Ruthless Saints

“Can you bring my phone? I need to call my parents,” I ask, watching his face closely.

To my surprise, he nods before he leaves the room. A couple of minutes later, he comes back with my backpack. He sets it down next to the bed, and opening it, he removes my phone and holds it out to me.

If he was going to kidnap me, surely, he wouldn’t give me my phone?

I check the device and see the battery is dead.

Carson reaches into his pocket, taking out his own phone. “Use mine. The code is nine-twelve-eight-twenty-three.” He sets it down on the bedside table. “I’ll get your charger from your place.”

I give Carson a confused look. I really didn’t expect him to give me a phone.

“The code is easy to remember. Nine for I. Twelve for L. Eight for H, and twenty-three for W. I love Hailey Welsh.”

My emotions crash through me. Everything that’s happened the past week and a half become too much to bear, and I let out a sputtering sob.

Carson sits down on the side of the bed, and this time when he touches me, I can’t bring myself to pull away from him.

We’ve made love in this house. I was happy with him here.

Another sob bursts from me, and when he pulls me to his chest, I can’t stop the tears. His arms wrap around me, and he presses a kiss to my hair, and it feels so familiar, so good.

I’ve needed this… so much.

With every sob, my chest aches more and more until I feel feverish.

“I love you,” he whispers near my ear. “More than anything. I’ll never harm you, and I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt you.”

Carson’s words remind me who he really is, and I pull back from his embrace. He moves his hands to my face and gently wipes the tears from my cheeks.

Placing his thumb beneath my chin, he nudges me to look at him. When our eyes meet, he gives me a pleading look, “I understand you need time, but don’t forget how happy we were. It was real, baby.”

I shake my head. “How am I supposed to accept you’re an assassin?” Even though I don’t want to know, I still ask, “How many people have you killed?”

Carson stares at me, the indecision to tell me warring on his face. Finally, he answers, “I think seventy-eight.”

“You think?” I ask incredulously.

“I didn’t exactly keep count when we were attacked.”

I did. “You killed eleven men.”

“Then the number sits at eighty.”

So many lives.

I close my eyes and take a quivering breath. “Please leave.”

Carson gets up from the bed. “Remember, they were all bad.”

“Just like you, but it doesn’t mean I think you deserve to die,” the words tumble over my lips.

“You still think cockroaches and flies have a purpose?” he asks.

Not having an answer, I scoot down and gingerly lie on my left side. I pull the covers up to my neck and close my eyes.

I hear Carson leave, and he pulls the door shut. Burying my face in the pillow, the rampant emotions batter my broken heart. I cry because even though Carson’s not a good person, I still love him.

Even though I’m scared of him, I still want to be in his arms.

I still feel him in my soul.

Chapter 20

CARSON

I drive to Hailey’s cabin so I can bring all her belongings to my place.

Part of me is happy she’s practically moving in with me, even if it’s against her will. Still, the other half knows it’s only temporarily.

Focus on the now, Carson.

Hailey let you hold her. She just needs to process everything. There’s still a chance she won’t leave you.

Climbing out of the SUV, I glance around. A neighbor quickly shuts their door. So much for blending in with the town’s people.

I walk to the front door and using Hailey’s keys, I open it. I move from room to room, checking it’s safe before I grab her bags. I set them down on the bed and start removing her clothes from the closet. I fold each item neatly before I place it in the bag.

She let me hold her. It gutted me to hear her cry, but having her in my arms was heavenly.

I wish I could turn back time. I’d take Hailey to Damien and Winter’s island, where she’d be safe.

I’d cancel the contract on Joseph Rudaj.

If only…

What’s done is done, though, and I have to deal with the repercussions.

When I’m done packing all the clothes, I move through the cabin, grabbing everything that belongs to Hailey. I set the packed bags down by the front door, and then clean every surface, removing any trace of Hailey being in this place.

Not that it will help hide her. It’s too late for that.

I carry the bags to the car, and after loading them, I lock the front door. I’ll return the keys to the owner.