His dark eyes smoldered like two burning coals.
And some little piece of me in the back of my mind told me, that this was a bad idea.
But my mind had been compromised as of this morning, when I found my husband splattered against the walls of our house.
Yeah.
"The results of an explosion are often curious." The man drawled, the reptilian way he moved had a way of making people nervous. I could tell he was the type to enjoy making people nervous. Unfortunately for him, I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.
I met his gaze unflinchingly "Yes but in any sort of chaos, there is calculation."
He cocked his head at me, studying me intently.
I knew what he would find. My hair was a mess. There were dark bags under my brown eyes, As I hadn't slept last night. My dress was rumpled, and My hands trembled from the coffee I'd had at 5:00 this morning. An hour ago now.
My jaw was set stubbornly, my lips painted blood red.
He pulled his face into an exaggerated frown. "What are you offering me?"
I bit my lip, knowing there would be no way to take the words back once they were said. But in all honesty, what did I have to lose?
"An I owe you." I replied.
He raised an eyebrow at me, leaning forward onto the desk.
"And, what are your terms?" he asked.
I sat a little bit straighter, "I want to be the one to kill them."
His eyebrows shot up.
He took me in again, this time respect teased at the corner of his eyes.
"How did you even hear about me?" he asked, letting a bit of curiosity into his voice.
"My husband." I replied simply.
He nodded.
"He was a good man."
I snorted.
"Well good for our circles." The man chuckled teasingly.
I smiled, possibly for the first time since I walked into the ghastly sight in our kitchen.
Suddenly Jim was all business again, pulling his practiced mask over his real face.
"And why do you think Gerard was murdered?"
Ah, I knew this was coming. I pulled the necklace off my neck, sliding it across the desk at him.
His smile slipped as he regarded the thumb drive on the table in front of him.
"It's a set of two, they act like keys, but even I don't know what it opens." I huffed, folding my shaking hands in my lap.
Jim picked up the Thumb Drive and looked at it, I could tell he was fascinated.
"So Jim, will you fix it for me?" I ventured.
His eyes locked onto mine. My heart began to pound. Those eyes gave away nothing as he stared at me. A moment passed.
"Yes, Gwendolyn. Consider yourself under my protection."
I nearly shivered. The words had such an authority to them.
I could hardly believe my luck, I was more than half expecting not to come out of this evening alive... I nodded slowly, letting his words sink in. "You'll help me kill the bastards that did this?"
He looked at me as if he could not fathom my stupidity.
"Yeah that too." he replied.
A slow smile spread across my face.
"Thank you." I replied, standing to my feet.
Jim stood immediately, and offered me his hand.
I took his hand and he surprised me by kissing the top of it.
I blinked at him.
His dark eyes flickered to me with a sly smile.
I smiled uncomfortably.
Damn, he had won.
"I look forward to our working together. Sebastian will get you settled in."
I nodded, not trusting my voice, as he led me to the door.
"Sebby will go back to your hotel to get your things. I'm pretty busy today. So I guess I'll see you tomorrow... Sweetheart." he purred.
He shut the door before I could reply. Which was probably good, considering I'd probably have slapped him for being cheeky.
