Page 10 of A Past Too Broken (Bloodstained Love #1)
Six Months After Kidnapping
R eggie meows at me when he sees me heading for the gun safe in my closet. “I know, baby. I’m sorry. I was looking forward to Bridgerton , too. But Uncle Cash doesn’t do favors often, so I can’t put this off.”
In response to that, I get a fluffy red backside as Reggie wanders off to some other part of the apartment. I don’t blame him. Our routines are important to us both. It helps having some sense of normalcy paired with the… odd job I have.
Most people might see watching TV with my cat as weird, but when all your other acquaintances are also morally gray and not the type of people you can just hang out with, it’s not so strange. With Reggie, I can be myself, and in this life of mine that’s important. So many times I’ve had to play a part to get myself where I needed to be so I could complete a job or get myself out of a sticky situation.
Letting Reggie see the human behind the assassin is needed, and I dare anyone try to tell me otherwise.
When I get my baby out of the safe, I check her over, making sure everything is as it should be before packing her away in the carrying case. I also grab a handgun and a few knives—not my weapons of choice, but if the last six months have taught me anything, it’s that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
* * *
Normally, I like a few days to scope out potential vantage points, but Cash gave me a very limited timeframe for this one, so my one day of surveillance will have to be enough. It’s a good thing I trust Cash—at least, as much as people in this life can trust one another. That this is a favor and not information I paid for goes a long way to helping me ease into the job at hand, lack or preparation or not.
Cash is good at his job and well worth the prices he sets for information, but when there’s a transaction, you know you’re on your own once the money changes hands. With a favor though… It’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure things go smoothly, because if not, how could he cash in on the favor I now owe him .
So, with a sigh, I shift my gun case higher on my shoulder and enter the building. No one pays me any mind, too absorbed in their own shit.
The keycard Cash left for me takes me to the rooftop, and thankfully it’s empty this time of day. The intel I got said it should stay this way until after lunch, which isn’t as much time as I would prefer, but it’s still enough to complete this job.
I go around the large air conditioning unit in the middle of the roof and stop dead in my tracks. There, sitting cross-legged on the ground in the exact place I need to set up for this job, is Min.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snarl, letting go of my hold of the gun case’s strap and pulling my handgun out.
He smirks at the sight of me pointing a gun at him, like his life isn’t in danger.
“You can’t have this one,” he says just loud enough to be heard over the traffic fifteen stories below and the air conditioning off to the side of us.
“What?” My eyebrows furrow as I stare him down. “This is a job, like any other.”
He stands and crosses the short distance between us. “It is not a job,” he spits. “I don’t know what game you think you’re playing, but this is not one you want to pursue with me.”
Keeping the gun trained on him, I hold my ground. “Don’t take another step. I won’t hesitate to shoot you.”
His lips twist in a parody of a smile. “I dare you to try.”
Pressing my finger against the trigger, I glare at him. “Are you so ready to die, Min? Should I have finished you off when I had you in front of me six months ago?”
This time, his smile is more natural, bordering on friendly. “Why didn’t you?”
Question of the century right there. One I still don’t have an answer for half a year later. I should have taken the little shit out when I had the chance, but I can’t deny that I was intrigued.
As he stared at me with his dark eyes surrounded by long, equally dark eyelashes, something deep inside said No . I’ll admit he’s cute, in a slightly fucked-up homicidal way, but it wasn’t just his looks, but his lack of fear, that attracted me.
He didn’t beg for his life. He didn’t cry or show anything but annoyance at his predicament. Even when he tried to escape his bonds, his frustration levels had never risen above something he couldn’t manage. His control over his emotions, how he dealt with a life and death situation… It made me want to see more.
So, I let him live. I still don’t know if I regret it or not.
“What’s it going to be, Zay?” he asks, taking another step forward. “Are you going to deny me this kill?”
I sneer. “You stole plenty of mine in the last six months. Why shouldn’t I return the favor?”
His eyes are as dark as onyx, even in the late morning sun. His dark hair has a blue sheen to it, and I ache to run my fingers through the strands. It’s hard to focus when everything about him piques my curiosity.
“Because this one is personal,” he says so softly I almost don’t hear him.
The next second I’m forced to drop my gun as the burning pain of a knife embedding itself in my shoulder sears through me.
“Fucking hell!” I shout, grabbing for the knife. Min is faster, crossing the space between us and shoving me with a surprising amount of strength for someone nearly half a foot shorter than me.
He pushes me up against the AC unit and rips the knife out of my shoulder, making me swear again.
“Don’t fuck with me, Zay,” he hisses. “I enjoy our little cat and mouse games, but you’re skating too close to the line with this. Back. The. Fuck. Off.”
The knife ends up back in my shoulder and I reach for my own hidden blade, bringing it between us.
Min doesn’t look worried about the knife digging into his shirt. He holds me against the AC unit and stares into my eyes.
My breath hitches at our close proximity, the tension between us palpable. For a moment, time stands still as Min leans in and presses his lips against mine. I’m surprised at how soft his lips are, with how hard he’s pressing his mouth to mine. It’s not a kiss, not really, but the feel of him opens up a floodgate of desire in me. When I gasp, he takes a hasty step back, dark eyes wide.
“I won’t be so nice next time,” he says in a rough voice before disappearing around the other end of the unit.
When the door to the roof slams closed, I close my eyes and thud my head against the unit, wondering what in the hell just happened—and why I liked it so much.