So, really, he should expect it when my emotions switch again. Instead of fear, I’mangry. “You didn’t do this for justice,” I say. “You did it because you saw a broken woman at the coffee shop, and you thought you could fix her by killing the men who made her like this in the first place. But I’ve learned a lot over the last two years. Men don’t do anything for free. You want something from me, don’t you?”
His eyes darken, possessive and unflinching andhungry. “I told you we needed to talk. And you’re right. I am a hired killer, Noelle. I don’t accept contracts for free.”
“I never hired you?—”
“You did,” he argues. “When you made your wish list in front of me. You caught the attention of a killer, and the only way out is to finish the contract.”
A transaction, I think. I understand those. Way too much for a woman my age, I understand it when a man wants something in return. And, well, it’s not like I can refuse?—
I swallow the sudden lump lodged in my throat. “And if I don’t, you’ll… you’ll kill me?”
His eyes flash angrily. “Never. But, I promise you, you’ll like me a lot better when we don’t have this debt between us. I ended five lives for you. If you give me five things in return, I’ll consider it repaid.”
Five things… “And then you’ll let me go?”
“With the snow out there and another storm incoming, neither one of us is leaving this chalet until after Christmas,” is Patrick’s answer.
He’s not wrong, but… “Five things. Okay.” I shudder out a breath. “It can’t hurt to ask what they are, right?”
“I won’t ask for much, sweetheart.” Patrick lifts his hand, ticking off his words with his fingers. “Lips. Mouth. Body. Obedience.”
That’s only four, though I hardly notice. Nope. I’m too busy checking my uneasy stomach as I realize that Patrick North is just like every other fucking man I’ve had the misfortune to meet.
“Sex,” I mutter. “Why does it always come down to sex?”
“Those are my terms. And since I’ve already held up my end of the agreement, I think I’ll just keep you here until your debt is repaid.”
Trying not to let the sudden flare of panic show, I scoff. “How are you going to do that?”
“Sweet Starling. You’ll understand before long that I have my ways. Besides, you have this chalet for thenext week. That means that I haveyoufor the next week.”
Unless I escape first.
Unless I get away from this gorgeous nutjob before I have to give him anything in exchange for my former colleague’s lives.
I can’t leave the chalet. He’s made sure of it, and now that he’s also made it pretty clear that he’s decided I am his property, he’ll just chase after me. But there’s a bedroom upstairs with a lock on the door, and as I start to back up before turning away, I decide it’s time for a strategic retreat before I get in even more over my head.
“Hold on one moment, Noelle.” Though I know I shouldn’t, I glance over at him anyway. He holds out his hand to me. “I think I’ll take my first payment now before you run and hide.”
Lips.
I dart out my tongue, dabbing nervously at the corner of my mouth. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not the monster you think I am,” he says, once again proving he’s inside my fucking head. “Give me a kiss, and that’s one poinsettia leaf down.”
A kiss? That’s all?
Now, I’d be lying if I hadn’t fantasized about his lips while we were talking earlier. But that was before I discovered he was my stalker, my avenging guardianangel, amurderer. It would be so damn wrong to still be attracted to a contract killer, and yet…
“One kiss?”
“That’s all.”
I can handle that… I think. Still, I can’t just fall into his arms.
I cross my arms over my chest. “You know… if you want a kiss, you could just…takeit.”
Patrick’s jaw tightens. “That’s not how this is going to work between us,” he says in a low voice. “And you know it.”
