Ruthless Saints (The Saints, #3)

by Michelle Heard

I might be a killer, but like my brother, I live by a code. We don’t hurt the innocent, especially not women, and hearing what they’re planning pushes all the wrong buttons with me.

Tonight was the first time a little light shone into my life… all because of Hailey.

In no universe can the moon and sun be together. They’re forever destined to be lightyears apart, with empty darkness filling the space between them.

For a moment in time, the sun shone on me. It was peaceful, the brilliance of the rays warming the frozen landscape of my life. When my time comes, she’ll be my last thought. Until then, I have to forget she ever existed.

The eight-pointed stars mean I’m a high-ranking criminal. There’s a tear on my right arm for every kill, and the double-headed eagle represents power and justice.

Our eyes lock, and I see no malice, only empathy, which is unexpected. “You tell me what you want to do, and I’ll make it happen.”

I understand why he’s protecting her, and I’m thankful for it. I fucked up, and he’s cleaning up the mess. Alexei knows I love Hailey, and that means he’ll watch over her for the rest of her life. I would do the same for the woman he loves.

“More than he’s ever loved anything. You’re the first woman he’s had a relationship with.”

Suddenly Alexei mutters as if he’s bored, “No one’s looking for you. We’ve taken care of the police, and your bag is here. You’ll get your things when you leave.”

“The code is easy to remember. Nine for I. Twelve for L. Eight for H, and twenty-three for W. I love Hailey Welsh.”

Hailey: Are you ever going to deactivate the tracking device? Alexei: Never. Don’t take it off either.

“Just what everyone else knows. The Koslov’s are unbeatable. Carson holds all the records at St. Monarch’s. They have honor which is rare in our world.”

“They don’t kill without good reason. I’ve heard if there’s a contract on an innocent, they’ll help the person and stop the kill order by taking out the one who requested it. Kind of like doing charity work.”

Alexei: Contract accepted. Fee: A lifetime supply of vodka.

It can either go one of two ways, in my favor or epically shit.

The corner of my mouth lifts, and I place my hand on her cheek. “As long as I get to see you smile every day, we can take it slow.” Hailey’s face lights up with happiness, and I just stare at her as her light chases the darkness. The moon only shines at night because of the sun. Hailey’s my sun.

The main guy groans as he begins to climb to his feet. Letting out a squeal as if I’m about to step on a bug, I dart forward and kick him in the crotch. “Please stay down, you idiot.” When I look up, Carson’s looking at me with an incredulous expression on his face, then he says, “That was fucking cute.”

“To the sun who fell in love with the moon and gave him some of her light. Without her, there’s only darkness.”