“Okay, how do you think Knox would react if I just ...initiated a kiss?”
****
Knox glanced throughthe cell phone and messages.Bob was a bounty hunter, and not a very good one.He tended to go for women who had skipped out on parole.Easy targets he was able to find and take right back to jail.This was not the kind of man who would take on a job of killing a hired assassin.He was way out of his depth.
His cell phone didn’t have anything to offer, other than a wire transfer of twenty-thousand dollars.As far as Knox could tell, that was the sum of money offered to kill him.He was majorly insulted by that price tag, as he felt he was worth a lot more.Bob was now dead, as he’d been attempting to hunt him in the forest.It had been an easy fight.
Knox felt kind of bad.Apart from this little problem, Bob had been a good guy.This went against his character, but looking through the man’s banking records, he had a little gambling problem, which his bounty-hunting didn’t quite pay for.Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to find the account, however, he did have a tech genius, and he sent all the necessary details to him so he could get this matter resolved quickly.He didn’t want to be apart from Ava much longer, and this had already taken longer than anticipated.
After dealing with Bob’s body, Knox moved on and made his way toward his cabin in the middle of nowhere.This is where he came to hunt, to go off the grid.It was a place he’d yet to take Ava.He rarely came here, but it was the one place that offered solace.
There was cell-phone reception and most times he didn’t bring a phone, so he was completely off the grid.Sitting down on his porch, he glanced down at his cell phone.It would be easy to call Ava, but she would ask if she could come home, and right now, he wasn’t ready.Since the night of their kiss, no one had attacked their house, however, he didn’t like how close the intruder had gotten.The fact he’d been able to climb the fence and avoid getting zapped by his electrical current suggested the house had been monitored.He didn’t like that.He had a feeling this was backlash from his dealing with Marshal.
He’d already talked to the cops handling Patricia’s incarceration, and other than her lawyers, she didn’t have access to anyone else.He’d then checked out her lawyers, and none of them had contacted any of the hit men or put out questionable funds.This brought it back to a fellow hit man, especially as the cash fund seemed to be so low.He was a good target to take out.
Leaving Ava’s number, he went to Marshal’s and clicked on the button to call him.He put the cell phone to his ear and waited.Three rings was all it took before Marshal answered.
“Hey, buddy, what’s up?”Marshal asked.“You know, I was just thinking about you.I’m starting to wonder if we’re sharing a deep and meaningful connection.”
Knox rubbed his temple with his other hand.“How’s Ava?”
“You don’t want to hear more about this deep, meaningful connection?I mean, I was holding my cell phone and wondering if Knox would call, and then, in, like, a second, your name appeared.”
“A second?”Knox asked.
“Yeah, about that.”
“Marshal?”
“Okay, so I’ve been looking at my phone for the last hour, but it counts.Maybe I can control you with my mind powers.Have you been thinking about me for the last hour?”
“No,” Knox said.
“Damn it.You know there is no shame in thinking about me.We’re buddies.You know that, right?”
It was true.Marshal had entered the realm of friendship.He was the only person he imagined would keep Ava safe for him.It was fucked up, but that was the way it had to be.
“Yes, I know, how is she?”
“She’s doing okay.You know how she can be, and I don’t think she is happy with ...well, you know, being here.But don’t worry, we’ve been watching movies and having some fun.”
“You and Ava have been having fun?”
“Yeah, like you and I are besties, I don’t think Ava can resist my powers either.It’s a natural gift.”
He could imagine Marshal smiling.
“Would you like to talk to her?”Marshal asked.
He wanted to, more than anything.
“Put her on,” he said.
He heard movement, and then her soft voice.
“Knox?”
“Hey, babe,” he said.
