Page 15 of To Keep

“You didn’t even last a day.”

“This isn’t what I signed up for,” Galen said. “It was supposed to be a simple find and eliminate.”

Viko ignored him. “At first, I thought Seth and Petrov were fucking the same woman. Men have killed for less.”

“So, you’re good? It was some fit of jealousy?”

Viko chuckled, that dark fucking sound that sent chills up his spine. “It’s never that easy. You should know that by now.”

“What more could there be? Petrov isn’t exactly a saint.”

“Seth knew better than to rub elbows with our enemy. He shouldn’t have been there. And the woman wasn’t with him.”

“How do you know that?”

“I have eyes and ears everywhere.”

Viko was dragging this out unnecessarily. If he knew everything, where were the answers? He wanted to call him out but kept his mouth shut.

“And how does the nanny come into play?”

“She’s just a witness,” Viko said. “Petrov didn’t want the murders going public. Civilians aren’t the best at keeping quiet.”

“So, why is she still in my fucking kitchen?”

“For that exact reason. I don’t need her opening that pretty little mouth of hers. When this is over, you’ll have to shut her up permanently.”

Right, she’d been to one of his offices. Seen Viko’s face. He wouldn’t tolerate cutting her loose. She was a walking dead woman and there was nothing anyone could do to change that at this point—not even him.

“What are you waiting for?”

“This is bigger than Seth, that’s all you need to know for now. I may have more questions so keep her breathing,” Viko said. “And by the way, I’m not your bitch, don’t check in with me every night. When I’m ready, I’ll call.” Then he hung up the phone.

Galen wanted to throw his cell against the wall. When his breath calmed a degree, he was able to focus again and realized Skye was staring right at him.

“Why are trying to get me killed? Am I that annoying?”

She did have big ears.

“I like my routine. This entire shitshow doesn’t even have a timeline. I have a life to live which doesn’t include babysitting you.”

“Well, none of this is my fault. And I’d like to live as long as possible. Preferably to old age.”

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. Why hide it from her? He needed to stop allowing himself to get attached to a stranger, some curvy little redhead who asked too many questions.

“You’ve seen Viko. No one has ever lived to give the police a description.”

“So, what are you saying? Nothing I do will help my situation? I have no hope at all? They say hope is the only thing that keeps a person going.”

“You’re right. Hope is even more powerful than fear. Maybe you’ll escape out a window.” He winked.

She scowled. “I’m glad this is fun for you. It’s my life in the balance.”

Skye looked like an adorable firecracker, strands of red hair falling from her ponytail.

She was perfect.

He didn’t want to end her. If anything, he was thinking fucked-up notions of keeping her. But nobody could force someone to love them, and nobody had ever wanted anything to do with Galen.

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