Killer Crush - Ella Goode Page 0,20
argue about this with you right now. I have a meeting in ten minutes because I am a grown up.” The call ends. Lovely. I turn to look at Daman, who looks as happy as my dad sounded.
Chapter Thirteen
Daman
She lied to her dad about me. I mean, I guess I would’ve lied about me if I were in her shoes, too, but it stings because, as far as she knows, I’m just another student here, not a retired hitman. Maybe there’s some other reason that I’m not parent worthy. Do I smell? I showered this morning and haven’t done anything that’s too strenuous. I raise my arm slightly and sniff. I still smell like soap. It must be something else. I’ll have to figure it out later. I pocket my keys and give her a nod.
“You ready, babe?”
“Yeah. Let me get a coat.”
“You cold all the time?” She’s got a hoodie on. Another layer and she might start sweating. I would.
“I guess? Or maybe it’s just that I‘d rather be too hot than too cold?” She mock shivers, rubbing her hands along her upper arms.
I frown. I can’t kill the wind or force the sun to come out more often, which sucks, but there are limits to what a hitman can accomplish. I guess I’m buying her a hundred coats when I get to my computer. I adjust my glasses.
We don’t talk as we leave. I’m not sure what to say. Small talk has never been my thing. I’m trained in different stuff like hiding, lurking, figuring out if the south breeze is going to affect my shot—that sort of shit. I don’t mind the silence either. It’s always been a companion of mine. I don’t know if it’s the same for Quinn, though. I peak at her face to see if I can gauge her feelings. There’s a slight crease between her brows and the corners of her lips are turned down. Is it her dad? Is it me? I have to forcibly stop from smelling myself again.
“How about we—"
“My dad’s difficult,” she blurts out. “I didn’t tell him about you because he doesn’t want to hear it. He just wants me to listen to him talk for ten minutes about how important he is and then he’s off to another meeting.”
“Okay.”
She sighs. “It’s not okay. I feel like a piece of crap. I should’ve said something but the thing is my dad thinks I’m a child and he’s mad that I came to school here instead of the college that’s close to him where he can control me better with his army of assistants and spies. And don’t say it’s because he loves me. He doesn’t. He just thinks women can’t make decisions on their own.”
I nod as if this makes sense to me even though it doesn’t because Quinn can obviously make decisions on her own. She chose me, didn’t she? Seems that she has a good head on her shoulders. Too bad I can’t kill her dad. Unless…I eye her bent head. Maybe she’d feel freer if she didn’t have to deal with him. I’m retired from paid hits, but this would be a freebie so I technically wouldn’t be coming out of retirement.
I shove my hands in my pants and whistle.
She nudges me with her shoulder. “You seem happy.”
“I’m with you.” We fucked. It was glorious. She hasn’t run away. I couldn’t ask for anything more. “If I died today, I’d have lived a perfect life.”
This pulls her lips into a smile. “You talk about life and death a lot for someone so young.”
“That’s true.” I’ll need to work on my vocabulary.
“Are you watching too many action movies?”
“You could say that.”
“I like comedies a lot. Like Bridesmaids, Booksmart, 40-Year-Old Virgin.” She smirks. “Thought that last one was going to be autobiographical for a while there.” She swipes a hand across her forehead. “You saved me.”
Fuck, she’s funny and gorgeous when she’s happy. I could stare at this face forever and not get bored. “I haven’t watched any of those.”
“Oh snap. Sounds like we need to have a movie night.”
I don’t have a television but that can be rectified. Surely there’s a place in town that will deliver one for the right price. “What other movies do you like?” I ask.
She shares a few. I admit to having watched none. I’ve been more of a reader than anything and our conversation moves to books. Most of my life has been spent in silence and I thought