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)
“And these people?” he prodded when Kai fell silent.
“You’re in danger because you know me. Because hurting you could possibly hurt me.”
Dev’s stomach twisted and the delicious dinner they had enjoyed soured. He’d never want to be the reason Kai was hurt. How could someone use him like that?
He nearly laughed aloud at his own thoughts. How was it really surprising? He was up to his eyeballs in a world of assassins and God only knew what else. These people were killers. They weren’t about playing nice, sharing, and talking about their feelings.
While he certainly wasn’t cut out for this kind of world as an occupation, did it also mean that he needed to start putting in some emotional distance and protection against Kai? Dating an assassin didn’t seem a long-term kind of affair. It was very likely due to occupational hazards like getting chased through the streets of San Francisco after a wonderful dinner.
“If something goes wrong,” Kai started, but Dev shook his head.
“Nothing is going to go wrong.”
“Dev, please.”
“No, it will be fine. We’re going to be fine. You’re brilliant. We—”
“Dev, please!” Kai interrupted, his voice as sharp as a knife slice. He looked over and Dev was instantly chilled by the fear in Kai’s dark-brown eyes. “If something goes wrong, I want you to go to a very public, crowded place and call Justin. You will not try to contact the police. You will do exactly what Justin says. Do you understand me?”
Dev nodded and then forced out a slightly trembling, “Yes.”
“Do you promise me?”
“Yes. I’ll call Justin. I’ll follow his instructions.”
Some of the lines in Kai’s face eased, and a little of the fear crowding his eyes faded. “Good. I need to know that you will be safe.”
“I will. I promise. You’ll find me. Join me, right?”
Something passed through his eyes, an emotion that Dev refused to put a name to, but he didn’t need to. Kai didn’t speak, and he had a feeling it was because Kai refused to lie to him. If Kai wasn’t with him, if Dev was calling Justin for help, Kai was already dead.
“I will always find you if I am able,” Kai finally said. He forced a smile on his lips that looked thoroughly fake. “Now, we need to run.”
Kai’s fingers tightened on Dev’s arm and he broke into a sprint. Dev choked on a frightened laugh and ran with him. Jogging helped, but it wasn’t giving him the endurance he needed to keep up at this kind of speed for long. He was a slow, meandering jogger. It was more about clearing his head and getting lost in the scenery than the exercise and beating his best time.
It also didn’t help that they were attempting to weave through pedestrians strolling along. And the hills. Fuck you, San Francisco, and these ridiculous hills.
Dev’s muscles and lungs burned. He panted, sweat soaking into his clothes with every step. Kai had slowed his pace somewhat, but he still pulled Dev along. He was breathing heavy, but he wasn’t showing the same amount of wear and exhaustion as Dev. The man’s workout must be incredible.
And he was running on his bad knee without showing signs of pain, which was just amazing.
He didn’t know how long they ran before Kai finally pulled them into a narrow alley. Kai shoved him ahead, barking, “Stop at the cross street and place your back to the wall.”
Panting, Dev following his instructions. The alley they were in formed a strange L shape. Dev headed straight for the wall, nearly slamming into it. His hands scraped along the rough brick and he dropped his shoulders against it, desperately trying to catch his breath.
As he turned, he could now clearly see Kai, and it was like watching an action movie, but more frightening because it was real. Two men who looked to be of similar Asian descent as Kai were fast approaching with knives drawn. Kai picked up a metal lid from a trash can and spun on his right foot, slamming the lid into the face of the first man. He instantly turned his attention to the second man as he slashed through the air with the long blade. Kai deflected it with a loud clang of metal on metal, then hit him with the lid.
The second man was briefly beaten, but now the first guy was on his feet again. Dev’s heart pounded in his throat and he tried to look around for some way to help, but he couldn’t. He was more likely to get in Kai’s way.
Kai fought the two men, keeping them pushed back. Dev couldn’t drag his eyes away from the scene. The assassin was lightning fast and incredibly efficient in all of his movements. These men were noticeably outmatched if Kai was keeping up with both of them.