The Hunted (Sleeping With Monsters Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

deceit – but my human half had learned hard
lessons about reality.  
    Instead of speaking,
the man’s fingers reached up to touch my eyebrow, healed now, where it’d been
split open in last week’s bout. It was a strange gesture for a human – for a
man – to make and I fought not to close my eyes in response. Him giving me
attention stirred things in me best left alone. 
    “You were magnificent
tonight.”
    “Thank you,” I said, my
voice flat.  
    “I saw you take that
kick last week,” he said, glancing at my brow. “It didn’t even knock you out.
You move faster than anyone I’ve ever seen.” He shook his head at the
improbability of me.
    He’d seen more of my fights
than anyone else had, excepting Javier. I’d been playing it close for months --
did he know my secret? If he did, why did I feel I aroused instead of
threatened?
    “You heal quickly. And you
pull your punches every fight.”
    I shrugged, forcing calm. “I
didn’t want to kill him.”
    “You’d get paid more if you
did.”
    “I like to fight for
fighting’s sake. But not like that.” If you killed everyone you went into a
ring with, you’d get a reputation. People would start bringing in knifes or
guns. I was a fighter, not a side-show freak. And if others ever figured out
what I really was, they’d all come in with silver – right before my pack
executed me for letting humans find us out.
    He took a step back and
studied me. “Have you killed anyone before?”
    My eyebrows rose. “Are you
wearing a wire?”
    He laughed, holding the
sides of his suit open. His body was lean, the shirt tucked in to fit him. He
had a gun in a side holster, but no other equipment. I wanted to ask to touch
him to be sure -- and for other reasons. From the way he was looking at me, I
didn’t think he’d mind, but watching fights turned a lot of guys on. Whether
he’d admit it or not was the question. I couldn’t afford to guess his
intentions wrong and have him fight me to save his ego. If someone like him
wound up dead, people would care.
    “Do I pass?” he asked,
as the corners of his lips quirked up in smug challenge. I wanted to taste
those lips and feel them on my -- inside me, my wolf squirmed. Blood.
    “What do you need a
killer for?” I said, more gruff than was required, trying to play it safe.
    “Not a killer -- a bodyguard.”
    “Why?”
    “I’m about to make some very
bad enemies. I need someone I can trust to watch my back.”
    “Surely you know people –“ The
family was rife with thugs.
    “I do. But I’d rather find
someone on my own. Someone without a lot of history and obligations. A blank
slate.”
    And someone who wouldn’t mind
being in the middle of an internal struggle. It wasn’t wise – but I wanted to
know more. “I’ve never been a bodyguard before. Why me?”
    “Your work here.” He jerked
his chin at the makeshift ring. “You’re methodical. Even when you seem like
you’re losing, it’s on purpose. I used to run fights. I know what you’re doing,
luring them in. Playing with them.” While he said the words his eyes didn’t
leave mine. “You must have amazing control to have never killed anyone. Not
even on accident.”
    I shrugged roughly again, although
I was flattered by the compliment. “And who says you can trust me?”
    “No one. But I’ll pay you
enough to fake it, until you do.” He reached into his pocket then handed me a
wad of cash. 
    I took it and pretended to
ponder his offer. The way I was now, I made just enough to get by, as long as I
kept my head down. The money he’d given me was more than I made in a month
splitting earnings with Javier.
    But I was a were – which meant
that I couldn’t always be on guard. Not every night.
    “I’ll need three nights a
month off.”
    “Why?”
    “Because.” Because the moon on
those nights would be full enough to make knowing me dangerous.
    He tilted his head with a
mysterious smile. “Fair enough.”
    “When does it