Page 17 of Marked for Execution

Her little attitude made me feel things. Like the need to put this little girl in her place.

“So, you decided to seek out theAssholeand find out? How very assertive of you. Well, now that you’re here, we might as well get to it, then.”

I turned to walk toward my street and listened for her soft footsteps behind me. She moved like a feline. It was no wonder she leapt like one too. She would do well with reconnaissance when we went on outside runs; her small frame gave her an advantage in tight spaces.

The walk was quiet until the voice of Mrs. Reyes cut in. “Eliseo!”

Groaning, I walked faster. Fitri chuckled behind me.Just wait.

“Eliseo! I made some extra food! Do you want to come over?”

Looking over my shoulder, I waved my hand politely. “That’s okay, I already ate. Thank you.” With all the cooking she did, I was surprised she wasn’t busier doing community service to pay off her ingredients.Why was she always out here waiting for me to come home?

She smiled until she saw Fitri behind me, then her eyes turned curious. I was glad the kid wore oversized clothes and a cap. I didn’t need any more problems on my side of the street. Lord knows, Mrs. Reyes had been trying to get into my house from the moment I got here. She’s widowed, and lonely—a bad combination for me. A lot of these women had a worshiping complex for the men who go out. They all craved a protector.

That just wasn’t me. I was here to survive and make sure my men came back alive. That was it.

“Hello there! I haven’t met you before, have I? You must be new. I’ve never seen you around with Eliseo.” Mrs. Reyes just wouldn’t let up. I had to do something.

Fitri choked, and I lifted up a brow at her antics. We were about a house away from my place, and I almost tripped when I heard her voice come out loud and clear.

“Oh, yeah. Eliseo’s been hiding me away. You know how he is, doesn’t really like people in his business. And by the way, I’ve been feeding him just fine.”

Her feminine voice was on full blast now, compared to the way she usually spoke when around strangers.What was she up to?

“Oh, I thought you were…I mean…I’m so sorry.” Mrs. Reyes flushed deeply and put a hand over her heart. She looked like all her dreams had been shattered. Did it make me a bastard that I was trying hard not to laugh?

A hand touched me, and electricity zapped up my arm. Fitri’s delicate fingers were slowly caressing my skin, and I didn’t know if I should slap it away or see where this conversation was heading.

“Thought I was what? Or are you saying you thought Eliseo was bringing little boys to his house? I’m not sure whether to be offended for myself, or for the man.”

Could this get any worse…or more entertaining? My focus was still on the little hand on me as my ears continued to listen to this crap shoot.

“I didn’t mean—”

“Of course, you didn’t. You’re just following Eliseo around, trying to get his attention. Sorry to inform you, Mrs…” She cocked her head, and a laugh slipped out of me. I masked it with a cough, and they both stared.

“Reyes.”

Fitri smiled at her, and my eyes wanted to bug out of my head. It transformed her face into something else entirely.I never knew she had dimples.“Ah, Mrs. Reyes, I’ll be accompanying him tonight. I’m sure yourhusbandis missing you?”

Shit, I didn’t get a chance to tell Fitri that—

“I’m a widow.”

“I see. Sorry to hear. It’s the world we live in. Goodnight, Mrs. Reyes.” Fitri’s fingers went from caressing to digging her little nails into my skin as she dragged me down the street.

We reached my porch, and I became suspicious.How did she know where I lived?Pushing the thought back, I asked her the other question that was burning to come out. “What was that?”

“What was what?”

There was that little brat again.I ripped my arm out of her grasp, stomped up the steps, and took out my keys. “You know what. Why would you have Mrs. Reyes think that? She wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“Pfft. She was sniffing you like she was in heat. I merely helped the conversation along, since it didn’t seem like you knew what you were doing.”

She shouldered me and went inside first. I slammed the door with my boot and stared at her, incredulous. “I knew exactly what I was doing. I washandlingit.”

She turned with fire in her eyes, and my hand itched to do things. Now that she came out of her shell, she was nothing but trouble.