Glacier Read online

The bathroom was outdated, not very big, and the tiny window over the tub and shower combo had layers of dirt blocking out most of the light coming from outside. A thin plastic shower curtain was pushed to the side. The toilet was a foot away, the sink next to it. He’d turned on the only light bulb in the room, which hung above their heads.

  She tipped her head back and held his gaze. “I won’t try to escape.”

  He backed up to the door, leaned against it, and crossed his arms. It was clear he had no intention of going anywhere.

  Her mouth fell open but she snapped it shut. “You’re going to watch me?”

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight until you’re chained up again.”

  She turned her head to stare into the dirty mirror. It had come as a shock when she’d discovered it was a bullshit myth that Vamps didn’t have a reflection. Part of her regretted that it wasn’t true as she took notice of the yellow and purple bruise fading on her cheek. Her hair was shorter than it used to be, just past her shoulders, and she’d stopped dying it. It was a waste of time to mess with her appearance. The last thing she wanted to be to her co-workers was attractive. That lesson had been learned.

  “Time is wasting. Take your shower if you want one. I don’t have long before the pack sends Teenie back here soon to begin our night.”

  She sighed and faced the shower. The curtain was nearly transparent. He’d get a good view at least. She gave him her back, turned on the water to see if it would get warm, and then tore her shirt over her head.

  He sucked in a sharp breath.

  She smiled, refusing to look at him. “Don’t act all surprised that I’m removing my clothes. Doesn’t everyone do that when they shower?”

  He didn’t answer.

  She dropped her bra. The gun holster remained but the weapon had been removed. The sheath for her blade also sat empty. She unclipped both from her body and unfastened her pants.

  “I’m just surprised you’re not arguing with me by demanding privacy.”

  She shoved them down, along with her underwear, giving him a great view of her bare ass and more if he was looking. It felt as if his gaze was on her. “The council stripped me of modesty a long time ago in regards to people seeing my body. I’ve learned to pick my battles carefully, Ice.” She paused. “Sorry. Glacier. I’m just grateful you gave me access to a shower.”

  She went to step into the tub but gasped when he suddenly gripped her arm. Their gazes locked as she peered at him over her shoulder. He looked furious.

  “What the fuck does that mean? I thought you said the council prevented you from being in some asshole’s sex harem.”

  “It could mean death if you’re fighting someone, they rip your shirt, and you try to cover your exposed breasts. Putting an arm down could mean the difference between keeping your head or not. They sometimes made us fight naked to make sure we didn’t care what parts of our body are exposed.”

  “Did any of them force you into sexual situations?”

  That was a polite way to put what he implied. “No. The council doesn’t abuse their powers by making us fuck them. We’re viewed as tools they use to kill, nothing more. It’s actually a rule they follow…never get involved with an assassin. Emotional attachments are forbidden.”

  “Does that mean you don’t have a companion or someone you’re in a relationship with?”

  “That’s also forbidden to us. We’re property of the council. It’s seen as a weakness to care about someone else. Olivia and I have hidden our close friendship. They just think we work well as a team and tolerate each other, since we come back whole. I haven’t always played well with others when they’ve assigned me to work with someone else.”

  “Explain.”

  She hesitated before giving him an example. “My first on-the-job assignment trainer thought he should also teach me the art of seduction. I wasn’t interested. So he decided it would be great payback not to give me backup when we were attacked by the nest we were sent to take out. Then the prick had only gotten us one hotel room, assuming we’d share the bed. He made me sleep on the floor since I wouldn’t touch him. I got even when he went to sleep. You’ll know who he is if you ever run across a Vamp missing the tip of his pinky finger. We don’t grow back body parts if they’ve been severed and turned to ash. There’re a few missing some toes too, but let’s just say I’ve gained a reputation of someone to avoid sexually harassing at work.”

  His expression never changed.

  She wondered what he thought about her past stunts, and decided to explain further. She wasn’t a horrible person. “I’m not allowed to seriously damage another assassin or disfigure their faces, since they have to walk amongst humans on jobs. Taking an entire finger or something that might make them less effective at their job would get me killed as punishment. But the tip of a pinkie finger or removing a little toe?” She shrugged. “Nobody would notice that. The council didn’t care.”

  His hold on her eased. “Take your shower.”

  She got into the tub and closed the curtain, standing under the hot water. It felt good, and it came as a surprise to her that the water heater worked in the old building. He also had products. She quickly washed her hair and scrubbed her body clean. The scent of sandalwood filled her lungs to replace dead Vamp. Now she’d smell like Glacier instead.

  It was slightly comforting to know something good would be the last thing she inhaled before she took her final breath. Hunger gnawed at her but she pushed it back. She needed blood but he wouldn’t feed her. Werewolves tended to detest Vamps for their need to drink blood. Of course, she wasn’t going to point out that her meals survived. Unlike those of Werewolves, who tended to eat a lot of meat.

  He held a towel over the top of the curtain when she turned off the water. “Thanks.” She wrapped it around her middle and got out of the tub. “Do you have another one for my hair?”

  He opened a cupboard built into the wall and withdrew a second one. “Turn around.”

  She tensed but did as he asked. Maybe he’d be kind and kill her without warning. It was her favorite way to eliminate a target. They never saw the blade coming until it was halfway through their throat.

  He stepped close, just inches away, and began to rub her hair dry. It was a personal task a person who cared for you would do.

  Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back fast. He’d accused her of planning to play head games but it seemed that was his strategy. And it was working.

  “What else do you want to know?” She’d tell him anything and then this could end.

  “How many assassins work for the council?”

  “At least a hundred. There are eight houses in the U.S. and two in Europe. I’ve never been there but one is in England, the other in Germany. They put ten of us in each home they set up. We’re not called nests, since our masters are every member of the council.”

  “Why Europe?”

  “To watch what the Vamps over there are up to. It’s all hush-hush, but I met one of them about ten years ago. His name was Andre, and he’d followed a master into New York who didn’t have permission to be there. Andre was stationed in Germany but mentioned he had transferred from England. I asked him if there were more houses but he said he’d only heard of the two. I was called in to be his backup because the master traveled with five guards. He’d also hired half a dozen humans to protect him during the day. We went at him at night though.”

  “Do all masters need permission to enter the U.S. first?”

  “There were rumors that this master planned to take over New York. That’s where I’m based. One of the council owns that territory, and it would mean a war for him to keep it. He’d warned the master not to come here and had Andre watching him in Germany. As soon as he flew into the U.S., it became a kill order.”

  “The council makes you do their territory dirty work?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where are the houses in the states?”

  “Tampa, Dallas, Chicago, Vegas, Port