Unexpected Destiny (Assassins and Sweethearts Book 3) Read Free Page A

ax-murderer or something.”
    “Oh! Right. What’s your name, hot stuff?” Emily asked.
    “Aidan Clery.” He liked these girls. They didn’t have all their faculties but they were still thinking.
    “He’s the owner and operator at Aidan Clery Enterprises,” Sherri read from her phone and all three nodded like it sounded impressive.
    He’d told Nadia not to list the company name but she’d insisted when she found it on his tax returns, claiming any kind of online presence was better than none. None sounded just fine to him.
    “Sounds kind of important,” said Emily. “There’s a review. Click on it. Let’s see what they have to say about our man Aidan here.”
    “Okay.” Sherri said. “It’s coming up. Here it is. Nadia Duskin gives Aidan five stars for customer service. That’s nice.”
    “Customer service is very important. You take good care of Lizzy here.” Emily pointed at him. “Okay?”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Apparently something was better than nothing.
    “I’ve got another test.” Emily raised her hand. “Are you good to your grandmother?”
    “Oh, good one,” Liz said.
    “I was actually. My parents weren’t around much when I was little. My grandmother was my whole world and the reason I spent so much time in Buena Park.”
    “You’re lucky to have had her. My situation wasn’t too different. When did she pass?” Liz asked.
    “Over a decade ago.”
    “I’m sorry.” She squeezed his hand. “Grandma’s are the best. I’m not sure I would have made it to twenty without my grandma. She passed about six years ago.”
    “I’m sorry.” His grandmother would have liked Liz. The thought warmed him all over.
    By the time they got to the girls’ apartment, a high rise near Catalpa, the two friends were able to get themselves out of the cab. Liz was kind enough to help them upstairs without him. She promised to be quick with her return.
    He shifted his hard cock as he watched her disappear into the building. The last time a woman had distracted him from his work, it hadn’t turned out pretty. But the way his adrenaline was running, maybe he’d be able to taste the sweet Liz and take care of business tonight.
    One way or another, he’d have to take care of one of his jobs tonight. He pulled out his auction envelope. Letting the clock tick by was a simple way to get your own name added to the next auction. Forty-eight hours wasn’t a long time, especially when you planned to do a whole lot of fucking in the middle of it.
    He pulled the first contract out and reviewed all the details. The photo the auction house provided appeared to be the wedding photo. The thing looked only a few years old. The skyline he recognized with the lights of Navy Pier in the background. The photo must have been taken from one of the hotel balconies downtown. Then he noticed the bride, familiar eyes stared back at him.
    “Holy shit.” Lizzy. What kind of crappy luck would he have to have to meet a mark this way?
    He checked the name of his target. Elizabeth Martin. “Damn.”
    Frozen, he stared at the picture of lovely Liz and her innocent happy eyes. He didn’t know much about her, but knew she didn’t deserve this sentence. Thank God Gavin had heard about this contract in time for him to get involved. He snapped a picture of the paperwork and sent it to his brother and Sam, his security tech.
    His thumb crumpled the image of what must be Reese Martin. The asshole would pay for his actions. At least he had an added reason not to let the beauty out of his sight, except he didn’t at the moment.
    The broken lights near the bar flashed through his thoughts. What if he wasn’t the only one looking for Liz tonight? He rubbed his neck, jamming his fingers into his aching shoulder muscle.
    A quick look at the exterior of the building did little to settle him. He pulled out his cell and called one of the few men he could trust.
    “Gavin, hey brother.” Aidan got out of the cab.
    “Did you get the