Page 41 of Iron Princess
“Eli, apologize, goddammit!”
Elijah must hear the desperation in my tone, but I have no doubt that Kane will follow through. Elijah may be a hotshot in the bayou, but Kane is in a whole different league.
“Sorry, Tempe. You know I didn’t mean it.”
“I know.” I shift my gaze to Kane. “Please put the gun away. We’re all on the same team here.”
“You meanTeam: I’ve Nailed Temperance?” Elijah says with a smirk.
Oh my God! How stupid are men sometimes?
Kane pulls back the hammer.
“Kane! Please don’t.”
“The only reason I’m not pulling this trigger is because she asked me not to. Apologize again and watch your fucking mouth.”
Elijah meets my gaze, and there’s a small measure of sincerity in it. “I’m sorry, Temperance. Please ask your guard dog not to kill me.”
“He’s not going to kill you. You don’t need killing.” I say it with confidence and know I’m speaking the truth. “This isn’t his style.”
“If he doesn’t keep his mouth shut, he might prove you wrong,” Kane says as he lowers the gun.
Elijah backs up, readjusting his shirt and taking Kane’s measure. “Guess I shouldn’t be surprised that Mount sent someone to protect her. Who the fuck are you, anyway?”
“Does it matter?”
Elijah jerks his chin. “Want to make sure she’s safe.”
I expect Kane to tell him to go fuck himself, but he doesn’t.
“They call me Saxon.”
If I thought Elijah’s eyes widened before, this time they look like they’re about to pop out of his fool head.
“No fucking way,” he whispers, looking from me to Kane. “He’s a goddamned hit man, Temperance. Not a bodyguard. Jesus Christ.”
“I know. It’s fine.” I step closer to Kane, hoping to present a united front. Almost as if he can’t help it, his arm curls around my waist.
“It’s not fucking fine. You don’t know who he is. They say he’s never missed a mark. Always delivers.” Elijah shifts uncomfortably, his gaze bouncing between us. “Never not completed a contract, so he gets paid mad money.”
Something unsettling takes up residence in my gut at Elijah’s fear and awe. I look up at Kane. “Is that true? You’ve really never not completed a job? So, Rafe ...”
Elijah stares at where Kane’s hand rests on my hip. “Wait, you’re telling me this guy took a hit on your brother? And you’re ...” He waves a finger between us. “Fuckinghim? You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
Kane tenses beside me, and I know I have to defuse the situation before it turns explosive.
“I’m not explaining myself to you, Eli.”
“Well, you should explain it to someone so they can tell you how fucked up this is.”
“End of subject. Unless you’ve seen Rafe. That would be helpful to know.”
Elijah’s jaw sets in a stubborn line, and for a moment I think he’s not going to reply.
Finally, he shakes his head. “No. I had a job I thought he might want, so I texted him. No answer. Not for over a week. I figured he finally got busted and I just hadn’t heard about it. What kind of bad shit he get into, anyway?”
“Long story.”
