My Assassin

Chapter 13

We both start giggling. I remember that day!

Mom and I were shopping. She pointed to him and I noticed how good looking he was.

I don't know why it didn't click the night of the gala, or these past couples of weeks.

"The pictures I was sent did you no justice. When I first saw you step out of your house, you were all I could think about. I couldn't even sleep at night, and I thank you for that. Seriously! I followed you around and saw a kind, smart, and loving person whom everyone loved. I was even at your flower shop. I popped in there a couple of times to watch you."

Ryder caresses my cheek. "It's so beautiful how you handle your customers. They're always complimenting you."

"Is that what you normally do? Try to see if your target is a good person?" I ask in confusion, placing my hand over his.

He closes his eyes and scoffs. "If I did, I'm sure I would be out of a job."

Ryder opens his eyes when I remove his hand off of my face. He then tries to kiss me but I stop him. "What made me different then? I don't understand."

He looks hurt for a second. I guess he doesn't like the fact that I don't want his kiss because his features change to his creepy, calm expression.

Ryder sighs and continues. "As I said, when I saw you, I wanted you. I guess that's what made me think, first and foremost, about not killing you. You were what I wanted. I have never wanted anything more in my life."

"It was something new and at first, I didn't like it. I even thought about killing you the day I saw you shopping with your mom. Only because my feelings towards you scared me. It had never happened before. I've killed women in my line of work. None of them stopped me dead in my tracks as you did."

He looks up at me ashamed. "After a while, I was certain about one thing. I could never hurt you."

He grabs my chin and pulls me in for a kiss. I put my hand up to stop him.

"If you felt that way, why did you still kidnap me?"

Ryder squeezes my chin gently. He then puts his hand and head down. I turn his head up towards me. "Tell me, please."

"You are the job, first and foremost, Sam. That's how it always goes. I see you with your fiancé and I envy him. I hate him anywhere near you! He is the reason I kidnapped you. Having you away from him is what I want. It sounds horrible but it's the truth."

"You're jealous," I whisper.

Ryder's facial expression changes. He does that creepy, calm look again.

I am starting to understand him. He does that when he does't want to show someone his true emotions.

He doesn't want me to know what he is feeling.

"Why scare and threaten me?" I ask, happy that he is finally opening up to me.

"It's all I know. It's all I've ever known since my parents died. I had my grandparents, but they always had me with a maid or butler. I never got an ounce of love or affection from them. Grandfather always told that me that love was the true weakness in life. If I want someone to respect me, they have to fear me first."

I look at him in shock. How can someone say such things to a child?!

"Having you here has been good and bad. I love having you around, but I needed you to fear me. To hate me! I wish I could get the opportunity to be yours. But you belong to someone else."

Ryder looks at me with sad eyes and I smile at him. I kiss him and we both hold it for what seems like forever, wrapping my arms around his neck. I stop and look down at him. "I belong to me."