On paper, his offer was an attractive one. Except I’d be at his beck and call. I didn’t trust he wouldn’t yank my leash whenever the fancy took him.
With him basically paying for my way of life, I’d have no choice to accept his jobs.
“You see manipulation; I see a way for us both to be happy,” Thomas returned.
I folded my arms over my chest to glare at him.
“Private investigation companies use retainers for big companies all the time,” Thomas continued. “It’s no more a way to control than hiring the investigator piece meal. You can accept or reject any of the jobs you want. When the retainer is used up, we can reassess the relationship.”
I could feel my resistance crumbling. “But to get this, I have to remain in the house?”
If Thomas was pleased that I was actually considering to his offer, he didn’t show it. “It’s a small price to pay for financial security.”
“Fine,” I asked, pretending to be more upset than I actually was.
For once, I’d come out the winner in a negotiation with Thomas. If he was being honest in that I could reject potential jobs, I didn’t see a problem.
The best part was that he didn’t know that Connor had already worn down my resistance to staying. As a result, we got stable income. And a new house free of charge. A two-for-one deal.
“What’s the price for failure?” I asked because I wasn’t an idiot.
“Death.”
So, the most stringent of penalties. No pressure.
“You could still flee,” Thomas offered.
That didn’t deserve a response.
Thomas cracked a smile at my irritated look. “Liam and I have several safe houses scattered throughout the world. You could live for decades longer. Maybe centuries if you’re careful.”
But eventually, Dominick and this Vitus person would catch up to me.
That was the thing about vampires. They had all the time in the world.
Likely, I’d die a gruesome death when they found me. No, thank you.
There was a set to Thomas’s features that made me pause in my response. “Why do I get the feeling you hope I’ll run?”
Shouldn’t he want me to fight by his side as a show of loyalty?
“No parent wishes to see their child in danger.”
I glanced at the front seat, finding Liam and Eric pretending to be occupied with the road outside in an effort to give us a modicum of privacy.
“I’m not your child,” I finally said.
Thomas’s expression softened. “You may not believe this, but I see you the same way I do Connor. You are precious to me. I would not see you harmed. If I could force you and him somewhere safe out of the city, I would.”
He was being sincere, I realized.
It was a troubling discovery. I was used to Thomas being someone I could hate. If not hate, at least dislike.
This more human side of him muddled things. Made him almost redeemable.
“You want something from this,” I guessed, clinging stubbornly to my assumptions about him.
His laugh was filled with a surprising amount of humor, given the dire nature of our conversation. “So many things.”
