Taken By The Hitman IV by Amber Adams

Chapter 4: Jason

 

I watch Bianca as she sleeps, my hand tangled in her hair. It’s early still, but I can’t sleep.

Still, I’m content in watching her get some much-needed rest.

Her dark lashes are fanned over her cheeks and there’s a small smile on her face, as if her dreams are filled with something that makes her happy.

I hope I’m in that scene.

Exhaling quietly, I feel the pain searing up my side.

The meds she forced me to take had helped me relax a bit and get a few hours of sleep in the process, but now that it’s another day, I have to put the crutch of drugs aside and continue thinking how the hell I am going to get us out of this.

Sliding my hand from hers, I climb out of bed, careful not to disturb her. As much as I would like to wake her up slowly, to hear her gasps of pleasure as I wander my lips over her body, I can’t.

I need to concentrate on more pressing things first.

My side protests as I walk out of the bedroom and into the living room, ignoring the bottle of pain medication on the table. I need a clear head during the day.

Besides, I’ve hurt worse.

I know too that Bianca is scared.

Since I told her about my contract, she’s had this look in her eyes: a look that is a combination of panic, confusion, and determination. Hell, I’m sure I have that same look, but I try to keep it locked deep down inside.

The last thing she needs to think is that I’m almost as fucking scared as she is.

After pulling out a bottle of water from the fridge, I grab another burner phone from the drawer and turn it on, dialing Murdock’s number as I check the cameras.

Everything is eerily silent, which worries me more than anything. Like the calm before the storm.

“Fucker, it’s too early for business,” Murdock grumbles into the phone a moment later. “If they don’t kill ye, I will.”

“Tell me that you got the extra hands,” I growl, not in the mood.

“Geez, hold yer horses,” Murdock stated.

“Aye, I got ye some help. They are in town right now, probably in their fucking beds, which is where I should be and your ass as well.”

I chuckle then groan as my side pulls.

“How do ye feel, lad?” Murdock asks softly.

“Fuck, man, I feel like shit,” I admit, letting my guard down for a moment. If I can be honest with anyone, it’s Murdock.

“I told Bianca about the contract out on me.”

“Shit, man,” Murdock swears. “Hell, I wish I could do more for ye.”

“I know,” I sigh. “Thanks for sending the extra help.”

“Yer welcome,” he replies.

“Jason watch yer ass, all right. I’m right fond of ye and would hate to have to come to yer funeral.”

“I’m not dragging you into this shit,” I say, hearing the worry in his voice.

“But if something happens to me...”

“I got the lass,” he says softly. “Ye really like her, huh?”

Did I like Bianca? Hell, yeah I did, and this shit wasn’t her fault. None of it is. I want her to be protected, especially if something happens to me in the process.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Consider her protected, then,” Murdock finishes.

“Keep in touch. I can dust off the old guns if needed.”

Good old Murdock would be here today if I ask him to be, but I can’t rip him from his family. He’s found something that most never do, and he quit this lucrative but godforsaken business for a reason. I would never ask him to give that up.

“Good morning.”

I turn to find Bianca in the bedroom doorway, my t-shirt barely grazing her bare thighs. My cock swells and I swallow hard, wishing I didn’t feel like this so that I could forget for a while.

“Good morning,” I say, placing the phone on the counter.

“You’re up early.”

“So are you,” she counters.

“Please tell me you slept at least a little.”

“I slept well,” I tell her.

I nod to the phone, “A friend sent some backup just in case. I’ve got eyes in town now.”

“Good, I think?” Bianca responds, running her hand through her hair.

“How bad is this going to get?”

“I don’t know,” I admit.

There’s no way that Saccone is just going to let this slide now. He’s pretty much put out an open contract on me for not killing Bianca, and her contract has now likely already been taken by another hit man.

It’s not going to take them long to find us, which means we can only stay here a short time before we need to move again.

“Why don’t you fix some breakfast? I want to get cleaned up.”

“Sure,” she said, drawing in a breath.

“Don’t get your bandage wet. I don’t have any more.”

I wink at her and her cheeks flush as she brushes past, giving me a chance to pull her close.

“You know you could join me,” I whisper into her ear, my cock swelling in my joggers at the thought. “And make sure I don’t.”

“You’re in no position for that Jason,” Bianca answers, pressing her forehead into the crick of my neck.

“Yeah, I know,” I say, my hand rubbing her back. “It’s a nice thought.”

Bianca lets out a choked laugh and pulls away, deep color in her cheeks.

“I’ll work on breakfast.”

My eyes drift to her ass before I walk away, my mind filling with images of what I’d like to be doing to her rather than walking away.

***

It’s the afternoon before our visitor arrives, and when I open the door, he throws me a glare. “You don’t look good.”

“Good to see you too, Mike,” I say brightly as he walks through, shutting the door behind him.

Mike sits his bag on the table and gives me a hard look.

“He hasn’t been a good patient,” Bianca reports, her arms crossed quite deliciously under her breasts.

“He’s done nothing you wanted him to.”

“Not that I expected him to do anything I say,” Mike announces, opening the bag.

“Sit your ass down Jason. Let me see what damage you’ve done.”

“They are still intact,” I reply as he cuts through the bandage and peels back the small piece of gauze.

“No sign of infection,” Mike says after a moment, touching the wound carefully. “No popping of stitches. I think you will live.”

“Tell him he has to take it easy,” Bianca adds, glaring at me.

I know she’s still mad about yesterday, but I don’t want to tell Bianca that I had been out there making sure that the body was buried fully and that there were no other signs of him on the grounds.

Mike had been smart enough and generous enough to look after that and I had spent the next hour hobbling around the property and crawling through the grass and underbrush looking for any sign that there could be any evidence of him or a sign of anyone else.

I admit, I had overdone it, but what else was I supposed to do? What she thought I had done, I don’t know.

“Well,” Mike starts as he strips off the gloves he had put on.

“I really wish I could tell you that he will listen, Bianca, but he doesn’t listen to me either. Just make sure you are keeping the wound dry and clean and take the damn pills when the pain gets to be too much.”

He arches a brow at me. “You think you can do that Jason?”

I glare at him, and he sighs, picking up a clean bandage. “Good. Now let me get this dressed again and I will be out of your hair.”

I want to apologize, but I’m too pissed off that this has happened to me at the worst time imaginable. I know that Mike is trying to look out for me, same with Bianca. I appreciate it, but I’m supposed to be the one that is looking out for them, not the other way around.

I’m not used to being on this side of the fence, and it really sucks to need help. I’m used to being a lone wolf who only needs to look after himself. Having others who I feel responsible for and want to protect is a whole new kind of burden I’m not used to.

Mike finishes his work, and after a goodbye to Bianca, I walk him out to his car. He places his bag in the car before turning to me, raking his hand through his hair.

“I know you are in a tight spot,” he says. “And if you need anything, I’m here for you.”

“I called Murdock,” I tell him. “There is backup in town.”

“Good,” he says, clamping me on my shoulder.

“Don’t try to be the hero, Jason. There are people who are willing to help.”

I clench my jaw. “I appreciate it. And thanks for taking care of the body too.”

He nods and walks to the driver’s-side door. “Don’t tear my stitches. They’re a fucking work of art.”

Shooting him a grin is all I can do; a chuckle would hurt too much. As I watch his car slowly crawl down the dirt drive, I realize he’s right. There are people who are willing to help me, and as much as I hate the thought, I need it, and I need them.