Kyler's Justice (Assassins of Gravas Book 3) - N.J. Walters Page 0,7

by. He remained rock steady, doing nothing that might bring attention to his presence.

It was almost thirty minutes later when her face appeared in the window. She looked right and left and peered at the hole before drawing the window covering. Lights came on seconds later.

The muscles in his neck and back slowly unknotted. He rolled his shoulders and began the trek back to the docking station and his ship. He’d only stayed to make sure there were no complications that might jeopardize his mission. Not because he was worried about her.

It was the first time he’d ever lied to himself.

****

Etta shivered and pulled a sweater on over her sleep shirt. Ignoring the weakness in her knees and the trembling in her body, she hurried to the girls’ room. “Let them be okay. Let them be okay.”

Barely restraining herself from slamming the door open, she eased into their room. The breath left her in a rush of relief. She grabbed the post of Sera’s bed for support when her legs threatened to give out.

They were both there and sleeping peacefully.

He hadn’t hurt them.

She rubbed her hand over her face, took a shaky breath, and left the room, even though she had the urge to lie down on the floor in front of their door to protect them.

Whoever the man was, he was gone, for now.

Her hand went to her throat. He’d held her easily. A shiver raced down her spine, even though the night heat was stifling.

Helldrick and Balthazar were big men, dangerous ones others feared to cross, but the dark creature who’d come out of nowhere was deadlier. More controlled, more capable of taking action without feeling any emotion.

He could have killed her.

Hurrying to the bathroom, she ignored her reflection and reached beneath the counter and grabbed the knife she’d secured there. Her fingers tightened around the hilt. The stranger had taken her other blade with astonishing ease.

No, he hadn’t taken it. He’d made her release it.

She tugged her sweater more tightly around her and peered into the mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes wide. She licked her dry lips and squared her shoulders.

“You’re safe.” Whoever he was, he was gone. But he’d be back. Tension crept up her back and down her arms. “Damn you, Balthazar.” Everything in her life had fallen apart since the day he’d shown up.

The only thing she didn’t regret was being there for her sisters. They needed her. There’d been no one to protect her after the death of her mother. There was no way her loving siblings deserved to be left with their negligent father.

She pressed her hand over her chest, wishing her mother was still here. The few memories she’d had of her had faded over time, but the love remained.

How had the intruder knocked her out? One second, she’d been staring at him. The next? Nothing.

She twisted her head from side-to-side, noting the slight smudges in two particular spots. Not really bruises, they were so faint.

This man knew what he was doing. He’d been so controlled, showing no emotion at all. Covered in black from head to toe, his features indistinguishable, all she knew about him was his size—huge—and his voice.

He was about the same size as Ky, although the build was harder to tell since he’d worn a cloak in the bar. The voice had been completely different. That could be faked. But so convincingly?

She thought back to everything the intruder had said. Not once had the accent wavered. Was it the same person or was he simply that good at disguising himself?

Turning out the bathroom light, she climbed onto her bed with her back to the headboard. A slight breeze rippled the window coverings. First thing tomorrow, she’d have to get it replaced.

Plasglass was shatterproof. If anyone tossed a rock at it, it wouldn’t break. It would withstand most impact. The hole was perfectly round, most likely cut with a laser of some sort.

This was no mere criminal. This was a professional.

He’d have to climb the side of the building, cut the hole, disconnect the security system, which was wired into the place, and then raise the window and climb in.

He’d done it all with her sleeping a short distance away.

“I didn’t hear anything.” There was a time she’d have been alerted when he’d touched the glass, her senses so finely tuned. Had being away for two years softened her?

“No.” She bent her forehead, resting it against her raised knees. If anything, her instincts had become even