stars under that Baltimore sky. I didn’t want it to ever change. Janson was everything I needed, at least at that moment.
My body was too wracked to try and understand the implications of his words, so I nuzzled into him and let my own exhaustion wash over me.
To hell with my father, my brother, and the rest of the world. All I wanted to do was exist in his, at least for a little while.
Janson
Kat was mine.
I wasn’t sure if it was because I knew I was the first to have her, or if it was meant to happen all along, but a protective streak lit through me as I clutched Kathryn to my body. She was mine. She was going to be mine. I couldn't let her go. Not now.
Maybe not ever.
I would protect her no matter what. From anyone that would threaten her. I knew at that moment, looking up at those stars, that I would keep her safe for as long as possible. I couldn't promise forever, but a part of me wanted to.
A part of me I tried so hard to bury deep down inside.
I scooped her up as soon as she fell asleep and padded into my bedroom, laying her on my bed and tucking her in. She was so gorgeous when she was sleeping. So serene. It almost made me forget the anger that always bubbled up under my skin that called me to job after job. It almost made me want to leave that life behind.
Almost.
I could never leave that part of my soul behind, even if I wanted to. It was a part of me. The mob was a part of me. I knew that better than anyone else. I’d been trained to be the killer I was from the day I was born. I was an enforcer first, and then I rose higher and higher alongside Greyson. It was meant to be this way.
I was meant to be this person.
But I had to find a way to have her in my life, even with this knowledge. I had to figure out how we could all come to a good end.
And I had to make sure that my father and her father would never hurt her. I pressed through the pain in my back, the nerve damage that was a subtle reminder of all the times he used my back as an ashtray. I hated that man, and yet he had such a hold over me.
The pain boiled up in my brain as I turned and walked out of the room.
I needed to go to work. I needed a human punching bag.
I’d figure everything else out later.
Chapter Seven
Kathryn
I pulled the covers off my body and sat up, basking in the warm glow of the sunlight that streamed through the windows. Where Greyson’s apartment was modern, Janson’s was industrial. Brick wall with all the adornments of the old factory. Knobs that once turned water on and off were now hooks to hang things, old pipes set up as racks in the bedroom and bathroom for towels and clothing. It was gorgeous and so well thought out.
I wondered what he was doing wasting his time with the mob. This apartment complex was genius. I didn’t know much about that sort of thing, but even I wanted to live there. I grabbed a robe that was three sizes too big and wrapped it around myself. It smelled like Janson, and from the way it dragged on the floor past my feet, it had to have been his. I breathed it in and tried to remember all of last night, but I just kept remembering the way he held me. He didn’t force anything, and we’d already had sex. He was so much more… gentle than I expected.
So damn good.
I expected to see him in the kitchen, or the living room. Somewhere. But the space was completely empty except for a breakfast spread that had been laid out.
And a note.
Have a long day of work, some issues have come up. Had to slip out early. Breakfast was delivered, enjoy. See you tonight.
Janson
My fingers traced over his signature, the big “J” all the way to the little “n”. At least he left me a note. Breakfast. It was like I suddenly understood what he meant and I stood up, walking over to the display of food on the kitchen island. I was starving and I had no idea when they were going to ship me back to that decrepit little safe house. Breakfast and a
My body was too wracked to try and understand the implications of his words, so I nuzzled into him and let my own exhaustion wash over me.
To hell with my father, my brother, and the rest of the world. All I wanted to do was exist in his, at least for a little while.
Janson
Kat was mine.
I wasn’t sure if it was because I knew I was the first to have her, or if it was meant to happen all along, but a protective streak lit through me as I clutched Kathryn to my body. She was mine. She was going to be mine. I couldn't let her go. Not now.
Maybe not ever.
I would protect her no matter what. From anyone that would threaten her. I knew at that moment, looking up at those stars, that I would keep her safe for as long as possible. I couldn't promise forever, but a part of me wanted to.
A part of me I tried so hard to bury deep down inside.
I scooped her up as soon as she fell asleep and padded into my bedroom, laying her on my bed and tucking her in. She was so gorgeous when she was sleeping. So serene. It almost made me forget the anger that always bubbled up under my skin that called me to job after job. It almost made me want to leave that life behind.
Almost.
I could never leave that part of my soul behind, even if I wanted to. It was a part of me. The mob was a part of me. I knew that better than anyone else. I’d been trained to be the killer I was from the day I was born. I was an enforcer first, and then I rose higher and higher alongside Greyson. It was meant to be this way.
I was meant to be this person.
But I had to find a way to have her in my life, even with this knowledge. I had to figure out how we could all come to a good end.
And I had to make sure that my father and her father would never hurt her. I pressed through the pain in my back, the nerve damage that was a subtle reminder of all the times he used my back as an ashtray. I hated that man, and yet he had such a hold over me.
The pain boiled up in my brain as I turned and walked out of the room.
I needed to go to work. I needed a human punching bag.
I’d figure everything else out later.
Chapter Seven
Kathryn
I pulled the covers off my body and sat up, basking in the warm glow of the sunlight that streamed through the windows. Where Greyson’s apartment was modern, Janson’s was industrial. Brick wall with all the adornments of the old factory. Knobs that once turned water on and off were now hooks to hang things, old pipes set up as racks in the bedroom and bathroom for towels and clothing. It was gorgeous and so well thought out.
I wondered what he was doing wasting his time with the mob. This apartment complex was genius. I didn’t know much about that sort of thing, but even I wanted to live there. I grabbed a robe that was three sizes too big and wrapped it around myself. It smelled like Janson, and from the way it dragged on the floor past my feet, it had to have been his. I breathed it in and tried to remember all of last night, but I just kept remembering the way he held me. He didn’t force anything, and we’d already had sex. He was so much more… gentle than I expected.
So damn good.
I expected to see him in the kitchen, or the living room. Somewhere. But the space was completely empty except for a breakfast spread that had been laid out.
And a note.
Have a long day of work, some issues have come up. Had to slip out early. Breakfast was delivered, enjoy. See you tonight.
Janson
My fingers traced over his signature, the big “J” all the way to the little “n”. At least he left me a note. Breakfast. It was like I suddenly understood what he meant and I stood up, walking over to the display of food on the kitchen island. I was starving and I had no idea when they were going to ship me back to that decrepit little safe house. Breakfast and a
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