Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 209(@250wpm)___ 174(@300wpm)
"Don't you ever talk to Morgan like this in front of me again," I say through gritted teeth. "It was a genuine accident that doesn't require you to scream at her."
"And here you are again meddling in business that isn't yours," he snaps. "I can talk to my daughter however damn well I please."
"Not while I'm around. And if you continue screaming at her, then you can deal with me." I hang up the phone before he can respond and drop it on the bed next to her. "You okay?"
She only looks at me with wide eyes before she snatches her phone from the bed, clutching the satin sheet to her chest to hide her body from view. "Why would you do that?" she nearly shrieks. "You can't just threaten my dad like that."
I frown as I stare at her in confusion. Just moments ago, she was flinching with every loud, angry word that fell from his mouth as if she were afraid of him, yet she's mad at...me?
"He shouldn't talk to you like that. So you didn't come home last night; what's the big deal?"
"That's not the point, Trent." She tightens the sheet around her and scoots to the edge of the bed, pulling the sheet with her. "I have to go anyway."
"You're mad that I stood up for you?"
"I didn't ask you to do that," she snaps. "Look, I appreciate the gesture, but you don't know me, and you don't know my dad. Telling him he'll pay if he yells at me again definitely crossed the line."
I sigh deeply, racking my brain for a quick way to fix this situation. "I'm sorry," I finally say in a hushed tone as I drop my gaze to the bed. "I...guess I got a bit triggered hearing him yelling at you, and I reacted without thinking." I can feel her eyes on me, so I use the moment to continue speaking. "Back when I was in the group home, there was this foster dad who used to yell like that. Hearing him sent me back to a time when I wasn't brave enough to stand up for myself, so I thought now was the time." I finally look back up at her. "I overstepped, and I apologize."
Her earlier annoyance disappears as her face softens. She slips back into bed and slides over to me, kissing me gently. "I understand," she murmurs. "I'm sorry I flipped out on you. I guess I didn't think about how my dad's normal behavior would affect other people. It's kind of something I'm used to now."
"But you shouldn't be." I take her hand into mine and lace our fingers together. "No one should ever talk to you like that.”
She nods, her gaze on our hands. "Well, I appreciate you trying to protect me, but I can handle my dad. Like I said, I'm used to it. It doesn't hurt the way it used to when I was younger."
Even though she tries to sound confident, she can't hide the hint of sadness that peeks through her words. I give her hand a squeeze. "As much as I'd love to stay in bed with you all day, I should probably get you back home because we make matters worse," I say. "Want to take a shower with me?"
"Sure," she beams. I lead her into the bathroom and turn on the rainfall showerhead, pulling her in behind me when the water is hot enough. It's strange how natural all of this feels, as if this is where Morgan has always belonged. I can't even remember the last time I've dated anyone, much less bring them to my home and allow them to spend the night. Yet here I am, now in the shower with the woman I'm contracted to kill after taking her virginity.
The thought of being her first sexual experience fills my chest with warmth and worry. Even without sex involved, I've had an inkling that the lines between pretending and reality would eventually blur. I'd told myself that I wasn't going to get emotionally involved, that this is only another part of my mission before I carry out a hit. But the more I'm around her, the professional dynamic of hitman and target start to dissolve, leaving the forbidden ground fertile enough for something else to bloom.
Something I can't afford to have happen until I get to the bottom of this.
I push the thoughts aside and focus on Morgan. Soaping up a washcloth, I gently clean her as she does the same for me. The adoration in her eyes as she looks up at me makes my chest tight. The sight before me would've made me happy if this situation were different. But I know that one day, the adoration I see now may disappear forever when she learns who I really am.