Whistleblower (PALADIN Book 1)

I woke up alone.

In the past it would’ve relieved me knowing my date excused herself before I needed to ask, but this morning I was less than thrilled to be by myself, in bed. My disappointment quickly dissipated when I heard a ruckus in the kitchen—some clanking, something metal rolling around, and then Eden hissing, “Shit! Shhhh.” I assume she’s talking to the pots and pans because no one else is here.

After the third crash, I pull myself out of bed and make my way to the kitchen. She swivels around in surprise when I enter. Eden’s long hair is wavy and loose, spilling over her back and shoulders. She’s wearing one of my button-down shirts, the tail covering her ass but leaving her silky thighs on display. Judging by the little pebbles poking through the shirt, she’s not wearing her bra and she’s removed the last remnants of her makeup.

Her hand lands on the curve of her hip. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

“This is a good look on you,” I say with a smirk.

She shrugs. “I was unprepared for a sleepover. I thought we’d be going back to my place last night. I wasn’t entirely sure if you had a place, or slept upside down in a basement.”

“Really? More vampire jokes this morning?”

Closing the space between us, I wrap my arms around her then trail my hands up her thighs and over her bare ass until I’m disappointed to feel the lace band of her thong. No bra, but underwear, nonetheless.

“I just mean you look comfortable here, and by comfortable I mean stunning. I want you barefoot, in my shirt, and looking this relaxed all the time.”

Tilting her chin up, she finds my eyes. For a moment she stares at me, her eyes nearly glowing in satisfaction. She melts when I speak to her like this. It makes me sad when Eden drinks up my adoration like she’s been dying of thirst. Who’s been treating her so poorly that she doesn’t expect kindness?

“I need to tell you something.” She parts her lips and pauses. I’m almost expecting a declaration of love, but instead she whispers, “I borrowed your toothbrush this morning. It’s a pretty invasive move, so I felt the need to fess up.”

I duck down to kiss her forehead. “You’ve had more intimate things of mine in your mouth, Bambi. I think we’ll find a way past the toothbrush.”

Giggling, she spins out of my arms to attend to the pot filled that’s beginning to boil noisily. Eyeing my kitchen in total disarray, it’s clear Eden’s been busy.

“That smells good. What is that?”

“That,” she says over her shoulder, “is breakfast, that is not breakfast—bolognese.” A timer dings and she quickly pops a pan of buttered, sliced bread into the oven. “Or are you sick of Italian food after last night?”

“Not at all,” I say, sliding out a bar-height chair tucked under my kitchen island. I don’t have a dining table—I don’t usually have guests. I eat at this massive kitchen island that Eden has prepared a feast on. Good, I’ve been in and out of town so much, the groceries would’ve gone to waste. “Italian is my favorite.”

“I’ve always wanted to go,” she says, stirring the sauce on the stove with a wooden spoon. “My dad told me one time when he was in Italy, he had an affogato that was a religious experience. He told me he seriously considered going AWOL and hiding us in Italy where we could drown ourselves in espresso-soaked gelato. I mean I was twelve, so I really shouldn’t have been drinking espresso anyway, but…”

I’m quiet for a moment but when she doesn’t respond, I prod. “But what?”

“It was one of a million things we didn’t get to do together.” Eden fills a mug with freshly brewed coffee and sets it in front of me. “How do you take it?”

“Black is fine.” I grab the mug by the handle and take a sip. “How long was he sick?”

“It wasn’t too noticeable until the last six months. Or maybe it was for longer, and he hid it.” She grabs her half-empty mug and touches her lips to the rim. With her eyes down in shame, she speaks into the cup. “Sometimes I wish I would’ve put off my doctorate. I don’t know why I was in such a rush. I was building my portfolio and always had a big project, or an exam, or presentation. Looking back, I should’ve just lived instead of working so hard to set myself up to live. Does that make sense?”

I nod. “Seize the moment, if you will.”

“Right. When I look back on the past few years of my life and think about what I’ve lost… I’d handle Empress just the same. But I wish I could turn back time and go with Dad to Italy and eat some damn gelato. I wish I would’ve read War and Peace and talked to him about why he likes that boring-ass book so much. I should’ve asked him more questions about my mom before it was too late.”

“Your mother?” Eden hasn’t mentioned her mother before. I assumed, like with my own mom, it was a less than pleasant memory.

“She died when I was little. I was barely two when they told her she had Stage IV ovarian cancer.” She shrugs quickly. “We had a little time after that…but not enough.”

“Eden, this is too fucking much.”

Her eyes widen, then freeze in alarm. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to unload on you.”

I spin in my chair and pull her between my legs. “No, sweet girl, I mean you’ve gone through far too much. How are you still standing? Why do you still smile all the time?”

She rolls her eyes. “I’m not that impressive, Linc. I cry in private. I have a timer…it’s a whole thing.” She tries to wave me off.

“Give yourself credit. I’ve seen people turn bad because of far less than what you’ve gone through.” I stare into her eyes until she looks uncomfortable but I don’t break my gaze. I have a question I desperately need answered—a truth that needs uncovering before we go any further. “What’s the secret? Why are you so good, kind, and forgiving in the midst of this fucked up world?”

“Am I?”

“Also humble,” I add. Squeezing her hip bones gently, I wait for her answer. I’m not letting go until she helps me understand the Eden Essence—the very reason I am obsessed with this unicorn of a human being.

“You want a lie?” she asks.

“Sure.”

“It’s all a cover. I’m a hardened assassin. You’ve met your match, Lincoln Abraham, and I’ve got you right where I want you.”

I blink at her ridiculous statement. Although, I do feel like I’ve finally met my match. She just happens to be my polar opposite. “Great. Now, the truth.”

“I don’t know, Linc. I am who I am…who I’ve always been,” she whispers. “If I have to choose between anger and sadness, I prefer sadness. If I have to choose between hurting and hurting someone else, the first is less burdensome to me. I’m trying to lead by example I suppose. We should go through life being mindful of each other, not by validating our pain and insecurities by criticizing and terrorizing others. We have to stop acting like starting war is easier than starting conversations. I want to live in a world where—”

She stops abruptly, her eyes landing on her toes.

“Where what?” I ask.

“Where your job isn’t necessary. Where people who don’t like guns and violence…people who don’t want to fight…don’t have to be so goddamn scared.”

Me too.

“Speaking of which,” I say, hopping up to retrieve the little box I left on the TV stand. “I forgot to give you your present last night.” I didn’t forget, I never forget. I knew this present would start a conversation, and there were more pressing matters last night to attend to.

By the time I’m back, Eden has stolen my chair. I hand her the little box.

“What’s this for?”

“Because you’re pretty, and because I’m your sugar daddy and like to buy you nice things.” Was that sarcasm? Since when am I sarcastic?

She rolls her eyes. “We’ll call it an early birthday gift then.”

“When’s your birthday?”

“The fifth. So, Thursday.”

I feel my brows furrow and she notices my face pull in concern. Setting the box aside, Eden peers at me quizzically. She must misunderstand my confused expression. “What’s the problem, Linc? Is thirty too old for you?” She shoots me a playfully daring smile that tells me she’s joking…but I should also choose my words carefully.

“I’ve never been a boyfriend before, let alone during a birthday. Should I… What should I do?”

“Oh.” She laughs and exhales in relief. “With me, it’s easy. As my boyfriend, all you need to do is leave me alone.” She scrunches her nose, trying to be adorable.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. I prefer to spend the day by myself. I already told Callen I won’t be at work. In fact, he gave me Friday off as well.”

“You want to be alone?” I ask and she nods in response. “On your birthday?” She nods, again. “Is it because you’re…sad?”

She shakes her head emphatically, her long hair whipping both of us in the face. “Not at all. On my birthday, I don’t want any obligatory surprise parties or fancy dinners I have to get dressed up for. I want to be lazy, lounge around in my underwear all day, and eat dry cereal right from the box while watching trashy reality TV. You wouldn’t want to see me like that, it’s not a pretty sight.”

Trailing my fingers over her chest, I pop open the top button of my shirt and trace the top of her full tits. “Says you.”

Snatching the box off the counter again, she shakes it playfully, as if it should rattle. She snorts in laughter when she opens the lid and sees a pink tube of lipstick. “Is this for more artwork on your dick?”

“Flip it over. Feel that button?… Two taps.” She does as I instruct and flinches when the low buzzing sound of electricity surrounds us. “Anywhere will do the trick but aim for the throat if you can.”

“This is a lipstick taser gun?” she asks, admiring the little device.

“Essentially, but I had it…upgraded.”

“This won’t kill someone right?” She sets it back in the box and I grab her hand, bringing her fingertips to my lips and planting soft kisses on each one.

“No.” It’ll hurt like hell, though. “This is so you can feel a little safer, without feeling less like yourself. You don’t need to kill anyone, Eden.” I nod toward the pink tube. “That’ll slow them down until I arrive.” It’s hypothetical, but my jaw still clenches at the thought of anyone threatening Eden.

“You must really not want me to get a gun,” she muses softly.

“I don’t want you to change—not a goddamn thing about yourself. You be the light in this dark, depressing world. Let me be the big, bad wolf.”

She touches my cheek, her fingertips warm and soft. “You wouldn’t really kill someone because of me, right?”

“No, Precious,” I murmur. Pulling her off the chair, I hoist her onto the kitchen island, wedging myself between her smooth thighs. I trail slow kisses down her neck as she moans in appreciation and instinctively spreads her legs and pushes against the growing bulge in my pants. I can’t get enough of the way she smells…tastes…feels. Fuck, I need this woman like I need air. “If someone tried to hurt you, what I’d do is so much worse. I’d make them fucking beg for death.”

Eden pulls away and her eyes grow wide. “Linc, no. I don’t want—”

I swallow her protests when I cover her mouth with mine, ending all her objections with a demanding kiss. I yank the rest of the shirt buttons free, exposing her plump tits and slim waist.

“Hush. You’re mine now, Eden.”

And no one who wants to live, threatens what’s mine.