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"I know," He said softly, almost sad. "Believe me, I know." He stepped over the piles of clutter and gently touched my cheek.
I flinched at his delicate touch, expecting him to be rough but finding only relief when his skin touched mine. The tension in my shoulders eased for a moment before I remembered his words in the hotel room.
"What are you doing? What's with all this sudden nice-guy stuff?" I demanded, backing away. "What are you playing at?"
Sasuke's hand fell back to his side. "I'm not playing anything," he replied. "You don't need to believe me, but it's true. I'm just trying to help out a little." He gestured around. "I've been like this before. I know what it's like."
I stayed silent, letting him continue. This side of him was so raw, so genuine, that I actually did believe him.
"My whole world fell apart when I was a kid. My dad died in a work accident, and my mom went into a deep depression. I had to take care of myself since I was ten," he explained. "So, when I see things like this, it reminds me of how hard it was for me, too."
My heart felt like it was being crushed in my chest. "Oh," I whispered, not sure what to say. So, this deadly yakuza assassin really did have a soul. It was true sympathy that I saw in his face, not just a ruse to lure me into a false sense of security.
Sasuke gently grabbed my hand. "Listen, I know this whole situation has been fucked up beyond belief, but I swear to you, I will kill Harris."
I flinched. I didn't want anyone dead, not even Harris. "Harris is a creep, but I don't want anyone dead."
"That's not your decision. The hit has already been put into motion," Sasuke said. "You just benefit from it."
My body burned with desire every time we touched. The memories of how good he was in bed were forever etched in my mind, and my self-control weakened a little more every time.
I looked up at him. "That may be, but I don't want my family to get caught up in a murder. I'm not like you."
He dropped my hand as though he'd suddenly been burned. "I never claimed you were. I know, I'm not like you at all," he repeated, turning back to the piles of junk mail and crumpled papers strewn across the carpet. "I'm just trying to do what's right."
"Then leave me out of this. Go and leave us the hell alone!" I shouted, my patience snapping like an elastic band. "Stop acting so nice. You're not the hero here, Sasuke! You're a fucking murderer!"
"That's not entirely true," he countered calmly. "I'm just an instrument of justice."
"Justice?" I spat, tasting bitterness on my tongue. "Tell that to the countless lives you've taken!"
Sasuke sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You have no idea what I've been through," he muttered under his breath. "Yes, I've taken lives, but I want to help you." Sasuke lowered his voice, his golden-brown eyes locking onto mine. "If you give me a chance, I promise I won't hurt you or your family."
His words struck a chord within me. He might be a killer, but there was something sincere in his plea. Was it possible that he truly wanted to protect me? I hesitated, unsure whether to trust him. He'd shown kindness, but the weight of his past crimes weighed heavily upon me. "I don't know what to say," I admitted, looking down at my feet. "I appreciate your effort, but you should go. Leave us alone."
Sasuke shook his head stubbornly. "You're wrong," he insisted. "I can't leave you to fend for yourself. Not when I know what kind of danger you're in."
"No," I said firmly. "I don't need a babysitter." I folded my arms across my chest, glaring at Sasuke. "I am capable of taking care of myself without your assistance."
Sasuke shook his head, stepping closer and gripping my arm gently. "Look," he began, avoiding my gaze, "it's not about you needing a babysitter. It's about me making up for my mistakes."
"Mistakes?" I scoffed cynically. "You call killing innocent people 'mistakes'?"
"They weren't innocent," Sasuke retorted fiercely. "Every person I've ever killed deserved it. Some of them had it coming."
I flinched at his vehemence. "You're insane. How can you justify killing?"
"I don't justify it," he snapped, clenching his fists. "I accept it. Every death brings peace."
I shook my head disbelievingly. "Peace?"
"Yes, peace - for the victims." Sasuke's voice softened. "Let me bring peace to you, too."
Chapter fifteen
Sasuke
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