An Assassin’s Holiday Read Online Free PDF Page A

hard after all the stuff I’ve told you, but you’re going to have to trust me.”
    Just like I’m going to have to trust him.
    That’s a strange feeling, and I hesitate. I’ve never brought anyone back to my place for any reason, and here I am about to break one of my cardinal rules. Fuck if I know why, other than this attack of conscience that seems to have taken over my life and my judgment. “We need to go.”
    Robin turns out the lights, but leaves one on in the bedroom.
    I shake my head, not saying a word about the whole lights-on thing not making one bit of difference if someone decides they want to get inside. Whatever makes Robin feel better is fine with me.
    “I’m ready, I guess,” Robin says as he pulls on his coat and then picks up his backpack. I take the case, and we leave the apartment. “Where are we going?” he whispers as I head toward the rear of the building.
    I don’t answer. We take the stairs down the back and out the door to the alley. It’s still frigid, but the snow has at least stopped. I lead the way down the alley to the main street, and by some miracle, I hail a cab.
    I sit quietly as we ride, only giving the driver the address. I find myself glancing at Robin every few seconds, trying not to have carnal thoughts about how his legs fill out his pants and what those same legs would feel like wrapped tightly around my hips. Robin chooses that moment to lick his lips, and I actually shift closer before pulling back once again. Those lips aren’t for me. Robin’s life, when this mess is cleared up, is his own, and I’ll simply disappear once what’s wrong has been put right.
    The taxi pulls up to the address I gave him, and we get out. I pay the driver, and he speeds away.
    “Which one is yours?” Robin asks, looking upward.
    “It’s a short walk yet.” I lead him the block and a half to my building. I do my usual “avoid the cameras” thing and make a note to alter the recordings so there will be no record of Robin entering the building. I call for the elevator and we ride up, then go into my apartment. I close the door as Robin sets down his things.
    “It’s nice,” he says without any warmth.
    “It’s a place to sleep.” I look around, trying to see the place through Robin’s eyes, and all I see is cold. His tiny apartment was warm, while this is almost sterile. Hell, it’s clinical. There are no pictures, no mementos of my life, because I’ve kept none. This is just a place where I sleep part of the time.
    Robin shivers, and I turn up the temperature. The place is chilly, but I doubt any amount of heat is going to truly warm the place. That would require major decorating. But still, this is home, or as close to home as I’ve ever allowed myself to feel.
    “Is this how you live your life?” Robin asks and then claps both hands over his mouth. “Sorry.”
    “Pretty much.” There’s no hiding. “I have a room you can use,” I say, and I lead Robin down to a second room with a bed. “You’re safe here.”
    Robin nods. “I still wish I knew why you’re helping me. Wouldn’t it be easier to just do your job and move on?”
    I stand in the doorway. “Yeah, it probably would. But for now let’s chalk it up to the Christmas spirit.” I don’t want to analyze it too closely or I’ll probably go round the bend. “In a month or so, I’ll most likely wish I’d had my head examined, but right now, I know this is the right thing to do. You don’t deserve to be mixed up in what’s happening, and a guy like you should never cross paths with one like me.”
    Robin passes through the doorway, stops, and turns around on his heels. “Did you ever think that maybe you and I were supposed to cross paths? I believe that things happen for a reason. Life isn’t just a bunch of random crap. There is a plan, somewhere, even if we don’t see it, and maybe part of that plan is for me to meet you.”
    “Why on earth would anyone do that to a nice guy like you?” I