CHAPTER 4
Charlie
I couldn’t get my thoughts to slow as I curled up on the lounger in Gavin’s office and attempted to read a book I’d grabbed from his massive library. How the hell did I, of all people, end up with a hit out on my life? Everything I did was as risk-free as one could get. I didn’t take chances or put myself in danger, and I sure as hell didn’t ever put my life on the line.
My one brush with death had been more than enough for me, teaching me a lesson early in life, when I was just ten years old. And it was one hell of a lesson to learn. I knew how lucky I was to still be alive—especially when my seven-year-old brother didn’t survive that tragic day. I was here, but he wasn’t, his precious life cut short.
I’d wished a million times over to trade places with Jessie, to have it be him who got pulled from the freezing water and cracked ice instead of me, to have his life be spared instead of mine. But those weren’t the cards fate dealt us that day. No… I was the one who got to live another day and my brother didn’t—something my father never failed to remind me of.
“Hey… you okay?” Gavin swiveled away from the multiple monitors that lined his desk, and reached over to run a comforting hand down my arm.
“Yeah… no… sorry, I guess I’m not. I just can’t believe that this is actually happening to me. I swear, I don’t think my boss knows the first thing about hiring a hitman.” It’s not that he wasn’t a big enough asshole to develop a viral weapon if it meant lining his pockets. But putting a hit out on me felt like such an extreme, especially when I’d done nothing more than stumble across the data and bring it to his attention. “Honestly, I didn’t even quite realize what I’d come across when I first found the data on those viral specimens. I thought it was just a dangerous mistake—until I took a closer look. But… this just all seems surreal.”
“I know I’ve only just met you, but I suspect you always see the best in people. And if you do everything by the book, you probably think everyone else does too. But there’s no point in worrying about this when we’re already doing all we can to keep you safe.” Gavin got to his feet, stretching out his massive form, and then offered me his hand. “Come on, sweetness… I’m starving, and I work better when I keep myself fed. Besides… you should really eat something. There’s nothing like low blood sugar levels to make everything seem a million times worse.”
Setting the book aside, I let him pull me up out of the chaise, though having him so close only served to remind me that I hadn’t been on an actual date in so long that I’d actually need both hands to count the years. “I can cook if you want. I’m not half bad.”
Our two pups got to their feet the moment they realized food was being discussed. Gavin smiled, shaking his head. “I see Ripley has food ESP too. I swear, if I so much as think of food or a walk, Thor immediately picks up on it without me ever speaking a word or moving a muscle.”
“It’s crazy, isn’t it?” Though what was crazier was the fact that I had a hit out on my life and I was flirting with the most gorgeous man I’d ever laid eyes on.
Not that I was flirting.
Because flirting when someone was trying to kill you just did not make sense. Nor did trusting someone I’d only just met. Yet here I was, even though I could hear my father’s voice telling me that I was nothing but a useless fool to trust someone I didn’t know.
I pushed away all thoughts of my father, not wanting to start doubting myself. Following behind Gavin, he led the way towards his kitchen, which gave me the chance to see more of his amazing home. It was the perfect blend of casual masculinity with touches that made it uniquely his, with sci-fi collectibles gracing the walls and shelves throughout the home. Clearly, he wasn’t someone who was out to impress, but rather had put together a home that was truly his.
That said, the kitchen we walked into would’ve impressed even the top chefs of the world. “Holy smokes. Tell me you actually use this kitchen, and it’s not just for show.”
“I cook a fair bit, though to be honest, it’s more out of necessity rather than passion. I tend to keep the local take-out joints plenty busy, but that doesn’t really work for the five meals I eat a day, not to mention the three am binges that happen when I’m working late—which is all the time.” Gavin pulled open the fridge door, and poked around. “Not sure what you’re in the mood for. I’ve got a few steaks I could grill. It’d give the dogs a chance to run around a bit before settling in for the night.”
“Steaks are great.” I loved how he didn’t just think of me, but also the dogs. Yet given that someone might be out to kill me, I wasn’t sure how careful I needed to be. The last thing I wanted to do is get taken out by some sniper. “And… it’ll be safe for me to be outside?”
“My property is well secured, and at the moment, no one knows you’re with me. There’s nothing connecting the two of us. And with luck, your boss hasn’t noticed that I took down his job for a hitman. Until he puts another one back up, you’re safe.” Gavin grabbed everything he’d need to cook us dinner and led the way out onto the back deck, off the kitchen, the dogs zipping past us to run around. “Make yourself at home. These shouldn’t take long to cook.”
“Anything I can do to help?” This all felt so surreal as I stood there by his side.
Not only did I not know him, but this was a completely unfamiliar environment, and I was simply handing my life over to him. Sure, he was funny, and he seemed really nice, but I didn’t exactly have a whole lot of experience when it came to men, or even being street-smart. My father always said I was too naïve for my own good. And maybe he was right.
Yet as I looked over at Gavin, nothing about him set off any warning bells—other than the fact that he was a complete stranger. And though there’d been no visible threat, he had still whisked me away in his vehicle and into his home. I didn’t know the first thing about him, and yet I was essentially putting my life in his hands.
Maybe I just needed to get to know him better. Then I wouldn’t feel as naïve and trusting, and maybe my dad’s voice rattling around in my head would just shut the hell up. Not that it ever did. He’d never been happy with anything I’d managed to accomplish, no matter how hard I’d tried. Never a kind word, or a show of affection. Nothing was ever good enough. Because I wasn’t his boy—and nothing could bring Jessie back.
Determined to prove my father wrong, even though it was all in my head, I wandered over to Gavin’s side, determined to get to know him a bit better so that I’d know for sure that he was just a nice guy and I hadn’t been wrong to trust him. “I have to admit, this all feels so bizarre. I don’t even remember your last name… And anything other than knowing that you wander about the dark web trying to save clueless scientists from getting their head blown off.”
He let out a laugh, tossing me a smile that had my heart pounding double-time. “Last name’s Reid—and honestly there isn’t much else to know. You already know that I have a tech security company with my best friend, and I’d like to think I’m the top in my field. I grew up dirt poor, so I appreciate the things I now have. I have a younger brother and sister, both of whom work for me, in different capacities. I have no kids, never been married or engaged, and other than work and Thor, my life is pretty uneventful. How about you?”
The last thing I wanted to do is tell him about my messed up family life. That would have to wait. And so I gave him a smile, hoping he wouldn’t ask too many questions.
“My life has been pretty boring—up until this morning. I have a feeling that meeting you… it’s changed everything.”