How the Hitman Stole Christmas - Sam Mariano Page 0,24
to go on without her life partner. I still needed her, but I guess I wasn’t enough to stay for.
After she died, I spent my holidays with strangers every year. Strangers I lived with, which was even lonelier.
The first year I was in the system, I remember getting my hopes up when Christmas came. It was an older couple I lived with, and in that sense it reminded me of living with Grandma and Grandpa. The couple had already raised kids of their own who had grown up and moved out, so they opened their empty house to a couple of kids who were never going to get adopted—we were too old.
We did all the usual things—made cookies and paper chains, hung lights and put up a tree. I waited for the Christmas magic to come back, but I never felt it.
When the couple’s eldest daughter came over with her two-year-old, she brought the magic to them. I watched, but I wasn’t a participant. I was trapped on the outside again. I couldn’t feel any of the magic, but I did realize what was missing.
Family.
They weren’t my family. They didn’t love me.
Christmas is a time for family, and I didn’t have one anymore. Until I had my own someday, there would be no Christmas magic for me.
I thought—hoped—I would feel it when Brady invited me to come home with him, but I didn’t. Brady didn’t love me, so why would his family?
Jasper doesn’t love me either, but he did want me enough to steal me. Maybe that counts for something.
“Yeah?” he asks, understandably skeptical.
I nod, meeting his gaze, hoping he understands. “Yeah.”
Still not entirely trusting my acquiescence, he eyes me like if he looks hard enough, he’ll be able to determine whether or not I’m lying.
I’m not, so I don’t worry. “You wanted to bring the presents I bought for Brady’s family, so I’m guessing you didn’t do any Christmas shopping of your own?”
He shakes his head. “Not really my thing. I did pick up something small when I was at the travel plaza down the road, a little teddy bear holding a candy cane for Nora. I always used to get her a stuffed animal for Christmas when she was little, so…”
I frown. “When did you go to the travel plaza down the road?”
“While you were in the shower.”
My jaw hangs open. “You left while I was in the shower? You said you were out here listening to make sure I behaved myself!”
“Ah,” he says, lifting an eyebrow and holding up a finger. “I didn’t say that.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“I definitely did not. I wouldn’t do that. It would weaken my credibility to lie about something like that. I’ll lie strategically if I have to, but never if it can be avoided, and never over something that’s not worth it. I don’t make empty threats, Autumn. If I make a threat, you need to believe it, otherwise you’ll end up hating me when I do what I said I was going to do—because I will. I’m not some impotent hothead who mouths off and can’t back up his words. I mean what I say.”
I do like that. I got that impression from him, too, that’s why I didn’t signal the guy in the parking lot when I had a perfect chance to.
Jasper goes on, his tone serious. “I did lead you to believe I would be out here. I did want you to think that, because if you knew you were here alone for a few minutes, you would have run.”
“Damn right I would have run,” I say, scowling at him.
He nods knowingly. “Exactly. So I did lead you in that direction, but I didn’t tell you I’d be out here listening. That would’ve been a lie.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re tricky.”
“Sometimes,” he admits.
“I don’t like being tricked,” I inform him.
“I don’t like being arrested,” he volleys back.
My eyes widen. “Is that something you’ve experienced?”
“Nope, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Shaking my head as I scoot back and climb off the bed, I tell him, “Then I would advise not kidnapping anymore girlfriends.”
“Why would I need to kidnap another girlfriend? Now I’ve got you.”
I think he’s joking, but I really can’t be sure with him. “Just so we’re clear, you only wanted a fake girlfriend, right? Someone to take home to your family and play the role. Like a Hallmark Christmas movie, but infinitely more twisted.”