Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 64571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 258(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“I need you to check out a location for me,” I tell him. “Yes, I’m fucking serious.” This time I snap back to get his full attention because that’s what this needs.
“Where?”
“Colorado.” I pause. That shouldn’t be too far, luckily.
“Are you tracking me?”
“No, should I be?” I am. I already triangulated the call.
“If you want to end up dead, sure.”
I ignore his threat. “I need you to make this a priority.”
“Are you going to give me the details or make me guess what this is about?” Glad I’m not the only asshole. Killian actually comes off as charming; it matches him and what you’d think you’d be getting from him when you see him in the flesh.
“I’m sending a file to you now that has everything you need in it, but that’s part of the problem. I don’t know who is on the other end of these messages, but I know it’s not an old lady that died months ago.”
“And why do you want to know who is at this location?”
“Does it matter?” Why is he so fucking curious all of a sudden?
“If you want me to kill them, it might.” Fair enough.
“I’m not certain. First, I need to know who it is. They have been in contact with a person close to me, and this person is trying to keep me from finding out.” I give him a little.
“Does this person close to you have information that can get out, and is this target trying to get it from her?” he asks.
“I never said this was about a female.”
“You didn’t have to.”
I take a breath. We do know some about each other. I know he grew up in the system and has no one in this world. I too have given him a bit of my life story.
“When did you start asking so many questions?” I sigh, letting him know I don’t want to touch on that, and he knows it. I suppose I can’t be too pissed that he’s needling me right back.
“Since you want me to drop what I’m doing and run off on your errand.”
“I know you just finished a job, and you know I pay well above what the government does.” Killian doesn’t need the money. This might be a sport to him.
“You’re really starting to piss me off.” I hear him pull onto the highway. I don’t want to play this game with him. Not when the most important thing in my world is at the center of this.
“Kotov,” I say his name coldly. He’s quiet for a breath before he responds.
“Send it over.”
“Already done.”
“I’ll be in touch.” The line goes dead.
I have no doubt Killian will get to the bottom of it. All he does is work. I don’t know him to have any friends or family. However, it is unlikely that someone in his line of work would be quick to share such personal information. My public persona makes it impossible to conceal my connections. Thankfully many projects I’ve worked on have hidden my involvement. That’s the way I want it.
Killian, however, was very much a lone wolf even when he was younger. I have no doubt that was a big reason he was recruited. That can also make a person very dangerous. They have nothing to lose.
I once bought into that theory. I’m not so sure anymore. I used to be more rational and levelheaded. Now I find myself breaking my own rules and crossing lines I never would have before Lily. The girl that used to sweetly match her name. Her smiles and her laughter came easily. And I hate that I might be the reason that stopped.
Chapter Four
LILY
This is Groundhog Day. Every day is the same, and I’m slowly going crazy. Except Tristan has been around a bit more. Months ago, that would have been a dream come true. Now, when I’m plotting my escape, it would be beneficial if he weren’t lingering around. Of course he would choose now to do the exact opposite of what I want him to.
He even went in late to work today, using the gym when I did. I’m not sure what’s going on. I hope that he’s not on to me. That’s the last thing I need. Thankfully he’s out of the house right now, which is perfect because I told Teddy I’d hop online to make sure we’ve got everything lined up for the big day.
The possibility of this plan truly working makes me excited and sad at the same time. I don’t let myself delve too deep into the whys of that. It would be messy and painful. I already lost my father, the only person in my life I had, and now I’ll be losing Tristan too, but honestly, you can’t lose what you never had. He’s all I’ve known since my father died, and I’ve depended on him, so there’s also a comfort I’ll be losing.