get to know Alistair. The other part is glad that I won’t have to deal with all that comes with dating someone with so much baggage. It’s probably smarter to break ties now.
But somehow, never seeing him again feels… wrong.
His eyes lift from the floor to stare into mine.
“I need to know that you’re safe, Kendall. Promise me, that you won’t go anywhere alone at night. Get your gun license and arm yourself. Be cautious, at least for the next few days. I …” he inhales deeply, “I don’t want to be the reason you get hurt. Ever.”
“I promise.”
Alistair nods and walks out of the bathroom.
I stand still for a moment, allowing his words to wash over me. It’s the closest we’ve come to discussing our feelings since we met. Whatever this man is or was, he cares about me. I could see it in his eyes.
I rush out of the bathroom and charge down the hall.
“Alistair!”
He freezes and whirls around in time to catch me when I launch myself at him, hugging him like there’s no tomorrow. He stands solidly on the ground. His arms band my waist. I squeeze him tight, feeling a rush of emotions swallowing my entire being.
He lets me go and nudges me away.
“Be safe.”
He stares at me as if taking a picture with his eyes. Alistair does not acknowledge my instruction.
Live by the sword. Die by the sword .
He can’t guarantee life, the same way I can’t demand it. This may be the last time we see each other. Without another word, he opens my apartment door. I listen for footsteps until I realize he won’t leave until he’s heard me lock up.
I do so and only then does Alistair Howard walk away.
Chapter 20
A listair
My rental is at the restaurant, so I “borrow” a bicycle chained to the rack outside of Kendall’s apartment. I leave a couple hundred dollar bills under the lock for the owner’s trouble. The Belizean roads are dark, expect for the spots lit by the street lamps. But the night is far from quiet.
Toads, crickets, and cicadas sing throaty songs. The wind rushes through the tree leaves and the faint strains of a nightclub’s bass speakers sound in the distance. I’m focused on pedaling. If my breath comes hard and fast, if my legs burn, if my chest can barely expand and contract maybe I can forget about her.
Just for a few minutes.
The exercise is fruitless. Kendall is as much on my mind as she was when she hugged me. It was a simple, innocent move but it made more of an impact than anything I have ever experienced with a woman.
In her red dress, bare feet, and flowing dark hair, she seemed an angel. When her brown arms wrapped around me, I didn’t want to let her go. I wanted to hold on to the softness of her waist, to the purity of her heart.
Letting go was the hardest thing I have ever done. Pushing her away was near impossible. But I did. I did because establishing ties with Kendall is dangerous. When an assassin is marked, the family is fair game.
Loved ones are guaranteed to draw even the hardest heart out of hiding. I can’t put Kendall’s life in jeopardy more than I already have. It was a mistake to ask her out. I’m glad that our connection was only witnessed by Maveth.
All I need to do now is dispose of his body and then I’m going to run far, far away from Belize. Kendall will be safe and I will have that security at least. When I die, it will be protecting her, even if it’s just from afar.
I quickly throw the bike down when I near the dilapidated hut. Running into the foliage, I scale the ladder leading into the well and throw the door open, mentally preparing myself for what I have to do.
I feel a shift in the air immediately. My eyes search the area where Maveth’s body had fallen.
Maveth isn’t there.
With rising panic, I search the entire room. There’s no sign of the assassin anywhere.
I rush out of the well and search the surrounding area for tracks. There are none. I return to the training room to search for clues. I’m rummaging around the
But somehow, never seeing him again feels… wrong.
His eyes lift from the floor to stare into mine.
“I need to know that you’re safe, Kendall. Promise me, that you won’t go anywhere alone at night. Get your gun license and arm yourself. Be cautious, at least for the next few days. I …” he inhales deeply, “I don’t want to be the reason you get hurt. Ever.”
“I promise.”
Alistair nods and walks out of the bathroom.
I stand still for a moment, allowing his words to wash over me. It’s the closest we’ve come to discussing our feelings since we met. Whatever this man is or was, he cares about me. I could see it in his eyes.
I rush out of the bathroom and charge down the hall.
“Alistair!”
He freezes and whirls around in time to catch me when I launch myself at him, hugging him like there’s no tomorrow. He stands solidly on the ground. His arms band my waist. I squeeze him tight, feeling a rush of emotions swallowing my entire being.
He lets me go and nudges me away.
“Be safe.”
He stares at me as if taking a picture with his eyes. Alistair does not acknowledge my instruction.
Live by the sword. Die by the sword .
He can’t guarantee life, the same way I can’t demand it. This may be the last time we see each other. Without another word, he opens my apartment door. I listen for footsteps until I realize he won’t leave until he’s heard me lock up.
I do so and only then does Alistair Howard walk away.
Chapter 20
A listair
My rental is at the restaurant, so I “borrow” a bicycle chained to the rack outside of Kendall’s apartment. I leave a couple hundred dollar bills under the lock for the owner’s trouble. The Belizean roads are dark, expect for the spots lit by the street lamps. But the night is far from quiet.
Toads, crickets, and cicadas sing throaty songs. The wind rushes through the tree leaves and the faint strains of a nightclub’s bass speakers sound in the distance. I’m focused on pedaling. If my breath comes hard and fast, if my legs burn, if my chest can barely expand and contract maybe I can forget about her.
Just for a few minutes.
The exercise is fruitless. Kendall is as much on my mind as she was when she hugged me. It was a simple, innocent move but it made more of an impact than anything I have ever experienced with a woman.
In her red dress, bare feet, and flowing dark hair, she seemed an angel. When her brown arms wrapped around me, I didn’t want to let her go. I wanted to hold on to the softness of her waist, to the purity of her heart.
Letting go was the hardest thing I have ever done. Pushing her away was near impossible. But I did. I did because establishing ties with Kendall is dangerous. When an assassin is marked, the family is fair game.
Loved ones are guaranteed to draw even the hardest heart out of hiding. I can’t put Kendall’s life in jeopardy more than I already have. It was a mistake to ask her out. I’m glad that our connection was only witnessed by Maveth.
All I need to do now is dispose of his body and then I’m going to run far, far away from Belize. Kendall will be safe and I will have that security at least. When I die, it will be protecting her, even if it’s just from afar.
I quickly throw the bike down when I near the dilapidated hut. Running into the foliage, I scale the ladder leading into the well and throw the door open, mentally preparing myself for what I have to do.
I feel a shift in the air immediately. My eyes search the area where Maveth’s body had fallen.
Maveth isn’t there.
With rising panic, I search the entire room. There’s no sign of the assassin anywhere.
I rush out of the well and search the surrounding area for tracks. There are none. I return to the training room to search for clues. I’m rummaging around the
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