Hired Hunter (The Rover 2)

“You think the captain would convince me out of going to that forest?”

I pulled my coffee toward me. “No, but I think he prioritizes your well-being above anything else.”

A voice came from my couch, which I barely even noticed against the same wall as my door.

“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said about me,” the captain said, from his prone position on the couch. His boots rested on the armrest, and his hat had been laying on his face. How long had he been there? I raked my mind. Had he been there the entire time?

I cleared my throat, covering my confusion. “Don’t get used to it. Being competent at your job doesn’t mean we’re BFFs now.”

He swung his legs over to the floor in one smooth motion as he stood. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I don’t carouse with bounty hunters.”

I pushed back my chair, standing up and glaring at the captain over Fin’s shoulder. “First, who says carouse, and second, what is that supposed to mean?”

Before he could answer, Fin stepped between us. “A little professional courtesy between colleagues.”

I ground my teeth together and exhaled, then focused on Fin again. “Back to my argument, have you forgotten the last little trip we took to Esteban’s territory?”

Fin rounded toward me and closed the distance between us. “How many times are we going to have to review this? I promised I would approach our plans differently, and I am. This is me, right now, discussing things with you.”

Reasonable Fin pissed me off the most. “You have been discussing things with me, and you’ve been compromising. I see it and I appreciate it. However, eventually, we are going to disagree and you’re going to run off and almost get me killed again.”

He took my hands in his. “What promise do I have to make to ensure you trust me?”

I winced. He was trying to do this right. I had to give him that.

I relented a little. “It’s more about me than it is about you. Mostly.”

“Then tell me how to help you believe in me.”

Damn it. I wanted to trust him. Hell, I wanted to walk around and take everyone at face value, but too many people had shown me how easily trust could be twisted and used for manipulation.

I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I think it’ll just take time.”

Time he had to offer. More than me, probably.

He squeezed my hands gently and whispered, “I have an idea.”

“No,” the captain barked from across the room then closed the distance between us.

He stopped right next to Fin and stared him down. Fin shook his head and met his eyes.

Wait a minute.

“Are you two in each other’s heads?” I asked.

Fin’s gaze narrowed at the captain. “You are not my keeper. You are my employee. If she accepts it, then you will abide.”

The captain’s jaw tightened, and he flicked me a look lined with contempt.

If he didn’t like what Fin was getting to, I was even more interested.

Fin shrugged the captain away and turned to me. “I offer you an iusiurandum.”

The tension in the room stretched tight. Whatever he’d said was serious.

“Cool,” I said. “Tell me what it is first.”

The captain interrupted before Fin could explain. “He offers you a great honor. You will share a bond. The iusiurandum is a vow.”