Page 17 of Blood & Snow

"Hotel cleaning. Overnight shifts at a luxury place near the city center."

The lies flow more easily than I expected, but the guilt is consuming me from the inside out.

"They need someone reliable who can work independently without supervision."

"What are the hours?"

"Flexible scheduling. Some weeks more than others, depending on occupancy rates and special events."

I avoid her eyes, focusing on the steam rising from her tea mug.

"The pay is excellent because most people don't want to work nights."

"That explains why they interviewed you so late," Irina says.

"When do you start?"

"Training begins next week. They'll call when they need me."

Another lie, but this one feels necessary to explain why my schedule will be unpredictable.

"The manager was impressed with my attention to detail."

That's not a lie at all.

Xander praised my ability to notice the tiny things.

It makes me feel dirty now, that I'm good at something that's so bad.

It makes me want to do what my mother wanted for me—find and catch killers.

But now I'm trapped, forced to help one.

"I'm so proud of you," Irina continues.

"Steady employment with good pay will make such a difference for all of us."

The pride in her voice makes my chest tighten with guilt.

She believes I've found honest work that will help support her children and contribute to household expenses.

The reality is that I've been conscripted into an organization that eliminates people who cross them and I’m threatened with the deaths of everyone I love if I refuse to cooperate.

"The children will be excited aboutNovy Godthis year," she adds.

"We might actually be able to afford presents and a proper celebration."

Every gift I buy with Xander's money will remind me how I earned it.

Every smile on the children's faces will carry the knowledge that their happiness was purchased with that same dirty money.

I might just throw up right here.

"Yes," I manage to say.

"Novy Godwill be better this year."

Irina drains her tea mug and rises from the table.