Page 21 of Crow Me A River

“Well, I am following you to wherever the hell you’re taking me. Figured I should at least know something about you,” Misty replied, then glanced his way. “And I’m still debating about the serial killer angle.”

“Still on that, are we?” Vin grinned, then thought about it for a second. “Rafe and I worked together in Mexico.”

“Doing what?”

“Things.”

Misty stopped walking, causing Vin to stop and look back at her.

“Things?” Her eyes narrowed. “What kind of things?”

“Work things.”

“Oh, well, that clears everything right up.” Misty started walking again, passing him. “Glad we had this talk.”

Laughing, Vin caught up with her. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Where are you from?”

“Here and there.”

“That’s vague.”

“Oh, please.” Misty gave him a look. “Says the man who does ‘things’ in Mexico.”

A slow grin spread across his face. Vin chuckled, liking the sparring between them. She had a quick wit, which he appreciated. He could push for more information about her, but didn’t. He already knew about her stepfather owing Jack money and her asshole stepbrother trading her away to save his own ass. Whatever happened before that was hers to tell if she wanted to.

“What about family?” Misty asked after a few minutes of silence. “Any brothers or sisters?”

“No.”

“Parents?”

“Gone.”

“I’m sorry,” Misty said after a few seconds, and he heard the sadness in her voice.

“It was a long time ago.” Vin shrugged. It wasn’t something he talked about much, and thankfully she seemed to understand that because she didn’t push.

“What about you?” he asked, even though he pretty much knew the answer.

“I have no family.” Misty’s expression hardened slightly. “And before you say it, Tucker doesn’t count.”

“Wasn’t going to say it.” And that was the truth. He knew her feelings for her stepbrother.

“Good.” She kicked a rock out of her path. “He’s my stepbrother, and as far as I’m concerned, not even that anymore.”

Vin couldn’t blame her. Any man who used a woman to pay off a debt was a piece of shit in his book. The fact Tucker was supposed to be family only made it worse.

“So, no family,” Misty said, then glanced at him. “What about a girlfriend?”

Vin looked down at her, catching the second her eyes widened as if she hadn’t meant to ask that.

“You want to know if I have a girlfriend?” Vin cocked his eyebrow with a smirk.

“I was making conversation.” Misty’s cheeks reddened as she looked away. “Don’t get excited. Most serial killers don’t have girlfriends...I don’t think.”