2020, July 22nd
(Location Undisclosed)
AIDEN
Her smiles and laughter grew irresistibly familiar with each passing hour, drawing me in. She was entirely too good to be with. I was just getting used to her lit up, carefree demeanor as we sat down to lunch at a nearby restaurant, when we were joined by two newcomers. And just like that, killer Keira was back. The eyes with nothing in them, something I saw less and less as the months went by, were back.
"Nice job giving Katie, and us I suppose, the slip last time. You kept him so well under wraps until today. Really, it's impressive, giving the full force of The House of Assassins the slip. Even for you, Keira. Explains how he's still alive. Hi, by the way. Nathan Dormer," one of the men said, sticking out his hand to me.
I looked at Nathan's hand, then at Keira. What kind of life was I living? I was sitting at a table with three assassins in broad daylight. One of them was the woman I was taking home tonight. I watched Keira get dressed enough times to know she had at least ten different weapons on her person at any given time.
That made at least thirty weapons that could kill me at that table, not counting my own gun. Yup, there was nothing left of my rational mind.
"You're right. He does say a lot of shit without actually saying anything," I said, electing not to shake Nathan's hand.
He met this development with an indifferent shrug.
"Let's get right to it, Gray. What are you guys doing here except killing my buzz?" an irritated Keira asked.
An unfazed 'Gray' locked his hands on the table and said, "Madz wants you to come in. One last job and The House of Assassins—"
"And I don't want to," said Keira, her voice razor sharp. "Regards to mommy dearest though."
She got up to leave.
"We can't bring her in without you, Keira," he said, stopping her dead in her tracks by claiming her hand as she passed by him.
My gaze went to their linked hands.
"Who are you again?" I asked, unbridled jealousy on full display.
"I like him, Keira. Gray, I think that's code for stop touching my woman," Nathan quipped with a chuckle.
My attention remained focused on Gray, envy gradually turning into hate. What was their deal? I didn't like the way he looked at Keira. He nonchalantly took her hand like it was a privilege he earned. They were familiar. Well fuck that. I did want him to stop touching my woman.
"Katie, what Madz wants, none of it is my problem anymore," said Keira, her voice firm as she pulled her hand out of Gray's.
"There's also the matter of your arm candy," said Gray, finally acknowledging me with a brief glance, before refocusing on her. "Madz is offering to keep him safe until the job is over, Keira"
"She's even prepared to arrange your marriage to him with Terres Somnia's royal family, assuming that's what you want," Nathan chimed in, observing us both for a reaction.
We didn't disappoint.
Keira and I looked at each other at the same time. I gulped. It was too soon to talk about marriage. That she wanted to be with me was obvious, but she didn't even allow me to call her my girlfriend. Whenever it came up, she would insist that she wasn't my g-word.
The light blush on her cheeks had my mind racing though. Too soon, but maybe soon enough? What the fuck was I talking about? I was engaged to another woman six months ago.
Keira walked past Gray and up to me. She took my hand in hers and pulled me out of my chair.
"We all know how well that worked out last time, don't we? I can take care of my arm candy and myself on my own. She's done telling me how to live. Tell Madz I said to fu—" my not g-word mouthed off, battle armor still on.
"She'll think about it," I said, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them.
I was focusing on the wrong thing. I hadn't given marrying her a single thought. When Nathan put it out there though, I didn't hate the idea.
Keira turned her head towards me and glared. I intertwined our fingers, tightening my hold on her hand. My throat was dry. Pulse was racing. I met her murderous rage with an easy smile anyway. She was so fucking hot right now.
"Nice meeting you both," I said, unable to take my eyes off her. Fired up. Pissed off. So damn beautiful. "We'll get back to you when she's not ready to end all three of us. Now piss off. We haven't been out in days and you're killing her buzz,"
The four of us shared a tense moment. Cutting the tension, Nathan got up and gave Gray a nod, who then followed suit.
"I just want to help you, Keira. If you don't trust Madz, believe me. Trust me," Nathan implored, before he slipped her a burner phone. "Call me when you're ready."
Gray held his hand out to Keira. Incredulous, I took it instead and gave it a solid shake.
"Come on Gray, better luck next lifetime," said Nathan, his gaze darting back and forth between Keira and I.
In the end, Nathan had to separate our hands by force.
"Ease up, Denny. It's all in the eyes. She doesn't look at Grayson the way she looks at you," said Nathan, a veiled threat in the tone of his voice.
I appreciated that. Who knew what he had heard about me? A possessiveness gnawed at my stomach. I swear that wasn't there before.
"Don't you go getting yourself killed," Keira called after Nathan.
He threw her a grin over his shoulder and proclaimed, "Dormers don't hurt Dormers, Keira. You know that."
When Grayson and Nathan were out of sight, she turned her wrath on me. No words, not yet. More glaring. Flaring nostrils. I picked up the flowers off the table and awaited the rest of my punishment. The awkward stares we were getting from the people around us was apparently only the first part of it.
"Firstly, lunch isn't happening anymore," she said, stealing a quick glance at the flowers before she stormed off with me in tow.
I looked into her fuming eyes from next to her and then down at their joined hands. She could have let go already, but she hadn't.
"Secondly, we're going home now and thirdly, once we get there, I'm going to explain to you how the 21st century works. You do not speak for me," she raged on.
I heard the words, felt her rage in them, but my heart soared. I'd marry her tomorrow. Not for a crown or my country's sake. Aiden
Condron lived in a world where I could want someone. Just for me. And I wanted her.