Oh. Fuck.
“You. . .you mean you were going to murder Duke and his friends but you didn’t because you thought I’d be upset?”
“Yes. Was I wrong? Sometimes I get these things wrong. Understanding others emotions aren’t my strong suit. I find it hard to care about people. You’re an exception.”
Lucky her.
Actually, it was lucky her, she realized. Because if he didn’t care about her then Duke and the others. . .
“You’re the Fox,” she whispered as it hit her.
“The one and only.” He smiled gently.
“You were hired to kill the senator.” She put her hand over her tummy, feeling ill.
“Ahh. . .yes. That upsets you?”
“That you’re going to kill the senator? Well, yeah.”
“Why?” He frowned. “He’s a nasty piece of work. Buys underage girls, ties them up and rapes them. I recently discovered where it is that he takes them to play with them. I took out the pimp who has been supplying him with the girls and now all that’s left is to take care of the senator and his bodyguards. They’re both in on it, you see.”
“You’re an assassin.”
“Well, yes. See, there’s not many jobs where you can make good money when your moral compass is slightly warped.”
Slightly warped.
“I mean, I guess I could murder for the fun of it. . .but no, I get a strange sense of satisfaction in taking out rapists and murderers. And this way, I get paid.”
He didn’t seem to count himself as a murderer.
“You only kill rapists and murderers?” she asked, trying to understand him. Although she had a feeling it would take someone far smarter than her to figure out the Fox.
“Ahh, well, I’m not saying I was always so picky about what jobs I took. But it’s more of a hobby now, so I can pick and choose. The senator is dark and evil on the inside while pretending to be moral and upstanding on the outside. He hurts young girls. He doesn’t deserve to live now, does he? I’m sure your Duke would agree with me. Along with his friends. It’s strange, I couldn’t work out their motivation for watching him in the beginning. That’s why I became Marv. I needed to gather some information on them before I acted. Wasn’t sure if they were trying for more blackmail material on him, or if they wanted a cut of the action. I was shocked to find out that they were trying to take him out. And for no financial gain.” He shook his head.
“They’re good guys.”
“Oh, I’m not so sure about that.” He studied her. “But you, Sunny. You are good. You saw me when I was just an old, homeless man. Most people walked straight past me. You tried to help. You cared. And in the end, that’s what saved all of you. I’m sparing them for you, Sunny.”
What did she even say to that? To say she was confused about the Fox was an understatement. On the one hand, he was an assassin for hire, his moral compass completely off and he seemed to have some psychopathic tendencies.
But on the other hand, he’d made this room to make her feel more comfortable. He’d rescued her from Horse and Rory. He was drawing the guys away from the senator to keep them safe. Even if by doing that, he’d kidnapped and scared the shit out of her.
“What. . .what happens now?”
“Well. I’ve got to go kill a senator. Not every day you get to say that. Although this isn’t my first senator. Popped that cherry a while ago. There’s a bathroom through there.” He shook his head. “I couldn’t believe it when those two idiots got to you before me.” His face zeroed in on her face. “They paid for hurting you. I don’t like anyone hurting you.”
He reached out as though to touch her face.
“You’re kind of scaring me a little,” she whispered, hoping like hell she didn’t piss him off.
Something strange crossed his face. Sadness? That couldn’t be right. “Yes, I have that effect on people.”
She swallowed heavily. “Who hired you to kill the senator?”
“Ahh, sweet girl, you know that’s confidential. I have to go now.” He stood and put the chair back. “Use the bathroom. Sleep. I wouldn’t advise trying to escape. You’ll just wear yourself out. There’s a small fridge in the bathroom with water and food. If Duke doesn’t find you by morning, I have arranged for you to be released by lunchtime. Goodbye, Sunny.”
“Wait.” She stood. “I. . .umm. . .how did you know about all this?” She waved her hand around. She hadn’t been going to ask that, but she wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to say to him. It would be weird to thank her kidnapper.