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The idea is intriguing. I never would’ve thought in a million years that I could be a killer for hire, but how is it different from what I do now? I’d get to kill bad guys and get paid for it?

“What’s the catch?”

“What do you mean?”

“There has to be a downside.”

“Well, yeah, like I said, it’s a pretty unconventional life. If I hadn’t found out about what you do, I wouldn’t have told you what I do. I couldn’t risk having you know and be complicit. I would’ve kept you at arm’s length.” He grins. “As best I could have, anyway. I tried that, but here we are anyway.”

“Same.”

The water starts to cool and Whisper turns around to shut it off. “Let’s dry off and get some food in you, huh?”

“Okay.”

While we dress and he feeds the cat, I think about Whisper’s offer. Obviously, I know I don’t have a problem killing bad guys, but could I make it my living? Could I give up this idea of a normal life? Maybe I could talk to Cashmere about it. He’d have more insight into what it’s like after living with men who do this.

Whisper takes my hand and leads me downstairs to a grand kitchen. There’s a young guy standing at the stove over a skillet, and one of Whisper’s brothers who I’ve seen at the club is next to him cutting up fruit. Other men surround the island, and for once in my life, I’m pretty intimidated when they all look over at me.

Whisper pulls me close. “Guys, this is Blush.”

They all mutter hellos to me as Whisper goes around the island introducing each one.

“This is Specter, and of course you know Colson.”

“Huh?”

Cashmere chuckles. “That’s my real name.”

“Oh. Do you want me to use that?”

“When you’re here, it’s cool, but Cashmere is okay too.”

“Cool.”

“Next up—” Whisper points to a man with dark red hair and a thick beard. “—Wraith, and his man, Pax.”

I nod and smile.

“Ghost and Phantom.”

They both wave at me.

“Boone.” The dark-haired man gives me a nods. He kind of resembles Pax.

“Then there’s Stealth.”

He intimidates me the most with his dark eyes and brooding demeanor. He nods politely but his expression doesn’t change.

“The boss, Shadow.”

Shadow is watching me like a hawk, his astute eyes seemingly digging into my darkest thoughts. I find myself actually leaning away from his intense gaze.

“Welcome,” he says.

“Thank you.”

“I’m Carnage,” the man chopping fruit says. “And my Rue.”