Leopard's Kiss (Shadow Guardians) (Shadows Guardians Book 1) by Stephanie Rowe Page B

would have destroyed them. It was how it was. "I can always find her now." He kept part of his attention on Beckett as she got into a car that was soon moving quickly out of the area. Her energy was calm, and for the moment, she was safe. He let her go, turning instead to study Anya. "Why did you make a deal? I could have read her mind, or forced her to talk to us."
    Anya paused, and frowned at him. "First of all, you can't read my mind. Maybe you can't read hers. Clearly, there are some people in this world who have the capability of blocking you."
    "Not if I don't care if I hurt them. I could get in your head if I didn't care about the damage I would cause."
    Her eyes widened. "You have this high and mighty moral code when it comes to killing, but not when it comes to frying people's brains?"
    He narrowed his eyes, watching her. "I wasn't planning to fry your brain, but yes, death is different. Sometimes I need information. If the stakes are high enough, I'll do whatever is necessary to get it."
    "Well, I don't believe in hurting others. There's enough pain in this world." She rolled the clothes up into a ball. "We need to go to Connecticut after midnight tonight. Can you get us there that fast?"
    "Yes, of course." Her attitude grated at him, treating him like he was some kind of deviant for being willing to push boundaries to get the job done. "You'd never hurt anyone to help yourself?"
    "No—"
    "What if it would have saved your mother?"
    She snapped a sharp glare at him. "Don't be an ass. That's not fair."
    "No? Maybe that's my standard. Did that occur to you? That maybe I inflict pain on others only when it really matters. And where do you draw the line on what matters, Anya? Are your hands so clean?" He didn't know why he cared. He never cared what anyone thought. Ever. Damn. Why was he even getting into it with her? "Never mind. Let's go."
    She didn't move, though, studying him. "I don't understand you," she said softly.
    "Good. An assassin can't be predictable. You coming, or what?" He was feeling pissed off right now, and he didn't know why.
    No, he knew why. Listening to the exchange between the women had made him think. It had made him remember. It had made him want to have that conversation with the one person in his life who mattered to him, who didn't even know he existed. He never thought about having an actual relationship with his brother, about what he had given up for his life, but listening to Beckett and Anya had made it impossible for him to ignore it, and he didn't like thinking about it.
    He didn't like anything that Anya had brought into his life, in fact. He was royally screwed for blowing the contract he'd accepted for her death, even though he'd wired the money back into his client's account while Anya had been sleeping. He didn't like at all how much he wanted her physically. And it could serve no useful purpose that she was making him think and feel shit that an assassin couldn't afford.
    Plus, he had to be a guardian. What the hell?
    Then she smiled at him, a radiant, genuine smile that made his heart thunder to a stop. "Did you hear her?" she asked, her eyes glistening with excitement. "Julia is still alive, and she told us where to go. It's my first real lead. We have a chance!"
    Shit. Shit. Shit. She was absolutely beautiful when she was happy. He wanted to yank her into his arms, pin her against the wall again, and lose himself until there was nothing left of who he was, and all that remained was her.
    But he wouldn't. He'd learned that from his father. The more he wanted her, the less he could take.
    Her smile faded. "What's wrong with you?"
    "I want to fuck you." He knew it was crass, but he wanted to piss her off. He wanted her to hate him, so she would stop smiling at him like that.
    Her smile faded, and she studied him speculatively. Unfortunately, she didn't look pissed. She looked thoughtful.
    After a moment, she walked over to him. He stiffened as she neared, and shoved his hands