Page 102 of Lady Killer

Which led to me threatening to return to campus and the renegotiation of the terms of our deal. I now had regular visits with Autumn. Supervised from a distance.

“Okay, okay, maybe shacking up with professional killers like, isn’t the worst idea—‍”

“They’re not killers, Autumn.” I didn’t know why I was lying to her. I had no idea whether Alister and the others even cared that everyone whispered about their family’s true nature. Still, it didn’t seem wise for Autumn to flaunt the knowledge.

She rolled her eyes. “Sure, sure. Okay, your boyfriend isn’t amurderer.”

“He isn’t my boyfriend.” I had been sure to emphasize the casual nature of our relationship.

Mostly because I still had no idea what our relationship was. What did “mine” mean?

“Okay, your lover then,” she said with a salacious grin.

I shuddered. “Don’t say that either. How is Simone doing, by the way?”

Autumn laughed and tossed a crinkled-up straw wrapper at me. “Nice try, Torres. Simone is a goddess, as always, but we aren’t changing the subject just yet. Give me the dirty details about your new boy toy.”

I looked at her skeptically.

“I’m a pansexual ace woman, Luz, I’m not dead. Just because I don’t want to do it, doesn’t mean I don’t want to gossip about it.” She waved her hand, indicating I should proceed, before adding, “I mean, I don’t want like, graphic details. But like, highlights. And if it’s TMI, I will be the first to cut you off.”

Swallowing nervously, I considered where to begin. Definitely not the primal chase through the woods.

“We’ve been having fun . . . exploring.”

“I bet Alister knows exactly what he’s doing. Something tells me Mr. Stoic and Silent is a freak in the sheets.”

If only she knew.

“He’s definitely . . . talented, in that regard.”

Why is this so hard?

“So, have you, like, done it yet?”

My smoothie caught in my throat.

“Oh my God, you have! You did it with Alister Bla—‍”

I had to reach across the table to slap a hand across her mouth. “Shhh!!!”

Autumn’s voice was loud enough that the entire dining hall was apt to have heard her.

She used her best puppy dog eyes on me until I relinquished my grip on her. “Sue me for being excited that my bestie is boning one of the most eligible bachelors on campus.”

It was my turn to roll my eyes. “Two minutes ago, you were calling him a murderer, and for the record, there is no boning, as you called it, going on.” I took a steeling breath before adding, “Yet.”

Autumn leaned forward with a devilish expression, her breakfast sandwich now entirely forgotten. “Very interesting. You must have like, a hell of a mouth on you if he has you shacking up with him and you aren’t even putting out . . .yet.”

Covering my face with my hands, I groaned. I didn't embarrass easily, but Autumn had a knack for it.

“It’s all still very new to me.” That wasn’t a lie.

“And he isn’t pushing you to do, like, more? Because if that’s what this whole sleepover thing is about, then he will have to answer to me. Professional hitman or not, no one does that to my friends.”

I laughed. The idea of Autumn and Alister going head-to-head was . . . something.

“No, it’s not like that. I promise. He’s oddly respectful. I haven’t felt pressured to do anything I didn’t want to do, and I’ve . . . enjoyed everything we have done.”

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