Dealing in Death — L.J. Hayward

Ethan Blade -- assassin extraordinaire, cold-blooded killer, heartless monster, and . . . retiree?

I've spent my whole life dealing in death, efficiently eliminating targets while fighting to preserve a sense of self and morality, to avoid becoming as detached and ruthless as my siblings. I thought I had succeeded. Then I met Jack Reardon -- contrary, handsome, forgiving, and far too good for the likes of me -- and my life was tipped upside down. When he asked me to move in with him, he didn't specify that I had to quit my job, but I wanted to -- for myself, not for him. I should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

My old instincts -- “Ethan Blade” -- are soon tempted out of retirement by a job offer I can't afford to refuse and by an old hook-up of Jack's he'd be a fool to refuse. While falling prey to my own temptation, Jack struggles with his. Which is precisely when the true danger exposes itself -- one of my siblings with no such sense of self or morality. Only pain. And he is prepared to rain it down on me and Jack, unless I can square the Ethan Blade I want to be with the one I need to be, in time to save us both.