He nodded but remained quiet.
Was that not enough?
The silence hung heavy between them.Even Lzzy Hale crooning through the radio couldn’t ease the anxiety gnawing in her gut.She had to fill the space.
“I liked the name.”She shrugged, lying through her teeth.She gave him something big.That was enough for now.
Quickly, he offered her a pointed glare.
Dammit.That was his “don’t bullshit me” stare.She’d earned it a few times over the past few days.
How had he come to know her so well?They’d known each other for mere days.She’d dated plenty of men for months who didn’t read her as well as Fink did.Then again, wasn’t that essentially his job?Reading people.
“You don’t have to tell me everything,” he said as he gently patted her thigh.“Just don’t lie to me.”
Calm flowed from his fingertips and through her muscles.It wriggled around her veins before settling in her chest.She nodded, relishing the sensation and accepting his comfort.
“I appreciate the little you have disclosed.”He squeezed gently.“If anyone is familiar with how hard it is to divulge even the tiniest bit of personal information, it’s me.I fought it too.”
“But how did you figure out I changed it?”she had to ask.
He licked his bottom lip, and his expression faltered.“I ran a background check on you.”
Her mouth dropped ever so slightly.She didn’t quite gasp but was on the verge of doing so.
“In my line of work—” he began.
“You had to.”She finished his sentence.
The revelation dawned upon her as the feelings of being intruded upon contorted in her chest.
Not that he’d violated her confidences or crossed a boundary.He was a contract killer.Strangers were his enemy.He’d done it to protect himself.Sydney couldn’t fault him for that.Were she in his shoes and had his resources, she would’ve done the same.
She’d probably never know to what extent he’d dug or what he’d learned, but whatever he’d discovered about her, it wasn’t enough for him to leave.He trusted her.For someone like him, that was the utmost compliment.
The smile on her face was completely involuntary.Usually, it was a trained reflex that she’d learned to wear a brave face, but in this moment, her expression was out of appreciation for his understanding.They were two dark souls willing to engage in heinous acts.
She was thankful for whatever decrepit, horrific path led him to her.For the first time in her entire life, she felt accepted and understood.That it was by a man who murdered people for money made sense.
26
Fink
Sydney’sreluctancetosharehad surprised Fink.She came off so unbothered and open.He hadn’t anticipated she’d keep much so close to her vest.
Perhaps he should’ve been offended.Would any other man be?He snorted at himself.That didn’t matter.Since when did he care about others?With this, he understood the need to have a guard up.
He’d shared something trivial with her.Personal, but ultimately inconsequential.What he’d asked of her was far more meaningful.While she’d been vague in her answer, she’d been truthful.For that, he was grateful.
There was potential between them.For what?He didn’t want to think about that.For now, they were murder buddies.As she snored softly beside him, he grinned.The foolish label had grown on him.He’d heard nothing more nauseatingly adorable in his life.
This woman was complicated.Bubbly and bright on the outside, but at her core, she was as dark as him.Though he’d admit, the little he’d learned about her past was far more disastrous than his own.
Both of them had lost their parents young.They’d endured the calamity of errors and misfortunes that was the foster care system and come out on the other side, but not unscathed.If he were a sappier guy, a romantic even, he’d probably tackle the concepts of how perfect they were for each other.
Shaking off the sentiment, he cleared his throat.Thoughts like those were the gateway to disappointment.Happiness wasn’t in the cards for either of them.They were to lead lives meant to be endured.
Resting his hand on her shoulder, he gave her a gentle shake.“Hey, we’re about to stop for the day.”
