“He expected you to kill a cop and spend your life in prison?”
“He expected it and still expects it.”
Paul felt a tiny spark of hope, because Aiden Mendez hadn’t killed him yet.Assassins, especially sniper-style assassins, didn’t get up close and personal with their targets.Paul got the impression that Aiden was weighing his options, and taking his measure as a man.“What if you don’t follow through?”
“That is not an option.”
Paul stretched out on his back on the rocky shoreline and tucked one hand behind his head.The sun beat down on his wet, bedraggled body.If this was the end, so be it.He couldn’t regret the way he’d spent his last day on earth.He’d told Vanessa he loved her, and he’d protected her from Bennett.
“What are you doing?”Aiden asked.
“Relaxing.”
“You don’t believe I’ll kill you?”
“I believe it.I’ll get up and fight you in a minute.”
They shared a companionable silence.Paul figured his chances of dying here were about fifty-fifty.He had no quarrel with Aiden Mendez, but he would kill him if he had to.Until then, he could be civil.
“How long have you been watching me?”Paul asked.
“Since last night.”
Aiden lifted the binoculars again.Paul glanced toward the cabin, massaging his shoulder.Vanessa’s car was still parked outside.He prayed she would break free of the duct tape and get the hell out of here.Aiden Mendez might not be a cold-blooded murderer, but he was an experienced gunman.He might take a shot at her to show off his skills, or to observe Paul’s reaction.
Aiden lowered the binoculars and sat down.“Your woman is very beautiful.”
“Yes.”
“Will she mourn the ex?”
“I doubt it.”
“What about you?Will she mourn you?”
Paul wasn’t sure, so he stayed quiet.
“Maybe it’s superficial of me,” Aiden mused, “but I hate to cause a woman sorrow.Especially one who looks like that.”
“By all means, be superficial.”
“Are you in love with her?”
Paul knew better than to bare his soul to an assassin.And yet, he sensed that Aiden was looking for a reason to spare him.He wanted to do a kindness for a pretty woman, and maybe he wanted to thwart his father.“Yes.”
“Is she in love with you?”
“I don’t know.”
“What would you do with your life if I spared it?”
Paul considered his answer carefully.“I’d spend every moment of it trying to make her happy.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Vanessa drove asfast as she dared with tears streaming down her face.
When she saw Jackson’s truck, she pulled over to the side of the road and wiped her eyes.He parked near her and emerged with Emily.Vanessa got out to greet them, hoping she didn’t look too crazy.Her daughter was smiling.She held a half-eaten chocolate chip pancake in one hand and Penelope in the other.
