Series: The Circle of Monsters Series by Sam Crescent
Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41985 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 210(@200wpm)___ 168(@250wpm)___ 140(@300wpm)
Viko answered after one ring.
“Problem?”
Galen took a cleansing breath before speaking. “You have any updates?”
“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.
He ignored her complaining, his mind racing in too many directions. While Viko was attempting to get answers, he wanted some of his own. He’d call up a few of his informants and colleagues to see if he could make sense of any of this.
****
Skye felt an odd connection with Galen, but it was obviously one-sided since he was still waiting for the go-ahead to murder her. How could anyone be so heartless? It was hard for her to imagine why she felt so comfortable around him. Her instincts must be way, way off.
She was pretty sure four more days had passed, but nothing seemed to resonate with her anymore. Even worse, she was falling for her captor. Galen was quiet, attentive, and ridiculously sexy. He could protect her from anything—if only he wasn’t her enemy.
“How about a change of scenery?”
Skye whirled around as Galen approached her. He wasn’t in his usual sweats but dressed in all black tactical gear. He looked deadly. And mouthwatering.
“What do you mean?”
“Get dressed. We’re going out.”
The brief moment of delight was quickly squashed when reality set in. “Are you going to kill me? Are you taking me somewhere to end this?” The man was neat to a fault so he wouldn’t want her brains splattered all over his white kitchen.”
“Not yet. We’re just meeting up with someone.”
She still didn’t like the sound of this. He was way too cryptic. And she had zero reason to trust Galen.
Skye did as he’d asked and went to her en suite to get dressed, quickly twisting her long hair into a loose bun. She looked into the bathroom mirror, wishing she had some makeup or at least her own shampoo and conditioner. Right now, she smelled like Galen’s bodywash, and that was doing a number on her libido.