Page 28

I laugh. “Just serial killers?”

He finally cracks a smile, and I swear I feel like I earned a whole damn victory. “Only if they are as smart as you.”

For some reason, those words have me blushing harder than if he were to compliment my looks. Glancing down at my menu, I bite back a grin.

“But seriously, if you never talked with him before, how did you know Charlie would approach you at the club?”

“Honestly, I got really damn lucky the fucking bastard sat next to me. I’m not his usual type, but I like to think I’m handsome enough. Sitting down in the chair next to his usual haunt intrigued him enough to test the waters. One flirty remark was all it took. His relaxed attitude morphed into a slimy one. Just like that, I became Charlie’s next target.”

“And just like that, he became yours,” I laugh. “Good fucking riddance, asshole.”

He hums in agreement. “How did you know all that info about him? Was he one of the men on your list? Do you even have a list?”

“God. We’re really talking about this, aren’t we?” I shake my head as if to clear it. “Yes, I have a list. It’s…personal. Not quite as heroic as you, Cleaner. And while you were busy flirting with good ol’ Charlie boy, I got bored on the dance floor and texted a friend.” Apparently, Hunter already had a whole damn file on the bastard. He was shocked that I wanted to go after someone who didn’t hurt my sister, but was happy to share.

Hunter used his encrypted phone to send me the electronic file he had on the guy. The fact that Hunter wanted Charlie dead was a good enough reason for me. Hunter only murders evil people, like I do. Since he’s a fancy lawyer with his own law firm, he doesn’t always have time to go after everyone he finds. It only took me a few minutes of flipping through the evidence to make a decision. After that, I was back on the dance floor, eagerly waiting.

“You did what?” His face contorts in shock and rage. “Skylar, this so-called friend could be a potential liability.”

I lean forward and squeeze his hand. “Calm down, big guy. Remember, it’s not my first time. My friend is someone I trust with my life. He taught me everything I know. Plus, I only asked him for info on Charlie. I didn’t even mention you.”

Something flickers across his face too quickly for me to analyze. Is he upset that I didn’t want to mention him? Silly brute.

“What are you smirking about over there?” He playfully kicks me under the table, causing me to smile. There’s still something on his face I can’t quite decipher. It’s almost as if another invisible wall went up between us, but that’s okay. It might take time for my big, sexy killer to warm up to me.

“Just you.” I push back against his foot, flirting like a fucking sixteen-year-old.

He gives me a heated look. Before we can get too carried away, I ask him what I’ve been dying to ask since I confirmed he was the hitman I’ve grown to respect. “About my proposition, how do you feel about teaming up?” I ask.

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s go after Franko together. You have to admit, what we did tonight was fucking electric. Imagine if we planned a kill together and took one more abusive piece-of-shit rapist off the streets.”

“Okaaay,” he stretches out the word carefully. “It’s true. I’ve never done anything like what we did tonight, and it was so fucking exhilarating. But Skylar, isn’t killing Franko personal for you? I’m pretty sure I robbed you of something important the night I botched the job.”

Ah. So he doesn’t know that Fiona was my sister. I think back to the slip of paper Jericho planned on leaving with Franko’s body. The fact that Jericho, of all people, would be around to avenge her if I weren’t here. It gives me hope. I mull over his words before replying. “It is personal. Very personal. If I had to give back all the lives I’ve taken over the years and choose only one, it would be him.” I let that statement sink in. “Yeah, you might have stolen something from me that night at the restaurant, but something tells me we were always meant to do this together.”

Before he can reply, a server interrupts us to take our order. The rest of our night passes in a blur of casual chatter, though my proposition remains suspended between us like an unspoken anchor to reality. Yet, sitting here enjoying his company, a dangerous thought keeps looping in my mind. What if we were just two normal guys on an actual date?

With all the darkness clawing inside of me, am I actually allowed to hold on to this tiny, brilliant fracture of happiness the universe is teasing me with? I spend the rest of our time at the pub doing everything I can to make him smile. All the while, Jericho keeps locking eyes with me, his gaze fierce and possessive.

Later, something shifts between us when he invites me to his place. I’m no longer his captive. When I step inside his house, a surreal wave of clarity washes over me. The shadows I carry don’t feel so heavy here. It’s quiet. An undeniable truth settles into my chest. I’m finally exactly where I’m meant to be.

Chapter fourteen

Skylar

It feels so right, and yet, crossing Jericho’s threshold as an invited guest feels more dangerous than breaking in ever did. The familiar thrill of the stalker evaporates, replaced by a suffocating, intoxicating weight. It’s as if the air shifts, heavy and thick, like the very foundation of the house recognizes the change in our dynamic once again.

The power I thought I held dissolves when he clicks the front door behind me. I’m not the stalker toying with his prey and leaving him blood-splattered flowers anymore. I’m completely at his mercy, exposed. I’m the damn hunter becoming the hunted, and fuck me, the sheer terror of being his prey is the most exhilarating thing I’ve ever felt.

My blood fucking sings with the thrill of it.

“Take off your shirt and turn around,” Jericho commands, voice vibrating low next to my ear. The order echoes around us like a tangible thing. My body trembles, not even hesitating to obey. My shirt falls to the floor, leaving my fingers as soon as it’s off. I face him, swallowing hard when I see what greets me.

Jericho’s eyes are blown wide, his hungry gaze traveling over my body before settling on my lips. His meaty fingers find my hip bones. He grasps them in a punishing grip that makes me whimper. It’s a small, needy sound I’ve never made before. My cheeks flame, and my dick goes rock hard.

He marches me backward in a move so fast I don’t see it coming. I’m practically tripping over my own damn feet before I’m slammed against the far wall in his living room. Jericho laughs suddenly, harsh in the silence. Even his laugh holds an air of authority. Embarrassed at how much my body is reacting to his, I close my eyes, face probably flushed with shame and arousal.