"Do you normally make-out with the people you're hired to kill? It doesn't strike me as very professional."
"Put the gun down," Gabriel panted, not answering her.
"Why on earth would I do that?"
"Because you're not going to shoot me," Gabriel rep...
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A lot had happened in the past 24 hours. And considering that she had been running for her life for a week now, that actually was saying something.
Huxley was the new Speaker of the House, which meant he was second in line for the presidency. That couldn't be a coincidence. She knew he was planning something, and it was driving her absolutely mad that she couldn't see what it was.
Her plan with Sterling was back in motion. But now she had to prepare to suffer through an evening with the president and sole member of the Sterling Denison fan club...seriously, she didn't understand how someone with such a horrible dating history could be so convinced he was God's gift to womankind. It was slightly amusing that Gabriel was jealous, but he had no reason to be – Sterling was far more interested in having her stroke his ego than his cock.
She had another ally now too – Levi – who continued to look at her as though she was going to eat a baby. Once she found out that Levi was a hacker, she thought that telling him that she was Phoenix would convince him to join them. That plan had slightly backfired. Instead of being in awe of her, he was terrified. Though she couldn't deny that she somewhat enjoyed his terror, given the fact that most people treated her like she was an airhead.
She had told Gabriel and Levi most of what she knew about the company and Huxley. They didn't need to know everything, so Ash wasn't going to tell them. They would probably be upset if they found out she was withholding information, but she was pretty confident she could talk her way out of it if necessary.
And Gabriel, the "cold-hearted" assassin, was acting like a sad little puppy she had kicked. She had been very wrong about him. She thought he was a ruthless, immoral killer who murdered for money, but his company had actually convinced him that he was helping people. He was empathetic, complicated, and trusting – too trusting. He even trusted her.
He shouldn't.
It was clear Gabriel had feelings for her. He was far more subtle about it than Kyle, but it was still pretty obvious. Unfortunately for him, she didn't feel the same way. The sex was undeniably incredible – though maybe all sex felt like that? But Ash was not going to fall in love with anyone, ever. Caring about Carter and Kyle was hard enough. She wasn't going to give her enemies more ways to hurt her. She wasn't going to give Gabriel a way to hurt her.
It was just easier this way.
Which was partly why she was so annoyed that he was insisting on going to the restaurant tomorrow night to keep an eye on her and Sterling.
"Are you actually insane?"
"Ash, it's dangerous. All of this is dangerous. None of us should be doing anything alone," Gabriel responded calmly.
"I am well aware it's dangerous Gabriel," Ash replied, equally calm. "I've been doing this on my own for almost a year now. I've been expecting to die the entire time. Or do you not remember how I was completely unsurprised when you showed up to kill me?"
