The Sniper. Kimberly Van Meter

of monogamy with me was more than you could handle. You also said you were bored,” Jaci said, trying not to wince at the pain the memory of that day still caused. Holy hell, it felt as if two months had only been two days ago. How pathetic. She’d enabled him to turn her into a weak, pathetic female and she hated him for it. But damn, it still hurt. Did she care? She shouldn’t but she did. A part of her needed to know that there was a sliver of humanity inside him that was remorseful for breaking her heart the way that he had. “What’s really going on?” she asked. “There’s no need to hide the truth from me. We’re not a couple. Just tell me so I know what I’m dealing with. Don’t you see how it’s not fair to drag me from my life without warning and keep me here against my will without at least clueing me in to what’s going on?”

      “I already told you—”

      “You told me the bare minimum, which wasn’t an answer at all. Who is after me and why?”

      “I’d have to tell you more than you’d want to know. It’s better this way,” he said, adding quietly. “Trust me.”

      Had he no idea how impossible his request was? How incapable she was of blithely following him simply because he crooked his finger and patted her on the head with a promise that if she did as she was told like a good girl, everything would be fine? He obviously didn’t remember a thing about her personality because never in a million years would she ever be so docile. “The thing about trust is, you have to be willing to be vulnerable with the other person,” she said. “And I would never allow myself to be vulnerable with you again.”

      “You would be willing to jeopardize your life just because you’re still pissed off about our breakup? I thought you were smarter than that.”

      “I thought I was smarter about a lot of things. You, Nathan, proved to me that I’m as stupid as they come.”

      * * *

      Nathan heard the ragged pain under her subdued tone and he looked away, unable to hold her stare. If there’d been any other way to keep her safe, he would’ve done it. Walking away from Jaci had been like tearing off a limb and leaving it behind. And he’d been a bear to be around since then. His personality had never been what one would describe as cuddly, but Jaci had managed to bring out the softer side in him—one he hadn’t even known existed—and it’d been that soft, mushy side that had made him realize that if anything ever happened to her because of him, he’d follow her to the grave.

      He’d learned long ago that life was filled with pain, but Jaci had been a bright shiny star in a dark universe. How could he possibly allow his feelings for her to put her in jeopardy? The night he’d surprised a man lying in wait in her apartment, Nathan had realized she was no longer safe with him around. The fact that the guy had managed to catch Nathan with a quick uppercut and escape before Nathan could put a bullet through his brain had only served to make Nathan even more on edge. “Are you hungry?” he asked gruffly. “I have food.”

      “No.”

      He accepted her answer, even if he knew she was lying through her teeth. Jaci had always loved food. Nathan had relished her softly rounded curves and the way she didn’t pretend to pick at a garden salad, protesting how full she was after nibbling a piece of lettuce. No, Jaci had ordered steak and potatoes and then had often eyed the dessert menu. She was the kind of woman who set his blood on fire. “You should eat,” he said.

      “I said I wasn’t hungry. I want to go home.”

      “It’s not safe.”

      “What about my roommate? He’s going to notice if I suddenly go missing.”

      Nathan scowled at the mention of the man she lived with. He didn’t know if there was anything romantic going on but he had his suspicions. What normal red-blooded male could withstand living with a woman like Jaci without making a move of some sort? Unless the man was gay... But Nathan didn’t pin much hope on that score, so that made James Public Enemy Number One in Nathan’s opinion. “I have a burner phone you can use to let him know you’re okay. Tell him you’re visiting friends or something but don’t let him know where you are.” He paused a minute, then couldn’t help himself as he asked, “So what’s the deal with you two...? Dating?”

      “Are you deaf? I said he was my roommate, not my boyfriend, not that it’s any of your business. James is a good friend. I needed a place to stay when my ex-boyfriend duped me into thinking we were getting a place together and I let my apartment go. Forgive me for not wanting to sleep in my car.”

      “And he was your only choice? You didn’t have a girlfriend you could stay with?”

      “Unbelievable! You have some nerve. I’m not even going to dignify that question with a response because you have no right to judge how I solved the problem you created. Okay? So butt out.”

      Nathan backed down, hating that he’d let himself slip like that. On the surface she was right. He shouldn’t butt his nose into her personal business, but they weren’t your average exes and she’d just have to get used to the idea. “Your safety isn’t something I’m going to mess around with. I am going to need to run a background check on this roommate. What’s his name?”

      “He would never hurt me. We’ve been friends for years.”

      “What’s his name?” he repeated, not backing down.

      “His name is James Cotton.”

      Nathan committed the name to memory. He’d have a full background check done on the man. If he had so much as an outstanding library book, Nathan would find out. “I’ll let you know when you can contact him. Until then, don’t bother trying. There’s no phone line installed here.”

      She looked ready to say something childish and petulant—Jaci had always been terrible at hiding her thoughts and feelings—but she buttoned her lips and turned on her heel to return to the bedroom, where she promptly slammed the door.

      The message was pretty clear. He wasn’t welcome in her space, whether he was saving her damn hide or not.

      The knowledge pinched more than a little but he shrugged it off. He wasn’t here to start playing house; he was saving her life.

      So why was he still staring at that closed door like a starving man stared at a Thanksgiving feast?

      Because inside he felt ravenous and out of control, he answered himself as he squeezed his eyes shut.

      Shut it down, Isaacs. Stay cool. Now was not the time to start baring his soul and babbling apologies.

      Besides...there wasn’t anything he could say that would forgive what he’d done.

      That’d been the plan.

      Chapter 4

      “I’ll meet you there,” Nathan confirmed, ending the call just as Jaci exited the bedroom. He knew she’d heard him so he started talking first. “I want you to stay here while I meet up with a contact who might be able to help me figure out who’s after you. Promise me you’ll stay put.”

      “And why should I do that?”

      “Because I’ve already explained that you’re safer here than out in the open.”

      “No, you haven’t explained anything. You’ve told me what to do and just expected me to obey. That’s not the same thing.”

      Damn redheaded stubborn streak, he wanted to mutter, but instead sent her a hard look, ignoring how his stomach clenched at the sight of her vibrant beauty staring back at him. It didn’t seem to matter that she exuded cold distance rather than sweet love like she used to—his heart still quickened dangerously. Emotion got people killed. Stow that sentimental crap, Isaacs.

      “Jaci, just stay put,” he said again, grabbing his gun and tucking it into the back of his waistband beneath his leather jacket. “I won’t be gone long. There’s plenty of food in the pantry and fridge. The television doesn’t work but there should be