The Mermaid & The Crocodile (The Kill List Series Book One)

by Edee M. Fallon

  I stepped outside the lobby and began to approach a waiting taxi in queue. From the darkness of the parking lot I heard Jenks call my name. The stupid fucker obviously wanted to hash this out right here. Apologizing to the cabbie, I made my way towards the sound of his voice, surreptitiously checking over my shoulder twice to make sure Eddie hadn’t followed me out. As I approached, I saw him step out from behind a pillar and walk further into the parking area.

  “What the hell, Berty?” Jenks asked as he turned to face me. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

  I guess he hadn’t cooled down at all. Bloody hell. “I could ask you the same thing,” I said in a harsh whisper. “Are you trying to get us both killed? This is a stupid move, even for you.”

  “You need to stay away from that guy, Roberta.”

  “From who, Agent Jenkins?” Eddie asked from behind me.

  Oh shit. The night continued to spiral out of control. Dread and anxiety flooded my system and a cold trickle of sweat ran down my back. I didn’t think it was possible, but lately I’d realized that life was never interested in hearing your plans, or seeing them through in a manner of your liking. Jenks had just ruined my chance and possibly signed my death warrant, that fucker.

  “Is this guy bothering you, Roberta?” Eddie asked me as he stepped into my side and put his arm around my shoulders.

  Great. Now he knew my name—my real name. Good going, Jenks. I was going to kick him hard in the balls next time I saw him, assuming I was going to survive long enough to earn the chance. That slip could be the final nail in my coffin. I stepped towards Jenks, not wanting Eddie’s hands on me, and needing the comfort of Jenks’s proximity.

  “I was just leaving,” Jenks said as he stared at me, his look giving no clue as to his thoughts, assuring my certain demise. Don’t go! I wanted to shout, but couldn’t bring myself to do it.

  “Yeah, I suggest you do that,” Eddie told him. “And, in the future I’d appreciate it if you stayed out of my personal life.”

  Jenks gave me one last glare before he turned and walked away from us. My heart was pounding and I was having trouble breathing as he left me alone to untangle the mess he had made.

  “Are you okay?” Eddie asked as he turned to face me with a look of concern. Either he hadn’t heard the beginning of the conversation or he was playing it off really well.

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I said as I flicked my gaze in the direction Jenks had departed, but I couldn’t see him. He had already faded into the night.

  “What did he say to you?”

  “Nothing much, really,” I said, racking my addled brain for a suitable response. “Just that I should stay away from you. Who,” my voice cracked on the word. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Who was that guy?”

  “No one of consequence. I promise I won’t let him bother you again. Come on, I’m taking you home,” Eddie said as he put an arm around my shoulders again, attempting to steer me back towards the casino.

  “No, I’m just going to take a taxi,” I said as I stepped out of his hold once more. I was suspicious that he was playing me and more than a little unsure as to if I should allow myself to get into a car alone with him.

  “Absolutely not,” he replied.

  “Excuse me, but I can take care of myself.” By the way he was looking at me, I knew this was one of those times he would not take no for an answer.

  “Why’d you follow me?” I asked to break the silence.

  “Because, Roberta, you never did tell me your name and I wanted to know what to call the girl I’d be dreaming about tonight.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. Seriously? That was pathetic. I couldn’t help but smile. I wanted to kick myself in the teeth.

  “Do you always lay it on this thick?”

  “Is it working?” he said with a cheeky grin.

  I ignored that question. “Why is the FBI warning me to stay away from you? That usually isn’t a good sign.”

  “How’d you know he was FBI? How’d he know your name?”

  “He flashed his badge before you came out then he asked me my name. I have a healthy respect for the law, which you seem to be lacking. Are you going to answer my question?” It wouldn’t have surprised me at all if a rogue lightning bolt struck me dead on the spot after a lie like that.

  “Feisty. I like that.”

  “Stop deflecting. Answer the question.”

  “Okay, but if I tell you, will you allow me the pleasure of your company long enough to get you home safely?”

  “That depends on your answer, so spill it,” I said as I crossed my arms over my chest, making it clear that I wasn’t budging until he answered.

  Eddie looked away as he contemplated his words. I could almost see the gears turning in his head; he looked as if he was having an internal argument with himself. I was curious as to how much he was going to tell me. If he didn’t tell me something believable, he knew I wouldn’t go with him. I’m sure some girls would have been excited that they were in the company of danger. I didn’t want to come off as one of those girls. I had a feeling he was bored with that act. Once he made his decision, he turned his attention back to me.

  “It’s possible that my family has had a few run-ins with the law. Does that scare you?”

  “Should it?”

  “No. Maybe. I’d never hurt you, I swear.”

  “That answer doesn’t make me feel any better,” I said as I started to walk away, testing to see if he would take the bait and follow me. He did.

  “Wait, what I meant was I’ve never hurt anyone and I’d never let anyone hurt you,” he said as he jogged up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder to stop me.

  “You do realize that your words are the opposite of comforting, right?” I said as I turned to face him again.

  “Shit, this is not how I pictured this.” He took a breath and shook his head before he continued. “I thought I was going to come out here and sweep you off your feet. Convince you that I deserved a chance. I’m not doing so hot, am I?”

  He almost looked pitiful. Eddie was trying to be honest with me and loyal to his family at the same time. Funny, I was feeling the same exact way. Maybe it was stupid, or unbelievable, but I decided to take pity on him and give him the chance he was seeking. Little did he know, it was also the chance I had been seeking, too.

  “That wasn’t much of an answer. What I meant was you’re not giving much away,” I said.

  “I could say the same to you,” he replied before his lips turned up a little at the corners.

  “Touché.”

  His smile grew, lightening the mood between us.

  “Will you please allow me to take you home? I just want to make sure you’re safe. I won’t be able to sleep not knowing if you made it home or not.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I stated.

  “And why not?” he asked, like what I just said didn’t make sense.

  “Because I don’t know you. How do I know that you are safe?” I tried to sound irritated, but he knew my heart wasn’t in it.

  “You’re a smart girl, with a smart mouth to match.” He traced a finger down my cheek, resting on my lips. “I have a feeling you weren’t exaggerating when you told me you could take care of yourself. I bet you could do some serious damage with that body of yours,” he said as his eyes raked me from head to toe and back again.

  The double meaning did not slip past me. My body protested as I locked down all my muscles, fighting a shiver that was threatening my composure.

  “Please, let me give you a ride. I’ll even let you drive if that makes you more comfortable.”

  I realized that no matter what I decided, Jenks or someone else would be following me home. He would not leave me to fend for myself after this craptastrophe, would he? My cover was already blown with Jenks, but at least I could possibly salvage something from the fortuitous/disastrous night and try to win Eddie over a little bit more, as long as he did not try to kill me first. I left my
gun at home believing I would not need it for the night’s events, a mistake I would not make again.

  “Fine.”

  “Seriously?” he asked incredulously.

  Eddie had no idea what he was really asking for. He thought I was the one who had reasons to be afraid. He had just walked into a trap of his own making. He was the one who wasn’t safe. I almost felt bad for the bastard.

  “Yes, seriously. Hurry up before I change my mind. Where’s your car?” I said impatiently.

  “Follow me, señorita.”

  Eddie held out his hand for me to grab as he led the way back to the valet area. He handed the attendant his ticket and smiled at me again as we waited. I felt the vibration and heard the engine before I saw the car.

  “That’s your car?” I asked. “It looks like a Hot Wheels I played with as a kid.”

  “Yep,” he said, very proud of himself that he impressed me. “It’s a McLaren P1.”

  “Are you in the mafia or something?” I asked to knock him down a notch or two and throw him off his game.

  “You’re funny,” he said with no hint of humor. Eddie took the keys from the valet, tipped him and came back to open the passenger door. “Get in.”

  “I thought I was driving,” I said as I got into the car, instinctively knowing I would lose the argument if I dared to press it further.

  “I changed my mind,” he said with all seriousness before slamming the door shut. He looked pissed and not in the mood to be argued with. I hated to admit it, but it kind of turned me on. So did the car.

  “Okay, okay,” I acquiesced. I was tired of the drama we had experienced tonight, too, and my bed was calling my name.

  Eddie walked around the front of the car and got in. He floored the gas and we shot out of the parking lot, heading towards the freeway.

  “Where am I headed?” he asked without looking at me.

  “I live in Lauderdale Beach.”

  Eddie whistled through his teeth. “That isn’t cheap, princess. How do you afford that?”

  “Don’t call me princess. I have a name, which you learned by the way.”

  He looked at me with a softened gaze as if appraising me. His eyes settled on my lips and my breath hitched like all those ridiculous girls in alpha romance novels. Damn him, he heard it, too. Eddie smiled before meeting my eyes again. I turned my stare forward to break the connection.

  “You’re the one who said your name was Cinderella. I kind of liked the idea of being your prince. And I did rescue you twice tonight. I think it’s fitting.”

  “Whatever,” I replied as I turned towards the passenger window.

  “So …” he trailed off.

  “So, what?”

  “Are you going to tell me how you can afford to live there? I’m not trying to be nosy. I’m just curious if I’m going to have an angry father to deal with when I drop you off.”

  “My parents are dead,” I said without emotion, the lack of inflection genuine.

  “Shit. I’m … I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I shouldn’t have said that. I was trying to be funny.” His gaze flickered from the road to me several times as he tried to gauge my reaction to his apology. I looked down at my lap, not wanting to see the pity in his eyes.

  “It’s okay.” I cleared my throat, needing a moment to think. “You didn’t know. When my parents passed I was left a sizeable inheritance. I don’t own the place. I’m renting it from a couple who decided they couldn’t stand the heat any longer and returned north. It’s a great property and they didn’t want to sell it. I offered to pay full price, but they gave me a good deal because they felt sorry for me, I think. Everyone pities the girl with no parents it seems,” I said as I turned to look out the window again, tracing shapes in the condensation formed on the glass as the air conditioning met the heat of the night.

  They say the best lies are half true. Even though I made that story up on the spot, it was pretty convincing. I hadn’t decided on what to tell Eddie once I had insinuated myself into his life, which is why I’d been so reluctant to accept his attention tonight. His forceful entry into mine had me flying by the seat of my pants, something I hated to do. I liked plans. I lived by them. I was in uncomfortable territory, forced to go with the flow. So far, I seemed to be doing okay, but I would have to spend the next few days figuring out who I was going to be with Eddie, if he hadn’t already figured out who I really was, that is. I did not believe that he had, but I still wasn’t certain of anything.

  “What about the rest of your family?” Eddie asked as he reached out to squeeze my hand.

  “I don’t have anyone else. It’s just me.” The truth of my admission lodged in my throat and I blinked back the tears that swam in my eyes.

  “So who takes care of you when you need taking care of?” he whispered.

  “I already told you, I can take care of myself,” I answered, agitation clear in my tone. I wanted off the subject and was relieved when he changed it.

  “What do you do for work?”

  “I haven’t found a job yet. I haven’t been in town that long.”

  “Where did you move from?”

  “Take the next exit and your first left,” I instructed. I was almost home and I didn’t want to finish this conversation before I had a chance to figure out my answers. “Take that right and it’s the third house down.”

  Eddie pulled up in front of the house, put the car in park, but left the engine running. “This is a nice place, Roberta,” he said as he turned to face me. “Can I come inside?”

  “Are you insane? No!”

  “Why not?” he asked and laughed. “I’m not ready to say goodnight yet. I like talking to you.”

  “Look, it’s late. I’m tired and tonight has been …” I paused as I searched for the right word, “overwhelming.”

  “Can I see you tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know.” I wasn’t sure if I could have my story straight by then.

  “Will you call me?” he asked as he took my hand in his.

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe is better than no,” he said as he raised my hand to his lips and kissed it.

  If I was a normal girl, on a normal date, I might have swooned. Knowing that I was the Venus fly trap and he was the insect that just landed on my petals, I smiled because I knew I was about to snap shut and devour him whole. Maybe I was a praying mantis instead. Oh fuck it, I hated metaphors anyway. They are stupid. Just say what you mean and mean what you say. Oh who am I kidding? I only spoke in lies.

  Eddie released my hand and gave me a small smile. It was nothing compared to the one he used to try and knock me off my feet. If I was a different girl, I thought again, but I couldn’t be. This was the shit hand that life dealt me and now I was left playing the best and last cards I held.

  “Thanks for the ride. Have a good night,” I said as I exited the car. He waited for me to get inside before he drove off. At least he had manners.

  I checked my phone once I was inside and the door was bolted. It was pointless because no one ever called me. I debated calling Jenks, but I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him or his bullshit yet. He almost ruined everything tonight and it was probably best that I cooled off a bit before speaking to him.

  I hadn’t lied to Eddie when I said I was tired. Those few hours at the casino and the aftermath of Jenks’s bulldogging had taken their toll on me. I washed my face and brushed my teeth before changing into something more comfortable and suited for bed. The book I was currently reading was left on the floor where I had thrown it the night before. Picking it up, I took it to bed with me. Even though I was tired, I wasn’t ready to turn off the lights. I needed to distract my mind a bit or I would spend the next few hours tossing and turning as I obsessed over the events of the night again. Feeling a little dehydrated from the alcohol, I got out of bed to get a glass of water.

  The house was silent as I made my way to the kitchen, but I had a strange feeling of being watched. It could have been paranoia, but my
gut was usually right. I strayed from my path to the kitchen and headed towards the front door. All the lights were off inside so no one could see in. Pushing the drapes aside, I studied the street before me. There were no strange cars or people lurking about, but that didn’t mean anything. Still, I could stand there all night and not see a thing. I checked the locks again for good measure and headed back towards the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of water and dropped it as someone started banging on my backdoor. Fucking Jenks. I knew it was him. I left the mess I made in the kitchen, but not before grabbing a gun I kept in one of the drawers.

  “Berty,” he whispered harshly. “Berty, I know you’re in there. Open up.”

  “I should shoot you right now just on principle,” I said as I opened the sliding glass door. Maybe I should get a dog, a pit bull or something to keep the unwanted away. I laughed to myself as I pictured Jenks running down the street with a dog on his heels.

  “What the fuck, Berty? This isn’t funny,” he said as I closed the door behind him.

  “Well it’s nice to see you too, Jenks. I’m so happy you stopped by,” I said with as much sarcasm as I could muster that late in the night.

  “Seriously, Berty, what the fuck? You promised.”

  “Really, Jenks? That’s what you came here to say? You’re lucky I even let you inside. After that stunt you pulled tonight I promised myself that if Eddie didn’t kill me before I made it home that I was going to kick you in the nuts next time I saw you. You’re lucky I talked myself out of it. You keep talking to me like that and I might change my mind again.”

  “I see some things never change,” he said dryly.

  “Whatever,” I said as I made my way into the kitchen to clean up the broken glass. “Make yourself at home.”

  “Can we turn on the lights?” he asked as he took a seat on the couch.

  “No,” I said as I lifted my head from my task and peered at him from over the counter. “I don’t know if someone else is lurking around in the dark. I don’t feel like dying tonight, do you?”

  “Good point.”