Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22629 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 113(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 75(@300wpm)
“Sniper.” The fond twinkle turns grim with this response. He pauses a moment and breaks his firm concentration away from me. “A whole lot of sitting around doing nothing until it wasn’t. Why are you so against learning how to defend yourself?”
“Because I don’t want to hurt people.” I hold off on my next question because I can tell he wants to speak.
“You’re not learning to throw a punch to immediately head out and break someone’s nose. You’re doing it so that if the need arises, you can protect yourself.” He gestures over the backyard before the hand moves to the house. “This bubble you’re living in, this comfort, it doesn’t exist out there. You’re lucky, you’re sheltered, you’re safe, but dear old Dad’s money won’t save you in the real world. It takes without care or consequence.”
“I never thought about it like that.” I swallow hard while hairs prick up along my neck. The intensity in his voice says a lot more than his words. It’s what my father’s been trying to drill into my head, failing completely. But hearing it from someone who has seen the worst life has to offer brings a different perspective.
Maybe it’s not a bad idea to throw myself into this properly.
“No one ever does until it’s too late.” Arthur touches a nerve all by himself. The softness in his eyes turns to stone while he speaks, and the tender smile vanishes behind a grim scowl. He even throws a hand behind his neck, scratching an invisible itch, trying to calm down.
My next question isn’t going to help his darkened mood, I bet. But I have to know the kind of man I’m dealing with. “Have you ever killed anyone?”
Instead of slipping into a deeper brood, Arthur chuckles. Just like that, he’s back to lighthearted charm. “Sure, I’ve killed folks before. But no one who didn’t deserve it. Do you understand the rules of engagement? Those being with a gun or in a fight?”
Maybe one-for-one isn’t the best way to approach this. I want to sit on that point, talk about it, and find out what makes him tick. Instead, it’s my turn to come up with another way to say no.
To avoid the word, I shake my head.
“Well, that’s a simple one. There are no rules. If someone’s gearing up for a fight, you better believe it’s life or death. Feel that pang of adrenaline coursing through your veins, make the first move, and make sure they don’t get up from it. Your life or theirs. Do you understand?” he asks.
I nod but feel the naughty smile creeping across my face. “That’s not fair,. You got two questions.”
“And what are you going to do about it?” He winks, and it makes my heart melt into a puddle between my legs.
Dear God, I’m in trouble.
4
ARTHUR
It feels like I’m dancing on a tightrope. Half of me wants to drop down and worship at Eva’s feet, while the other understands the obligation I’m under. This is a job. My second after getting out of the military. I have to set my interests aside, show this girl how to defend herself, and start building a reputation for myself.
But she isn’t making it any easier. I’m losing my focus on Eva’s doe-eyed beauty. Every question, every answer, makes her prickle her nose and drop her jaw in astonishment. Doesn’t help that one look at her tongue makes my cock throb fiercely, while I’m left imagining all the places it could run to send me over the fucking moon.
There it is again. I give my thoughts a moment to roam, and they rush straight to the filthiest places. If I can’t even make it through this chat, how the hell am I going to survive the next few weeks?
“Take this.” I drop the notepad back into my bag and lift my Glock off the tree stump.
“What?” Eva rests her hands on her hips and rolls her eyes like it’s a crazy order.
“It’s unloaded, and the safety’s on. Just take it and point it at the trees over there.” I gesture toward a dense pocket of saplings beyond the lake.
“What good’s that going to do? I already told you I’ve never used one before.” Eva protests with words, but her hands reach for the cold steel hanging from my fingers.
She takes it by the handle and stares it down with those big blue eyes, the same way someone might stare down a feral animal in the woods.
“You don’t have to be scared of it. It can’t hurt you unless you do something silly.” I try to ease her, but her heavy gulp says my efforts are in vain.
“Why do I need to learn how to shoot anyway? Gun control is insane in the United Kingdom. I doubt I’ll ever see one of these.” She lifts the gun in her palm as if weighing it.