“So, not only are we dating a few days after we met, I’m also living with you,andyou’re driving me everywhere? You do realize this means I’ve just set women back a few hundred years? What’s next? You’re going to tell everyone about our upcoming arranged marriage?” A huffed sigh follows her amusing mini rant, and she crosses her arms with a grunt.
“If it means keeping you safe, then sure.”
“Why can’t we just tell everyone the truth?”
“It’s better they don’t know about the contract on you. It’ll make people nervous.”
“Should they be nervous?”
“No. But my team wasn’t only hired to keep you safe. They were hired to figure out who’s got the contract on you and take out the man.”
“By ‘take out,’ you mean kill him?”
If Liam’s team was truly working for her cousin, then yes, more than likely, that’s what would be expected of us—which we wouldn’t do. But since we’re working with the FBI…
“No, I mean, make sure he’s locked away until his dying day. My team keeps to this side of the law.”
“Unlike my family,” she says under her breath. It’s not a question, but I treat it as though it is.
From what I can tell so far, Chloe is nothing like her family—that’s why she’s no longer part of it, I guess.
“That’s right,” I tell her.
“Does that mean you’ve never killed anyone?”
“I used to be with the Navy SEALs. So, yeah, I’ve killed quite a few murdering bastards during my years of service.”
“Doesn’t that make you a hypocrite?” Her tone is like syrup, all hints of judgment hidden beneath the sweet layer.
“I’d like to think I’m more of a defender of the innocent and the defender of our right to freedom.”
“Like a superhero?”
I laugh. “Minus the cape and superpowers.”
She’s quiet for a moment before asking, “If you could have any superpower, what would it be?”
“The ability to fly like Superman would be handy. The ability to ward off flying bullets would also be useful.” Especially in my line of work. Bulletproof vests can only take you so far. “What about you?”
“I’m not sure if it’s considered a superpower, but Wonder Woman’s lasso would be great. I could use it to make sure people are telling me the truth. It would save me a lot of heartache.”
I inwardly cringe since I’m not exactly innocent when it comes to telling lies. But I’m doing it for her benefit, not mine, as well as everyone else who is at risk because of her family’s criminal lifestyle.
I remove the two suitcases from the trunk and bring them inside. I then return for the three boxes she also packed, containing her computer and some art supplies, and everything else she’ll need for the next month or so.
“So, where am I sleeping?” she asks once I’ve piled everything on the foyer floor.
Good question. I hadn’t exactly thought that one through—and neither had any of the team. “You can sleep in my room. I’ll take the couch.”
“Isn’t this a two-bedroom town house?” she asks, eyeing the couch.
“The other room is my home office. It doesn’t have a bed.”
She looks me over and studies the couch. “Have you ever tried sleeping on that?” She points at it.
“Not really.” Okay, I did attempt to sleep on it once. It’s not exactly designed for someone my height.
“It’s doesn’t by any chance have a foldaway bed, does it?”
