Unexpected Destiny (Assassins and Sweethearts Book 3) by S.J. Maylee Page B

country.” She nodded to Gavin. “Or his wife no longer wanted to share and she really did have him killed last year. It’s possible this Kotov is using Reese’s name to cast doubt, take Elizabeth out, or throw her under the bus. There’s so much we don’t know. We can’t just cast Elizabeth as innocent.” Clair got quiet before she added, “We need you to work her, Aidan.”
    He stood. “I’m not playing your games.” He slammed his fist on the table.
    “Aidan, be reasonable. If she’s in any way involved—”
    “Gavin, she’s not.” Aidan took a deep breath.
    “We just want the truth.” Gavin stared at his hands.
    “Fine.” Aidan’s pulse pounded in his throat. “I’ll ask your questions and then take her back to her apartment and see what we can find.” He prayed Sam tracked the two attackers somewhere. If he was going to get Liz out of this mess, he’d need answers fast.
    “Relay anything you find to Gavin,” Clair said. “My team will be waiting.”
    “Good.” Aidan stepped back from the table.
    “We’re not done here,” Gavin spat out.
    “What now?” Aidan crossed his arms.
    “Do you plan on handling those other two contracts you were so kind to pick up last night?” Gavin shook his head.
    Aidan blew out a long breath, then reached to his inside coat pocket and pulled out the paperwork. “Max, do you mind?”
    “Not at all.” Max took the paperwork. “Check-in when you’re done at Liz’s?”
    “Sounds good and you do the same. You have about thirty hours before the contracts revert to my head instead of theirs.” It would be nice to know if more assassins were headed his way. “I’m taking Liz out through the back. If you don’t want to be seen, I suggest you leave.”
    All four men tapped their knuckles on the table.

Chapter Nine
     
    Liz wrapped her fingers around the cool beer bottle. She couldn’t make out any of the words on the label, even after narrowing her gaze. Nothing came into focus. Not that she had any intention of reading it. It just seemed the normal thing to do. Sitting here and contemplating Reese still being alive didn’t seem normal or being jealous of some woman named Clair. She had no right to claim Aidan as hers. She’d be crazy to actually. He was a murderer.
    She was definitely crazy.
    None of this was making any sense. She rubbed her forehead. Reese had been killed. The police told her so. She had the death certificate. Her stomach twisted around. All she’d known to be true was crashing down around her. She tapped the bottle against her forehead and fought the need to shut down.
    “Sorry about this morning.” Nadia leaned into her peripheral vision.
    “What?”
    “I’m sorry I walked into Aidan’s place this morning.”
    “That was this morning?”
    “Yes.” Nadia cracked a smile. “You look like you’ve had quite the day.”
    “I don’t even know.” She felt like she was losing her mind. “So, you work for Aidan?” Heat flushed across Liz’s face and to the tips of her ears.
    “Yes, I work for Aidan. I’m dating an acquaintance of his, Ethan.” Nadia nudged her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have let myself into Aidan’s place. I’ve let myself get too comfortable and I’m just so used to him being alone.”
    “He doesn’t usually have a woman over?”
    “No, I’ve never seen Aidan with a woman. I’ve heard rumors of the trail of broken hearts he leaves behind though. He doesn’t let many into his life.”
    “Oh.” She prayed she wasn’t one of those broken hearts as soon as he saved her from whatever was chasing her. She took a long sip of her beer.
    “Aidan’s been a hard one for me to get to know but he takes his work seriously. He’s the type of guy you can rely on. From what I can see, he also works hard to hide what he’s feeling. If I want to know something, I have to ask him.”
    “Thanks. I’ll remember that.” She had more of her beer and searched for a new topic. “Is Ethan in the same line of