one.” I give a nasty laugh, my chest feeling crushed at his callousness. I can’t believe I allowed him to seduce me into thinking he’s a decent man.

I thought he was different from the others.

I’m such a fool.

I give him a harsh look, every ounce of softness draining away. “You have until the end of the month to do your job before I do mine. No matter what you think of me, I don’t kill innocent people. If you’ve done nothing wrong, neither you nor your men have anything to fear from me.”

Without giving him a chance to reply, I open my door and escape, vowing to never open myself up to such hurt again.

Chapter Ten

PIERCE

The instant Tabby walks through the door, I know something’s wrong. Her beautiful silver eyes are flat, her expression blank—a shield she uses to keep the world at bay. She retreats into herself to hide from the hurt people inflict by their ignorance. Nothing but her machines or physical labor will snap her out of her funk until she works through her emotions.

Tabitha isn’t a delicate girl, almost blunt to the point of rudeness. If she’s this pissed, the big fucker messed up something fierce.

And she isn’t one to forgive and forget. She holds a grudge better than anyone I know, something I’ve learned from personal experience. It’s been eight months since we met, and she still thinks I’m out to hurt her, despite everything I’ve done to prove myself.

She purposely doesn’t look at the others as she enters the house, heading right for the supplies. With her arms full, she stomps up the stairs. “I’m going to start packing the second floor.”

Then she’s gone.

I glance at the door to see Bast standing in the entryway with an arm full of bags. The big man heaves a sigh, his eyes trailing after Tabitha, then he deposits the groceries on the kitchen island. He drags his locs away from his face and flips the long coils behind him, his shoulders slumping as he looks down at the counter with a lost expression. “I fucked up.”

“No shit.” I cross my arms and glare at the idiot. “Maybe it’s best that you leave and give her time to calm down.”

I don’t give a shit that I’m giving him false hope. I just want them gone so I can go find Tabby and figure out a way to comfort her.

Bast looks ready to object, then he sighs again and nods. “We’ll retrieve the rest of the groceries, then go.”

“What? No,” River protests, glancing toward the stairs like he wants to charge after Tabitha. He even takes a step in that direction when I block his path. While I might not be able to do much to help Tabby, I can do this for her.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” I warn with a shake of my head. Though I don’t much like the men hanging around Tabitha, I’m not foolish enough to warn them off. The more people around her means more people to protect her.

The instant she left to get groceries, River began pestering me with questions. What’s her favorite color, favorite food, favorite flowers—the questions were endless.

I went from furious to annoyed to finally amused.

He is completely infatuated.

Though I don’t like it, I can’t blame him.

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