Page 21 of Hannah and the Hitman

He met my gaze, held it. “You, Hannah, intrigue me and I haven’t been intrigued in a long time.”

That made no sense, but I had to admit, I was intrigued by him, too. He was totally out of my league, but he was standing here.

I believed him.

I took a fortifying breath. “Fine. But I should tell you some things about my family before we go inside.”

“They can’t be that bad,” he countered, swiping his hand through the air as if what was to come was no big deal. “I think I can handle your family.”

We were already halfway up the walk so I couldn’t ask him if he was being cocky or clueless.

All of a sudden, Jack froze. Stared at the roof of the house. Blinked.

“Um… I think I saw a woman fly.” He pointed. “There.”

I looked up. Nothing. Then a woman rose up high in the air, then dropped and disappeared.

“Oh, that’s my sister, Briana. She does trampolining.”

11

JACK

If a woman mentioned that her family was really weird, believe her. Women were known to exaggerate. Not Hannah. I’d never met a bigger bunch of nutjobs before. The fact that they were related to Hannah made it scary. And made me mad because they were all self-absorbed losers. And I knew a lot of them. Hell, killing them was what I did for a living.

Her mother met us at the door. Instead of wondering after the strange man who was with her, she asked, “Where’s the potato salad?”

“Sorry, I forgot,” Hannah replied.

The answering look on the woman’s face was more realistic if Hannah told her she forgot to put on pants and took a stroll down Main Street. “Forgot? We talked two hours ago.”

Hannah’s cheeks flushed and not in the way that I liked.She was angry at her mother’s shame-laced words. Hell,Iwas upset from the scolding.

Hannah glanced up at me. “I was distracted.”

I’d take it as a win that I made her forget to pick up a side dish, but not if it made her head and shoulders droop like they were now.

“Banana! How’s my girl?” A burly man came down the hall, a potent cloud of alcohol swirled around him and the full highball glass he held. In it was several fingers deep of a dark liquid and several ice cubes. Probably scotch.

“Hi, Dad,” Hannah said, giving him a little wave.

Didn’t families hug in this Hallmark commercial of a town? When her dad took a swig of his drink instead of wrapping her in his arms, I had my answer. “I’ve got a pitcher of cocktails if you want to join me.”

His voice was overly loud, and her mother shushed him. Over her shoulder, I noticed a stuffed animal mounted on the wall. Not a kid’s plush toy, but an actual dead, taxidermied creature. It was some kind of antelope head. Or a deer. Either way, I had to wonder who in the house bagged it. I’d have to be careful since they were hunted from a distance. It was a lot easier to shoot someone in a room with four walls.

“I’m good,” Hannah replied.

We weren’t even in the door yet and liquor was looking like a good option to handle these people. Hannah had warned me. I’d volunteered for this dinner. If Hannah was making it through this sober, then I was, too.

“I’m Jack,” I said. “Hannah’s date. Thanks for having me.”

Her mother studied me but spoke to Hannah. “You brought a date and forgot the potato salad?”

I knew where I stood with her, well below a side dish. “Should I go and pick some up?” I asked, thumbing over my shoulder.

“No!” Hannah practically shouted.

“Yes,” her mother said at the same time.