Hope. An emotion that always kept suckering me in, time after time, despite my supposed retirement from the assassin business. Hope. The one thing that always seemed to get me into more trouble than just killing people for money ever had. Ah, hope. Sometimes, I really hated it.
Jennifer EstepJust another part of that Spartan killer instinct. I can slay the ladies just as well as I can reapers.
Jennifer EstepThis is really good,” Donovan Caine said, attacking his third strawberry pancake. “You sound surprised,” I said. He shrugged. “I just didn’t think an assassin would be able to cook like this.” “Well, I do get lots of practice with knives. You could say I’m multitasking.” The detective froze, his fork halfway to his mouth. “I’m kidding. I enjoy cooking. It relaxes me.
Jennifer EstepAre you coming along peaceful-like, or am I going to have to hog-tie you and put you in the car?
Jennifer EstepIt was better to know what people were really like than put your trust in someone who just wanted to hurt you in the end.
Jennifer EstepBut I'd much rather face a dozen assassins like LaFleur any night than deal with something as tricky, convoluted, and fragile as my feelings.
Jennifer EstepYou've got a thing for Donovan Caine. You have ever since you killed Ingles, his partner, and he went all dogged and determined on you.
Jennifer EstepStill, I'd do anything for him. Even smear his clotting blood inside the vehicle of his choosing.
Jennifer EstepI might be an assassin, but never let it be said I wasn't as gracious a hostess as the next gal.
Jennifer EstepQuite a crowd tonight, Gin. Usually, it's just you and Finn." I shrugged. "What can I say? I seem to attract minions wherever I go these days. Kind of like the Pied Piper." Behind me, Finn huffed out his displeasure. "Minion? I am most certainly not a mere minion. Head minion, perhaps. At the very least.
Jennifer EstepI will destroy you. No matter how long it takes, no matter what it costs me. I won’t sleep, I won’t eat. I won’t do anything but plot your downfall. I will mow down your men like they’re weeds. I’ll kill so many of them so viciously, so brutally, so horribly that no one will dare to work for you. And sooner or later, I’ll get you too.
Jennifer EstepHey, are you okay?”he asked “Nickamedes told me what happened with Preston. He and the others were worried about you. They’re out looking for you, along with Daphne, Carson, and Oliver.”I let out a bitter laugh.“I must have really freaked them out if Nickamedes was worried about me.
Jennifer EstepWhat was it with people always trying to kill me in the library? Nickamedes so needed to put up warning signs. Danger: Working here could be hazardous to your health.
Jennifer EstepAll I'm saying is that I understand if the novelty's worn off and you want to get off the carousel ride now before it kills you.
Jennifer EstepSince coming to Mythos, I'd almost been run through with a sword and mauled to death by a killer kitty cat. Dirty looks didn't faze me anymore.
Jennifer EstepOh, baby. You have no idea what I’d do to get through those layers and down to the good stuff.
Jennifer EstepThe wolf stared down at me, paws still on my chest, its shaggy tail thumping from side tot side and spraying us both with snow. It seemed like...it expected me to do something. Maybe my mind was completley gone, because there was only one thing I could thing of right now that might satisfy it. I reached up en awkwardly patted the side of its head, since that was al i could reach. "Nice puppy," I whispered, and passed out.
Jennifer EstepJasmine smirke at the weapon in my hand. "That little toothpick won't save you, Gypsy." "Touthpick?" Vic muttered in an indignant voice. “Did she just call me a bleeding toothpick? Kill her! Kill her now!
Jennifer EstepEasy was for people too weak to suck it up and do what needed to be done. And I wasn’t weak. Not anymore.
Jennifer EstepArt should look like art, trees and flowers and people, not weird shapes and splotches of color all smeared together.
Jennifer EstepThat was my favorite dagger." She had a favorite dagger? Seriously? And she thought that I was a freak.
Jennifer EstepInstead, I cut him. Not deep, but there was enough of a sting in the wound to remind him of what I'd done to the dwarven mobsters in the parking lot - and that I wasn't just some chick with a knife who looked good in black.
Jennifer EstepOne by one, the others all nodded their heads again, as if we were talking about having a spring picnic instead of going up against the deadliest woman in Ashland and all of her men.
Jennifer EstepWhat did you expect? That he'd send you flowers and write you bad poetry? That dead Nemean prowler is pretty much as close to a stuffed animal as you're ever going to get from a Spartan like Logan Quinn.
Jennifer EstepHe gave me his word. That means something to a man like Donovan Caine. Yeah, it means you'll realize he's an exceptionally good liar when you're clutching your intestines and choking on your own blood on his living room floor.
Jennifer EstepFinn did what he always did when confronted by an angry woman—he checked out her boobs.
Jennifer EstepI didn't know what would take my mind off the sexy Spartan, except for maybe a total lobotomy.
Jennifer EstepCan you play the piano like Beethoven? Or sing like Carly Simon? Can you take fie pages' worth of quotes and turn them into a usable story ten minutes before deadline? I don't think so, unless you have more hidden talents I don't know about. We all have our special sills. They don't make us better or worse than each other. Just different
Jennifer EstepShe doesn't even know how to kill things properlike? What kind of girl have you given me to, goddess?" Vic protested, fixing his eye on Nike once more. Nike let out a laugh. " Vic is a little bloodthirsty. You'll get used to it.
Jennifer EstepI'm a figment of your imagination. You're only imagining that I'm sitting here eating with you. Because I'm just so freaking awesome that people daydream about being seen with me.
Jennifer EstepI don't judge you for what you've done, Gin. Why are you judging me for another man's mistakes?
Jennifer EstepBetter be careful talking about how good my cooking is. Roslyn might get jealous.” The vampire madam let out a soft laugh. “Oh, I’ll freely admit that your cooking is much better than mine, Gin. But I have certain skills you don’t, especially in the bedroom. I think that Xavier far prefers those, even over a plate of the Pork Pit’s best barbecue.” Roslyn gave Xavier a sly look, and the giant’s grin widened. “Well played, Roslyn,” I murmured. “Well played.
Jennifer EstepHe realized something was going on between Logan and me. I wish he'd clue me in on exactly what it was, because I had no idea.
Jennifer EstepYou picked that out?” Caine asked. “That pink, plastic toy?” I turned to look at him. “I happen to have been a little girl, once upon a time, detective. I know what they like. Every little girl wants to be a princess.” A thoughtful frown overcame the angry tension on Caine’s rugged face. “And what happens when they grow up?” I thought of my mother and sisters and all the horrors that had happened the day they’d died. A bitter laugh escaped from my tight lips. “Then they just want to be little girls again.
Jennifer Estep