“But what if it does?”
I kiss her and rest my forehead against hers. “I’ll be back, sweetheart. I promise. I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’m damn good at it.”
“What if someone walks in on you again?”
I pull back and raise a brow at her. “Please don’t ask me things you don’t want to know the answers to, baby. I am what I am. This is what I do, and there’s no changing it.” I run my thumb over her soft cheek. “Plus, I just want to add that not once has anyone ever caught me off guard except you. I don’t expect a repeat of that ever again.”
She gives a soft nod, and when I see her eyes start to fill up, I let out a pained groan and pull her against my chest again.
“Please don’t cry,lisichka. It hurts me so much when you do.”
Her head moves as she nods and then gives a soft sniff.
“I’ll be back before you know it, and don’t you dare go snooping through your presents. I’ll know if you do.”
“Okay. I won’t.”
Her voice is shaky, and I hate that I’m the one causing her pain, but there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. I have to work. Other married people still work. My job may be unconventional, but it still has to get done.
Nutmeg must sense her distress because he gets up from the leather chair in the corner that he has claimed as his own and saunters over to us. He jumps on the couch and puts his paws on her knees before starting to knead her legs and meow. She smiles and rubs his head. He immediately arches up for more, rubbing his head against her hand and purring like crazy. I can’t resist giving his soft fur a pet. He arches his ass for me, wanting me to scratch it, which makes Holly laugh. I give him an ass scratch because I’d do damn near anything to hear her laugh, including scratching her cat’s rump.
“Come on. I’ll make you supper, and we can eat before I have to leave. I’ll be back before you know it.”
She sits up and turns to me while Nutmeg gives another meow and then runs off to lay back down on his chair. “I know you have to keep working. I don’t mean to make it harder for you. I just worry that something might happen.”
“I know, baby, but that’s the beauty of being a hitman. No one is ever expecting you.”
I think about my next target, knowing there’s no way that arrogant prick is expecting me. I should be done quickly and sliding back into my wife before the sun rises.
“If you’re not back by tomorrow morning, I can’t promise I won’t snoop,” she finally says, doing her best to put on a happy face and not make me feel guilty, and God do I love her for it.
“If you look through those presents, I’m going to give your sneaky little ass a spanking you won’t ever forget.”
She smiles and blushes because we both know that just made her want to snoop all the more. I pick her up and carry her into the kitchen, sitting her on the counter while I take out a couple of steaks I put in earlier to marinate. The next couple of hours pass way too quickly, and all too soon, I’m turning to her and saying, “It’s time for me to get ready.”
Chapter13
Holly
Itry not to show how worried I am as I watch Aleksandr get ready to go. He changes into black, thermal wear, and then I watch as he straps some truly fierce looking knives to his forearms and one to his left ankle.
“Just a precaution, baby,” he says, giving me a wink before putting on his shoulder holster so his gun is tucked away under his left arm. He puts another gun on his right ankle, looking every bit the badass killing machine he is before dressing in his standard black jeans and black sweater. He sits on the bed next to me while he laces up his sturdy, black boots.
“I’m seeing a definite theme here,” I say with a laugh.
“Best to be as invisible as possible.”
“Did you have all these weapons the night we met.”
“Yes.”
“God, you really could have killed me if you’d wanted.”
“I could never have hurt you,lisichka.” He cups my face and leans closer, giving me a wink. “And I’m always wearing a weapon, whether you realize it or not.”
“I probably shouldn’t be thinking about how sexy you look right now, but I am.”
He smiles and gives my bottom lip a soft suck. “My wife is always so hungry.”