Page 30 of The Monster’s Weakness

She chuckled. “It’s not like you’re a murderer or something.”

When he didn’t laugh, didn’t move, and kept staring directly at her, her breath caught. It was so strange, but in that moment she knew. He didn’t need to tell her that he was the man who’d killed Pembroke. Why hadn’t she realized before now?

“You killed him,” she whispered. “But you let me live.”

He didn’t answer. Quiet and still as a statue. He wasn’t denying it.

“I’ll never hurt you. Never.”

She knew that. Her boyfriend was a hit man, and she still loved him.

“But the people who hired me to kill Pembroke, just hired me to kill you.”

“What?” She began backing up away from him, reaching for anything to ground her until she hit the wall. “What are you saying?” Her blood pressure had to be through the roof. She felt dizzy, confused, and refused to believe all these things he was saying. What happened to her perfect little life?

“Gemma, breathe. I’m not going to kill you.” He pulled her into his arms and held her tight. She thrashed but he held her firmly.

“Let me go!” She was crying now, and when he eased his grip, she pounded on his chest. He didn’t stop her. “You’ve been lying to me all this time. Do you even care? Was it all fake?”

“Nothing between us was fake. I knew you were the one from the first moment I saw you. When you tried to kill me.” There was a soft smile on his lips.

“It was a fake gun.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“You did so,” she said.

“Look, I know I have a lot to tell you, but I was afraid to lose you.”

Now she felt angry. “I thought we were close. You should have been able to tell me anything. I wouldn’t have pushed you away,” she said.

“And what about you, Gemma? Aren’t you keeping secrets from me, too?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You take pills every day. For what?”

She gasped. Everything came together in her head in an instant. “You paid for my drugs!”

“Why didn’t you tell me about your MS? Did you think I was that much of an asshole that I’d dump you because of your diagnosis?”

Her vulnerable tears streamed down her cheeks. “I was scared. I didn’t want to lose you like I lost everything else from this stupid disease.”

He pulled her into his arms, holding her head to his chest. “You will never lose me. Do you understand? Never.”

“Your secret was worse than mine,” she said.

They both laughed, but he didn’t let her go.

He may be a hit man, but he took care of her, paid her meds, and made her life worth living. She wouldn’t walk away from him, not even for this revelation.

“Are there any other secrets? We need to clear the slate right now if we want this to work,” she said.

“I’m your boss. I own the shop and do the art.”

“What? I mean, what?”

“That’s it. I swear,” he said.