Live Wire (Ramsey Security #2)

Learning he's working from his apartment today, I assume this is code for spending quality time inside his new bride. Calling ahead to ensure I don't interrupt their newlywed bliss, Rafael assures me that his dick needs a break anyway.

His wife Harlow answers the door of their swanky apartment. Once again, I think the blonde looks too young and soft for a powerhouse like Rafael. If I knew more about romance, their chemistry might make sense to me. I only know how to pretend to be interested in a target long enough to complete my mission.

"Can I get you anything?" Harlow asks.

"No, thank you."

A brief staring contest ensues, and I suspect she normally wins. When I refuse to look away, her ensuing expression is rather amusing.

"Ladies, let's keep this civil," a smiling Rafael says, entering the room. "Why not save our death stares for the enemy?"

Relenting, Harlow leaves Rafael and me to talk.

"How's Sloane?"

"Fine except the target got away," I say, sitting on a stool at the kitchen island. "I had a shot too."

"Unfortunately, the law says we can't shoot people in the back when they're running away."

I roll my eyes. "I miss the old days."

"Life was definitely easier when we made the rules."

As we wistfully recall our lives as assassins, I again imagine the target running away. This time, I dream of pulling the trigger and sending his fleeing body sprawling.

"I would have slept through the entire thing, if you hadn't called. Thanks for monitoring the motion sensor cameras."

"It's my job," he says, frowning. "So this guy left behind a sacrifice? Not much time passed between when I spotted movement and you got out to him. Did the rabbit come pre-gutted? "

"I don't know. I only saw the remains hours later. The target was alone, so it wasn't much of a cult get-together."

"I still don't like when a threat gets that close to our client. What do you want to do?"

"I want to set traps around the edge of the property especially in the back where anyone can access without line of sight from the road. Those two adjoining ranches are uninhabited, making them perfect for the targets to use to reach the Sloane place."

"What kind of traps?"

"What kinds are legal?"

"I'm not sure any are."

"Not even for animals?"

"I'll check, but probably not. Despite the distance from Houston, the ranch is still considered suburbia. They frown on leaving traps out where innocent people can lose a limb."

"Innocent people aren't my target."

Rafael gives me a sly grin. "The law is a bitch, ain't it?"

"What if we shoot them in the back and dispose of the bodies?"

"Might work."

We share a slight smile and fall into silence. I look around his swanky apartment and wish I bought a place with such space. The view is nice too especially at night. For too long, I've followed my mother's "less equals more" philosophy.

"Do you find me cold?"

"Yes," he says casually. "I don't think you've ever had a reason to be hot."

Nodding, I think of Minka's temper. Reacting rashly makes no sense to me. I might be cold, but my lack of emotion has kept me alive. Plus my bare minimum needs led to a large sum of money stashed away. Also unlike my mother, I haven't killed anyone innocent.

"Do you think I'm capable of being hot?"

"I think you're capable of being anything you want, Saskia. You're a tiny woman feared by scary men all over the world. I once scared off a fucker by saying Little Maven was coming for him. He wasn't afraid of me, but you scared the shit out of him. Yeah, I think you can run as hot as you want."

I smile obligingly at his compliment. "What if running hot puts our client in danger?"

"It won't. You've been professional for too long to forget so quickly."

"You hope."

"If you feel like you're losing your perspective, tell me and I'll adjust the security schedule."

"I feel ridiculous to even discuss this with you."

"Brad Sloane is a pretty man. I'm not surprised you noticed."

"Pretty," I mutter.

"Everyone likes pretty things, Saskia," Rafael says, winking at me. "No shame in being human."

I ignore his teasing. "Did you feel weak when you fell for Harlow?"

"No, I felt invigorated. Might be a size thing though."

Sliding off the stool, I flip my hair dismissively while he laughs at me.

"You're not helpful."

"You should ask for dating advice from Harlow or Minka. If you want to know about killing, come to me."

"If you want to be useful then figure out how we can legally hobble anyone prowling around the property," I say, leaving the kitchen. "Or give me the go ahead to kill the targets and dispose of their bodies."

Rafael follows me to the door. "Be careful out there. I know these cult freaks are amateurs compared to what we're used to, but fanatics should never be underestimated."

"I underestimate no one. This is why I prefer to shoot first."

"Good enough. Be careful anyway and don't be afraid to call for help."