Hard to Get (Killer of Kings Book 4)(15)

He wasn’t offended. Violence was his life. He was a contracted killer. Someone designed to take a life without asking a single question.

“I like the fakeness,” he said. “I don’t think that’s even a real word.” He blew out a breath. “Every single person on this street has something to hide, but it’s the American dream. It’s nice to blend into a crowd. To be normal.”

She laughed. “You don’t blend, Shadow. Every person sees you, and there’s no getting away from that.”

“Before you started snooping into my life, I went by undetected quite well.”

“I’ve looked bullshit in the face one too many times. You’ve got it all over you.” She held her hand out, pointing at his body. “I get it, though. We’re not part of this world. They can laugh with each other and in the next breath, stab each other in the back. I’ve never been a fan of that kind of crap. It’s a good thing what you’re doing—trying to show those kids another way. The world needs more of that. Most of the time they get pushed to one side, and no one gives a crap about them.”

He stared at her and knew no one had taken that time with her. She’d been alone in this world. Never part of it, and yet sucked into it by everyone else.

“You’re not alone anymore,” he said.

“I’m always alone, Shadow.” She finished her beer, and handed him back the bottle. “I need to get some rest. Thank you for the drink and the company.”

She went to walk away, but Shadow wasn’t ready for her to be gone. Reaching out, he snagged her wrist, stopping her from going anywhere.

Riley didn’t put up a fight with him. She waited for him to release her.

Standing up, he stepped close to her body. He felt such a rush, a desire he’d never experienced before. She tilted her head back to look at him, and for the longest time, he just stared.

Silence had always been a comfort to him. He could think, plan, and do anything that he put his mind to.

The interest in her gaze was still there. She wanted him, but was holding back.

He was making a mistake. Every second that he was with her, was a second longer than he should be. His life came with a use by date. There were people who’d hunt him down and kill him for the title of being the one to do it.

“Lock your door,” he said. “If you need anything at all, I’ll be here.”

She nodded. Her lips looked so tempting. He wanted to kiss her.

Would it be wrong to give in just this once and to take what he wanted? One kiss and then a second. A fuck, making love, falling in love. It would all happen. Riley had the power to make herself his weakness, and he couldn’t have that. No way. He couldn’t have that at all. He didn’t want to do that to her.

“Good night.” He pulled away, wanting to turn back and kiss those fuckable lips. He didn’t though.

After getting back home he went straight to the basement. Clicking on the screens, he saw her standing at her backdoor. She had her fingers to her lips.

Had she been imagining it, too?

Get your head out of your ass!

Boss had given him a job, and he needed to stop thinking about his sexy little neighbor, and focus on the job at hand.

Even as he berated himself, he couldn’t look away, nor could he turn the computer screen off. In that moment, leaning against the door, she looked so vulnerable. Everyone else in her world had walked all over her, taken advantage and not given a shit about her. Was it so wrong to want to be the only person who was different for her?





Chapter Five


Shadow leaned back on the worn leather sofa. The place reeked of a high school locker room, stale donuts, and cheap coffee. Normally he handled his business with Maurice by phone or text, but his assignment was proving to be more complicated than he hoped.

“He’s had facial surgery, and I’ve already counted over a dozen body doubles,” said Maurice from his chair in front of the keyboard.

“We already know this,” said Shadow. He’d been doing recon on his mark for weeks, but the asshole was always one step ahead. Last night, Shadow had come seconds from pulling the trigger on a look-alike, only to discover it was another cold trail. It was too close of a call for his taste. “I need something I can use. Something that’ll give away the real target. Boss doesn’t want any mistakes.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Fuck. Tattoo, birthmark, something the doubles won’t have. I need to be one hundred percent certain before I blow his bastard’s brains to kingdom come.”

Maurice adjusted his glasses as hundreds of pics flashed across the numerous screens. “Give me a minute.”

Shadow tapped his foot. He was impatient about getting this job done, but also couldn’t get Riley off his mind. Since she barged into his life, he’d been slowly torn down the middle, his two worlds colliding. He needed his life at Killer of Kings—it was all he knew, and it kept the demons at bay.

Then there was her.

His carefully crafted veneer of normalcy helped him experience everything he’d lost, a life forever out of reach. He remembered the simplicity of having a drink with Riley under the stars. He could fall hard for a girl like her. As fucked up as it was, he already envisioned a future with his nosy little neighbor. They could play out all the fucking fairy tales, and scrub the past from their memories.