driving he finally talked.
He rubbed his chin. “I have a deal for you, Savvy Bent. You can take it or leave. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to decide and then it’s off the table.”
I stared, needles prickling along my shoulders at what he might say. “What is it?”
“I’ll offer you complete safety, no more hiding out and living in fear. That includes your mom, and your dad. But you need to live with my parents, my grandmother and me. I’ll train you. Teach you the secrets of self-defense.”
I gripped the sides of the leather seat and stared at him in shock. No more hiding out or living in fear? Safety? I was definitely interested.
“I know. I rather surprised myself too. But, like I said, this is a one-time offer.”
This was what I wanted. This was what I’d worked so hard for in Paris. But then the realization hit that he’d want something in return. “What’s the catch?”
“Nothing comes without a price. I get the extreme satisfaction of keeping a close eye on my enemy, and we might need you to do some work for us on the side. Nothing major.”
The twinkle in his eyes made me think he didn’t mean sweeping the kitchen floor. I stared out the car window and imagined Malcolm sitting in his boat playing solitaire or sharpening his knives. Whatever assassins do in their spare time. What would he think?
“I won’t kill anyone.”
He smiled. “No problem.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How do I know this isn’t a trick to lure me into your house and slit my throat in my sleep?”
He burst out with a deep, belly laugh. “Sweet thing, if I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have to lure you into my house.” He lost any humor and turned threatening. “Regardless of what you and your mother might think, we don’t kill for fun or without purpose. We work and live above the emotion. The people that lose their lives from the blade of my knife deserve it.”
I shivered and clamped my teeth together to keep them from rattling. I needed to tack on one more addendum. “I also want the complete protection of one Constance Gerald.”
He blinked away the annoyance that flashed across his face. “Fine. You’ve got it. I’ll need your answer by tomorrow night before sundown.”
I spent the rest of the drive lost in my thoughts and the ludicrousness of his idea that I was contemplating.
We drove through familiar streets. “I have to cut the evening short. Duty calls. Do you want me to swing you by your house?”
“You can drop me off a little down the street.” From there I’d head down to the shore. I couldn’t go home. But I couldn’t just go straight to his house either. I needed to think.
Not far from my house, he slowed the car to a stop. With a quick salute, he said, “I hope to see you by tomorrow night.” He held out a phone. “Don’t worry it’s a cheap extra. Our residence here in Greece is programmed into the GPS system.”
We said good-bye. After his taillights disappeared, I headed to the sea to air out my thoughts. The cool breeze and briny smell welcomed me. I waited a bit, then said, “You can come out now.”
Adamos appeared from the darkness as usual. “We need to talk.”
I flashed him a wry grin. No kidding.
Eleven
Adamos approached, his dark clothing perfect for sneaking around in the night. His arms were stiff at his sides. No trace of a smile crossed his face, and his eyes had lost the normal glint of pride and protection he felt toward me.
I sighed and rubbed a chill from my arms. “You don’t have to tell me what’s at stake here. I know.”
He stood next to me, with his arms crossed and stared out over the sea, his jaw firm, his forehead creased. “Tell me then.”
“What?”
“Tell me exactly what’s at stake.” His soft voice weakened my defenses.
I refrained from calling my mom’s new friend Birdman or the Blob and sighed. “Constance is a target and it’s our duty to protect him and that’s what my mom’s been doing, putting
He rubbed his chin. “I have a deal for you, Savvy Bent. You can take it or leave. I’ll give you twenty-four hours to decide and then it’s off the table.”
I stared, needles prickling along my shoulders at what he might say. “What is it?”
“I’ll offer you complete safety, no more hiding out and living in fear. That includes your mom, and your dad. But you need to live with my parents, my grandmother and me. I’ll train you. Teach you the secrets of self-defense.”
I gripped the sides of the leather seat and stared at him in shock. No more hiding out or living in fear? Safety? I was definitely interested.
“I know. I rather surprised myself too. But, like I said, this is a one-time offer.”
This was what I wanted. This was what I’d worked so hard for in Paris. But then the realization hit that he’d want something in return. “What’s the catch?”
“Nothing comes without a price. I get the extreme satisfaction of keeping a close eye on my enemy, and we might need you to do some work for us on the side. Nothing major.”
The twinkle in his eyes made me think he didn’t mean sweeping the kitchen floor. I stared out the car window and imagined Malcolm sitting in his boat playing solitaire or sharpening his knives. Whatever assassins do in their spare time. What would he think?
“I won’t kill anyone.”
He smiled. “No problem.”
I narrowed my eyes. “How do I know this isn’t a trick to lure me into your house and slit my throat in my sleep?”
He burst out with a deep, belly laugh. “Sweet thing, if I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have to lure you into my house.” He lost any humor and turned threatening. “Regardless of what you and your mother might think, we don’t kill for fun or without purpose. We work and live above the emotion. The people that lose their lives from the blade of my knife deserve it.”
I shivered and clamped my teeth together to keep them from rattling. I needed to tack on one more addendum. “I also want the complete protection of one Constance Gerald.”
He blinked away the annoyance that flashed across his face. “Fine. You’ve got it. I’ll need your answer by tomorrow night before sundown.”
I spent the rest of the drive lost in my thoughts and the ludicrousness of his idea that I was contemplating.
We drove through familiar streets. “I have to cut the evening short. Duty calls. Do you want me to swing you by your house?”
“You can drop me off a little down the street.” From there I’d head down to the shore. I couldn’t go home. But I couldn’t just go straight to his house either. I needed to think.
Not far from my house, he slowed the car to a stop. With a quick salute, he said, “I hope to see you by tomorrow night.” He held out a phone. “Don’t worry it’s a cheap extra. Our residence here in Greece is programmed into the GPS system.”
We said good-bye. After his taillights disappeared, I headed to the sea to air out my thoughts. The cool breeze and briny smell welcomed me. I waited a bit, then said, “You can come out now.”
Adamos appeared from the darkness as usual. “We need to talk.”
I flashed him a wry grin. No kidding.
Eleven
Adamos approached, his dark clothing perfect for sneaking around in the night. His arms were stiff at his sides. No trace of a smile crossed his face, and his eyes had lost the normal glint of pride and protection he felt toward me.
I sighed and rubbed a chill from my arms. “You don’t have to tell me what’s at stake here. I know.”
He stood next to me, with his arms crossed and stared out over the sea, his jaw firm, his forehead creased. “Tell me then.”
“What?”
“Tell me exactly what’s at stake.” His soft voice weakened my defenses.
I refrained from calling my mom’s new friend Birdman or the Blob and sighed. “Constance is a target and it’s our duty to protect him and that’s what my mom’s been doing, putting
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