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Her voice, he noticed, was husky, whisper soft

"Look at me when you ask your questions"

She wouldn't comply with his command but stubbornly continued to stare at the rose "Pray, answer an? I have need to speak with the pirate It is a terribly important matter"

"I aan," Caine said

She nodded "It's said that you'll do any task if the price be enough Is that true, sir?"

"It is," Caine acknowledged "What is it you want from me?"

In answer to his question, she dropped the bag onto the center of the table The drawstring tore open and several coins spilled out Monk let out a lohistle

"There are thirty pieces in all," she said, her gaze still downcast

Caine raised an eyebrow in reaction to that statement "Thirty pieces of silver?"

She tih? It's all I have"

"Who is it you wish to betray?"

She looked startled by that assumption "Oh, no, you misunderstand I don't want to betray anyone

I'm not a Judas, sir"

He thought she looked insulted by his comment "It was an honest mistake to make"

Her frown indicated she didn't agree Caine vowed he wasn't going to let her get his temper riled

"Then what is it you ask from me?"

"I would like you to kill someone, please"

"Ah," he drawled out His disappointment was almost painful She looked so damned innocent, so

pitifully vulnerable, yet sweetly asked him to murder someone for her

"And who is this victim? Your husband, perchance?" The cynicis down a chalkboard

She didn't see tone "No," she answered

"No? You're not married then?"

"Does it matter?"

"Oh, yes," he countered in a whisper to match hers "It matters"

"No, I'm not married"

"Then who is it you want killed? Your father? Your brother?"

She shook her head again

Caine slowly leaned forward His patience earing as thin as the ale Monk watered down "I tire

of having to question you Tell me"

He'd forced a belligerent tone, certain he'd inti out her full explanation He knew he'd failed in that endeavor, however, when he caught theher so intently, he kneould have htened little kitten had a little spirit inside her, after all

"I would like you to accept this task before I explain," she said

"Task? You call hiring me to kill someone a task?" he asked, his voice incredulous

"I do," she announced with a nod

She still refused to look hiht," he lied "I accept"

Her shoulders sagged in what Caine surmised was acute relief "Tell ain

She slowly lifted her gaze to look at him then The tore to reach out, to take her into his arms, to offer her coed on her behalf, then had to shake his head over such a ludicrous, fanciful notion

Hell, the wo him to murder someone

Their gazes held a long while before Caine asked again, "Well? Who is it you want killed?"

She took a deep breath before answering

"Me"

Chapter Two

"Holy Mother of God," Monk whispered "You cannot be serious, dear lady"

She didn't take her gaze away from Caine when she answered the tavernkeeper "I'ood man Do you think I would have ventured out into this part of town in the ht if