Page 28 of A Corruption Dark & Deadly

Chapter 7

The next day, Annie woke up, somehow exhausted and very, very sore. Jericho was nowhere to be found but Annie wasn't disappointed. She had a feeling he was downstairs or somewhere close by. She took a moment to stretch and enjoy the feeling of the warm air that cradled her. She could sit up without a piece of clothing on her body in the middle of January in Seattle and she was warm. She didn't have to worry about the energy bill, not with Jericho paying for it. Annie didn't even want to think about what the cost was to run the heat full-time, and perhaps she should say something about it, but she was enjoying it too much to say something just yet.

She pulled on an oversized shirt and a pair of boy shorts. She walked to the restroom and brushed her teeth and her hair, hoping it looked somewhat managed, before she headed out to walk down the stairs. Just as she predicted, she found Jericho in the kitchen cooking what appeared to be an omelet in nothing but boxer briefs. He wasn't even wearing socks, which was something she was happy to see. She stood in the entrance frame, simply watching him move around her house like he owned the place - which he did, she realized. Despite being under six feet, he was packed with lean muscle that wasn't overdone. She watched the muscles in his back move with every gesture. His arms reminded her of valleys, smooth and hilly. Everything about him reeked of strength and power and he wasn't even trying. Even his hair, usually always perfectly in place, was messy and fell into his face, making him look even younger, even boyish.

He was perfect, flawless, a work of art she was lucky to be around.

At that moment, he glanced over his broad shoulder, and when he saw her, he gave her that million-dollar smile.

"You're awake," he said.

"I'm awake," she said with a small smile.

"Perfect timing." He gestured to the dining table and set down a plate. "I've made my famous Denver omelets for us and a fruit parfait for us to share."

Annie slowly walked into the dining room and took the seat he held out for her. He poured her a glass of orange juice and took a seat across from her, offering her a soft smile. There must have been something in her face that would cause him to pause because he furrowed his brow.

"Is there something wrong?" he asked.

"I just," she said, dropping her gaze down to the perfectly bronzed omelet. "So much happened last night." She picked her head up and locked eyes with his. "You killed a man last night. How has that not messed with you?"

He furrowed his brow slightly. “What makes you think it hasn’t?” he asked, tilting his head to the side. “Each life I take takes its toll on me. But I am also self-aware enough to know that I did so for a very good reason.”

“Each life?” Annie asked. “You mean, you’ve killed more than once?” She had no idea why she asked the question. She knew he had. It was one of the controversies that surrounded Jericho, how bodies showed up and how no one got charged. Hell, no one was even arrested except low-life criminals like hookers and drug dealers. They took the fall for Jericho’s people and he seemed okay with it, just as long as he stayed out of jail.

“Only those who deserve to die,” he told her. He was so casual about it, they could have been talking about the weather.

“Why do you get to decide that?” she asked. The space between her eyebrows was starting to throb thanks to the large wrinkle being forced over it.

“Because I do.” His voice was curt, something he had never used with her before. He flinched, as though he realized in that moment he had snapped at her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk to you in that way. You don’t really know what I do for business.”

They walked back to the bedroom once they finished and crawled back into bed together. Annie needed this, the relaxation.

“I’m not an idiot,” she said, interrupting him. She rolled to her stomach and was playing with the fabric of the pillow. Her eyes weren’t quite ready to look in his just yet. They were focused more on her fingers, on the soft material underneath her fingerprints. “I know you run a legitimate corporation buying and selling steel. I know you make a lot of stuff. But I’m also aware of the fact that you dabble in the criminal.”

The corners of his lips curved up. “I like that,” he murmured. From the corner of her eye, she watched as he smoothed back some of his messy hair, to no avail. She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling; it wasn’t in her to admit that he looked absolutely adorable as he spoke about being a criminal. And not just a criminal, but a murderer. “Dabble in the criminal. I’ve always appreciated how honest you have been with me, even from our first meeting. The least I can do is give you that same respect in return.”

“I would appreciate that,” Annie murmured, finally picking her eyes up to look at him. “I know that you do stuff. Maybe I wanted to be in denial about the fact that you’re not a good person.”

His brow furrowed. “Don’t say that,” he said. “Maybe I don’t make choices you agree with, but I don’t think it’s fair for you to judge my character based on that. Not everyone is good and not everyone is bad.”

“Jericho,” Annie said. “You’ve killed people.”

“For good reason,” he returned. “I know we haven’t known each other for very long but I would hope that you would trust in the fact that I wouldn’t kill if I didn’t have a good reason to do so.”

Annie opened her mouth to respond. Then, she shut it and gave herself a moment to think. “I don’t know what to say,” Annie replied. “I …” She looked at him. “I don’t know how to feel about it. About you. I know you’re the wrong sort of guy to fall for. You’re dangerous. But I can’t stop myself from feeling what I feel. I don’t want to be one of those girls who justifies any bad behavior – any criminal action. I’m a smart girl and I’m the first to roll my eyes when a girl says love is enough. But I can’t deny that I feel something for you.”

He pressed his brows together. “What are you saying, Annie?” he asked her.

She shivered at the sound of her name against his lips. She liked the way he said Ms. Brennan, but there was something special about the way he said Annie that made her feel both empowered and possessed.

“I am attracted to you,” she admitted. She kept her eyes in focus with his to ensure he knew she was being serious. Also, she wanted him to know that she wasn’t ashamed of these feelings, even if they weren’t what she originally wanted. In fact, she hadn’t thought feelings for Jericho had been possible in the first place. “Really, really attracted to you. More than I’ve been attracted to anything or anyone. Logically, I know this attraction is dangerous. I know it’s risky and not the smartest thing I’ve done. You’re a criminal, you’re known for having a revolving door of model girlfriends.”

He frowned. “They meant nothing,” he repeated.

“I know that,” she told him. “I’m not trying to insinuate that you owe me an explanation. It’s just, it’s hard for me to know what to expect from you. From this.” She gestured between the two of them. “And before you say anything, I know, I know, I need to just go with the flow but I analyze numbers for a living so you have to cut me some slack if I analyze this.” She buried her face in the pillow, her cheeks burning bright. “Ugh. Sorry. I talk too much.”

“I find it absolutely adorable,” he told her with a gentle smile. “And, just so you know, I wasn’t going to tell you to go with the flow. I wouldn’t want you to go with the flow. I want you to make plans with me and look far into the future where people tell us we’re moving way to fast. I want to talk to you about marriage and children and settling down and traveling the world.”