Page 13

“Do I…”

Hunter shook his head. “It’s a choice. If you wanted me to quit, I would. But the assassins are my family and I don’t want to cut ties with them.”

Even as Hunter spoke about his family, Neri was shaking her head. “No, I would never judge you or your family for their decisions. But it explains how all of them reacted when I explained my past, or the parts I remember, anyway. I know you and the others aren’t indiscriminate murderers. This is what you do, not who you are.”

Hunter relaxed at her words.

“Ghost has had one point of contact since he started Dark Company and all orders come from that person. When the contact retires, they assign a successor. It’s worked for a hundred years. We still verify every target with a thorough background check and surveillance. So yes, all those we eliminated are threats to natural security or worse.”

“Do you shift to kill?”

“Most of the time, unless we’re outdoors and have a long way to trek in the mountains or somewhere remote, we don’t shift. We dress in tactical gear or try to blend in, making sure the target is alone and there will be no chance of collateral damage.”

Neri became lost in thought as his eyes traced the shape of her cheeks, down to her chin, her throat, and back up to her eyes. Hunter knew then he couldn’t care less about her vampire side, she was his.

“Why were you and the others there?”

He cleared his throat before he began, worried about her reaction.

“Liv worked at Standard. She got her Ph.D. in immunology, but she worked on cancer research. Her sister, Molly, died of leukemia at seventeen and Liv worked for years to find a cure. One night, she stumbled onto a sample of the bioweapon made from her perverted cancer research. They recorded a scientist injecting a shifter with the bioweapon and Liv found it along with the formula.”

He paused as he recalled the images and sounds he wanted to forget. “It caused rage, and he killed the unlucky scientists. After, his rage didn’t subside, he killed himself. She smuggled proof out of Standard, after destroying their bioweapon, but after today we know not all of it was.”

Hunter remembered what Neri had gone through. Her screams echoing in his mind, but she squeezed his hand. He shook himself out of the memory and glanced up. She gave him a small smile, giving him the strength to continue.

“Liv found Kai and passed on the information. Ghost ordered Kai to protect her and he balked. At the time he denied to himself and to Liv that she was his mate. She worked on an antidote until she succeeded. But before she administered it, Kane kidnapped her. He was a pawn blackmailed by Dr. Ames who held his mate and wife hostage. We learned when we rescued Liv that he’d kill Kane’s mate. Kai turned her when the doctors told him she was brain dead after Dr. Ames tortured her for hours.”

Hunter squeezed Neri’s hand, happy she hadn’t pulled away.

“We were at Standard because Liv believed they were holding more immortals as test subjects. That was when Reaper found Ara. And I walked past you instead of saving you.”

“Hunter, no. I believe everything happens for a reason. We’re here now. It meant those years were for something else, for both of us. We are immortal and we have forever.”

His heart leapt in his chest and he stumbled over his next words. “I like the sound of that. Are you… willing to get to know me and see where this leads?”

“I would like that.”

“There’s more I need to tell you, but I don’t want you to change your mind about us. You might be in danger because of our profession.”

Neri lifted a brow but waited.

“When Xander found Frost early last year, there was a shifter, Anzû, who wanted Frost as his mate. Not only that, he wanted to take over Dark Company and kill all of us to get it. Frost killed him when he threatened her son. It’s become clear they have a new leader and several factions of shifters willing to kill us for power. The shifters we killed in the clearing yesterday were part of that group.”

Taking him by surprise, Neri shrugged. “With any life there is a danger. While I’ve avoided everyone for the past four years by choice, I’ve also been lonely. I would rather be your mate and a friend to the others than to be alone. It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

“Can I kiss you?”

He smiled as her eyes widened and her gaze dropped to his lips.

“I’ve… I don’t…”

His hand cupped her cheek, and she trailed off. “We don’t have to if—”

He stopped talking and his breathing stuttered when she darted forward and pressed their lips together. Her tentative movements had him groaning into her mouth when he opened for her tongue. He grew lightheaded as his cock swelled to throbbing within seconds.

Hunter tilted his head and licked her bottom lip, loving the gasp of pleasure that parted her lips, giving him access to her mouth. Instead of delving inside, he suckled her bottom lip, licking the sensitive skin just behind the soft curve of her lip. She shivered and moaned, giving Hunter permission and he deepened the kiss.

Her arousal teased his nose and along with the beat of her pulse against his skin as she held onto him had him swaying with desire. His hands grasped her hips to hold her in place, not wanting to scare her if she pressed against him and found his erection.