Page 12 of The Hitman’s Obsession

I stomp forward, my insides burning with rage and betrayal, blinking hard to keep the tears from welling up in my eyes.

“You knew who I was!”

“Yes.” He nods, still looking away.

“And you came here to kill me!”

He nods again. “Yes.”

“But you didn’t. You fucked me,” I lash out. “You took my virginity! Did your boss tell you to do that too?”

Roman looks up. His eyes snap to mine, and I see an emotion I’ve yet to see from him. Pain. I hurt him.

“Of course not!” His voice is tense like a coiled spring.

“Then why didn’t you kill me—”

“Because I couldn’t do it!” he roars. The volume and strength of his voice nearly knocks me over. I stumble back, steady myself, and somehow manage to find my voice.

“Why not?”

His massive shoulders slump. His chest deflates. But the pain in his eyes morphs into something so sincere it goes straight to my core.

“Because I saw you, Annie.” He steps closer. I step back. “And you became more than another assignment to me.”

I scoff. “So you thought you’d come in and fuck me instead?”

“I came here to warn you,” he snaps. “That’s all. I was just going to warn you, and then I was going to leave. But…”

“But?”

My head is spinning. I just need to be alone. I need to sit with this, process this, see if I can possibly understand the enormity of what has happened to me tonight.

“I think you should leave,” I finally say.

“No,” he replies strongly. “And you’re not staying here either.”

He walks to his clothes and quickly starts getting dressed. But his eyes are on me. Like I already belong to him. Me questioning his authority doesn’t even seem like an option he’s considered.

“Um, excuse me?”

“You’re coming with me, Annie.”

“Oh, sure!” I laugh. “The man sent to kill me. I’m just gonna go with him!”

“When they find out I didn’t kill you, they’ll send someone else,” he barks. “So get dressed. Now.”

The absurdity of this situation. I’m almost offended. But despite everything that’s happened, I still want this man. His cum is dripping out of me, splashing on the floor by my feet. I’m tingling all over. I’m blazing with heat. I want more.

Round two, round three, round four…

But for the first time tonight, my rational mind starts to take over.

Get away from Roman. Get away from this man now.

I’ve taken care of myself all the countless times my father left me alone, and I can do it again. Roman may think I’m helpless, but I’m not.

“You think you can push me around?” I ask. “Tell me what to do? I’m not afraid of you.”