Legend (Legend #1)

started off on the wrong foot.”

So I thought it fitting that I congratulate you in person

put one of our most irritating criminals behind bars.

lapse into silence.

“You’re very attractive.”

He sits beside me and loosens the bottom two buttons of my shirt, then pushes it up until he exposes my bandaged waist. His skin brushes against mine. I try to keep my focus on his hands. He reaches behind one of his boots and pulls out what looks like a compact kitchen knife (patternless silver handle, worn edge—he’s used it plenty of times before, and to saw through things much tougher than cloth). One of his hands rests against my stomach. Even though his fingers are callused from years on the streets, they’re so careful and gentle that I feel heat rising on my cheeks.

“Who said anything about you, sweetheart?”

“I’m not cold and I’m not bleeding,” I say to him. “Keep your clothes on.”