Crowed (Team Zero #2) - Rina Kent Page 0,13

now. How would I know if you disappear in the middle of the night?”

She’s lucky I’m not banging her head on the bedpost, and she’s asking for money?

I laugh, the sound long and humourless. Eloise remains unfazed. Still tapping her foot, waiting for the payment.

She’s something. Something so fucking irritating and yet so fascinating.

Again, a weird combination.

But it’s good. I’m getting what I want by staying at the safest place in this town. I reach out to my back pocket. The tapping of her leg screeches to a halt. She chews on the inside of her cheeks, eyes widening a little.

When I produce my phone, her shoulders hunch. Was she thinking I’d retrieve the gun instead?

“Give me your bank account number.” I can stay for free, even kidnap her at her own property. But that would be a hassle, especially with the fucking gunshot. Besides, I have a lot of money due to my killing contracts. What would I keep it for?

Except for my bike, I only use it for living necessities. I never understood the need for it. Hades and his underground partners do, though. He’s built The Pit to gain money and makes sure to take a large percentage of our killing contracts.

After she enters her number, I transfer a few thousand euros from my Swiss bank account. That should be enough for at least three months’ rent. Not that I plan to stay more than a week.

Storm or Ghost would get me out of here in no time.

Once I show her the confirmation message, Nurse Betty – aka Eloise – pushes me towards the door. “Your floor is the one above. Unless you’re taking the stairs to go out, don’t step foot on mine again.”

The door slams shut in my face.

The little fucking witch.

Now I know how it feels not to have someone scared of me. It’s irritating as fuck.

Perhaps I should demonstrate real fear. Put her in her place. Before I can contemplate the idea, the door swings open. I’m once again met by fired up tiny features.

“Where’s Charlotte?” she demands.

“Char-what?”

“My dog!”

She must be talking about the furball that almost bit my toes off. Like dog, like owner.

“If you’ve done anything to her....” She leaves the sentence hanging as if that should relay the threat.

As if she could threaten me.

“What will you do?” I barge into her personal space until her breath hitches. “Continue what you started with my finger?”

She stares up at me with those mesmerising eyes, and I simply can’t look away. It’s like being caught in a web of my own making. A monster I just released from its cage.

That monster happens to be in the shape of the most beautiful and intriguing woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

A whine interrupts the moment. Eloise shakes her head and runs to the source of the sound — downstairs, where I locked the dog in a cupboard.

I can’t tear my gaze from the gentle sway of Eloise’s hips or the way that thin gown glues to her waist. The fabric hunches up, revealing sublime, tall legs.

“Go upstairs!” She throws over her shoulders as she descends the stairs, the wood creaking with each step. “Don’t show yourself on this floor again.”

The best way to have me do something is to tell me not to do it.

I know a few things about trouble. I’ve had countless during my career. The last one was being shot.

But this woman?

This tiny, mighty thing? I have a hunch she’ll be the worst trouble I’ve ever gotten myself into.

*****

I settle in a room right above the rocky cliff of the sea. Surprisingly, the constant hits of the waves against the shore aren’t as annoying as I thought they’d be. It’s also a good location, security wise. If anyone attempts to climb the cliff, they’d need a lot of time – and luck to escape the crashing waves.

Due to dust, not so much light filters through the windows’ glass. I pull the dark brown blinders on, too. Risk of snipers. Although it’d be hard to find a good position on those thin branches. The trees would be near impossible to climb while carrying sniper gear.

Whoever built this mansion surely chose a top-notch secured place.

Still, I need to scurry the surrounding forest and plant a few traps. With the injury, I need all the help I can get to remain alive.

I remove my shirt and check on the wound beneath the gauze. It doesn’t burn as much as before. This level of pain is