“How did you know I was home already?” I asked, unable to shake the idea that despite all our talks of trust and being a family, he’d bugged my place. After all, there was precedent.
Jax, my ex-boyfriend, knew that Xavier had been spying on him, but he’d never done anything about it. Well, nothing except live at my apartment until the day his contract was up, and then skip town without so much as a goodbye.
The asshole.
My heart clenched. It still hurt to think about Jax, the one person I’d thought I could trust. He’d been the first guy I’d given myself to and thought I loved. My best friend . . .
But I should have known better. No one wanted this life. Everyone who aged out of their contracts left as soon as they could.
I should have guarded my heart. Over the years, I’d learned many times that the ones closest to us had the power to hurt us most.
“Our client called. They wanted to thank you for a job well done.”
“They already know he’s dead? But it’s only been—” I glanced at the clock above the stove. “Forty minutes.”
“The mate was in the next room.” Xavier’s lips curled up as shock flitted across my face. “I see you didn’t realize she was present. You’re losing your touch, Queenly.”
I rolled my eyes and stirred the noodles again. “Please. I’m the best assassin you have. Just because I didn’t check all ten-thousand square feet of that monstrosity doesn’t mean I’m losing anything. It means that I was more direct—more lethal—than usual.”
Xavier chuckled. “I’ve always appreciated your inclination to get down to business.”
“In that case, why are you here?”
The vampire flopped onto my hard gray couch and planted his feet on the coffee table adorned with various sci-fi romance novels that I was halfway through. “What? We’ve known each other for so long! We can’t be pals? Paint each other’s nails?”
Pals? That was a laugh, coming from a vampire who I’d once called Father, only to receive a long lecture about how Xavier was better than both of my parents because he would never leave me—as long as I stayed in line.
The lonely child I’d been had signed away her freedom soon after that. My desperation had cost me greatly, and I’d been paying the price ever since.
“I don’t do pals. You know that.”
“Yeah, I’ve been meaning to bring that up. It’s something you should consider. In the real world, people appreciate being smiled at now and then.”He shook his head. “Maybe I should have let you get that cat. It might have softened you up a bit.”
My teeth ground together. His refusal to let me buy a kitten was a major sore spot. “This may not be made of silver but I’m sure I can do some damage with it.” I picked up my dagger and waved it at him. “Tell me what you want or get out. I’ve had a long day.”
He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “New job came in, and you’ve been requested. No details yet, but they’ll come in soon enough. Swing by my apartment at eight in the morning. I’ll have travel arrangements sorted out by then.”
I arched an eyebrow. “But I just finished a job.”
Xavier shrugged. “Money is money. Surely you understand?” He gestured to the empty room as if he was trying to make a point that he didn’t need to make.
I wasn’t yet a legal adult, so I lived in an apartment Xavier rented for me. Not only that, but I survived on the difference between the money my jobs brought in and what it took to pay back my debts to the vampire. A debt I had to repay or risk being hunted down by a team of fellow assassins or a vampire clan. I’d seen both groups hired for those who broke their contracts, and they always found their mark. As a result, I understood the value of money well. It bought freedom.
I also understood that Xavier was a cheapskate, and I couldn’t wait to age out of my contract. When that day came, I’d payoff the last of whatever I owed Doru and walk away. And I’dneverlook back.
I exhaled a long breath. “Why didn’t you text me?” The noodles were almost done, and I moved on autopilot, adding the frozen peas for thirty seconds before transferring the mix to a colander then back into the pan. I added an obscene amount of delicious butter, followed by the nuclear orange cheese powder, and stirred.
“I need you at my place early, and you would sleep through a bomb, Queenly. I couldn’t risk you missing the text.”
Touché.
“Fine. I’ll be by tomorrow. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” I began pulverizing the cheese clumps. “I’d like some personal time.”
Xavier stood, a shit-eating grin on his face. “Until tomorrow, blondie.”
I scowled at the hated nickname, and was about to retort something cutting when the sound of the front door shutting hit my ear.
Looking up from the pan of mac and cheese, I found myself alone yet again.
