Elemental Assassin 02 - Web of Lies

thought you were developing est. The giant cop told me—then asked if I still wanted a heart.”
    to press charges.”
    Disappointment tinged his words. I ignored the longDonovan looked at the cop, who could be seen standing the sound stirred in me. ing on the sidewalk through the storefront windows.
    “oh, I’ve always had a heart, detective,” I replied in a
    “Xavier? He’s a good guy. Probably thought he was doing breezy tone. “I just don’t let it keep me from doing what you a favor, letting you know about the kid and his conneeds to be done. That would be weak, and I’m not weak. nections. Because Jonah McAllister isn’t going to like this. Haven’t been in a long time.”
    He could cause a lot of trouble for you.”
    “No, weak is one thing you’re definitely not.” Dono“If he does, I’ll handle it the way I always do. Quickly. van eyed me. “You may be retired, but you really haven’t Efficiently. Permanently.”
    changed at all, have you, Gin?”
    “The way you always do? I thought you were trying
    “That depends on your definition of change . Am I to change.”
    suddenly going to morph into a soccer mom or a bleed“I am,” I replied. “But white trash is still white trash, ing heart who lets people walk all over her? No, and I detective. Nobody comes into my restaurant, tries to hold don’t want to. But I’ve reevaluated my life, my priorities, up the place, and threatens my customers. I don’t care and I’ve decided to change them accordingly. That being who his daddy is.”
    said, if somebody pushes me, comes at me like those two We stared at each other. Not for the first time, I longed clowns did, I’m going to push back—three times as hard. to draw the detective close, to pull his lips down to mine Estep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 28-29
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    and see if the sex would be as hot and hard and good as it had been before. We’d certainly have more room to maneuver on one of the tables than we’d had in the supply closet. Mmm.
    But I wasn’t going to make the first move. I’d done that 3
    before. If the detective wanted me, he could let me know. But he didn’t.
    Instead, Donovan Caine stared at me, his eyes tracing over my features, as if he was memorizing them. As if he was never planning on seeing me again. Maybe he wasn’t. The idea made my stomach twist, but I kept my face smooth and expressionless. I hadn’t survived this long by wearing my heart on my sleeve. I didn’t plan on doing it now. Not even for him.
    Finally, Donovan held out his hand. I took it. His Barely a minute passed before the front door opened once fingers felt hard, strong, capable against my own, and more, making the bell chime. I looked up, wondering if the heat from him warmed my whole body. Donovan the detective had changed his mind about, well, anydropped my hand like it burned him. Maybe it did, to thing. Everything.
    want me so much, the woman who’d killed his partner. But the man who strode into the Pork Pit wasn’t DonI’d heard the detective say once that you didn’t fuck your ovan Caine or another cop. His suit was much too nice partner’s murderer. But he’d done it—twice—and enfor that. The black fabric draped off his shoulders, highjoyed it. And he still hated himself for it. lighting a frame that was compact, sturdy, strong. Given “Take care, Gin.”
    his body structure, I would have thought him a dwarf.
    “You too, detective. You too.”
    But at six foot one, he was much too tall for that. He had Donovan Caine nodded at me a final time. Then the a thick head of hair that was a glossy blue-black, while his detective turned on his heel and walked out the door, eyes were a light violet. A white, thin scar slashed diagoleaving my gin joint and heart a little emptier and colder nally across his chin. It offset the crooked tilt of his nose. than they had been before.
    Those were the only two flaws in his chiseled features, which somehow added even more character to his face, rather than detracting from his good looks. He cut an impressive figure. Striking, confident, agEstep_Web of Lies_1P EP.indd 30-31
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    Web of Lies 33
    gressive, forceful. Someone who demanded attention. attempted robbery. As she talked, the man crossed his Someone worth watching. Especially since he looked arms over his chest. His biceps bulged with the motion, vaguely familiar to me.
    and he started tapping one finger on his opposite elbow.