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)
“Did you ever think that it was better if you didn’t try?” Kai asked in a voice so low he wasn’t sure if Justin or Gabriel heard him.
“What are you talking about?” Gabriel inquired.
“I don’t want to let him go, but my life…all I will ever do is bring danger into his life.”
“Have you talked to Dev about it? Told him how you feel?” Justin asked.
“Some. He wants to try, but the incident at the gun range only shows how different we are.” He sighed heavily. “I thought maybe I could have what you have, but it’s too different. If someone came after Justin because of Gabriel’s past, Justin would be able to take care of it. It’s who he is. It’s part of his training.”
Gabriel groaned softly while Justin let out a loud “Ha! I told you so.”
“Thank you so very much, Kai,” Gabriel muttered.
“What?”
“Let’s just say that some bad decisions were made because I didn’t want to risk Justin’s life despite my confidence in his skills.”
“He was a real ass,” Justin threw out.
“The point is that while our situation is different,” Gabriel started again in a firm voice that sounded like he was glaring at Justin, “there is something that is the exact same: you have to figure out what is best for both of you. Justin and I have the same occupation, allowing us to continue doing what we enjoy. However, we still had to talk about what we wanted.”
Justin’s voice came over the line sounding closer as if he were leaning over the phone. “And we get to hunt bad guys together now.”
“Move,” Gabriel grumbled. There was a short sound of a scuffle, and then the Russian assassin was back. “Dev will never be an assassin. It’s not who he is. And being with him might mean that you have to give up that life to keep him and Jake safe. Could you do that and be happy?”
“I honestly have no idea. It’s the only thing I’ve done my entire life.” What in the world would he do with himself? Being an assassin was his comfort zone. It gave him a sense of power and control. If that was taken away, was there anything left of him worth having?
Of course, Dev had seen very little of him as an assassin, and he seemed to think Kai had some redeeming qualities. There was a good chance that Dev wouldn’t be disappointed if he walked away from the life. It would mean that Kai was safer as well as Dev and Jake.
“Sounds like you’ve got some thinkin’ to do, Casper,” Justin teased.
“And one more bit of advice,” Gabriel drawled, his tone dry as the desert again. “If you do manage to get cozy and build a home with Dev, don’t tell Jake anything about your secret life. Trust me.”
Justin cackled loudly while Gabriel growled at him.
“I wasn’t planning to tell him, but why?”
“Gabriel’s nephew has taken far too much interest in our jobs,” Justin explained, sounding as if he were barely holding in more laughter. “He’s fully planning to follow in his uncle’s footsteps when he’s older.”
Kai winced. The idea of Jake wanting to follow him into this life made Kai’s stomach twist and turn. No. There was no way in hell he’d ever allow Jake to become an assassin. The worry over his son would kill Dev. Absolutely not. “Thank you for the warning. I don’t think that will be a problem.”
“Good luck, Kai. Keep us posted,” Gabriel murmured.
Kai promised he would and ended the call. He silently padded into the bedroom and put his phone on the charger before slipping into bed with Dev. The man instantly turned toward Kai, sliding his arm across Kai’s chest and snuggling close.
“Everything okay?” he slurred, sounding as if he were still asleep.
Kai brushed a kiss across Dev’s temple and cuddled him close. “Everything is fine. Go to sleep.”
Dev mumbled something Kai couldn’t quite make out, and his breathing evened again. Kai closed his eyes, but it took him a few hours to join Dev in sleep. His brain refused to shut off. How was he going to keep Dev safe? And if he succeeded, how was he going to keep him without putting him in danger all over again?
Chapter 17
Dev looked over at Kai as they crossed the parking lot toward the grocery store. There weren’t too many people around that sunny morning. Most local residents were at work, making the other shoppers largely retirees or stay-at-home parents trying to get their errands done before the kids ran out of patience for anything that didn’t involve something fun.
The man walking next to him looked nothing like a retiree or a stay-at-home father. Dressed in cargo shorts and a white polo shirt with the collar popped up against his silky black hair, Kai looked sexy and maybe just a little bit dangerous. He was the kind of guy who just dropped in for some artisanal cheese and crackers, then jumped into his Porsche and whisked his equally sexy date away on some romantic excursion.