Chapter 41 - Gotcha! (1/2)

”I know what you're trying to do,” Halia said as she stared into the man's eyes. ”It's not working.”

Jackson looked at Halia with a trace of amus.e.m.e.nt. ”You're very different to other women,” he said as he let go of her waist and moved away. She never reacted the way he expected and it fascinated him.

”That's why I don't want to hurt you.”

”If you stay around me, I will only put you in danger.”

Halia looked at the man next to her. He had a good heart, but he had simply chosen the wrong path. ”If I remember correctly, I'm pretty sure I've put you in more danger...If you're so worried, why don't you quit what you're doing? You won't be dangerous if you don't do anything dangerous,” she suggested.

Jackson let out a slight laugh, ”I wish it was that easy. I've been doing this since I was 18. I can't just walk out now. This is already my life.”

”Well, I'm not afraid of danger,” Halia said. ”You've saved me three times, so I've sworn loyalty to you, just like your men. You can't get rid of me now. Besides, I think I may be able to help you.”

”Help me? In what way?” Jackson asked with interest.

”Before I went into nursing, I actually received a double degree in mechanical and chemical engineering. Do you know what I majored in?” Halia asked.

Jackson shook his head.

”Weaponry,” Halia replied.

Jackson looked at the woman and raised an eyebrow, ”Really?”

...

That evening, Jackson returned to his apartment building, holding the two coats that Halia returned to him.

His conversation with Halia ran over and over again in his head.

”Everything's too coincidental,” he whispered under his breath.

The way he ran into Halia at the club, the way she befriended him, the way she found out he was an arms dealer and the way she just so happened to major in weaponry...everything seemed too coincidental. He had been doing this since he was 18, he could tell when something wasn't right.

At that moment, he remembered how Halia was trying to get into his study room the previous night. She said she was just looking around, but Jackson was beginning to doubt her words.