Dominik had left the house by the time I walked downstairs. There was no note, no indication of where he’d gone or when he’d be back. I stood in the middle of the kitchen for what seemed like ten minutes, trying to figure out what to do. My stomach growled in a reminder that what little I’d eaten was taking a toll.

  My legs were stiff as I walked toward the refrigerator, no longer surprised by almost anything that happened. It was full of fresh fruits, vegetable, cheeses, and meats. There were two loaves of bread and several kinds of beverages. I hadn’t paid any attention before, but now the sight of the copious amounts of food made my mouth water.

  Yet seconds later, I backed away, unable to process standing here as if nothing was happening. I was in a house with a monster. My son was living with strangers. And I had a contract on my head. I had to fight to keep from slamming the door, leaning against it and taking several deep breaths.

  This was silly. The one thing that Dominik had been right about was that I needed my strength. I bit back a groan of frustration before grabbing some cheese and a bottle of water. I had to admit, both tasted far too good. Even as I was enjoying the meal, I found it difficult to get the time spent in the shower out of my mind. His actions didn’t make any sense to me.

  When I was finished, I walked outside, still holding my bottle of water. The day was gorgeous although hot, the hazy blue skies creating a beautiful setting for the morning. The Jeep was gone and there were no other vehicles in close proximity. After a few seconds, my curiosity got the better of me. I moved down the stairs to the driveway, turning in a full circle. Then I noticed a truck parked near one of the fences.

  Every nerve stood on end, but I doubted some crazed asshole from New York would be driving a fifteen-year-old pickup truck. As I walked closer, I was able to recognize Jerry. Hesitating, I finally found the nerve to walk even closer, keeping my distance as I leaned against the fence.

  Jerry stiffened a few seconds later, looking up from whatever repair he was making to one of the posts. He gazed at me with a blank look then gave me a nod of respect. But almost immediately he returned to his job, using a post hole digger to carve out a portion of the dirt and grass. Was he not allowed to talk to me?

  That was bullshit. Maybe I could get some answers from him. I moved closer, clearing my throat. He didn’t stop working. That wasn’t going to stop me. “Do you know where Dominik went?”

  “Nope.”

  “Are you not allowed to talk to me?”

  Jerry sighed before leaning the diggers against the fence and wiping his arm across his already sweaty forehead. When he turned to face me, he wore the same kind of smirk I’d seen on Dominik more than once. I realized that he was even more muscular than I’d paid attention to, built almost exactly like the Russian yet he had much kinder eyes.

  “It’s not about not being allowed. I don’t know you and you don’t know me,” Jerry said with almost no inflection in his voice. “As far as Dominik, I never know his schedule until the last minute. He trusts me to do my job and I let him live his life the way he needs to. I get paid well and I’m happy with the arrangements.”

  “Who is Dominik?”

  I was surprised when he laughed. “A man of mystery.”

  “You work for him and you don’t know anything about him?”

  “I know everything that’s important, including he’s a decent man.”

  “He’s a killer. How can that make him a decent man?” There was no doubt I was pressing my luck, pushing a man who would undoubtedly tell Dominik everything we talked about.

  “Did you ever hear the expression that some things aren’t always as they seem?”

  Sighing, I turned my attention toward the horses that were frolicking in the pasture, enjoying the rays of sunshine. The entire location was just as surreal as the man. “Of course I’ve heard that, but in this case, what you see is what you get. He was hired to kill me. Instead, he took my son to a safe place and brought me here. I need to know why. I was hoping you might be able to help me.” Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell that I’d actually surprised him.

  “While I know for certain that Dominik had his reasons, the fact you remain alive should also give you an indication of the kind of man he is. We all have reasons for the decisions we make in our lives, even though we often can barely tolerate admitting that to ourselves. Dominik is no different.”

  I doubted I was going to get any straight answers from him. “What is this place? You have some of the most gorgeous horses on the planet and the scenery is absolutely amazing. I just don’t understand why Dominik would own something like this.”

  “You didn’t ask him?”

  Now I laughed. “You are kidding me. Right? Since you seem to know what makes him tick, I’m certain you realize that he’s not the most forthcoming about anything. I’m his mark and nothing else.”

  “Hope, if you were only his mark, I assure you that you would be dead by now with no trace of your existence. He is good at what he does and the reason I know that is because he’s still alive. The decision not to go through with his assignment likely has a heavy personal toll. That’s something for you to keep in mind.”

  His words sent a shiver down my spine. At that moment I had the distinct feeling that Jerry knew a hell of a lot about Dominik’s profession.

  “As far as this place,” he continued. “This is a working horse farm. We’ve actually had contenders, several of our horses placing in several derby events. We also perform stud services for other owners.”

  I studied his face. His eyes told more of a story than Dominik’s. I could also see the same level of pain. He was completely loyal to the Russian. “Well, it’s lovely. I’m surprised you’re working here.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because my instinct tells me that you’ve lived an entirely different life at some point.”

  His smile started to fade, his eyes reflecting another shift into sadness. “As I said before. Some things aren’t always as they seem. Now, I need to get back to work. I can’t have the horses kicking down the fences. Do you need anything?”

  There were so many things that I needed, but none that he could give me. “No. Thank you for your kindness.” As I started to turn away, he stopped me.

  “I’m sorry about your boy. You can trust Dominik, although I understand why you feel that you can’t. Your son will be safe. Dominik will risk his life in order to make certain of that. It would seem you have good instincts, Hope. Allow yourself to follow them. Everyone has secrets that break us apart a little at a time. Often, we resort to shielding ourselves from the pain in the only way we can, even if that means becoming an entirely different person.”

  I took a few deep breaths, turning to retort, but he’d already gotten back to work. He was right about the pain. As I started to walk away, my instinct told me that whatever Dominik had gone through had all but turned off his heart.

  Until me.

  But I still had to find out why.

  Chapter 10

  Dominik

  Peace.

  I’d searched for peace for so long that I was forced to realize there would never be any for a man like me. Then again, I didn’t deserve it, not for one second. It had been a hell of a long time since I’d ridden a horse. Even the last two times I’d visited my beloved location, I’d stayed away from the stables.

  Today seemed like the perfect day to try again. Sadly, my heart had taken so much of a beating that I felt almost nothing after climbing on the mare. She was gentle, likely sensing that I remained tense. I kept her at a slow trot, taking the time to ride through the entire farm. Jerry had certainly done a fantastic job of keeping everything moving, providing me with updates in the encrypted fashion he’d been taught.

  While I knew I could trust the man, I’d never allowed my guard to fall for any reason. Why did I feel like that was happening?

  “Come on, girl. Let’s keep going.” I patted her flank, easing her forward. I’d never felt awkward on any of the horses, but today was entirely different. Maybe I remained too preoccupied, my thoughts constantly drifting to Hope. I’d had no business joining her in the shower, but the draw had been so damn intense. I’d wanted nothing more than to fuck her all over again. Thank God I’d found some level of control.

  There’d been no second phone call from Ivanov. The twenty-four hours had long since expired. While I had certain methods in place, watchful eyes in New York, as of a few hours earlier there’d been nothing noted on the streets, no signs of aggression as far as Viktor was concerned. I knew though it was only a matter of time. The Mafioso didn’t like to be challenged or betrayed, his wrath equaling his desire for beautiful women, of which he had several on the side.

  I would need to carry through with my plan within a few days. That would minimize the risk and in truth, my visits would be surprising early in the game.

  I would talk to my very special informant again, convincing him that it was in his best interest to keep me advised.

  Hissing, I pulled the mare to a stop, trying to take a deep breath. I’d checked every inch of the property for any breach in security. I’d even driven into town, taking up residence at the local coffee shop while I handled my business. Then I’d planned the trip I’d be making. What I realized was that I’d done everything in my power to stay out of the house. That was freaking ridiculous. I couldn’t avoid her.

  Damn it.

  I heard the sound of an approaching vehicle and bristled. I would never be able to relax at this point. As Jerry pulled the truck closer, I got off the horse.

  He climbed out, immediately heading toward me. “Good to see you riding again.”

  “Yeah, well, I’m not certain how I feel about it.”

  “You can’t change the way you feel about anything. You can only change your behavior.”

  The man could always make me laugh with his philosophical thoughts. “I see you’re reflective today.”

  “Nah, just came to me. You know how I am. I took care of the Jeep. Do you need another trash vehicle?”

  “Maybe. I haven’t decided yet.”

  “Just let me know when you do.”

  He had a faraway look in his eyes and when he turned his head away, I was surprised. “Did something happen today, Jerry?”

  He’d always been respectful, but he’d never minced words. For him to hesitate was cause for concern.

  “You’ve been good to me over the years, Dominik. I think you’ve realized by now that I don’t often need to ask you questions.”

  “But you’re going to make an exception.”

  “Yeah, I feel I need to.” He returned his attention, walking closer. “I had a visit from Hope this morning. She is one little spitfire, I tell you that much.”

  “Yes, she is, the kind that needs to be tamed.” I had the feeling I wasn’t going to like whatever he needed to tell me.

  “She did some fishing.”

  My chest tightened. I should have known she’d try to gather information any chance she could. Anger swept through me, enough so I was forced to tamp it back. “And?”

  “Is she really your mark and instead you saved both her and her son?”

  Exhaling, I took a few seconds before answering, “You’re right. You’ve allowed me my space, Jerry, something I’ve appreciated, but also required. I suggest you remember that.”

  “I’m not your enemy, but I do know exactly what you went through a couple years ago. Remember? I can understand that Hope struck a nerve of some kind, but if that really is the truth, you’re risking more than just this place or your life. You’re risking your heart. I know what I’m talking about. You and I are more alike than you might realize.”

  “What the hell would you know about that? Huh?” I asked as I pushed him back several inches. He was startled at my actions, clenching his jaw, but he did nothing but fist his hands. “Answer that? From what I can tell, you’ve been alone your entire freaking life. You haven’t cared about anyone. Not a single person. Well, with the exception of yourself. And we are nothing alike. You couldn’t understand the pain. The guilt. The rage.” Hissing, I turned away, pacing several feet. Now I was losing control in every aspect of my life. I brushed my hand through my hair, regretting my actions.

  “I’ll tell you the same thing I told Hope this morning after she called you a killer. Things aren’t always as they seem. I’ve made the same kind of bad choices in my life, Dominik, ones that ate me up inside. The kind that never leave you, haunting your dreams until all you can think about is putting a bullet in your brain to stop the anguish. I’ve wished for things to be different so damn many times that I lost count years ago. I have the kind of regrets that I wouldn’t wish on my greatest enemy. And yes, I have blood on my hands. Do you really want to stand there and tell me you haven’t felt the same way?”

  I had no answer for him because I couldn’t face the truth. But he was right.

  He snorted. “I get that you’re still healing. That takes time. Hell, I’m not certain I’ll ever get over the bullshit from my past, but I’ve found some ways to live again. You need to do that, but not by adding a carbon copy to your life. Hope can’t fix what’s broken inside of you. Damn it, I wish she could.”

  When I remained quiet, he huffed and walked away.

  “Jerry.”

  He stopped short, tapping his boot on the ground. “Yes?”

  “I’m not a fool. Making this decision isn’t in my best interest, but there are extenuating circumstances to this particular assignment. I’m certain you had to deal with that in your past. I couldn’t allow her to die because of what she’d been forced to do. I will protect her at all costs, even if it means losing what holds little importance to me. However, I won’t allow you or the rest of the workers to take any shit because of the decisions I made. If you want to get the hell away, I’ll understand.”

  Laughing, he shook his head. “You must think my skills are rusty, my friend. You don’t have to worry about my ability to protect myself. And if you need an extra hand, I’m more than willing to provide one. Just keep in mind what I said. Maybe that will keep you from destroying the rest of your life.”

  Whatever loss the man had endured he’d kept as private as I’d kept my grief to myself. Or at least so I thought. I watched him drive away before returning to the saddle. The woman needed the kind of lesson she would never forget.

  I allowed the mare to run as we made the return to the barn, barely swinging down then tossing the reins into one of the hands of one of the workers before storming off. By the time I reached the front door, the sun was just starting to set. I burst inside, slamming the door behind me.

  When I found her in my office, I almost went ballistic. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Stars floated in front of my eyes from the anger hitting a boiling point.

  Hope jerked her head up from whatever she was looking at in my bookshelf, yet her hand lingered on one of the books. She finally yanked it away, swinging around to face me. “I was just trying to find something to read. That’s it. You didn’t tell me anything in the house was off limits.”

  “I also didn’t authorize you to snoop into my things, now did I?” I took long strides closer, only stopping when I noticed the look of fear wash into her eyes.

  “I wasn’t snooping, Dominik,” Hope stated defiantly.

  I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a few seconds. “This room is off limits, Hope. If you want something to read, I will have whatever you’d like brought to you, but this was a violation.”

  “Of what? Jesus, Dominik. I’m not a child. You’ve taken me against my will.” She hesitated, biting her lower lip. “I know you’re trying to protect me, but I feel like a prisoner.”

  “A prisoner.” I laughed as I stared at her.

  “Fine. Laugh at me. You know, my guess is that even if I was snooping, I wouldn’t find anything of substance. You don’t seem to have a real life.”

  Growling, I found it more difficult to find something to say than I should have. “You have no idea what you are talking about.”

  “You have no pictures, no televisions or other methods of finding out information or even for your entertainment. Other than in this single room, there’s almost nothing indicating anyone lives here. If Jerry hadn’t put food in the pantry, it would be devoid of anything but liquor and wine. Hell, while I haven’t looked, I don’t think there are any clothes in the closets. Do you really call that living?”

  “How dare you judge me on the kind of life I’d been forced to live.”

  “You mean how you decided to live. Right? No one forced you into becoming an assassin. No one threatened you if you didn’t follow the path of evil,” she retorted, shaking her head then cursing under her breath.

  “You don’t know what evil really is.”

  The moment of tension between us invoked the kinds of emotions I resented. And even as I stood in a library that held more memories than she realized, the desire I felt for her increased with every passing second. She was even prettier today, her hair in natural curls, her long legs a striking vision. Even the way her cutoff shorts accentuated her full hips and rounded bottom was enough to spark the flame all over again.

  She twisted her mouth, fury shifting into her eyes. “I’m sorry if I invaded your privacy. Have you ever thought for one second that maybe, just maybe I wanted to get to learn more about you? Granted, I’m no longer certain why. I’ll just stick with the fact you’re nothing but an asshole. How’s that? Oh, and of course, a monster.”

  “Don’t you want to also call me a killer? Isn’t that what you told Jerry?”

  A wry look crossed her face. “What else did he tell you?”

  “You told him who you were.”

  “I’m not a fool, Dominik. I never said my name or even what state I came from.”

  “But you did tell him about your son.”

  She looked down, taking shallow breaths. “Yes, I did. Maybe that was foolish of me.”

  “It was very foolish, Hope. In fact, it was stupid as shit.”