• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

“Why not the bomb?” Richard asked.

I didn’t ask, because I knew the answer. Edward’s eyes flicked to me. I shrugged.

“Because I like to kill up close and personal. With a bomb there’s no personal risk.”

Richard stared at him, studying his face. He finally said, “Thank you for answering the question.”

Edward acknowledged him with a nod. Richard was gaining brownie points from both of us. But I knew that Richard had illusions. If Edward seemed to like him, Richard would assume Edward wouldn’t kill him. I knew better. If the situation called for it, Edward could pull the trigger on anyone.

“Let’s say you’re right,” I said. “I go on the date and let the hitter make his move. Then what?”

“We take him out.”

“Wait a minute,” Richard said. “You’re betting that the two of you are better than a professional assassin. That you’ll get to him before he gets to Anita.”

We both nodded.

“What if you’re not better?”

Edward looked at him like he’d said the sun wouldn’t rise tomorrow.

“Edward will be better,” I said.

“You’d bet your life on that?” Richard asked.

“I am betting my life on that,” I said.

Richard looked a touch pale. He nodded. “I guess you are. What can I do to help?”

“You heard Edward,” I said. “You stay here.”

Richard shook his head. “I heard, but surely in a crowd of people even Superman will need a few more eyes and ears. The pack can help watch your back.”

“It doesn’t bother you to endanger them?”

“You said you’d risk almost anyone to keep me safe,” Richard said. “I feel the same way.”

“If they want to volunteer, that’s one thing, but I don’t want them ordered into it. People aren’t good bodyguards if they resent doing it.”

Richard laughed. “Very practical. For a second there, I thought you were really worried about my wolves.”

“Practical will keep me alive, Richard, sentimentality won’t.”

“If we had some extra watchers, it’d free me up a little,” Edward said.

I looked at him. “You’d trust monsters to watch my back?”

He smiled, and it wasn’t pleasant. “Monsters make excellent cannon fodder.”

“They aren’t cannon fodder,” Richard said.

“Everyone’s cannon fodder,” Edward said, “eventually.”

“If I really thought we were endangering innocent bystanders, I wouldn’t go to the club. You know that, Richard.”

He stared at me for a second, then nodded. “I know that.”

Edward made a small sound low in his throat. “Innocent bystanders.” He shook his head, smiling. “Let’s get dressed,” Edward said. “I bought some new toys for you to use tonight.”

I looked at him. “Dangerous toys?” I asked.

“Is there any other kind?” We grinned at each other.

“You two are enjoying this,” Richard said. It was almost accusatory.

“If we didn’t enjoy it, we’d both do something else,” Edward said.

“Anita doesn’t kill people for money, and you do.”

I watched the humor drain from Edward’s eyes like the sun sinking behind clouds, leaving them pitiless and empty. “Think what you like, loverboy, but Anita could have chosen another line of work, one that wouldn’t put her in harm’s way. But she didn’t. There’s a reason for that.”

“She’s not like you.”

Edward looked at me with empty eyes. “Closer than she used to be.” His voice was soft, almost neutral, but it made me shiver.

I met his eyes, and for the first time in a long time, wondered what I’d given up to be able to pull the trigger. The same thing Edward had given up inside himself to be able to kill so easily? I looked up at Richard and wondered if he could do it. If, when the fur flew, he could really kill anyone. Some people couldn’t. No shame in that. But if Richard backed out, he was dead. Not tonight or tomorrow, but eventually, because Marcus would see to it. Richard had beaten Marcus twice and refused the kill. I doubted Marcus would let him have another shot at it. They’d taken Stephen last night, knowing what Richard would do. If I hadn’t been with him, he might he dead now. Shit.

All I had to do was kill the assassin before he or she killed me. Trust Richard not to let Marcus kill him. Keep Raina from killing me. And let’s