Page 68 of The Hitman and the Psychic

As I stepped to his side, he studied my face. “I’m good. You look better today. Did you have a good sleep?”

“Yes. It’s probably due to that great massage. It really helped.”

He raised a brow and gave me a sexy, lop-sided grin. “Yeah… like I said last night, I’m good with my hands.”

I snorted and shook my head, not quite ready to go there. “Uh… yeah. That’s…” I heaved out a breath. “Uh… besides the massage… I think it helped to sleep in my own bed.”

His lips twisted, but he let me off the hook. “Makes sense. I don’t have that problem. I can sleep just about anywhere. I’m sure it’s from my days in the service.”

“That’s right. What made you join up, anyway?”

He snorted. “Well, it was either that or be homeless.”

“Why? What happened?”

His lips twisted. “I guess I can tell you since we’re… friends?” He met my gaze with a raised brow.

“Uh… yeah… of course.”

With a nod, he poured steaming coffee into our mugs. “Right after high school, I got into some trouble, and my old man told me that I could join up or he’d kick me out of the house. I was ready for an adventure, so I joined up the next day.”

He took a few swallows and glanced out the window, his eyes unfocused. “I thrived on the challenges and did all I could to be the best in my unit. I moved up through the ranks, got my education, and then was sent overseas. It wasn’t until I arrived in the Middle East that the whole experience began to sour. They don’t tell you how it feels to watch people die.”

He shook his head. “But when the killing started to be easy… that’s when I was done. I lost some good friends… and made a few bad ones. So, when my time was up, I resigned with an honorable discharge and ended up here. Vanetti needed a security specialist, and I met all of his qualifications.” His lips twisted. “Plus… the pay is excellent.”

I grinned. “Yes… I believe that.”

His phone began to ring. He pulled it out, and his brows dipped. “Excuse me.” He strolled down the hall to his room to answer, closing the door so I couldn’t hearhis side of the conversation. I knew it wasn’t any of my business, but I couldn’t help wondering who it was.

Still, I was happy that Stone had confided in me. After my vision of him in a war zone, I knew it wasn’t easy for him to talk about his time in the army; but he’d answered my questions without batting an eye.

But now it was back to reality. As good as it felt to have him here, it wasn’t going to last. Being with him the last couple of days had given me a glimpse into his life. Sure, it was more than a little messy, but also a lot more interesting than anything I’d ever known.

Still, once the job was done, he’d be back to working for a mob-boss full time. That alone should be enough to warn me away from him. Of course, didn’t I work for a mob-boss too? Part of me had come alive the last couple of days. If Vanetti asked me to do more work for him in the future, would I?

Yes. Even with all the danger involved, if it meant being with Stone, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Chapter 19

Stone

Islipped into my room and shut the door, needing some privacy to hear what Patrick, my security man at the Comet Club, had to say. “Hey Patrick, you got something for me?”

“Sure do. Remember that guy you threw out of the club the other night? The one bothering your girl?”

“Yes.” I didn’t correct him about Serenity being my girl. I liked it too much.

“Well, he was back last night, only he was with a woman, and they seemed pretty into each other.”

“Oh yeah? Did you happen to catch them on security?”

“You know it. I’ll send you a photo.”

“Thanks. How long did they stay?”

“They got here about nine and stayed until eleven-thirty or so.”

I shook my head. Serenity was not going to like this, but, since it was recorded, it would help her feel better about her decision. Plus, it could work out for her with her court case. “Do me a favor and take some time-stamped screen shots of them. Text them to me when you’re done.”

---