Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) - N.J. Walters Page 0,6

shut, swallowing the apology hovering on his lips.

Get what you came for and get out. “You’re not going to yell, are you?”

She shook her head.

Her ready agreement raised suspicions. This woman was a fighter.

“You don’t want to wake your sisters.”

She went completely still. Pure venom and the promise of death stared back at him. He’d never harm a child, but she didn’t know that. It was an effective threat. This was the first time he’d had to use it and found it particularly distasteful.

“All I want is information,” he repeated.

She gave a slow nod, her lips moving under his palm. The unintended caress of his skin sent a bolt of heat streaking up his arm and spearing down to his groin. He swallowed a moan and cautiously lifted his hand away.

“You hurt them and I’ll gut you.”

He smiled, thankful she couldn’t see behind his mask. She’d likely make a grab for the knife and try to follow through on her threat.

“I have no interest in them.” Truth coated his words. She tried to sit up, but he wrapped his hand around her neck and pushed her back down, holding her loosely but not releasing her. Leaving her in a vulnerable position would make her talk faster. Having his fingers on her pulse allowed him to access accurate data about her physical and emotional state.

It took more than brawn to get reliable information. It was a game of psychological and emotional warfare. And he was a master.

“Where is Balthazar?”

“I knew it. What has that bastard done now?” Her fury was immediate and real. Her heart rate spiked. A muscle beneath her eye twitched. Both were involuntary reactions.

“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.” Her pupils remained unchanged and she kept his gaze. Either she was telling the truth or she was an exceptional liar. He had to assume the second.

“What do you know?” He rubbed his thumb up and down the slender column of her throat, cursing the micro-thin glove that was keeping him from touching her bare skin.

“I know you shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be here. Neither should the girls.” She raised her hand and rubbed her face.

Pity was an unfamiliar emotion, but he experienced it now. Maybe Etta was the master of interrogation. She was the one pushing all the right buttons, making him doubt himself.

That was his job. People were easy to manipulate once you understood what drove them. Usually, it was greed or fear. For Etta, it was her love for her sisters.

What drove him was simple—loyalty to his king and his world.

Why did it suddenly seem so hollow and empty?

“What do you know about Balthazar?” The quicker this was done, the quicker he could move on and forget her. Only he doubted he ever would. He’d known her for a matter of hours, and she’d impacted his life more than anyone had since he’d given his life over to be the king’s blade.

“He left suddenly six planetary days ago.”

“Where did he go?” A destination would give him a target, and a reason to leave Mortis as fast as possible. Both admirable and desirable goals.

She shrugged, making his thumb skim across her jawline. They both froze. Her breathing grew shallow and she swallowed heavily. “That’s all I know.”

“Will he be back?”

“I don’t know.” Her tongue slid across her bottom lip. His chest tightened. There wasn’t enough air in the room to breathe.

It was so very wrong, but the urge to kiss her, to taste those lush, perfect lips pounded at him. That would be unforgivable. And not only because it would jeopardize the mission. This woman was at his mercy. He would not stain his honor by taking something not freely given.

With deep regret, he brushed a lock of hair away from her face, pulling back when she flinched. “I’m sorry.”

Fear flooded her face. Gritting his teeth, he pressed down on several pressure points in her neck, holding them there until she went limp. He checked her pulse, relieved to find it strong and steady.

With her golden hair haloed around her head, she appeared more an angel than ever. He carefully tucked the blankets around her, returned to the window, and left as quickly as he’d arrived.

Scaling the wall back to the ground was as easy as climbing it had been. He stood in the alleyway and stared up at the hole in the plasglass. There was nothing to be done about it.

Not wanting to leave her unprotected, he eased back into the shadows and waited. Minutes ticked