Chapter 38
Thirty-Eight
Wylan
I’m sitting on her couch when Dagen drops her back off at her condo.
Her face is flushed when she comes in the door, either because Dagen gave her the ole razzle dazzle or from the wind.
When she sees me, she doesn’t jump, likely because she expected me to be here.
She’s getting good at knowing how I operate.
I like that.
And I don’t.
I’d been honest when I told her she’s the first person I ever cared enough about to stay for, but even so, that’s more reason not to stay.
Anyone close to me is in danger. I’ve learned that the hard way.
I’d lost a close friend when I’d first started this gig, a mercenary working for the highest paying customer.
The man who practically raised me on the street.
He was harmless, owned a fish and chip shop that always seemed to be in trouble with health services, but he took care of me.
And in the end, because he’d cared about me, because I cared about him, he died.
I won’t make that mistake twice.
Yet here I am, playing with fire, giving my bloody heart to a single mom.
I never thought I wanted kids. . .
“I see you’re wearing Elsie’s tiara again,” Ava points out as she sets her purse and keys on the table. “It suits you.”
“I promised Elsie I’d be a pretty princess when I’m here and I’m a man of my word, crumpet,” I say, grinning. “I thought I could escort you to pick her up from school. I got the tutu ready.”
She smiles at me. “That’s not for a few more hours.”
“Yeah, well, I figured I could spend that time with you as well.” I pull out my handy dandy dry erase board where I’d written “finances,” “social standing,” and “hot bod.” I cross off the first two as she watches.
“Plus, I wanted you to watch as I crossed out these categories. I considered crossing off hot bod too on account of his hair falling out, but I don’t think we’re there yet. We can do better.”
She’s laughing at me as I scribble on the board. “So, we’ve almost defeated the Plastics?”
“Almost,” I grin. “Look at us. So fetch,” I say, mimicking the movie, making her laugh even more.
Her eyes trace over my face as she laughs, but as she studies me, her smile slowly drops, and with it, so does my stomach. “So. . . when will you be leaving?”
My fingers clench into the couch, an action her eyes don’t miss. “After business is taken care of, crumpet.”
“After he’s dead, you mean,” she corrects.
“Rule number one of being a hitman, love. Don’t say out loud your business.”
She bites her lip. “This house is safer than any building in the entire city. No one is listening here.”
“You’re not wrong,” I admit. “Foxxie sure does know how to protect his assets. Except from me that is.”
I can break through any security system.
There hasn’t been a single one that has stopped me.
But Dagen? He’s gotten close, and this little condo in New York has the best system I’ve ever seen on it.
There’s bloody lasers on the front steps, a fact that Ava doesn’t seem to be aware of.
She’s too trusting. Of Dagen. Of Otto. Of me.
She’s in danger just being around the three of us.
But of the three of us, at least Dagen can keep her safe.
Otto and I shouldn’t even be breathing the same air as her, and here we are, all lovestruck fools.
She sighs and takes a seat in the chair across from me. “I don’t want you to leave, Wylan.”
“We’ve discussed this, love—”
“I know,” she interrupts, her eyes glistening. “I know.”
My hands clench into fists and I sit up, my eyes on hers. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” she croaks.
“Don’t cry,” I rasp back. “I can’t bear the thought of making you cry.”
“I can’t help it.” She wipes at her face aggressively, trying to push back the emotions.
“Don’t hide it from me either,” I chastise.
She scoffs. “What do you want from me, Wylan Hearst? Don’t cry, but don’t hide my emotions? What the fuck does that even mean?”
I grimace and stand up before moving over to her chair. There, I kneel before her, like a knight at his queen’s feet. I take her hands in mine and make sure she’s truly looking at me.
“Ava,” I breath. “I will do anything to make sure you’re safe.”
“I know you will.”
“Anything,” I repeat, my voice hard. “And if that means I can’t be in your life and I have to leave you in the capable hands of Dagen Fox, then I’ll do so.
” I press her hands to my face. “But I want you to know, that when I leave, you’ll never be alone.
” I press my lips to her palms. “You will always have a ghost to watch over you and Elsie. Until I take my very last breath.”
“Then why can’t you just stay?” she asks softly.
I don’t give her an answer. She already knows.
Instead, I wrap her in my arms and hold her together as best as I can. Even though I don’t have roots.
Even though I might as well just be her regular, run of the mill, ghost.