The Mercenary and the Mortician (The Silent Hollow, #1)

by Alexandra St. Pierre

“I will set you and your sisters up in a nice house. You’ll have a caretaker until you turn eighteen, after which you will be given enough money to do whatever it is your little heart desires. The only catch is you will have to come work for me.” “Work for you?”

Hes 10…

The funny thing about being raised in a cage is it makes you angry… and angry people want vengeance.

I would assume so

For the first few years, when I had been too small, Ryker used to deliver my prey to me bound and gagged. Over time, he taught me how to get strong—how to fight.

As a baby...

The first time I spoke to a dead person, I was eight years old.

Oh

He passed away on a Thursday, and he was the first body I ever embalmed by myself.

Oh man

I loved fucking dudes. There was just something about bending over a pretty alpha male and making him see Jesus through his asshole.

Well damn

The ginger-haired sex god in question walked into the room abruptly, and my jaw literally dropped. That picture online had not done him justice. Forget muscles. I was suddenly craving a ginger snap.

…lol

“Ryan’s dark angel, of course. Here, sweetie, you’re going to need this. Your dark angel comes with a crowd of rather…unsavory guests. You’re going to want to cleanse the space around him if you want any privacy.”

Lol ok

“Fuck no. I don’t have any kids.” Yet. Visions of little ginger babies danced before my eyes, and I blinked. Woah. Where the hell had that come from?

Ooo lol

Before going inside, I slipped my dick up into the waistband of my jeans so as not to accidentally poke her in the damn eye with it. And people say I don’t have any manners.

Thats nice of you

I went full blackout on some dude from Apex once when he implied he was going to fuck Cass against her will. I’m sure you can guess where that fucking guy is right now. If you guessed six feet under, then congrats. Big fat, shiny gold star for you. No one has said a word about my sisters since.

I got a star!!

What is the significance of 2739, you ask? Well, it’s the same code that I use to confirm the completion of my jobs for Damian.

Oh no...

“You’re a lunatic!” he roared, spitting blood all over himself. I shrugged. “And you’re a rapist.” “Fuck you!” “What? I thought we were just swapping facts?”

I like Cal

My favorite part of the job is arranging the florals. I love it when families have the budget to send massive orders of bouquets to the house, and when they don’t, I quietly offer it as a complimentary service.

Omg hes a sweetheart

“Not sure how I’m supposed to trust the literal devil,” I snapped.

Oh no sir

“I’m not the devil, Ryan Fairview. I’m your fucking god, and you will beg me for forgiveness,” he hissed. Then he bit the wrist of his latex glove on his free hand and ripped it off with a snap.

Omg

“That’s it, straight boy. Come for me.” “No. Fuck you!” I spat, and he chuckled. “You’re going to come, Ryan; there’s no point in fighting it. You’re going to shoot your load all over that bitch’s corpse, then you’re going to clean it up like the good boy I know you are.”

Holy shit

Operation ‘Win Ryan’s Heart’ was off to one of the rockiest starts to ever rockily start.

Just a bit

“The hottest, most spooky ginger boy I’ve ever met,”

Aww

I narrowed my eyes on her. “How did you get so wise?” I asked, getting up and crossing over to her side of the room. Grabbing her head, I tilted it to the side so I could check her ears. “Do you just stuff the knowledge in through here? I know you’re not learning this much from reading. All you read is smut.”

Aww i love them

He was really fucking cute when he was like this. Like a golden retriever begging for a milk bone…

A golden retriever merc

6’4” punk-ass

Yay he can stay

Okay. Maybe I was a little gay…

A bit

“You will. Just not tonight. I’m not small, Ryan. I don’t need you puking whatever it is you drank all over my dick.”

Lol valid

I was such a fucking idiot… Why had I let him do that?

You said you wouldnt regret it liar

Cal Sex God Walker: If that happens, the only thing that’s getting eaten is your ass. Ryan: JESUS CAL!

Lmaoooo

My plan had been to hang around until Iris and Theo cleared out so I could talk to him about everything. But then some chick who looked like she belonged on the set of ‘Children of the Corn’ waltzed into the kitchen like she owned the place.

Thats so mean lmao

Theo shrugged and ashed her joint out on the steps before getting to her feet. “I don’t know. Maybe because I’ve never seen him look at someone the way he looks at you.” Omg. Swoon.

Omg i love him

“Or maybe… I’m hoping if I help you lock down my brother, you’ll give me your sister’s number in return.” Now I was smirking. Well, well, well. Looks like Cassandra made an impression.

Ahhhhh

I grinned back at her. “Look at us! Pimping out our siblings for personal gain. We’re so charming.”

Hahah

“You wanted to end our arrangement?”

Baby girl... ARRANGEMENT?

“I have a confession to make,” I muttered against his soft mouth. He pulled back and cocked his head to the side. Giving me that quizzical look that sometimes reminded me of a curious puppy. “What’s that?” “I think I might be gay.” He threw his head back and laughed, and I couldn’t help but laugh along with him.

Lol you might be

I burst out laughing. “It’s called dubstep.” Ryan just gave me an unamused look and rolled his eyes. “It’s horrible. It sounds like robots fornicating.” I felt my eyes widen and my lips part. “That would be… awesome.”

These two

In the words of the infamous Ariana Grande — I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it. I saw Ryan. I liked Ryan. I wanted Ryan. I got Ryan.

Im cryinf

“You can’t tell me I’m not allowed to see other people, then slut it up yourself.” I burst out laughing. “Slut it up!? Jeeze, ginger snap, we don’t slut shame in this car.”

Lololol

“She’s excellent with makeup.”

Awwww

Alrighty then. No more talking about my sad boi past. From now on, I would just focus on making my ginger snap happy. I was good at that. Just ask Cass and Naomi.

But what about you

Naomi: Oooo yaaaaaas! Can we take the hearse?! Ryan: Lmfao. Sure. See you soon.

Lmao shes so cute

I smirked at the jar as I passed it, resisting the urge to pick it up and shake it like some sort of macabre maraca.

I would have

I sank my teeth into the crook of her neck, biting down hard enough on her soft flesh that she squeaked in surprise.

Woah Vox i knew he had a thing for her

I nodded. “I know, Damian.” I sighed, sinking further back into the tub. “Tell me you love me, Callum,” he crooned, and I winced. “I love you.”

I HATE him

Damian’s eyebrows raised in surprise, and McGreggor snickered in the corner. Stroking my face gently, Ryker shook his head, looking at me with something close to pity on his face. “How could I ever love you, Callum? All you ever do is disobey.”

Mcgreggor dies frst

I knew this was abuse. But it sometimes got so mixed up with all the amazing things Damian had done for me that it was hard for me to truly hate him.

You were groomed my love

“What are you —” “Right here, on his chest,” Damian said, stroking his fingers directly over my heart. My eyes widened as McGreggor lifted the long stick, and I saw that the end was bright red. It was a brand. The letters DR were so red hot they were smoking, and I could barely get a scream out before McGreggor pressed it into my chest, right where Damian had ordered him to brand me.

Oh i am pissed

“Go inside, Ryan. I don’t want you anymore,” he said, and a strange roaring started up in my ears at his words.

Oh it hurts

Cal looked at Vox, his mouth forming a firm line. “You and I are no longer partners. I’ve been reassigned, and you’ve been excommunicated from Apex. If you come back, Damian will kill you.”

Wtf

My new partner was none other than everyone’s favorite asshat: McGreggor.

Kll him

McGreggor: I have a lead. Be outside in ten minutes, faggot.

Break his face

“Oh, hell no!” he barked before shooting McGreggor point-blank in the head with the other man’s gun.

Thank yoy

“That’s it, Mr. Walker. Take your punishment.” Damian panted. The fleshy slapping sound increased in intensity.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?????? Murder!!!!@@