Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 407(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Devlin hummed softly, his gaze moving back toward his window. “I like it better when you call me Dev.”
Something inside of Kai instantly melted. Some working part of his brain snickered and observed that Devlin had Kai wrapped around his little finger, but Kai didn’t care. If it made Devlin—no! Dev—happy, then he would call him whatever the fuck he wanted.
“This spider we’re going to meet,” Dev drawled. “Can I ask if she’s another assassin like you?”
“Yes, you may ask, and yes, she was.”
“Not anymore?”
“From my understanding, she’s largely retired and will sometimes work as a handler. The important thing is that she keeps up with all the gossip and chatter of our slice of the world. I’m hoping she might have heard something that we will find useful.”
Kai glanced over to find a frown digging lines into Dev’s face. “Retired like Justin and Gabriel?”
He bit the inside of his mouth until he tasted blood. He wanted to laugh, but he couldn’t. Justin and Gabriel might have talked about retiring from the business once they’d moved in together, but nothing of that sort had happened. No, they were now working together, and from what little he gathered from the two men, business was very good.
But it sounded like the happy couple had told Dev that they were retired, and it was not his place to blow their cover.
“Something like that, I think,” Kai murmured.
“The handler. That’s someone who acts as a middleman between the contracts and the assassin. Negotiations, research, the money.”
Kai closed his eyes for a second and gave his head a shake. “Justin and Gabriel?”
“They might have told me a little about their work. Not a lot of details. Definitely not while Jake was in the room. He thinks they’re detectives.” Dev suddenly sat up straight in his seat and turned to face Kai. “Speaking of, what exactly does Jake think you do for a living?”
“Art collector.”
“What?” Dev asked, laughter clear in that single word.
“I’m an art collector and seller. I specialize in a variety of California art movements, but I have a particular focus on the fifties counter-culture vibe that is associated largely with Jack Kerouac and the beats. I’ve brokered many deals for pieces from Jay DeFeo, George Herms, and Jess.”
“You’re shitting me,” Dev replied softly, surprise flitting through his tone.
“It was a difficult time for artists in California. There wasn’t a broad art scene like you could find on the East Coast during the early to midfifties. The few galleries that existed were tightly locked down by the old masters. No room for new, experimental voices. The underground movement created some stunning art.”
“I…I know nothing about you,” Dev whispered.
Kai started to smile, but it disappeared at the dazed and possibly even worried expression crossing Dev’s face. “You thought I was just a murderer?”
“No! I…well…” he stammered. “But you’re not. You help people, and you love art.”
Kai shook his head. He needed to be fair with Dev. Yes, he liked the idea of the man next to him seeing him as more than a killer, but was he really more? “To be completely honest with you, the art is more of a hobby than an occupation, and I have used it more than once as a cover. Nothing more. What you believe of me is most likely close to the truth.”
“You’re more than an assassin.”
“No—”
“You help people.”
“No, I don’t.” Now Dev was staring at him with a surprisingly penetrating gaze, and Kai realized that he was referring to his own situation. “Do not confuse me with Justin and Gabriel. They’ve developed Robin Hood complexes. I don’t have the same conscience.”
“You do. You’re helping me. We haven’t discussed payment for your assistance.”
“As if I’d allow you to pay me!” Kai nearly shouted in disgust before he could catch himself. Anything else he was about to say was drowned out by Dev’s laughter, and at that sound, Kai really had no desire to argue any longer.
Maybe he liked Dev believing he wasn’t a bloodthirsty killer. He wanted Dev to look at him as though he had some redeeming qualities. But he knew danger lay in that direction. While they could both enjoy it for a while, reality would come back to bite them soon enough.
Luckily, they’d arrived at their destination, providing all the distraction that Kai needed to pull Dev away from his own life and toward their current problem.
Slowing the car, Kai made a left onto a dirt driveway half-hidden by trees and brush. The shadows darkened a little, and Kai tried to tell himself that it was only the sun dipping behind a cloud. They were not descending into Hell. They were going to leave again with their lives intact. Everything was going to be okay.
“Do you want me to stay in the car while you talk?” Dev offered.