Page 36 of Scarred Sins

“Not all people.’’

“Not all people,’’ she echoes, disbelief on her features.

Lying here is the better option, but in the long run, it’ll come back to bite me in the ass. She’s smart, and she’d figure it out on her own eventually; hence, there’s no point in lying to her.

“I come from a family of assassins,’’ I explained. “It goes back generations.’’

“Generations?” She blinks. “That’s… a lot.’’

I nod. “It is.’’

“Were you forced into it?”

I shake my head. “I grew up knowing what my family did. When I was old enough, it was my decision to train and join the family business.’’

“Why?”

I open my mouth to respond, yet no words come out.

A lot of responses come to mind, but none of them feel quite right. For the first time since I started my training back when I was a kid who could barely wipe his own snot, I’m wondering the same thing.Whydo I enjoy it so much?

“At first, it was because I saw my parents doing it. Well, I saw them training, cleaning their weapons, and bonding over that. Even now, after twenty years of marriage, it’s what brings them closer each day. Then, it slowly became something I wanted to do, too. It could be because of the adrenaline rush or because of the power I’m feeling. I’m not sure, honestly.’’

“You’re killing people, but you don’t know why?”

“Oh, I knowwhy.’’

For a minute or two, Blair is silent. She’s processing the new information, and I let her. I lean back into the chair, carefully observing her face. Her eyes are on me, and she’s barely blinking.

“Is that your plan here?”

I raise a brow.

“You want to teach me how to kill people.’’

“No, Blair,’’ I chuckle. “I want to teach you how to killhim.’’

Her ears perk, eyes darkening a shade. Swiftly, she brushes the hair out of her face, pushing it back. She drags her bottom lip between her teeth, trying to decide what to do. Anticipation builds inside of me as I wait for her response.

“Ican’ttrust you,’’ she whispers. “I don’t even know you.’’

“There’s enough time. I’ll earn your trust, and you’ll get to know me as much as you want.’’

“What if I don’t want to know you?’’

My heart sinks to my feet, breaking, shattering into a million pieces. I’ve always taken pride in my poker face, but this? It breaks through any walls and false expressions, and a flicker of hurt flashes on my features.

“Then,’’ I clear my throat, trying to shove the feelings of hurt to the back of my mind. “We’ll be two strangers living under one roof.’’

Blair slumps back into the bed, staring at the ceiling. She turns to the side, snuggling into the blankets and occasionally looking at me, trying to be discreet.

“I want my revenge,’’ she admits begrudgingly. “But I have no skills that can help me.’’

I flash her a grin. “That’s why I’m here. I’ll teach you everything you need to know.’’

“Is it enough? Just you and me?”

“My parents will help you, too. My sister is a good listener, if you need that. But she is a teenager, so she might say some unsavory things. We have around a year until Simmons runs for president. More than enough time to take him and Adams down.’’