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I have to accept that he probably wouldn’t have. For God’s sake, he didn’t even recognize me.
Does that change a thing about how I feel right now? It should… but it doesn’t.
However, Burns is eyeing me closely as though expecting me to act a totally different way. I might as well give him something.
Gesturing vaguely at him, I ask. “Shouldn’t you… I don’t know… clean up?”
I’ll be honest. The bloodismaking my stomach twist. Just not for the reason I want him to think…
Because the real truth is that, ever since I’ve been here with Burns, I’m different. I’m changing. I’m… I’mgladthat Carter is dead. All I ever wanted was someone to take his assault on me seriously, and to make him pay. The cops in Fairview didn’t do shit.
But Burns… he gave me the chance to get vengeance myself. When I couldn’t, he did it for me.
The blood doesn’t disturb me. It… it excites me. And since that factdoesdisturb me, I need him to give me some space. Before I do something I regret. Before hedoesexplode. Before I dwell too closely on tonight’s events… I need some space.
Only… I don’t think I’m getting any.
Still clutching the gun, he grabs the hem of his blood-stained t-shirt, tugging it over his head and tossing it to the floor. “That better, angel?”
Oh. Um. Coming face to face with Burns’s bare chest for the first time… I wasn’t expecting that, either. This is the most I’ve seen of him and, without meaning to, I stare again. I might’ve got a glimpse of his chest once when he came down with his uniform shirt halfway undone. This, though? This is an idea of what he’ll look like when he finally takes me in his bed.
When…
If. I meanif.
Don’t I?
I don’t know anymore.
“I—” I give my head a clearing shake. Forcing myself to look away from his hairless chest and a set of gorgeous pecs, I drop my gaze to his palms. “There’s blood on your hands,” I say needlessly.
“I know.”
“Aren’t you going to wash them?”
“I will,” he bites out, his voice short and his eyes… glancing up, the steely blue shade of his eyes is darker than I’ve ever seen. “As soon as I get my reward.”
Hiswhat?
I finally meet the daring look on his darkly handsome face. “What are you talking about?”
“You owe me.”
Tit for tat.
As I stare up at him, he says almost conversationally, “Would it scare you if I told you that I’ve killed for you before? That that asshole wasn’t the first time?”
No. And it wouldn’t surprise me, either.
“Burns—”
“My name is Mace.”
I know. And since he insists on calling me ‘angel’ instead of my name, he’s ‘Burns’ to me. “What are you saying?”
“That there’s a reason you never heard anything else about your case. The robbery.”
Brick. “You killed him?”
