Chapter Three
Evander had a great deal of self-control.
In his line of work, he had no choice but to exert patience to get what he wanted, and he was more than willing to do what was necessary.
He could spend months tracking down a contract, learning everything about them, identifying certain patterns that meant he didn’t fuck up any job.
He never failed, nor did he ever leave a trail.
That hard-won patience wasn’t helping him out right now. In fact, it felt more like it was hindering him.
“You have a beautiful home,” Callie said.
He also noticed in the few minutes they had stepped foot into his private country home, she hadn’t touched a single thing, and it seemed like she actually cradled herself with her arms. He imagined if she could, she’d gladly not walk on his floors.
“Thank you,” he said.
He put the security code in place, and then turned back toward her. “How about we get you settled in, and then I’ll give you a tour?”
She opened her mouth, about to respond, when her stomach growled.
“Or I could feed you,” he said.
“No, I’m okay, but a tour sounds good.”
He took a step closer, her eyes went slightly wide, and she seemed to tense up. Evander knew fear when he saw it. Only now he wasn’t trying to inspire it, quite the opposite.
“Please don’t be afraid to tell me what you want. I can’t help you unless you’re open and honest with me.”
She offered him a smile and nibbled her lip. “I guess I’m hungry but I can wait. Honestly, it’s not the first time I’ve gone without food. It’s not a big deal.”
Evander shook his head. “Not happening.”
He reached for her arm and started to lead her to the kitchen. Before letting her go, he helped her into one of the chairs at the counter. He didn’t want to stop touching her, wanted her to feel safe, but he also didn’t want to alarm her.
“Are you okay? You seem preoccupied.”
She shrugged. Her stomach growled again, making her go a deeper shade of red.
“Please don’t be embarrassed. Let me see what food I’ve got around here.”
He walked over to the fridge, which wasn’t fully stocked. Living alone, he often bought his food before coming home. Takeout from his favorite restaurants was easier than cooking. Although, from time to time he fended for himself and put the kitchen to use. “What are you in the mood for?”
“It doesn’t matter. Really.”
He wished he could delve into her mind, find out every dream and desire. In the short time he’d come to know her, he realized she didn’t like to cause trouble or make waves. She didn’t want to be a burden. His guest didn’t realize it yet, but she was never going to be a burden to him.
He pulled out a couple of pieces of chicken, some barbecue sauce, and then got to work.
“You’re not allergic to anything, right?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not that I’m aware of.”
“Good.”
He set up the grill and scored the top of the chicken, then went to the cupboard behind him to grab one of his favorite spice blends that had chipotle.
“You don’t mind things a little spicy, do you?”
“Not at all. And I’m not picky.” She offered him a smile. “I had no idea you could cook too.”
There were a lot of things she didn’t know. He knew how to kill a man and make it look like a suicide, and he could make people disappear without a trace. It was a gift he had—one he didn’t intend to ever let her know about. He didn’t want to scare her. Didn’t want her to think less of him.
“Did your mom teach you?” she asked.
“Nah, I don’t know much about my parents.
” He did know who they were, but they were long dead.
Two drug users who’d put him into care before he was even a month old.
They died before he left the care system, from drug overdoses.
Unlike some people, he had never cared about being left in the care home.
When he was younger, he had several counselors and physiatrists try to label him, some even wanted to admit him.
A couple had said he was a man without a soul.
Either way, it had made him one of the best hunters in the world today.
If people needed a job done, and to make sure it was cleaned up, they came to him.
That’s what he did. Death didn’t bother him.
He was numb to the core. Watching the life drain out of someone didn’t cause him to lose sleep at night.
It probably helped that the people he killed weren’t worth the air they breathed.
Their deaths made the world a better place.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t.” He winked at her and she smiled.
He loved that smile. Even though she hesitated around him, he couldn’t help but feel his heart race when she did look at him.
It made him want to do so many different things to her, to have her naked beneath him as he explored her body, showing her how good it could be between them.
He’d make her beg, then give her everything she wanted.
“What do you do, Evander?”
He understood her curiosity. “I deal in contracts.” Not a total lie. She just didn’t need to know they were contracts of death.
“What kind of contracts?” she asked.
“The secret kind.” He flipped the chicken. “Tell me about yourself.”
He was a master at evasion. With Callie, it was proving to be a little more difficult, because he found himself wanting to share more of himself with her.
No woman had ever made him this fucking weak.
He knew it made her a dangerous woman. She wasn’t his enemy, and he didn’t have to worry about her giving details away to his opposition.
It did make her a target. She didn’t know it yet, but there was no way she was going back to her old life.
In his line of work, he had to always be one step ahead of the game, and he’d already spent too much time in one place. It was how men like him ended up dead, and he planned to live a long and happy life—with Callie.
“There’s not a whole lot to tell, to be honest. I work hard, and you’ve seen where I work, it’s not exactly the nicest place.
A couple of the women that work there are okay.
I know they strip and then some of them offer a bit more fun, but they’re trying to support their families, or doing what they can, I guess. ”
“You’re talking about everyone else, Callie. Tell me about you,” he said.
****
The truth was, Callie wasn’t used to talking about herself.
There was nothing to talk about. She worked hard, volunteered at animal shelters, helped where she could.
Her life was the same routine, day in, day out.
Working at the bar with the same old problems and men attempting to buy her attention for the night. It never worked.
Being attacked by Mitch had actually been new.
Usually he sulked back home, without any problem.
She didn’t know why he acted so differently.
It did make her feel a little uncomfortable returning back to work.
Mitch was always trying to get her to go to those rooms, and she refused.
She wrinkled her nose thinking about it.
“Stop thinking about him,” Evander said.
“How did you know?” she asked.
“I just did. I can imagine it’s going to be hard to forget something like that, but I promise you, he will never hurt you again.”
It was the strangest thing, because she believed him. She didn’t even know why. Maybe it was just the way he held himself, or something like that. He looked so confident, so sure of himself.
“I don’t want to think about that.”
“Then tell me about yourself.”
She nibbled her lip, and she couldn’t help but look past his shoulder at the luxury that surrounded her.
This place was absolutely beautiful. She had no doubt Evander was a wealthy man.
His home, his car, even the care she’d been given at the private hospital—everything she’d seen screamed luxury, which was something she’d never had, and she certainly wasn’t used to.
Did he even realize that the moment they stepped into his home, she’d been terrified of touching anything? She felt beneath him, not good enough to tread in his shadow.
“I don’t know what you want to know.”
“Anything,” he said.
“I’m not sure I follow.” For the longest time now, she’d been going through the motions.
She hadn’t really lived. She got up and did what she needed in order to survive work and then back to her place to bed.
The next day, her endless routine would start again.
There was nothing glamorous about it. In fact, it was downright embarrassing not being able to give him a single exciting tale.
Callie didn’t know whether to burst out laughing or sob.
When she was younger, before coming to the city, she had stupid dreams about having so many different careers.
There was a time she wanted to be an actress, and that ended quickly.
Next, she wanted to be a veterinarian, again, that ended very quickly without grades and money.
Along the way, she’d had many dreams, the biggest was opening a care home for unwanted elderly dogs, and loving them. None of that had happened.
She’d done okay in school, but she’d never been intelligent enough to get a scholarship, and, well, that would have been the only way for her to get anywhere.
How had she gotten stuck in such a rut?
Tears filled her eyes, and she got to her feet, turning away from him. “I’m so sorry,” Callie said.
She couldn’t believe she was close to tears in front of a total stranger. What was wrong with her? It wasn’t his fault. All he’d done was ask a simple question, to talk about herself. A normal person would have answered him without much thought.
He gripped her shoulders, and she wasn’t afraid of him, which was the strangest thing. His touch comforted her in the best possible way.
“It’s going to be all right,” he said.
“I know you mean well, thank you, but I don’t know how this is going to get better,” she said.
“He won’t harm you, I promise.”
She laughed, but it wasn’t even a good sound.
“Honestly, it’s not even about him.” She took a deep breath, and then spun around, pausing for a second, because Evander was so close.
She was used to seeing men lusting after women, always wanting to break the boundaries at work.
This was different. Evander wasn’t leering at her, or making rude suggestions, or even propositioning her to go upstairs.
In all her life, she had never had this reaction to a man, and it took her completely by surprise. At first, she didn’t know what to think, and then she felt this answering pulse within her body. The heaviness in her breasts, the slickness gathering between her thighs.
She pushed those thoughts and feelings aside, and focused on the now. She could not be lusting after this man. He’d helped her. Besides, he didn’t need a woman like her. He must be used to women in his own circles.
“What’s it about?” he asked.
Callie didn’t even know if he genuinely cared or not.
It was nice to have someone talking to her for a change.
She licked her suddenly dry lips. “I just realized I’ve fallen into a routine I never wanted to be in.
I came to the big city to search for a dream.
I don’t even know what that dream is anymore, but all I do is work and try to survive.
” She let out a little chuckle, but it just sounded defeated.
“I’m aware that’s all anyone does, but I don’t know, I think I expected to do more with my life.
I wanted to make a difference, to help unwanted animals, anything.
” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to unload on you.”
“That’s not unloading. You’re talking.” He reached out and stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles.
She loved his touch.
“I don’t suppose you know how I can … you know, get this?” she asked, pointing to his place. It was a joke, not quite, but she could make it a joke. There was no way she was ever going to be able to afford something like this.
“Stay with me,” he said.