Page 37 of Mercenary

I raise my eyes and his gaze meets my own. Something flashes within his green depths. Regret? But as quickly as it appears, it’s gone.

“I’m fine, ” I tell him.

His fingers grasp my shoulder and, with a sideways shove, he forces me to turn around. “If you listen to me, I’ll try hard to be gentle with you.”

With my back to him, he combs his fingers through my hair, methodically distributing the shampoo.

I sigh. When was the last time someone washed my hair like this? Before Mama became sick? Before Pop was murdered and little joys like being pampered died along with him?

Shelby. My sister always said that town would be the death of us.

“Don’t you think it’d be helpful if I understood the situation?”

“No.”

I lift my head toward the heavens, beyond exasperated. But I immediately have to squeeze my eyes closed as the full force of the water cascades down on me. Rinsing away the soap and replacing it with my fears. My worries. My confusion.

“Tell me two things and I’ll drop it. Is Kylie at the heart of all this?” I murmur.

“Yes.”

My heart races. “Is she okay?”

A few seconds pass and my knees actually begin to shake, until I hear him say in a low voice, “As far as I can tell.”

My jaw drops open and I sputter and choke as I get a mouthful of water.

“We’re done here. Finish up. Be quick about it.”

I don’t care that he’s brushed me off. He’s given me hope. Cleansed away my worst fear as thoroughly as he’s cleansed my hair. Tears of relief race down my cheeks. Still, as if they have a mind of their own, my eyes track his fine ass as he exits the shower.

I hear the water in the next stall come on.

Leaving me to finish washing away a week’s worth of grime and four months of heartache.

10

Declan

Her reflection in the windshield gives her away. Her eyes darting toward me, her assumption I’m finished with her, a renewed confidence fueled by her inexperience in this damn dark world I live in. Subtle actions. She believes the danger has passed.

I know better.

She’s curled up in the passenger seat. Dressed in sweatpants and a loose white top, her damp hair scrapes across her shoulders as the delicate, flowery scent of the shampoo I worked through her blond locks fills my nostrils. Wholesome, sweet, and so fucking innocent, the damn thought of her has me gripping the steering wheel tighter. Instead of slamming my fist into the dashboard, which is what I feel like doing.

A not-so-subtle gesture.

Not the action of a seasoned professional like me.

Besides, no need to scare her after I’ve taken too much freaking time calming her down.

I force myself to relax my hold and stretch, running my fingers across the scruff of hair on my jaw. There’d been no time to shave. I’m in tune with her every breath, her every gesture even before I turn to narrow eyes on her. Anticipating how she’ll shyly look away before even doing so.

Wise move, Madelyn. You’ve no idea who you’re dealing with. What I’ve done. What’s coming.

Hayden’s official order has come in. Kylie’s about to become another notch on the branch stashed in my back pocket. My kill count.

Every one of them deserved what they had coming to them.