SLOW - The Story of Signy and Aden, #1 by Julianna West

the wrong way. I holster the gun, join him on the porch, and then he waves me forward and follows me inside.
    He flicks on the lights and I move out of his way so he can get by me. It's a small house, just a room with a couch and coffee table with a big screen on the wall. Figures, right? Men.
    I turn and see the kitchen. Your average kitchen. Older appliances, Formica counter tops, cruddy floors.
    Definitely no women cooking for him in this kitchen.
    "How long have you lived here?"
    "I grew up here."
    "Oh."
    "Family hunting cabin."
    "Right."
    "Shower's in there," he says pointing to the hallway. "You have blood on you."
    I look down at my black outfit and sure enough, I have a gash across my thigh and the blood has found its way to every exposed part of my body. "I have no clothes," I mumble weakly. I have nothing, I remind myself. What I have on is the extent of my worldly possessions.
    Aden just shrugs as he pulls a coffee can out of the fridge. "I like ya naked, but I'll let you borrow a t-shirt and some boxers. That cool?"
    I just stare at him for a few moments and then he's coming towards me. I back up but his arms reach out and pull me close.
    "Stop," he whispers into my neck. "I'm not gonna hurt you, Signy. Just try and relax. I get it, it's a shock. I lied to you, I knew this job was fishy from the start. I was sent in to take car of you and make sure you got out alive. You're safe with me, I swear."
    "Sent in by whom?"
    "Your client was under surveillance for trying to hire a hit man. We knew he had a contract, but we didn't know he'd pull that shit with you inside."
    "Who is we ?"
    He pulls out his wallet and flips it open to reveal an FBI badge.
    "How old are you?" I ask. It's a valid question, the guy looks like he's about the same age as me.
    "Twenty-six."
    I eyeball him.
    He just shrugs. "My dad was a big shot. He got me in the Bureau after college. I was a spoiled rich kid with connections, but I'm still good at my job. I can take care of you, of this, I swear."
    "But—you fucked me! That's part of your job description?"
    He winces and blows out a breath. "No, that was my bright idea to get you to hire me and let me tag along on the job."
    "So you used me?" OhmyfuckingGod , just when I thought my night could not get any worse, it did. I walk away, partly because I feel so stupid for falling for his charm and partly because he doesn't say anything to explain, or stop me, for that matter.
    I find the bathroom and lock myself in as I lean against the door. I have no idea how long I stand there lost in my own personal hell, but a knock on the other side eventually snaps me back to reality.
    "Sig? You OK? I don't hear the water."
    I step over to the shower and start the water, then wait for the sound of receding footsteps, peel off my ruined clothes and get in. The hot water blasts my skin until it's red with heat and clear of blood and then I step out and wrap myself in a towel. I'm totally in some kind of fog, nothing makes sense and I open the door and wander back to the living room.
    Aden just looks at me from the couch. I can smell the coffee but if he thinks I'm just gonna kick back on the couch with him and drink coffee like we're old friends, he's out of his fucking mind.
    "Signy?"
    "Clothes?"
    "Oh, yeah. I put them on the bed in there. Go ahead and take the room, I'll sleep out here."
    "Great," I say as I turn and walk into the bedroom.
    I slip into the white boxers and t-shirt and then slump down on the bed and lie there in the darkness. I can hear Aden talking on the phone a few times, but can't make out what he says. I try to sleep, but all I see is the woman's dead body and my motel room in flames. Eventually I hear Aden get in the shower and I'm half dozing when the door opens and light creeps in. He walks as silent as he can towards one side of the room and starts shuffling quietly through some drawers.
    "I'm awake, you know."
    "Yeah?" he asks, turning.
    The moon is shining into the window above the