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)
“I doubt that will be an option. She’ll want to keep you where she can see you.” Kai took a calming breath and slowly released it. “If she speaks to you or asks a question, always be polite but brief. Don’t offer more information than absolutely necessary. The less information she knows about you, the safer you will be.”
“Yeah, but what are the odds that I end up with another contract on my head? There’s no chance she’s ever going to come after you.”
Kai shook his head at Dev’s naïveté. “You don’t have to be a target to be in danger. Being associated with an assassin is dangerous. She could find a way to force you to assist her on a job. And if you know too much, become a liability…”
“She’d kill me too,” Dev finished softly.
“I’m sorry. I want you to know that I carefully weighed my options. She’s largely out of the game, and if she doesn’t know much about you, I don’t think you’re likely to come into play. I thought it was more dangerous for you to remain at home without me to protect you.”
To Kai’s shock, Dev actually smiled at him. “I’m glad you brought me. I want to help you if I can.” His grin turned a little sheepish and he shrugged. “Besides, I find this all interesting. I’m a scientist. I love learning new things. Jake’s got his adventure at camp. Maybe this is my summer adventure.”
Kai dropped his head back against the headrest and swallowed his groan. It was starting to look surprising that Devlin Relic had lived as long as he had. His new fascination with assassins was very likely going to get him killed. Or at least, get Kai killed.
Ahead of them a large log cabin came into view, made of dark honey wood timbers and a steeply pitched roof. Kai slowed the car to a crawl while his eyes swept all around him, looking for any sign of the house’s owner or traps. He skimmed over a few hidden cameras and one spot that looked like a hunter’s perch heavily camouflaged, but no human beings.
It was hard to believe that this place might belong to a deadly assassin. There were a few comfortable chairs on the wide porch and a swing. A few boxes hung on the railing, overflowing with colorful flowers. A wind chime dangled from an eave on the far side of the porch, putting its haunting tune on the breeze.
“Beautiful place,” Dev commented as he unbuckled his seat belt.
Kai parked the car in front of the house and killed the engine. He sat for a moment, trying to will his heart to slow before he detached his seat belt. If it were just him, he wouldn’t be half as stressed. But all his careful plans and experience were thrown out the window with Dev at his side.
“I need you to do exactly as I say. You will open your door slowly, put your hands out the door first. Keep them open so she can see that you aren’t carrying anything. Climb out slowly with your hands above your head. When you’re out of the car, place your hands on the top of your head and stay there. Don’t move closer to the house. Don’t turn around. Not until I say to.”
Dev looked over at him, face pale and sweat dotting his brow. He finally appeared as if he understood the danger they were in. Kai didn’t want Dev to be afraid, but a little fear might keep them alive.
Following Kai’s instructions to the letter, they both exited the car and stood there. Kai strained to hear anything above the rustling of the leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird, but there was nothing. It didn’t matter. He knew she was close. She would have known the second he’d turned onto her driveway. She’d be ready for him.
“You could have called first,” a woman announced in a cold, hard voice.
“You never answer the phone,” Kai said, lifting his voice so he could be heard.
“You don’t look like the normal solicitors or Jehovah’s Witnesses.”
“We just want some information and we’ll be on our way.”
“Do I look like Google to you?”
Kai took a breath to answer, but Dev shocked him by answering first. “Someone keeps dropping dead bodies in my path. Dead bodies of people Kai knows, but I don’t. We thought you might be able to share some insight on who would do something like that.”
A long silence followed Dev’s statement, and Kai inwardly cringed. There was no way he could get to Devlin fast enough from the other side of the car to shield him if she decided to shoot. And any movement toward a weapon on his body was going to result in a bullet in the back of his head.