What a peculiar name. And it seemed rather playful for someone who killed for a living. “Really?”
“Technically Jinxanthus, but most people get bored after the first syllable so . . .” He shrugged.
She laughed again. “You are nothing like I thought an assassin would be.”
“Oh I can go back to being a total dick if you want. That’s really easy for me.”
No doubt. It seemed to be the natural state of being for most people, these days. “That’s okay. Like you said, I get enough of that already. I like the change of pace.”
He inclined his head to her. “Well, it was a pleasure meeting you.”
“You, too.”
And then he headed off, leaving her with a weird pang in her chest that she couldn’t explain.
How weird was that?
She wasn’t the kind of woman who cared about men as a rule. They were nice whenever she had a biological itch to scratch, but that was all she wanted one for.
Men came with baggage and her life was screwed up enough. Last thing she wanted was more drama or more complications.
But something about Jinx . . .
You’re an idiot!
Assassins were forbidden to have any kind of relationship with anyone. Physical or friendly.
To do so was a death sentence for them and for anyone dumb enough to try to befriend them.
But what a shame for a man that fine to be off-limits. Really, that alone should be a crime.
Oh well.
Putting it out of her mind, she headed back to her table to find her second-in-command, Jedidiah Tweedle, sitting down with new drinks for her and one for him. “Where were you just now?”
“Long story.” She sat at the table and knocked back her shot, then took a gulp of her Tondarion Fire to chase it. “Where have you been?”
Jedi took a much more cautious sip of his alcohol. “Scrounging for contracts, but they’re anorexic right now.”
Made sense. The League was cracking down on mercenaries and freelancers. Even the Virgyls like the one she used to work for were feeling the bite of League scrutiny in a way they’d never felt before. In the past, The League had left them alone to oversee the conduct of their members. But lately, The League had been randomly auditing each Virgyl and then shutting them down and executing all members who held permits for bounty hunting and assassination.
For no reason other than the Prime Commander was a paranoid piece of shit convinced that one of the Virgyls was going to send an assassin after him to end his life.
He was far more likely to die at the hands of one of his own than from a hired blaster.
Idiot.
But there was nothing they could do, other than try to survive until nature took its course.
And it always took its course. Paranoid assholes never made it long.
Jedi pulled the tie from his hair and released the mass of unruly dark curls that fell to the middle of his back.
Eve reached for the bottle and poured another drink. “Did you talk to your friend Syn?”
“He was in the middle of something. Said he’d call as soon as he could.”
Damn the timing. “I can’t stand the thought of my sister rotting in prison over our father’s stupidity. I have to get her out of there.”
