Charming Asshole (Killer of Kings 3)

“‘We’ aren’t starting anywhere,” he said. “I’m dropping you off at your apartment and then I’ll get to the bottom of this mess.”

“Are you sure that’s a safe place for me?”

He ignored her question as he stopped in front of her building. “There was a shooting at a bar not far from here. Girls have gone missing. It might be related. Cutting all ties with your ex is probably a smart idea,” he said. “You made a good move calling me.”

“I thought you were going to help me,” she said, reluctantly stepping out. June didn’t feel right staying at her apartment. Daniel hadn’t asked about her injury, and didn’t seemed concerned with her or Killian, just winning her as a prize. She’d gotten to town, and hoped Daniel was actually going to help make sure Killian was safe.

What a mess. This guy was a nightmare, and no way was he interested in making the town safe. He was probably in cahoots with bad people, and now that she was thinking about it, she was only making things worse, but there was no turning back, not now.

She dug in her purse and pulled out her keys. As soon as she pushed open the door to her little apartment, she noticed a huge man sitting at her dinette table. He had a gun in his hand, but he hadn’t pointed it at her. Considering the number of tattoos he had, she wondered if he was one of the bikers from the bar coming for revenge. Or was this the same man that had tried to murder her?

“Close the door,” he said.

She held her breath, too nervous to talk or make any quick movements. June s

lowly complied, closing the door, but not taking her eyes off him.

“Who are you?” she whispered. So many thoughts filled her head. What would happen to her son if she were killed?

“You’re not supposed to be here.” He shifted to pull out his cell phone, resting his gun on the table beside him. “Problem,” he said into the phone.

Should she make a break for it? It would take him a minute to grab his gun. She could get out of the apartment and start running, screaming to attract attention. In the end, she chickened out, not ready to take such a risk. One gunshot wound was enough for her.

She hadn’t been paying attention to his conversation, too caught up in her own dire thoughts. “I have a son,” she said, hoping to appeal to any bit of humanity left in him.

“I know.”

At least Killian was in a safe place. It gave her a measure of comfort knowing he was untouchable. The longer she stood there, her legs growing tired, she began to lose hope. This guy probably planned on killing her, so what the hell was he waiting for? As the bleakness of her situation settled in, her bravado increased. What did she have to lose?

“If you hurt me, my boyfriend won’t stop hunting you until you’re dead,” she said. June should be one hundred percent against Killian’s lifestyle, but it felt empowering knowing how lethal her man could be. If only he was with her now, protecting her from this beast of a man.

He nodded. “I agree.”

She frowned. What was happening? How long was he going to drag this out? “Then it would be smart to let me walk away, right?”

“I’m supposed to keep you here, so no, you won’t be walking off.” He picked up his gun, released the magazine, and examined it before shoving it back in place.

“Who wants me here? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

When the door opened behind her, she was ready to collapse. Her nerves were frayed, her body and mind exhausted. She turned around, and found the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.

“Killian!” She threw herself into his arms, holding him close. “I was so scared.”

He held her shoulders, holding her back. “What are you doing here? I told you to wait for me.”

“My parents weren’t kidnapped. It’s a trap.”

“Yeah, we figured that out.” He glared at the guy in the chair. “How did you get here, baby?”

“I took an Uber with some money I found in your condo. I was worried about you.”

He cupped her face in his big hands, staring down at her. “God, you’re beautiful.” Then he kissed her, hard and demanding. She melted against his lips, savoring the sense of love and security he evoked in her. The entire world and its problems went away, leaving just the two of them.

Killian threaded his hands into her hair, trailing his kisses down to her neck. She closed her eyes, tilting her head to give him better access.

When the guy in the chair cleared his throat, they pulled away from each other.

“I’m still sitting here. You want me to leave?”