Free Hit Man: A Bad Boy Romance (Hunted, Book One) by Kira Matthison Page A

in the top brass who sent the SEALs out, in the infantry and Marines who’d only heard stories. They knew how brutal we could be, and it made them uncomfortable. Right now, the man in front of me wondered how I could bring myself to kill a woman.
    “Very, very sure.” I felt my lips curve, though the smile was entirely without humor. Male or female, crime bosses were bad, and I never felt guilt over taking them down. This man didn’t understand, but he didn’t have to. I was the hit man, not him.
    “Okay.” He swallowed, and for a second, I could see how young he really was. Then he cleared his throat, and the mask slid back into place. “We’ll send men up after your signal to come out to take the body.”
    I only nodded. I was already walking away, folder tucked under my arm. L. Thomas. Older, most likely; all the women I was hired for were. Somehow stupid enough to let herself be set up in one of Witte’s own apartments, and about to pay for that stupidity with her life.
    I heard their car pull away and paused to watch it zoom through the abandoned structure. My eyes narrowed. I found myself hoping, more than I usually did, that someone would hire me to take Witte out someday.
    He wasn’t any worse than the rest of them, I told myself. But even as I turned back and headed for the stairs, I had my doubts.

Chapter 2
Lara
    “ Y ou should make sure you get to bed early tonight.” Adrian’s voice was warm.
    “Oh?” I adjusted my features into a smile before I looked over from the couch, finger going out to mark the place in my book. I always smiled at Adrian, and I always gave him my full attention when he spoke.
    “We have the gala tomorrow night.” Adrian adjusted his cuffs. “You looked tired last time. I can’t be embarrassed by you again.”
    I tried to keep the smile fixed on my face, but I knew he saw the flare of hurt in my eyes. Worse, I had seen the amusement in his. Defensive words rushed to my lips, and I swallowed him down. Adrian got like this, I’d always known that. It was happening more often now, but it was just words, usually. And only a child couldn’t deal with words. I nodded and forced myself to bring the light back into my smile.
    “Of course,” I said meekly. Best to let him say such things to me, rather than take this out on his business partners, where it could do real damage to him.
    Disappointment passed over his face, and I bit back the urge to snap at him, asking what he wanted from me. Fighting never made his anger better—he never wanted me to talk back—and accepting the harsh words didn’t make him happy, either. What did he want me to do?
    I knew there was no use asking, and I told myself not to get stupid. One careless word said in anger could ruin everything.
    “Damien will be by soon.” His voice was curt as he turned away. “The folder is on the table. Remind him to take the stairs—because of the elevator.”
    “I know .” Even after my reminders to myself to be careful, the words were automatic, tumbling out before I could stop myself. He’d been over this with me at least fifteen times. What was so complicated about handing over a folder and telling someone to take the stairs? When Adrian’s head snapped back my way, though, I flinched.
    He was across the room in three long steps, fingers clenching around my arm like a vise. His handsome features twisted as his hand squeezed, and I saw the flare of pleasure in his eyes when I whimpered in pain.
    “I’m sorry!” I knew it wasn’t my fault, knew I hadn’t done anything wrong, but the words burst out of me anyway. “I’m sorry, Adrian.”
    He let the moment hang, fingers squeezing so hard I worried my arm would actually break. I bit my lip, trying to keep the sound in, but I was on the verge of crying out again when he released me abruptly.
    “Watch your tone,” was all he said. He straightened his tie, and was gone a moment later with the door slamming behind him.
    I forced myself to sit as