Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“I’m not leaving for the rest of the day. I’m not going to tie you up.”
Cleo still kept her hands in place. She didn’t know why she didn’t move, but it felt odd.
Priest kept staring at her. What was he thinking? Did it even matter?
“I got Chinese food,” he said.
She loved Chinese food but didn’t say anything. Staring at the table, she waited as he pulled out little cartons of food, opening up each one.
“Fork or chopsticks?” he asked.
“Chopsticks.”
He held out the chopsticks to her. “Take your pick.”
She got up, picked up the first carton, and saw some vegetable fried rice. So, she started to eat, chewing her way through the food.
The silence was awkward. This was one of the reasons she talked. Pointless talking helped her avoid real emotion. It was her mask. Almost all her quirks were survival techniques to avoid getting hurt.
She still didn’t feel tired though. She hadn’t lied to Priest last night. Sleeping was difficult for her and always had been. When she was asleep, she wasn’t in control, couldn’t protect herself from the Bogeyman.
Taking another mouthful of rice, she looked up to see Priest watching her intently.
“What?” she asked.
“You’re quiet.”
“Why aren’t you enjoying the peace?”
He pointed his chopsticks at her. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
At that moment, nothing was going on in her head. She was still reeling from his harsh reality check. She had to remind herself that she wasn’t the only one with a story.
She took another mouthful of rice, chewing thoughtfully. “I can’t leave, can I?”
“No. Those men are out looking for you, waiting for an opportunity to strike.”
She nibbled on her lip and stared at him. “Does this mean I can, like … get a whole new identity? You know, run away? Hide? I don’t know. Isn’t there like witness protection stuff?”
“It doesn’t work. Not with these guys. You’ve seen way too much.” He ran a hand down his face before reaching for another carton.
“It doesn’t matter what I saw because the guy I reported is already dead. They have no reason to want me.”
“The dirty cop they sent to shut you up ended up dead. You’re most definitely on their radar.”
“You did that, not me,” she said.
He shrugged. “Details.”
Chapter Five
Priest sat back in his SUV and turned off the headlights. According to Killer of Kings, it was business as usual. If he refused contracts, it would look suspicious. He didn’t want to answer questions about the girl in his house.
They’d been reluctant roommates for nearly three weeks.
He checked his watch, wondering what she was doing now.
She talked too much. And she was annoying as hell.
He should be grateful for the reprieve, but he still couldn’t get her off his mind. Now, instead of dealing with his problems, Boss wanted him shadowing his new recruit.
Gabriel was supposedly one of the best shots Boss had ever seen. He’d been killing for money for decades but was ready to settle down and work for someone else rather than going solo long term. Boss rarely used Priest for these kinds of missions. He liked to work alone.
But he kept his mouth shut and agreed.
The passenger side of his vehicle opened, and his protégé stepped in and sat down, closing the door sharply behind him. He looked ahead, not even glancing at Priest.
“You have eyes on the hit?” he asked.
Priest didn’t know what to make of this guy yet. It was the first time he’d met him.
“He’s inside. The valet’s getting his car,” Priest said.
“You want me to do this or am I supposed to watch and learn?”
Priest didn’t like the tone of his voice.
“What has Boss told you about me?” he asked.
This time, Gabriel shifted slightly in his seat and looked at him. “Not much. Something about a bloodbath to remember and not to expect a new best friend.”
That was the gist of it, even though it left out all the dark details. “Boss wants this one to look like an accident. The target is too high profile for anything messy.”
“Yeah, he mentioned that,” Gabriel said.
Why couldn’t one of the other Killer of Kings men have dealt with this shit? He had enough on his mind right now. He pulled out his Glock from his shoulder harness and checked the clip before putting it back.
“There’s the car. How about you handle this. I’ll be sure to put straight As on your report card.”
“Fuck this,” Gabriel said, slamming the door as he left the SUV.
Priest chuckled to himself, watching through the windshield.
His cell went off. It was Maurice.
“Yeah.”
“I thought you’d want to know about a new non-exclusive contract,” Maurice said.
“Okay. For who?”
“That girl you made me look up last time we talked. Cleo Bennet.”
He sat up straight, a protective instinct he’d never known rushing through him. He’d promised to keep her safe. “Who put it out? Bianchi?”