She took his breath away. To him, she was proof positive that life was worth the sacrifices it demanded of people: Just to look at her and be in the same room, to have the memories he had given not just her, but himself . . .

The idea of anything hurting her, ever, was simply unsupportable. And if he was the cause of it?

I’ll let you live a long life, knowing that you are the reason she’s ruined from the inside out.

Not a threat. Not from a guy like Matthias, who didn’t draw any distinctions that stopped at the feet of the female sex. And he would hurt her in ways that made that special thing Isaac had shared with her down in the cellar impossible for her to enjoy ever again.

As much as it pained him, he had to be realistic: When he was gone, she would find another lover. Maybe one she’d marry and have kids with and grow old beside. And there would be none of that for her at all unless he stuck around, waited it out . . . and prayed that when Matthias’s operative showed up, he was able to kill the fucker and then quickly disappear.

After all, he was a goddamn assassin. It was what he did for a living.

One thing was clear: there was going to be no coming forth with intel anymore. No way. Grier’s life was worth more than her respecting him and whatever was set in motion by her father could be undone fast as a phone call after the dust settled—so as far as they were going to know, it was business as usual until Isaac took off.

And as for his ever after? He was going to turn himself in to Matthias and have his reckoning, but it would be on his terms. Grier’s pops was on to something with those dossiers, and Jim Heron or one of his boys was just the kind of guy who’d keep a first-person, taped narration of every single murder Isaac had ever done locked in a safe—provided Grier and her father died of natural causes.

After all, he was under the impression that death’s door confessions were admissible in court—so as long as Isaac stated that Matthias was going to kill him shortly, he had a whole lot of clout, didn’t he—or at least enough to open one fucker of an investigation.

His testimony would be her and her father’s life insurance policy.

Across the way, Grier hit the on button, and as the machine started hissing it out, she stayed where she was, staring at the thing.

Compelled by something he didn’t question, Isaac stood up and went behind her, putting his chest to her back. Her breath caught as she felt his body, and though she stiffened, she didn’t move away.