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She didn’t like how her body came alive under Viper’s perusal. Her nipples tightened, and her pussy grew slick, and it was entirely inappropriate. There were dead men lying a few feet away. Men that had wanted to kill her, to drug her up and make her death look like a suicide. Totally not an original idea.
She tensed as he stood and advanced toward her. For him it was just a few short strides. If it was her, it would have been a few more. He was just so much bigger than she was. Clenching her teeth, she tried not to show her body’s reaction to his closeness.
It’s totally fine.
He’s just a handsome, sexy, stranger.
Who happens to be protecting you from your very insane stepfather.
The moment his hand touched hers, her entire body felt alive like it was being awakened for the first time. Opening her eyes, which had magically closed, she found him only a breath away, staring right at her.
Did his gaze go to her lips? Did he want to kiss her?
Crap. She hadn’t brushed her teeth. Her face hurt as well. What if he kissed her, and she hated it because of the pain?
/> Shut up, and just take the kiss.
The kiss didn’t happen. He stepped away and returned to the window. Glancing down, she saw he had removed the cuffs, and placed them in her lap. He’d been so gentle as he touched her, she hadn’t even realized he’d freed her.
Men had never been nice to her. She pushed all the bad memories away. Pepper didn’t need to remind herself of the hell she’d endured the past few months.
“I believe your mother went peacefully,” he said.
“I’m sorry? You said you didn’t know.”
“I have ways of getting information. She went peacefully in her sleep so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Thank you,” she said. Deep down she knew he didn’t have the real answers. “Is this new for you?”
“What?”
“Saving your targets? You know, the change of mission or whatever it is you call it?” she asked.
“You’re the first kill that I now have to protect. Look, don’t expect much small talk out of me. It’s not going to happen.”
When he glanced in her direction, the moonlight casting a glow into the bedroom, she saw his scars just before he turned his head.
“How did you get your scars?”
He didn’t move a muscle or say anything. His gaze wasn’t even on her but on the street now. Nothing about his posture gave away his thoughts, or even if he’d heard the question.
“Boss’s crew is here,” he said.
Within minutes there was a bang on the door, and then there wasn’t time for her to say anything else.
Chapter Four
The cleaning crew was his saving grace. He wasn’t good with emotionally tense situations, and the longer he talked with Pepper, the more she managed to weaken him. It would be easy if he didn’t give a shit about her, but for some reason he did. Was it her innocence? The fact she didn’t belong in his black and white world? Or maybe it was the way she turned him on without even trying? Whatever the fuck it was, he needed to man up and get over it before she destroyed him.
“How’s it hanging, Viper?” Spade strolled into the room, a black garbage back slung casually over his shoulder. Lola followed behind him with a mop and bucket.
“Things could be better,” Viper said. “Anyway, there’re just the three of them there. One gunshot.”
There were numerous crews that handled clean-up, depending on the location. He was usually cleaner, no blood, but when he’d seen that asshole put his hands on Pepper, he’d lost it.
“Who’s the chick?” asked Lola.
“Don’t worry about her,” he said. Pepper was watching from her spot on the bed, not saying a word. She looked like a fish out of water. He imagined Miss Fancy Pants was used to tea parties and book clubs. Now she was fighting for her life in the shittiest hotel room he’d seen in a long time.
