Return of the Assassin (All the King's Men) Read Free Page A

when they only sat in silence. He comforted her simply by being there.
    On the day in question, she had been in lockup for maybe four or five days, lying in bed and trying not to think about how badly she had screwed up. But after blowing two holes inside an innocent person's chest, it was hard not to think about it…and dwell on it…and regret every stupid, careless, misguided decision that led to the moment she pulled the trigger.
    She lay on her side in the dark, facing the wall, and exhaustion finally began to win out over the litany of self-deprecating thoughts parading through her mind, and she drifted toward sleep. Malek was there…behind her on the other bed.
    She was just on the brink of sleep when Malek sighed. The rush of air was tinged with the telltale hint of frustration, and a moment later, the quiet rustle of the other bed told her he sat up. But she was too near sleep and too wrapped up in her own problems to pay him much attention.
    Silence followed for another few seconds, and then Malek whispered so quietly that his voice sounded almost like breath. "I know you're asleep, but…" He trailed off, and the blankets stirred again as he uttered a quiet groan, as if he was frustrated with himself. "I don't know what's happening to me."
    Curiosity pulled her from the brink of sleep, but she refused to turn around. She didn't want to talk about whatever was bothering him. She had her own shit to deal with. He thought she was asleep, so if she kept up the act, maybe he would leave and take his frustrations elsewhere.
    "How did this happen?" he whispered, as if to himself. "I can't take another mate. I can't."
    She frowned, eyes closed. A mate? Surely, he wasn't talking about her.
    "I don't know how this happened." He reflected aloud. "I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I am." He moved, and Gina felt his gaze prickle the hair on the back of her neck. "God forgive me, but the connection is there, and I feel it growing stronger every hour. I don't know what to do. Why do I want you when I haven't even…?" From the tone of his voice, he didn't sound happy. Then he continued. "I can't let go of my past, Gina. I want to, but I can't. How will this work if I can't let go of…?" He trailed off with a sigh.
    Whatever was on his mind was serious. Bad serious. And she hoped whatever it was, it was strong enough to overcome whatever mated male biological body chemistry he had going on—or thought he had going on—because the last thing she wanted was another mate. She didn't do relationships. Not since Armand.
    When he spoke again, his voice was even softer and right behind her, as if he was staring at the back of her head, maybe even studying her. The warmth of his breath caressed her neck. "How did you become my mate, Gina? I'm not worthy of you."
    Gina's thoughts bounced back to the present as Trevor took a turn too closely and jumped the curb. That was it, wasn't it? Malek had royally freaked her out by declaring she was his mate, and like a startled deer, she had bolted. Just up and ran like a chickenshit as soon as she was released. Was that the kind of thing assassins did? Did they flee at the first sign of trouble? Hell no! They stood and fought, or at least laid down the law. She hadn't done either. She should have turned around then and there and told Malek that he could want to be her mate all he wanted, but that didn't mean she reciprocated.
    But there was one catch. She was attracted to Malek. As in really attracted to him. A revelation she had refused to admit to herself for days after leaving Chicago, and which she still didn't voice aloud. But just because she found Malek attractive didn't mean she wanted him for a mate. Hell no!
    Trev was still throwing out instructions to Colby, and his gaze danced up to the rearview mirror every few seconds. "Okay, call me when you're on your way to the airport." He disconnected and shot her a look. "You okay?"
    She threw the bag he had given her behind his seat with