Instead, I held myself back.
This was a lot for her, that much was obvious, and if I went too far—I didn’t know if she’d try to run.
I didn’t want to risk that.
“We’re strangers. I mean, you don’t know me at all. And you’re a killer. I don’t… I don’t know what I feel.”
“You don’t have to feel anything. All I know is when I reached down between your legs, you were already dripping wet. That wasn’t some accident. You wanted me to touch you, whether you knew it or not, and you still do. That’s enough for me.”
I heard a sound downstairs. It was subtle, just a door opening and closing softly, but it was enough to alert me.
Fiona hadn’t seemed to notice though.
“That was just a stupid accident,” she whispered.
“Accident or not, that’s why I’m here.” Another sound. Footsteps down the hallway. “Why don’t you stay up here for a bit and get comfortable? I’ve got to take care of something downstairs.”
She frowned a little. “I don’t have any of my stuff here.”
“Stay here. Get comfortable.”
Not a request. A command.
She seemed to get it and sank back onto her elbow, then grimaced as she rubbed the massive bruise. “Yeah, okay fine.”
“I’ll be right back.” I shut the door behind me and headed back down the steps, my hand on the gun I had tucked in the small of my back.
I didn’t need it though—German sat in my kitchen, frowning at the two glasses of whiskey.
“You got company?” he asked without looking over.
That was good. He hadn’t heard Fiona talking.
“Might’ve brought home a date.”
“Sorry to interrupt then.” He poured some whiskey into Fiona’s glass and sipped it.
“You shouldn’t have come into my house like this.”
“You shouldn’t have killed Boris. I guess we’re even.”
He turned, but I was faster. I had the gun up and aimed at his face before he could bring his own around at me.
“Relax,” I said, staring at him steadily. If I had to end German, I would, although I didn’t want to. I liked German.
“You killed one of our guys. That’s usually a death sentence.”
“I didn’t realize it was Boris until it was too late. I thought he was someone else attacking her.”
“And you stepped in to help?” He gently placed his gun down on the counter and leaned up against it with his arms cross over his chest. “I get that Boris was a piece of shit and maybe the stupidest man to ever live, but you still shouldn’t have killed him.”
“Like I said, I didn’t realize who it was until after I cracked his skull.” I lowered the gun slightly, but didn’t put it away. “I saw the girl getting attacked, and you know how I am. Nobody takes a kill from me. So I stepped in and stopped it.”
“I find all that hard to believe.”
“What do you think happened then?” I kept my voice perfectly steady. If I showed any sign of weakness, or indicated in any way that I was lying, German would notice it. That bastard was clever and observant, and I couldn’t bluff my way out of this if I weren’t perfect.
“I think half your story’s right. You can’t stand when people take your kills, we all know it. Except you knew it was Boris trying to take the girl out, and you still stepped in and ended him.”
That was good. He believed half my story at least. The other half didn’t matter, so long as he didn’t think I was trying to protect her.
And he didn’t realize she was in the house.
“Doesn’t matter what you think. Someone tried to step between me and a kill, and I don’t let that happen. Boris should’ve known better.”
“We didn’t tell him that you were already assigned to take her out.”
I sighed and tilted my head. “That explains his methods.”
“Boris was dumb, like I said.” German rubbed his face, which was about as much emotion as he ever showed. The man perpetually frowned. “I can sell this to the Pakhan. I think he’ll let you off the hook, but he’s going to send someone else to finish the girl.”
“Tell him that would be a big mistake.”
“Your pride’s going to get you killed.”
“My pride’s what keeps me relevant.” I stepped forward and lowered the gun further. German didn’t even flinch. He continued to watch me coolly, like I wasn’t the one with the gun and the advantage here.
He knew me, knew what kind of man I was, and knew that if I wanted him dead, then he’d be dead.
“I can’t promise the Pakhan will back down, but I’ll tell him what you said, for whatever it’s worth. But Mack, we want that girl dead, and we want it to happen soon. No more delays.”
“I’ll take her when I’m ready.”
“I bet you will.” German raised his hands. “I’m taking my gun and leaving now. You going to shoot me?”