Charming Asshole (Killer of Kings 3)

Once they were on the street, walking away from the bar, reality rained down on her, painful and harsh. “My job. I lost my job because of you.”

He scowled down at her, no other expression on his face. “Is that how little you think of yourself, June? You think it’s okay to let scum like that have their way with you?”

“I have no choice!”

“Do you sell yourself, too?”

Rage built up inside her so strong that she started to beat on his chest with the little strength she had left. All these years, she’d had opportunities to sell her body or give one of those monsters a lap dance, but she’d always refused. There were some lines she refused to cross. “You bastard! I hate you!”

“Whoa there.” He easily subdued her, holding her wrists against his chest.

“Why don’t you kill me, too?”

He exhaled in a growl, then hoisted her up into his arms. How had he gotten so strong? She was no lightweight. June wanted to struggle, but she was so spent, so weary of life. For once it would be so nice to have someone to lean on.

“My job,” she muttered.

“Get over it, baby. You’re never setting foot in that place again. Things are going to change around here, starting with this hate you have for me.”

They got to a car, and he set her down on her feet. It was a silver Porsche with chrome rims that shone under the streetlights. She didn’t know much about cars, but recognized the logo.

“Is this your car?”

He pulled out his key fob and clicked open the door with one push. “I’m taking you to my hotel room. It’s sketchy as fuck, but it’s the best I could find in this town.”

“I need to go home. Killian needs me.”

“No, little Killian’s fast asleep, or he better be. Right now, we have some unfinished business to deal with. I never should have left you, but I’m back, and I’m not leaving.” He cupped the back of her neck and leaned down. “You’re mine.”

Then he kissed her.

Chapter Three

For a few precious seconds, June allowed herself to be transported back ten years ago, where life was simple. There were times she missed her old life—the dreams she’d had, the fantasies. Every second she had been with Killian ten years ago, she felt like she’d found her soul mate. It had all been a lie. Nothing had been true, so she pulled away from the kiss, shoving him hard in the process.

“I’m going home, and I’m going to figure out the mess that you’ve gotten me into. I don’t know who you are.” Before she even made it a couple of steps, he grabbed her arms and hauled her into his car. Within seconds he had her strapped in and the car door locked. When she pulled on the handle, it wouldn’t budge. The child lock had been put on. Her day was going from bad to worse. “Let me go.”

“You seem to think that I give a fuck what you want right now,” Killian said, climbing behind the wheel. “Newsflash, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not disappearing, and I sure as shit am not walking away again. I did that once, and it was a fucking nightmare. I’m not going to do it again.”

She shook her head, and stared out of the window. This was not what she wanted to do.

“Take me home. I mean it, Killian. If I’m not working then I want to be with him.”

“We need to talk.”

“We can talk at my house. I’ll even make you a coffee. How’s that? Do you think that’s reasonable?” She didn’t like how bitchy she sounded, but the truth was, she didn’t know what to do. Part of her wanted to run, jump into his arms and pretend the last ten years hadn’t happened. That she didn’t find out he was nothing like he had said. Everything he’d told her had been nothing but lies. She couldn’t pretend. Her life wouldn’t let her. Her son wouldn’t let her.

The time for fairytales ended a long time ago.

“You’re not going to call the cops on me? Try and cause me a few problems?” he asked.

“Are you a wanted man?”

He threw his head back and laughed. “No, baby. I’m not a wanted man.”

“Stop calling me baby. I’m no one’s baby.”

“No, you’re someone’s mom.”