When he finally stopped and checked the time, several planetary hours had sped by and sweat drenched his body. Time to get clean and dressed and head out on his new mission: Protect Etta and the girls while destroying Balthazar, Helldrick, and anyone associated with them and the abduction of the king’s son.
Once that was done, he’d take them to Gravas and hand himself over to the king’s justice.
But peace eluded him. Etta was the wildcard. Would she betray him? Would she run? Or would she ask him for help?
Only one way to find out.
****
The small vial was practically burning a hole in her pocket. She reached in and touched it yet again, all while praying Kyler wouldn’t show up tonight.
“Let me see them.”
The Barskan male was as big as a mountain, his huge body blocking the entrance to her home. “No one in or out. Balthazar’s orders.” The low, growly voice sent a shiver of dread through her. The girls must be terrified.
“Then contact him. Tell him if he wants me to do my part, I need to see the girls.” She crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring the sweat making her shirt cling to her back and the heavy pounding of her heart as the male scowled, lowered his head, and growled.
Faking more bravery than she actually felt, she shrugged. “Fine by me. But if I don’t get what I want, Balthazar doesn’t get what he wants. I imagine that won’t make him happy.”
It was a huge gamble, but she had to talk to the girls, let them know she hadn’t abandoned them.
The male dragged out a communication device and sent a quick message. A reply came back almost immediately. He grunted and stepped out of her way. “Five minutes. No more.”
She brushed by him and hurried to the girl’s room. The door opened before she got there. Sera’s face was pale, her eyes wide, but she appeared unharmed. Relief blasted through her. Only then did she admit how worried she’d been.
As soon as she was inside with the door closed, she dropped to her knees and opened her arms. “I’m here.”
Maggs threw herself into Etta’s arms, almost toppling her backward, her tiny body wrapping around her. Sera took a step back and twined her fingers together. “Sera?”
The older girl shook her head. “You can’t help us. You have to get away.”
“I’m not leaving you. I’ll find a way to get us all out of here.” She had no idea how. The memory of the knife Kyler had left behind filled her with uncertainty. Would he simply kill her and leave the girls to fend for themselves? She didn’t think so, but she had to be honest with herself. They’d had hot, steamy sex, were drawn to each other, but when it came down to it, they were on opposite sides of this situation.
Situation—what a tame word for the mess that was her life.
“Helldrick won’t let us go.” Sera’s words cut Etta’s heart. Maggs dug her heels into Etta’s back and practically strangled her with her arms.
She struggled to her feet and stumbled to the bed, patting the mattress beside her. “Come here. Time is short.” Sera joined them and leaned against her, her small body trembling. “I’m going to do everything in my power to protect you both.” She started to say more but clamped her mouth shut. When she finally spoke, she asked, “Has anyone been in your room?”
“No.” Sera turned her head to one side, seeming perplexed by the question.
“Listening devices,” she mouthed rather than speaking aloud. The girl’s eyes widened. She started to shake her head and then shrugged.
“Maggs, sweetheart,” she whispered in the girl’s ear. “Where’s your data pad?”
“Sera said not to draw what I dream.”
Etta’s heart sank. If Helldrick or Balthazar learned of that talent, their lives would be even more precarious. “And she’s right. And we shouldn’t even talk about it right now.” She ran her hands up and down Maggs’s hair and back to reassure her. “But I want to borrow it for a second, okay?”
Maggs finally released her and scooted off her lap and across the room, pulling the data pad from her hiding spot. Etta took it and quickly opened a writing program and began to type rather than dictate.
Trying to find a way out of here. Be calm. Stay safe. But pack one small bag and be ready to move. Do it quietly. Don’t speak of it just in case.
It wasn’t much but the clock was ticking. She showed it to Sera, waiting until she nodded before erasing the message.
“He’s coming,” Maggs whispered.
Etta shoved the data pad under the blanket just before the door was shoved open. “Time’s up,” the guard barked at her.
She stood on shaky legs, kissed both girls on the forehead, and pretended not to hear Maggs crying after her or see Sera holding her back. Heart bleeding, Etta followed the Barskan to the door.
“Anything happens to them and I’ll kill you,” she promised. She had no idea how, but she’d find a way to make it happen.
Unimpressed with her threat, he shoved her out the door and slammed it behind her. She leaned against it until she was steady, blinked back the tears that threatened, and made her way down the stairs.
Fortunately, she didn’t see either Helldrick or Balthazar, or she’d have tried to jam her knife into their black hearts. But that likely wouldn’t have killed them. They were too mean to die. She wasn’t even sure the demons of Mortis would take their rotten souls.
“You can do this.” Only she wasn’t even sure what it was she meant to do. She put her hand in her pocket and wrapped her fingers around the vial. It grounded her, reminded her of what was at stake.
Releasing it, she rubbed her damp palms over her pants and stepped from the hallway into the main bar. Hell’s Gate was busy, as always. The kitchen was closed for the evening, but the drinks were still flowing freely.
She scanned the area. Was Balthazar watching from the shadows? She gave a short snort. It was more likely he had someone else doing it for him. Her gaze went past a corner and then arrowed back. The light was dim, but enough for her to catch a glimpse of a patron with reddish skin. The other Barskan employed by her brother.
There was no sign of Kyler. She didn’t know whether to be relieved or upset.
“You okay, honey?” Loralie asked as she maneuvered her way to the bar with a tray of empty glasses.
Shit, she had no idea how long she’d been standing there. “I’m fine.” She rubbed the back of her neck. “Just tired.”
“I hear you.” The waitress set down the tray, grabbed one full of drinks, and headed back out.
Something crashed to the floor. Etta jolted, hand against her chest, heart pounding. This wasn’t good. She was jumpier than a gatla fish out of water.
Needing to keep busy, she grabbed the tray of empties and loaded them into the dish-cleaning unit. Then she wiped down the counter. Before long, she was filling orders behind the bar.
The work helped steady her, but she was still on edge. Would Kyler show? Every second it got to closing time, the greater her anxiety grew.
Where was he?
****
Kyler slipped into the bar as a group of men were leaving. It was doubtful anyone noticed him entering. The place was still about half full, but wouldn’t be for much longer. He’d hoped to get here sooner, but he’d had something to do first that had taken longer than anticipated.
Staying in the shadows, he worked his way to an empty table in the corner. Back to the wall, he breathed a sigh of relief. Etta was behind the bar. Tendrils of hair had escaped the tail she’d pulled it into and were stuck to her face. Her mouth was pinched, her eyes tired. She was paler than usual.
The waitress working this section passed his table twice before she noticed him and stopped. “What can I get you?”
“Ale.”
Was it his imagination or was the waitress trying to get a better look beneath his hood? He tilted his head down to be on the safe side.
She huffed out a breath. “Be right back.”
He fiddled with the communicator on his
wrist, tuning it to the listening device on the bar by Etta.
“Your hooded friend is back.” The waitress slammed the tray down on the counter. “He wants ale. And what’s his deal? Why is he always covered up?”
“You know better than to ask those kinds of questions, Loralie,” Etta chided. “Lots of folks here don’t want people in their business.” As soon as he heard her voice, his entire body seemed to sigh with relief.
She sniffed. “Not natural, if you ask me.” She grabbed the ale Etta placed on the counter and made her way back through the crowd.
He muted his comm unit and held out a credit worth double the cost of the drink. The waitress took it and retreated, but he sensed her gaze on him as she served other tables.
Etta was noticeable by her absence. Not only did she not come over to the table, but she also didn’t even look his way.
Leaving her knife on her nightstand probably hadn’t been the smartest thing he’d ever done. But it had been a reminder to them both about their loyalties.
He’d been an ass.
Easy to see in hindsight. At the time, it had seemed like the best thing to do. His emotions had been too volatile. And the old rule about not taking anything from anywhere or anyone had been too well engrained for him to ignore.
He missed playing with her blade, having a piece of her with him.
Sensing eyes on him, he lifted his glass and pretended to take a sip. As a precaution, he’d injected himself with a serum that would protect against most poisons. He’d deemed it best to be on the safe side.
Not only were her sisters at risk, but Etta might be feeling like a woman scorned. He hadn’t even stuck around long enough to say goodbye. What had she thought when she’d discovered him gone? Each hour he’d been away, that oversight had grown in proportion in his mind. In his defense, he’d never had a relationship of any kind before. All this was new to him. Leaving was what he’d always done.
Why did it seem like such a huge mistake now?
And not just because she’d been ordered to drug him. Although, that was a factor. If he’d stuck around after, he might have a better idea of what she might do. As it was, it could go either way.
When he was sure no one was watching, he poured out some of the ale. The glass was still half full when the waitress returned, a smirk on her face. “You’re not drinking much, are you? The tables are for paying customers, you know.”
He held up a twenty-dollar credit. “Bring me another. Keep the change.”
“Sure.” She left the glass on the table but went back to the bar. Once again, he activated his comm and listened in. “He wants another. Don’t know why since he’s still on the first one.” The waitress exchanged the money and went to grab the drink.
“I’ll take it.” Etta’s voice was cool and calm.
“Up to you, but I’m keeping my tip.”
His heart rate picked up as Etta scooted out from behind the bar and strolled toward him, hips swaying with each step. His mouth went dry. He’d reached for the glass before he stopped himself. Around her, his legendary control vanished.
“Wasn’t sure I’d see you again.” She set the glass down, the metal container hitting the table with more force than necessary.
“Why would you think that?” He leaned back in his chair, feigning indifference. As much as he wanted to take her in his arms and run, she might no longer welcome him. The stabbing pain his chest made his breath catch before it evened out once again.
Her feelings for him didn’t matter. Protecting her was all that was important.
“The message you sent was loud and clear.” Her fingers gripped the back of the chair in front of her.
He tilted his head toward it. “Join me.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. He swallowed a groan, thankful the hood shielded his face or she’d see the lust stamped on it. He wanted to lick those lush lips, taste them. Taking a deep breath, he locked down his physical responses. If he didn’t stay alert and lost focus, she could die.
Like being tossed in the frigid ocean of Killaras, his passion cooled. Shoving all emotion aside, he became who he was, the king’s blade—the most feared assassin of Gravas.
Etta took a step back, as though sensing the change in him. She swallowed, her slender throat rippling. She started to look off to her right but caught herself and stopped. Interesting. He’d seen a Barskan sitting alone. The report on her brother said he’d employed at least two of them.
In a repeat of the first time they’d met, Kyler pushed the chair back with his foot. “Sit.”
Chapter Ten
Etta wanted to run, but that was impossible with the Barskan watching her every move. And she was suspicious of Loralie. She’d seen the waitress keeping tabs on Kyler for most of the night, while trying to pretend she wasn’t. Helldrick was probably paying her for information.
There was an itch between her shoulder blades as she sat. She rubbed her moist palms against her pant legs. “Well?” What could he possibly want?
Information. Of course, that was why he was here. It had nothing to do with her. She ignored the surge of disappointment. They’d had sex. Amazing sex, but that was a physical release, not an emotional connection.
Too bad she couldn’t make herself listen to reason. She devoured the sight of him, even though he was cloaked. She knew every line of his face beneath the hood, every ripple of his body intimately.
But they were on opposite sides.
The silence was drawn out. The sounds around her faded until all she could hear were the thudding of her heart and the harshness of her breath.
She put her hands on the table. “I don’t have time for this.”
“Has Balthazar made contact?”
Etta closed her eyes against the sudden pain of having her assumption proved correct. He hadn’t come here for her. “Yes.”
“And?” The lower timber of his voice skated over her skin and settled in her bones.
“And what? Why should I tell you anything?” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “Opposite sides, remember?”
He huffed out a breath and leaned forward, angling his head so she could see his face. “We’re not on opposite sides.” He looked tired. The lines around his eyes were deeper. His mouth was grim. He seemed more … human and less elite assassin. Or maybe she was imagining things.
“Why did you leave?” She hadn’t asked that, had she? Etta rubbed her hands over her face. “Forget I asked.”
Strong fingers wrapped around her wrist and tugged until she was looking at him again. “I didn’t know what to do.” It sounded like a confession.
She tilted her head to one side. Was he as conflicted as she was about what had happened? “What did you want to do?”
“It doesn’t matter.” There was a finality to his words that bothered her deeply. She had a sense it mattered deeply.
“Tell me. Please.” This man stood alone in the world. Did he have family back home? Who did he talk to when he had things on his mind?
He released her, but the heat from his hand lingered on her skin. “I wanted to take you again and again, until you’d never forget me.” The harsh whisper sent a blast of heat through her. But was he just saying it to get her to talk?
That dose of reality chilled her desire. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and cleared her throat. “Mission accomplished. There’s no way I’ll ever forget you.” The vial Balthazar had given her grew heavier with each passing second.
“Balthazar is suspicious of you. He wants information. He suspects the Gravasians sent you. Not that you were sent to kill him. Apparently, assassins do the job and leave unseen.”
“He’s not wrong.”
What did it do to a man to live his life completely in the shadows? “Then why are you here? Why not just do the job and leave?” Why not just kill her and leave?
“I need to make sure everyone involved in the event is neutralized.”
What an innocuous word for killing people.
Still, she couldn’t fault him for his loyalty to his king and people. There was a reason no one fucked with Gravas.
It was hard not to take it personally considering they’d been naked together, his big body covering hers as he thrust into her. She wanted to fan herself, but resisted. Just being near him was making her all hot and bothered. That had been a time out of time, a truce that had ended with their passionate night together. And she had bigger problems. “Will you help me protect the girls?”
“Is that your price for information?” The chilly tone made her shiver.
“It’s what I need.” They glared at one another, the tension palpable. “If I don’t do what Balthazar asked, he’s going to hurt them.”
“And you,” Kyler pointed out.
She waved her hand. “I can take care of myself.” At least she hoped she could long enough for her to make sure the girls were safe. There was no escaping her fate.
He leaned back into the shadows, his hood once again shielding him from her view. The man was impossible. She wanted to shake him and hug him in turns. Her stomach was jumping, her head pounding.
Love was tearing her apart.
“They’re only children. Whatever I feel for you, they deserve to come first.” She was about to gamble all their futures with no guarantees. Dipping a hand into her pocket, she dug out the vial and set it on the table, keeping it covered with her hand. She raised her fingers just enough for him to see it.
“Is that what you did to Ivar?”
“Is that his name? It’s not the one he used here.” Somehow knowing it made her feel even worse about what she’d done.
“Yes.”
“I can’t go back and change what I did. If it hadn’t been me, it would have been someone else.” That much was true. “What do you want me to do?”
“Do you know what’s in the vial?”
“No.” They both spoke in low whispers in spite of being alone in this corner. “But it will put you to sleep. Balthazar is supposed to have men take you out of here after the bar closes.”
Kyler covered her hand with his. In a slick move, he lifted her fingers, removed the vial, and sat back. “Your part in this is done.”
Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) Page 10