Jacob eyed me knowingly, but he nodded. “Fine.”
It was a small win. A tiny, silly, stupid win.
But that was enough for me.
- Chapter 19 -
Marina
––––––––
“You're honestly the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.”
I had that phrase trapped in my skull. It refused to wash away, clinging to the curves of my brain and sinking deeper and deeper.
Both of them had gorged themselves on me when they'd entered. Kite had gone speechless. But not Jacob.
No, Jacob had to go and turn me upside down. I was already floundering, didn't they see that? Or was that why they did it in the first place?
I didn't want flattery or compliments. I didn't want to know that these two sexy, well dressed men—killers, call them what they are!—were both keen to get inside my pants.
I was a woman with hot revenge in her pocket, someone who wanted to end a life and attain some closure. Now I was becoming more than that.
Because of these frustrating men, I was now a prize.
A prize to be shared.
Trembling, I tested the seat belt. I was considering jumping out of the moving car. Wouldn't that be a sight.
“Is the music okay?” Kite asked me.
Sitting up straighter, I pulled my jacket around myself. It was useful for hiding my body in this ridiculously revealing gown. “It's fine,” I said, smiling softly. I hadn't even been listening. I kept myself busy between glancing at Kite to my left, and eyeing Jacob in the side mirror.
He was watching me. He hadn't stopped smiling.
“Tonight,” I said, pushing to regain some control, “What do we do? Jacob, you were the one who said my murderer would be there. If I see him, if any of us sees him, what's the plan?” I was having trouble picturing myself doing anything but grabbing Kite's gun and shooting the guy if I did lay my eyes on his awful face again.
Jacob leaned forward between the seats. “It'd be better if none of us confronts him directly. I'd prefer he not see our faces until we're about to dispose of him. If you notice him, just tell me. I'll do the rest.”
His underlying message was, “Don't do anything rash, Marina.” I would try not to, but considering how I'd reacted to just seeing that photo...
On impulse, I hugged my purse. The picture was inside, I hadn't let it get away from me since putting it in there. “Can't I just ask him his name? He won't know me, and the next time he'll see me is when I blow his brains out.”
Kite laughed, steering the car down the busy street. “That's not the worst plan.”
My frown tugged at my lips. “I can't tell if that was sarcasm.”
Shrugging, he tossed me a brief smile. “If you're sure you can look him in the eye, imagining what he did and what you want to do to him, all while keeping calm...” Kite's smooth voice was making me remember the night he'd put a gun to my temple and fired.
My stomach tore in half at the memory.
“If you can do all that,” he went on, “Then it's fine. But do you really feel like you can keep it together when you face him?”
His dark words from that night rolled through my skull like a war machine.
You will not succeed, and then you will die.
Both of these men had no confidence in me. It frustrated me, but I hadn't proven them wrong yet. Tonight, I'd have a chance to.
If I did see the killer, I was going to cool my head and approach him. I'd ask his name, and then I'd make conversation and leave. I could do it. I could fucking do it.
For now, lying was easier than arguing. “Okay,” I sighed. “You win. If I see him, I'll just go tell one of you two. Speaking of which... if we're not going after him tonight, why does Kite have a gun?”
Jacob put his hand on the back of my seat. His perfect nails were inches from my hair, the strands mangled into what I hoped was an elaborate twist over my nape.
His chuckle was lighthearted. “If our target let's himself get into a compromising position, it'd be wise to take advantage of that. Personally, I'd prefer if we kept it to surveillance.” His eyes settled on me, intense as ever. “We have plenty of time to fulfill your wish, Marina.”
Wishes are a funny thing. They aren't sharp or deadly, you can't kill with them. What I needed was a loaded gun and a good, clean shot.
Maybe Kite was right. Maybe I couldn't stay calm in front of that monster after all.
“Here we are,” Jacob said, pointing as the car rolled up a long driveway. The building in front of us was huge, some sort of converted museum. Lamps winked, cameras flashed, and money came off of the place in waves.
People were gathered outside the wide front doors, smiling as if they knew no other expression. They were glamorous, fashionable. Everything here from the lights to the valet was white; pure, innocent white.