Page 15 of Broken

“You remembered.” I made myway across the room, stopping right next to him. His breath seemed to catch as he looked at me, his gaze filled with desire. I’d used his shower gel, which by the way, smelled way better than the stuff I usually used. I was also wearing one of his shirts that was long enough to reach my thighs.

“I also got you some clothes.” He scratched the back of his head and pretended there was somethingreally interesting on the wall.

“Thanks.” I grabbed the container with the pie and took a large bite. “Mmm. This is super tasty. You want some?” I tore some off and extended my hand toward his mouth.

He jumped a little, eyeing me carefully. “I already...”

“Oh, come on.” I pouted. “Just one bite.”

He opened his mouth and his lips briefly brushed my fingers. I watched his face ashe chewed. “You’re right. It’s good.”

“Want some more?”

He shook his head, then started toward his computer. I glanced down at my phone, but there weren’t any new messages, which meant Vix and the Cobras hadn’t found out anything about Walter or his whereabouts. As I looked up at Theo, I wondered if that was a good or a bad thing.

IT TURNED OUT THE RED and black shirt and blue jeans that Theo had gotten for me fit me perfectly, which surprised the hell out of me. Once I emerged from the bathroom, I realized he was getting ready to go somewhere.

“Did you find Walter?” I asked.

“Yeah.” He shrugged on his jacket.

“I’m coming with you.”

His eyes met mine. “No. You need to stay here. It’s not safefor you out there, and I can’t...”

I raised my hand to stop him because I knew where this was going. “You don’t need to protect me out there. This is my fucking city, and if some asshole wants to get me, the last thing he’ll expect is that I’ll come after him.”

“Chiara...”

“Did you forget that the Rosa Nera trained me and that I passed their tests?” Vix’s mother had allowed me tostay with the Rosa Nera only because I’d completed three tests that included fighting and shooting. “I’ve also been a member of a fight club for years. Do you really think I can’t defend myself?” I preferred to be away from weapons and I hated having to look over my shoulder all the time, but that was only when I knew my life wasn’t really in danger. But now that an assassin was after me, I’d be ready.

“You don’t know this guy,” he said. “The training you went through was short and basic, and this is different from the situations you’ve been in so far. You’ve never been in a gunfight where you are the only target.”

I crossed my arms. “There’s a first time for everything. I’m sure I can do it. But I’ll have to borrow some of your weapons.”

“I can’t have you with me. I work better alone.You know that. And this is a task for someone like me, not you.”

“What about your first job?” I cocked my head at him. “How old were you? Did they let you go alone? I’m sure you were nowhere near as experienced at any of it as you are now.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” His face grew serious.

“Why not? I’m only trying to figure out why you really don’t want me with you. Do I distractyouthatmuch?”

“Why would you even want to go after Walter?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I just want to experience one last thrill before you put a bullet in me.” I flashed him a quick smile. “Why do you even care? If I’m with you, at least you can collect my body and claim you did it. No one will know.”

He licked his lips. “Maybe I’ll fail and you’ll get me first. You don’t want tomake it easy for me, do you?” The corners of his lips lifted up, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

I stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out what he was really saying. There was a strange note in his voice that I couldn’t quite decipher. “I thought you just said I wasn’t capable of defeating anyone, let alone you.”

“Why don’t we wait and see? Once Walter’s dead, you’ll findout just how good your skills are.”

God, I wished I could see inside his mind. “Are you afraid I’m going to kill Walter instead of you? Is that it?” How could I convince him to take me with him? I’d have to keep a close eye on the door and make sure he didn’t lock me inside again.

“I don’t count my kills,” he said.

“Really?” I made my way toward him. “I thought all hitmen did that.But you remember each one of them, don’t you?”