Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 109878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 440(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“I know it is.”
“And if I say yes? If I agree to this insanity?” He leans back in his chair. “You’ll do everything exactly the way I tell you to do it. No improvising, no going rogue, no deciding you know better than I do.”
My heart jumps and I feel a Cheshire grin spreading across my face. “You’re actually considering this?”
“I’m considering the fact that you’re going to try to go after them with or without my help, and at least this way I can keep you alive while you do it.” Blue picks up his coffee cup. “But we do this my way, at my speed. I’m not going to waltz you into Crowshaven with a knife in your hand and tell you to get at it.”
“Crowshaven?”
“Where the Crow operate. About thirty miles south of here.” His expression hardens. “And before you even think about hunting down Brutus and his A-team, you need to understand exactly how dangerous they are. Getting to them won’t be easy, but it will happen. Just not the way you’re probably imagining.”
I can barely contain my excitement. “So you’ll do it? You’ll train me?”
“I’ll teach you how to survive long enough to get your revenge, yes. But first”—he holds up a hand before I can interrupt—“we start small. Very small. The first thing you need to learn is just how deadly Brutus and his people can be when they’re not distracted by other business.”
“How small are we talking?”
“I bring them to you. One by one.” His voice takes on an edge I haven’t heard before. “Going after them all at once is suicide. But individually? That’s manageable. I’ll handle the hunting, the tracking, the logistics of separating them from the pack. Then I’ll bring them here, like a gift, and teach you what to do next.”
“Good. Then I’ll learn to be better than they are.”
Blue studies me again, and I catch something that might be approval in his expression. “You’re serious about this.”
“Dead serious.” I grin at him. “And let me get this straight—you’re going to hunt down murderers and bring them to me like some dark suitor offering deadly gifts? How romantic.”
“Most women prefer flowers.”
“Most women haven’t had their fathers killed by a bunch of psychopaths.” I lean back in my chair, practically bouncing with excitement. “So basically, you’ll do all the hard work and I get to be the one who actually kills them?”
“That’s . . . one way to put it.”
“Best. Teacher. Ever.”
“Then we have terms and conditions to discuss.” He folds his hands on the table. “If you’re staying here as my student instead of my . . . guest . . . we need ground rules.”
“Naturally. Let me guess—no talking to strangers, no going out after dark, no breathing without permission?”
“I don’t like dining alone.” His tone is matter-of-fact. “Meals are more civilized with company.”
I wasn’t expecting that. “You want me to eat with you?”
“Breakfast and dinner, at minimum. Lunch if you’re around.” He spreads jam on his toast with careful attention. “It’s a large house. Gets quiet.”
I study his face, looking for the catch. “That’s it? You want a dining companion?”
“And the third floor is off-limits.”
There’s a third floor? I think about the mansion’s towering height, the way it seemed to stretch forever when I first saw it from the gardens. I’ve barely explored the first floor, and only my room on the second floor, and apparently there’s an entire level above where I’m staying that I didn’t even know existed. Just how big is this place?
“Why?”
“Because it’s mine. Private.” The finality in his statement brooks no argument. “Everything else in this house you’re welcome to explore.”
“And third?”
“You don’t leave the property without me or security. Not until you’re ready. Not until I’m sure you won’t get yourself killed the first time you encounter a real threat.”
“For how long?”
“Until I say you’re ready.” Blue pauses and studies me. “Could be weeks. Could be months. Depends how quickly you learn.”
I consider this. The dining thing doesn’t sound terrible, and one restricted floor hardly seems unreasonable. But the confinement . . .
“I need to be able to go into town. Alone sometimes. I can’t be your prisoner while you’re training me.”
“Not until you can handle yourself.”
“Then teach me to handle myself faster.”
Blue’s mouth twitches with what might be amusement. “Eager, aren’t we?”
“I’ve been waiting five years for this chance. I’m not interested in taking it slow.”
“Too bad. Patience is the first lesson.” His voice takes on an instructional tone. “The Crow are still breathing because they’re careful, methodical, and don’t make mistakes. If you want to beat them, you need to be all of those things and more.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Just because you’re bringing me murder presents doesn’t make you my daddy.” I smirk and tease, “Unless you want to be my daddy.” I give a playful wink.