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“My husband hired the boys to kill me.” She smirks as she continues, “I met Kyson when he was scoping out my place. I walked outside… No, hobbled would be more accurate, and he saw my black, swollen eyes. I didn’t want to tell him the truth, but I did anyway for some reason. I told him I got them when I didn’t cook the steak right for my husband.
“Now, usually, I keep that locked up tight. I was accustomed to the abuse by then, as we were married for almost forty years. But that day, I was tired, and a nice young man was showing concern and asking me how it happened.
“I knew my husband was seeing someone else and had been for many years. He started coming home less and less. And when he did show up, it was only to beat me. So I was at my wit’s end. And I blurted all this out to Kyson.
“He looked…well, like he knew. Not shocked, which was what I had expected. Then he got angry and left. The next day, my husband was found dead.” She shrugs, turns over whatever it is she’s cooking, and softly smiles.
“When Kyson returned the next day, I asked him what he did for a living. He told me point-blank, ‘I kill people. Your husband was my most recent job.’ I was so shocked by this I started crying and he didn’t know what to do.
“I begged him to let me pay him back. He, of course, told me no, but I felt freer than I ever had before. And that’s all thanks to that man out there. I know he’s scary and cold, but he is also amazing.”
She starts plating up food as she talks. “One of my favorite things is to cook, so I asked him if I could cook for him. He was confused, not sure what to make of my request. But with time and a lot of pestering, he let me. Mr. Hunter loves my food so much he now pays me, and very well, I might add. He lets me stay in the guest house, and I am currently living my best life. Thanks to him.”
Well, I didn’t expect her to tell me that. I turn back to the living room, where he’s still sitting and watching some action movie where they’re trying to kill everyone.
“He’s never brought a woman back here after that last one. What was her name? Oh, yes, Lilly.” I know that name. She’s the one who got married. “Though I’m not sure how serious either of them were. I think she wanted more than he could give.” I watch as she plates up Kyson’s food and walks it out to him. She taps him on the shoulder and hands him the plate. He doesn’t say thank you, but she smiles anyway before she returns to the kitchen.
“Hungry, dear?”
I nod and turn around. Kyson’s watching me, and I shiver and look away before I say anything I will regret.
“How long do you expect me to stay here?” I ask Kyson a few days later.
He takes in what I’m wearing. Not in an appraising way, just like he’s looking at something uninteresting, such as a new potted plant he found in his home. Nancy left clothes on the bed for me on my second night and told me to keep them. They’re nice. A little big on me but still nicer quality than anything I have worn recently.
“What do you think you will do, get drunk, roam the streets, and pass out? I’m sure being here isn’t hurting you. Yet.” He adds that last word with a sinister grin as he runs his hands over his bowtie and fixes it. He’s dressed in a suit and looks incredibly good.
“Where are you going?” I ask, ignoring his dig at me.
“Out.”
“Can I come?” Lord knows why I ask, but I need out of this house, even if it is beautiful.
He eyes me up and down. “Not dressed like that.”
“I’ll change. Wait…” I run up the stairs to “my” room and find the pile of clothes. I found a long, black slip dress in there earlier. Even though it’s too big for me, the back part ties with a bow, so I just have to pull it tighter. I think your back is supposed to be exposed when you wear it, but mine won’t be because of the dress’s size. After slipping it on, I find my old, beaten-up heels I wore to most events where I would steal food and slip them on. Then I run my hands down my hair, tie it back into a messy bun, and pull a few strands out to fall around my face.
Done.
When I meet him by the door, I find him checking his wrist for the time.
“I’m ready,” I announce, and his eyes glide over my body before they reach my eyes.
“You have no makeup on,” he states.
I touch my face. “I don’t own any,” I answer.
He huffs before he walks out the door. “Best fucking behavior, or next time I’ll push you off a cliff.”
“Have a great night,” Nancy says. As she approaches me, she reaches into her pocket and hands me something. I take it, and when I open my palm, there’s a tube of bright-red lipstick. I thank her and hurry out to the car, where Kyson is waiting. He drives in silence, and I flip down the sun visor and use the tiny mirror while I apply the lipstick. Rolling my lips together with a pop, I turn to show Kyson. “Better?” I ask him.
He cracks his neck as he pulls to a stop, not bothering to answer or even looking my way. When he gets out, I do the same, walking around the car to stand next to him.
“Don’t talk to anyone,” he orders, and those haunted eyes find mine.
“What if someone says hello? Am I supposed to pretend I can’t hear them?” I ask.
“Don’t be a smartass,” he grumbles, walking ahead of me.
