Page 66 of Targeted By Vengeance

My eyes misted at his words. I didn’t mean to cause my loved ones so much harm by staying away. I was just doing what I thought was best for them. I thought I was protecting them.

Gabriel sighed. “Are you at least going to tell them once this is all over?”

“I can’t,” I murmured. “They’ll have too many questions, most of which I won’t be able to answer. They deserve better than that.”

“So what’s the alternative? You’re gonna stay with him?”

“Yeah. I know this is gonna sound crazy considering how our relationship started, but he’s a good man; he just hides it underneath all the crimes he commits.” I looked down. “He’s pissed we left you alive the other night. Hell, he’s probably losing his mind since I left without telling him. He might actually kill me this time around.”

Gabriel didn’t laugh at my joke. “So, what happens next? Now, that I know.”

“You’ll take some time off. Distance yourself from Logan. Once we find out where he’s really hiding, it won’t be long before he’s dead.”

“Then what? I never see you again?”

“Unfortunately, yes. Rising from the dead isn’t an option - not after the things I’ve done.”

He pressed his lips together, contemplating his words before he said them. “What if I helped you?”

“What? No! I’m not pulling you into this!”

“I’m the only one who can get you intel on Logan. Since you’ve been ‘dead,’ he’s taken me in on some mentor bullshit. He trusts me.”

“But, I don’t want his death falling back on you.”

“It won’t so long as you do your job right. I mean, they haven’t traced any of the other deaths back to you. I doubt they’ll connect this one.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you feeling like you have to get your hands dirty for me.”

“From the sounds of it, the department has tons of those. What’s an extra set?”

Smiling, I threw my arms around him and hugged him tight. “Thank you,” I whispered into his shoulder.

His arms wound around me. “I lost you once,” he said, squeezing tight. “I’m not losing you again.”

THE ASSASSIN

Hot coffee damn near spilled all over me as I turned on my heel and almost slammed straight into Maria.

I’ve been pacing around the living room all night, watching the door, waiting for Simone to waltz through it. Not knowing her location or what she was doing was nerve-wracking. While I suspected she probably went to uphold her end of my ultimatum, I wished she’d said something before she left. She may have been a federal agent once, but she couldn’t take another one on by herself. My brain kept jumping to all the worst case scenarios. Simone getting hurt or locked up - or killed.

I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if our last words were ones from an argument. There were so many others she still needed to hear.

Maria raised her brows, stepping back to prevent the mug from spilling.

“Sorry,” I muttered, turning on my heel to walk the other way.

She grabbed my arm and spun me back around. She shoved the warm mug into my hands. Drink, she signed.

“I’m fine,” I said, offering the cup back to her.

Maria shot me a stern look. Drink or I’ll make you sit your ass down somewhere. It’s a miracle you haven’t passed out already.

Sighing, I brought the cup to my lips and took a long sip. “There. Happy now?”

She shook her head. Probably won’t be until she gets back. She glanced at the door. I’m worried about her too.

“Do you think she’s alright? I mean it’s been twelve hours since she left. Shouldn’t she be back by now?”