Best of 2017

“My older sister hated it. I didn’t give it much thought. Then one day I went down to the local store to pick up some things. I didn’t feel like I was gone long, but when I got home I couldn’t find anyone. I went downstairs to his clinic and they were both dead.” I see pain in his eyes. “My sister…” He pauses, looking away from me. “They were not merciful.”

I hold on to Viktor, letting him know I’m here. I want to comfort the little boy who had to see that.

“I went upstairs and I packed a bag. I took one of my father’s guns and some cash he kept at home and I left. I hoped the police would think whoever did this took me and would think I was dead, too. They did.”

“Where did you go?” My eyes water.

“I lived on the streets. I was trying to find the person who killed my sister. I wanted revenge on the sick fuck who did those things to her. It took years, but I found him.”

“How old were you when you found him?”

“Barely a teenager. By that time, I’d learned the streets. When I found him I took him to an abandoned warehouse. I used to read everything I could get my hands on, and growing up, a lot of that was medical textbooks my father had around. This knowledge was helpful. I knew how to cause pain but also how to do it in a way that wouldn’t kill him. Or at least, not quickly.”

At that, I tense. He was a little boy doing this. I turn my head and give him a kiss over his heart again to let him know I’m still with him.

“I played with him for hours until I finally shot him. He was my first kill.”

I crawl up Viktor’s body to put my face into his neck. “Keep going.”

“I left a note on his body with my sister’s name. It didn’t take long for word to spread about what had been done. People were shocked that such a young boy had done these things. It wasn’t long until people were asking me to do things for them, offering me money to do it. I was young. I could get in and out of places without being noticed. I took the jobs and did what I had to do.”

“You’re a contract killer?”

“Yes.”

“You said you pick your jobs. How do you pick them?”

“I take jobs that rid the world of people like my sister’s killer. But understand that just because I do it my way doesn’t make it okay. I’m still a killer, angel. I kill people for money. This is who you lie in bed with, who you gave your innocence to.”

“Viktor.” I kiss below his ear before sitting up and looking down at him. His chest is littered with scars. I place my hands flat on his chest, my hair falling all around us. I feel powerful sitting over him, but he looks like a warrior between my thighs. “Are you done with that life? Are we free of it?”

“You still want me?” He looks at me with hope in his eyes, his hands moving down to my hips.

“Would you let me go if I didn’t?” I raise an eyebrow in question. His fingers dig in, silently answering me. “I don’t want to go. I love you. All of you.”

Suddenly I’m on my back and Viktor is looking down on me. Being thrown around so easily sends a delicious chill up my spine. “I’m done with that life. If you are by my side, I’ll give it all up.”

I lock my arms around his neck.

“I love you more than anything, angel, and I’m going to show you that for the rest of our lives.”

“Start now. Make love to me.”

CHAPTER SIX

VIKTOR

I LIE HERE STARING at my angel while she sleeps. Her hair is all over me. It’s softer than silk and I find myself playing with it constantly. I need to get up and start making plans. I wanted to do it after we ate dinner last night, but we ended up swimming in the lake, then tumbled back into bed after a shower. I couldn’t keep my hands off her. Even through the night I couldn’t stop from reaching for her. Each time, she welcomed me with spread thighs and a wet cunt. I should have let her rest, but I’m an animal when it comes to her. I have a feeling she’s going to be sore. It may work to my advantage since we’ll be traveling most of the day.

I slide out from under her, hoping to get my shit done before she wakes up. I walk out of the room and head for the bag I dropped by the door. I find a pair of boxers and slide them on before grabbing a burner phone out of my bag.

I freeze when I hear something coming up the gravel driveway outside. I glance down the hall to make sure my angel isn’t coming, then sidle over to the window to look out.

I can feel the smile pulling at my lips.

I open the door, stepping out as her father comes up the stairs to the porch. His gray hair is styled and like always he’s in a suit. I’m starting to see that everything is about appearances for him. He freezes at the sight of me. I take a step to close some of the distance between us. The shock is clear on his face.

“It’s you, that man she’s been drawing in her notebooks,” he says, accusation in his voice.

I watched her draw so many times, but I never had any idea what it was. Fuck, I love her. I’m starting to see she really loves me, too. She keeps on showing it time and time again. I’m going to take it.

I don’t say anything. Instead I give him a bored look.

“Get off my property right now,” he says, flustered but straightening his shoulders.

“Can’t,” I say, taking another step closer. “It doesn’t belong to you.”

His face drops a little at my words. “Is my daughter in there?”

“She doesn’t belong to you anymore.” I fire back, then lightning fast, I backhand him across the face.

He flies back, hitting the gravel, and I’m on him before he can cry out. I wrap my hand around his throat so he can’t make a noise.

“You’re going to be real fucking quiet because my angel is sleeping. If you wake her, things are going to go badly for you.” He’s choking and trying to pull my hand away from his throat.

“Blink twice if you understand me.”

He does, and I release him. He coughs but covers his mouth at the same time. I stand back up, looking down at him. It takes everything in me not to kick him, but I’d probably break something, and I want him to leave. I don’t want my angel seeing him. I handle any darkness that tries t

o come at her.

“Get up and get the fuck out of here.”

He stands, backing up a few paces and rubbing his throat. My handprint is already showing on it. He opens his mouth, but I cut him off. “Don’t think I don’t know about London’s mom.” His face pales at my words. “Don’t come back here or try to reach out to her again. She’s dead to you.” With that, I turn and go back in the house, locking the door behind me. I look out the window and watch him take one last look at the house before he gets in his car and leaves.

I grab my burner phone and make a call. I hear the line pick up.

“It’s Fixer.”

“Finally calling in that favor?”

“Yeah, I want you to make it look like an accident.” I rattle off her father’s address before hanging up. He took her mother from her and laid hands on her. He was already a dead man.

I make one last call to line up plans, then I break the phone in half and toss it into the trash. I head back upstairs, feeling like I’ve already been away from her too long. I slide into bed next to her and she wraps her naked body around me.

A feeling of being home settles in my chest.

“You smell good,” she says against my neck, then kisses me there and gives a little nibble. My cock hardens at the slightest attention from her.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little sore, but a good sore,” she sighs.

“I’m going to run you a bath. I’ll make us something to eat, and then we need to hit the road.”

“Mmkay,” she mumbles, but she doesn’t move. I slide out and she grabs for me, but I’m already pulling her into my arms. I pick her up and carry her into the bathroom, sitting her on the counter.

I run the water for her bath, making it nice and warm. “Give me a morning kiss,” she says, finally opening her eyes. I step between her legs and take her mouth. The kiss is soft and sleepy, and when she’s finished I pick her up and place her in the warm water.