Page 41 of Killian's Vengeance

Ipaced back and forth across the room for a good twenty minutes after Killian left, anxiety burning through me as I played out a hundred different scenarios of what might happen tonight, all of them with equally horrible endings.

I went to sit on the bed, but quickly hopped up, my sore ass reminding me of what we’d been doing prior to my revelation about Lily’s whereabouts. My mind reeled as it attempted to digest everything that had happened for the last week of my life.

I’d never let a man touch and see me the way Killian had. It was hard to deny the attachment all this vulnerability had created. I hated to admit it, but I liked him.

I still didn’t know him that well, but he was surprisingly funny and though he clearly didn’t relish emotional conversations, he didn’t shy away from the truth, even when it hurt. He’d conveyed sympathy for my situation with Lily, even though I knew he wanted to shove her head in a meat grinder for what she’d done to his friend.

And the sex, holy shit, the sex.

I had no idea it could be that way. It blew the well-meaning, but tepid sexual encounters of my past out of the water. It was odd for a man to know more about my anatomy than I did myself, but he unquestioningly did. My cheeks flooded with heat as I recalled all the ways he’d seen my anatomy. If it weren’t for his very enthusiastic response to everything he’d seen, I would never be able to look him in the eye again.

Unable to help myself, I allowed myself to consider what it would be like to date him. I’d never even seen him outside of this building before, so what would it be like to do mundane things like go to a movie or to the grocery store? Would he even be interested in dating a college student? Would being a part of his life be exhilarating or stressful considering the work he did? Even though he had busted in Lily’s door and abducted me, this was the first time I was confronted with how dangerous Killian’s job could be. Even though Killian seemed like a competent and capable person, I was as worried about him as I was about Lily.

Thinking about what could be happening right now, that either or both of them could be injured had me wringing my hands as anxiety hummed through my system. I couldn’t stand just sitting here and worrying. I needed to know what was happening. I needed updates. I couldn’t even contact Killian because, though we’d had sex many times, I didn’t even have his freaking phone number.

Then a thought struck me. Ian. I could go to the security office. I bet they kept Ian updated on what was going on. I hastily swung the door open and scrambled down the hallway, eager for any possible information, though it was unlikely they’d even arrived at the harbor yet.

I opened the door and Ian’s head popped up, but he quickly dismissed me. My mouth flattened in annoyance. Did everyone here hate me? More importantly, didn’t Ian ever go home?

“Don’t you ever get to leave here?” I asked, walking up behind him to see what he was working on.

“I came in late. I started at noon today.”

I frowned and glanced at the clock. It was one a.m. “That was thirteen hours ago,” I said incredulously.

His lips pressed together, either at annoyance with my presence in general or my comment, specifically. “Yeah, we’re all working a little harder lately. For Mac,” he muttered.

I felt an arrow of guilt at his words. Although I didn’t do anything to Mac, Lily’s association still made it a touchy subject. “I’m honestly sorry about Mac. Were you two close?”

Ian’s chest heaved and his lips tightened. “Mac taught me everything I know. He was the best man I ever met. I was a teenage fuck up, and Mac took me in and taught me computers, paid for me to go to school.” He spoke the words without much inflection, but his hands briefly tightened as he explained his relationship with Mac.

My eyes watered. What a loss Mac’s death was, for so many people. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry that someone I know, someone in my family, probably had something to do with it.”

“Probably?” he scoffed, and I took a step back.

Why was I trying so hard to make Lily innocent when I’ve seen with my own two eyes the kind of person she was? I kept wanting to believe there was something redeemable about her, when there has been no evidence to support my instinct. “Did. Someone in my family did have something to do with it.”

“That’s more like it,” he grunted and started typing again.

This was hardly the relationship I wanted to establish with someone I was trying to get information from. I pulled up a chair and sat down, trying to get him comfortable with my continued presence, but he just acted as if I wasn’t there. It didn’t exactly put me at ease, but I suppose it was better than him kicking me out. I pulled out my phone, checking some things on my social media. I had a new text from Vanessa asking me if I’d killed my sister yet. Irony.

“So, have you had any updates yet?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

Ian turned to me, one blond brow raised as he shot me a deadpan look. He knew why I was here. “Is that why you came in here? You worried about your sister?” he asked icily.

“No. Well, a little, but I’m also a little worried about Killian.”

He barked out a laugh. “You’re worried about Killian?”

My brows puckered. Why was that funny? “Yes. It sounds like this might get dangerous, so I was worried about him.”

Ian snorted. “You know what Killian used to do for a living? I’ve never met someone more aptly named than him. Killian. He was a fucking mercenary. Tonight’s mission is like taking candy from a baby, that’s how easy it is for him. Cullen, too. They’ve done shit a million times more dangerous than this.”

Mercenary? A part of me was shocked, but when I scrolled through our time together, it fit. The way he broke into my sister’s apartment, the use of sedatives, the interrogation techniques, the security background. Yes, it all made sense.

Did I want to date a guy used to kill for a living? I internally winced at my thoughts. I was assuming he’d even want to date me, which was definitely not assured at this point.

His past also explained the kind of sex he was into—dominant, aggressive, controlling.

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