Loyal by Default: Legacy of Carter Reed (Assassin's Heart #2)

by K.C. Mills

He chose her and she was choosing him, no matter the consequences.

His mind raced with all the irrational decisions he’d made over the past couple of months.

The first, taking refuge in a stranger's home, which led to falling for a woman he had no business harboring feelings for. Today was proof that she didn’t belong in his world, proof that he would continue to make irrational decisions about his life and hers as long as the end result led to McKenna being in his life.

“I don’t regret my choice, Kenni. You shouldn’t either.”

He pulled her in closer and relaxed into the comfort that she was and would always be his priority. The rest was just details.

The man next to her was deadly but looked poised with his custom tux, freshly cut hair, and handsome features. Looks could be deceiving because a volatile energy pulsed just beneath his skin, alert and ready to destroy anything that appeared to be a threat.

“You’re such a contradiction.”

“The you I remember seemed so different from the you I’m experiencing now.”

“Because you judged a book by its cover. You made assumptions about me, about who I was, and for t...

“I’m that scary guy you assumed hurt and killed people. I’m also a man who can wear a tux and order wine by name, blend, and brand. But most importantly, I’m the man who knows every inch of y...

“But to your point, in order not to stand out, I have to fit in every situation, hood shit, classy shit, being the regular guy you see walking down the street minding his business… But I’m not regular, Ken...

“Mos...

“Your mother betrayed her family. She wasn’t supposed to be with your father. When she chose your father over them, your parents had no choice but to run. They disappeared and were hiding from them…”

Carter wasn’t a Reed, it was just a name. He had no fucking clue who his parents were, name wise. Regardless, he was theirs, based on the blood that pumped through his veins.

“Nothing, but she didn’t have to. You’re telling me now. I know what want looks like, Carter. I see it in the both of you, that longing to be together. Just know your mother wanted this for you too, no matter how torn she was. Again, this life is hard and if you give into whatever is between the two of you, make sure McKenna has allies. I had your mother and she had me. It wasn’t much, but it was something.”

Carter was going to be selfish with McKenna because she was his one constant.

“My father used to tell me all the time that names weren’t important and our identities were in our bloodlines. He rarely ever called me by my name. It was always son. I never put much thought into why back then, but shit, now? Viewing him from a different perspective….”

“And considering what that man told you, you wonder if your father calling you son is because of what you learned?”

“He did the same with my mother. Hardly ever addressed her by name. It was always beautiful or my wife.”

“Their names weren’t real,” McKenna said quietly. Her eyes locked on his when she added, “But you’re wrong. It doesn’t change things. At least not who they were and how they loved you. He was right about that part, names aren’t important. You know who you are based on bloodlines. How people love you is what’s important. They’re still your parents. The same parents you loved and who loved you.”

Carter was promising McKenna his commitment and loyalty through such an effortless act and she was falling deeper into his world, knowing it would be impossible to leave.

He refused to make apologies for the man he was. McKenna would have to accept all of him or nothing at all.

“You make time for things and people that are important. I thought we had this discussion already.”

“You’re insane.” “I’m a man who doesn’t like sharing.” “You left.” “To keep you safe.” “It didn’t work.” “I know, which is why you’re here now.” “Is that the only reason?” “The most important, but no, not the only reason.” “Give me one more.”

“Time is precious, Kenni. You can’t get that back when you piss away an opportunity to make a beautiful woman feel appreciated.”

He was one of a kind and so different from anything McKenna had ever experienced. As much as she wanted a life with Carter, she needed the comfort of knowing that a life with him was possible.

“What happened to being a responsible criminal?”

“You happened.

“Such a romantic,”

“You wanna see my softer side, Kenni?”

“No.”

“Good because I don’t have one.” He winked and the muscles in her core clenched with wha...

“Names aren’t important…” Kivuli… shadow “I’m a shadow…”

“It reminds me of who I am.”

Kivuli was the first thing Carter searched and when the results appeared, he realized that Kivuli not only meant shadow, but it was also do...

With that being the case, he began to wonder if his father’s tattoo was deeper than his attachment to being a hired gun existing in the...

They’d changed their names, lived off the grid.

There was only one explanation that made sense. Kessler had been telling the truth and Kivuli was his father's true name.

“Not with them, but there’s always an issue because of who I am, Kenni. I don’t want you getting too comfortable with the idea of not considering it’s always a possibility.”

It’s, as in someone trying to hurt me, to hurt you. The statement was only a quiet thought but a heavy one.

“I don’t think I like the idea of you not needing me.”

She relaxed and nodded, praying he always kept his word.

“I should be very relevant to your happiness.”

“You are.”

“Then you lied. You ...

I...

“Do you ne...

“You told your mother she would be the first call when you found a man who wanted to marry you for the right reasons. I want to know what those are.”

“Now?”

“Too many to discuss but the most important one is because he can’t see life without me and he doesn’t want a life without me.”