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“He, is a she.”
I almost spit out my drink. “A what? Are you losing your mind?”
“No, but you soon will.”
“What’s that supposed to mean, I think you should explain?”
Ryder leans back and looks serious. “Up until now, every assassin has been a woman. The one least expected and flying under the radar. Now, my sniper is getting mighty uncomfortable about wasting women, and so we need to get to the root of the problem before he has a shit fit. You are an easy problem to solve.”
“Is that so?” I shake my head.
“Yes, in this case, the fact you’re a miserable bastard is going to work in our favor because the eligible bachelor is about to meet his match. Lexi becomes your girlfriend and watches over you the whole time.”
“Seriously.” I almost yawn. “A woman. Ryder, you’re seriously pissing me off insinuating a woman can look after me better than I can look after myself. No.”
I fix him with a hard look and he nods. “I thought you might say that, so I did a little digging.”
Here we go. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I snap, “What did you find, I’d be interested to find out?”
“Your mom is telling everyone who’ll listen you’re up for grabs. Word on the street is you’re a marked man and every available woman in New York is set to be introduced to you at some point this summer. You escape the attention and the inconvenience by having a very disinterested substitute to keep the wolves at bay.”
“So, who is this disinterested woman, god help me, if you’ve sent me some old battle ax, I’ll shoot you myself.”
Ryder just laughs, as if I’ve said something hilarious.
“I’ll let you make up your own mind about that. She arrives this morning. Lexi Mackenzie is her name, be nice.”
“Who is she when she’s not playing my girlfriend?”
“A reaper assassin, so behave because she’s likely to cut off your balls in your sleep if you even look at her in the wrong way.”
“Thanks man, what can I say, you’re too kind.”
I roll my eyes and dislike the sound of this woman with every word he speaks. Great, a woman to deal with who probably wants to fucking kill me. I knew this was a shit day and I’ve only been awake less than two hours already.
Sighing, I drain the cup of shitty coffee and say with resignation, “So, what’s the plan?”
“You carry on digging, find out who is causing the markets to shake, and Lexi will keep you alive. Meanwhile, Lucas carries on doing the same in Vegas and I’ll return to Washington and set about tracing the cause of it. Brewer is working hard in uncovering the trail and we need you to play your part. Carry on life as you know it and don’t give anyone reason to doubt the reality of your relationship. To everyone who knows you and those who don’t, you are madly in love with Lexi Mackenzie and planning a happily ever after. Whoever wants to get close to you will become anxious now that avenue is closed and may do something desperate which, in turn, gives us our lead.”
“Great, thanks Ryder. Next time you come calling, bring me cigars, flowers, chocolates, anything but a ball breaker assassin who will probably drive me to take a gun to my own fucking head. Work hard my friend because if she’s still here two weeks from now, I’m coming for you myself.”
Ryder just laughs and says darkly, “Be careful what you wish for, Hunter, I’m guessing you will think differently when she arrives.”
“Keep telling yourself that because you’ve obviously forgotten that unless she is made of the green stuff, I’m just not interested.”
Ryder nods and stands, holding out his hand.
As I grasp it, his handshake is firm and hard, much like the man himself, and he grins.
“Good luck, Hunter, I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”
“Whatever, keep in touch, it’s been too long already.”
I laugh as if I’m a fucking comedian and as he leaves, the door closing wipes the smile off my face. A woman. Hell, that’s all I need, it’s almost tempting to let them finish me off, I’m sure it will be a lot easier.
