Page 43 of The Hunted

Tears land on my chest. Little Bird, please see the me I used to be. Past the monster I was forced to become.

“I am an assassin, Raven. I’ve killed many men at my father’s command. I should have turned the gun on myself more than once, but I have to stop him.”

She lifts her head, and I cup her cheek in my hand. She closes her eyes and relaxes into my touch. My heart hammers my chest as I watch her, waiting for her words. What does she think of me? Will she be able to handle my truth? I find myself surprised by the fact that I hope she can. Her eyes flutter open and land on mine, assessing, taking me in. I hold my breath for a moment and slowly exhale.

“Knox, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe what you’ve endured just to survive in this life. Your poor mother.”

Tears pool in her eyes but don’t fall as she continues.

“I understand the things you’ve done and your reasons behind them. I can’t hold those decisions against you. I wouldn’t even be able to endure anything that has happened to you. You were victims, Knox. You and your mother were…are victims of a monster.”

She raises her beautiful face to mine and presses a tender kiss to my lips. A tear falls from her eye and streams down my cheek. In this moment, I can’t think of a more perfect woman for me. She is everything a man like me could never deserve. A shining, bright star to guide me as I weather this storm. I crush her to me, and she lays her head back onto my chest.

“How did you stop your father?”

“I haven’t yet.”

“You haven’t? Where is he?”

The alarm in her voice doesn’t go unnoticed.

“He left to handle a job three years ago and never returned. I think he may have been killed. Ace and I have searched for him and have found nothing so far. That’s where I was when you first arrived.”

“So, he could be alive somewhere, just waiting to return?”

And plotting something no-doubt diabolical.

“Yes. But I’ll continue to search for him. Something has to turn up sometime.”

“You don’t have to hurt people anymore?”

I notice the hesitation in her voice as she asks me. My brave girl.

“Yeah, babe. I still hurt people.”

I feel her cringe slightly at my answer.

“I’m now in charge of Albatross. I replaced my father. I decide who’s taken out.”

Telling her the truth only leaves one question.

“Raven, can you handle this?”

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