An empty alley greeted her. She scanned the pathway from front to back, top to bottom, slowly making her way behind the bar. It appeared as though he’d vanished.
He’s here…
Her eyes strained to see an outline, a shape, anything.
I know he’s here!
But without her de-cloaking goggles, she’d never see him, even if he stood against the wall right in front of her.
That slimy son of a…
She spotted what looked to be an article of clothing tucked behind a pile of empty crates near the back door. Using the toe of her boot, she pulled the item from its hiding spot. Instantly recognizing the khaki pants, she knew she’d been duped.
“Dammit!”
Re-holstering her weapon, she retraced her steps and went back inside the bar. Ignoring the bewildered patrons who’d all stopped to watch her entrance, she went straight for the counter.
“Where are the ice caves?” she demanded, not waiting for the bartender to finish pouring his customer’s drink. “What’s the quickest way there?”
The bartender nodded toward a shrouded figure seated at the other end of the counter.
Gaelyn gritted her teeth. She didn’t have time for games. Glancing at the cloaked being through narrowed eyes, she quickly evaluated any potential level of threat.
Male. Tall. Well-built. Who is this guy? Where’d he come from?
She hadn’t noticed him before.
With an air of “don’t-fuck-with-me” in her step, she made her way toward him. “The bartender seems to think you can be of some assistance,” she declared, stopping a mere six inches to the left of the man’s seated frame.
He ignored her, choosing instead to take a long swig from his mug.
Removing her laser from its holster on her left thigh, she plopped it onto the counter top. Her hand rested lightly on its black metallic shape, her finger hugging the trigger. “Well?”
“I can take you there, for a price,” he replied, his deep voice a thunderous rumble within his muscular chest.
Annoyed, she lifted her chin. “Name it,” she practically growled.
The man chuckled. “It’ll be steep,” he warned. “Perhaps more than you’re willing to pay.”
Gaelyn’s patience wore thin. They wasted precious time. Is this guy gonna get down to business or what?
Struggling to see his face beneath the shadowed hood, she leaned a little closer. “Look, buddy. I don’t have time for games. Either name your price or I’ll take my business elsewhere.”
He glanced at her, his onyx, deep-set eyes two bottomless black pits within his handsome angular face. “I want half the booty. For starters.”
Gaelyn’s breath caught in her throat. Reese.
This wasn’t happening.
He pulled back his hood, letting the heavy material fall onto his broad shoulders in a neatly folded pleat. “Hello, Gael. It’s been a long time.”
Her right fist doubled at her waist. With forced control, she resisted the urge to knock that superior smirk right off his handsome face. “Reese,” she said through clenched teeth. “I suppose you’re after the same hit.”
He shrugged. “It’s a sizeable payoff.”
“He’s my contract.” Warning laced her tone.
Reese turned fully toward her, his massive frame almost comical atop the strained bar stool.
He’s here…
Her eyes strained to see an outline, a shape, anything.
I know he’s here!
But without her de-cloaking goggles, she’d never see him, even if he stood against the wall right in front of her.
That slimy son of a…
She spotted what looked to be an article of clothing tucked behind a pile of empty crates near the back door. Using the toe of her boot, she pulled the item from its hiding spot. Instantly recognizing the khaki pants, she knew she’d been duped.
“Dammit!”
Re-holstering her weapon, she retraced her steps and went back inside the bar. Ignoring the bewildered patrons who’d all stopped to watch her entrance, she went straight for the counter.
“Where are the ice caves?” she demanded, not waiting for the bartender to finish pouring his customer’s drink. “What’s the quickest way there?”
The bartender nodded toward a shrouded figure seated at the other end of the counter.
Gaelyn gritted her teeth. She didn’t have time for games. Glancing at the cloaked being through narrowed eyes, she quickly evaluated any potential level of threat.
Male. Tall. Well-built. Who is this guy? Where’d he come from?
She hadn’t noticed him before.
With an air of “don’t-fuck-with-me” in her step, she made her way toward him. “The bartender seems to think you can be of some assistance,” she declared, stopping a mere six inches to the left of the man’s seated frame.
He ignored her, choosing instead to take a long swig from his mug.
Removing her laser from its holster on her left thigh, she plopped it onto the counter top. Her hand rested lightly on its black metallic shape, her finger hugging the trigger. “Well?”
“I can take you there, for a price,” he replied, his deep voice a thunderous rumble within his muscular chest.
Annoyed, she lifted her chin. “Name it,” she practically growled.
The man chuckled. “It’ll be steep,” he warned. “Perhaps more than you’re willing to pay.”
Gaelyn’s patience wore thin. They wasted precious time. Is this guy gonna get down to business or what?
Struggling to see his face beneath the shadowed hood, she leaned a little closer. “Look, buddy. I don’t have time for games. Either name your price or I’ll take my business elsewhere.”
He glanced at her, his onyx, deep-set eyes two bottomless black pits within his handsome angular face. “I want half the booty. For starters.”
Gaelyn’s breath caught in her throat. Reese.
This wasn’t happening.
He pulled back his hood, letting the heavy material fall onto his broad shoulders in a neatly folded pleat. “Hello, Gael. It’s been a long time.”
Her right fist doubled at her waist. With forced control, she resisted the urge to knock that superior smirk right off his handsome face. “Reese,” she said through clenched teeth. “I suppose you’re after the same hit.”
He shrugged. “It’s a sizeable payoff.”
“He’s my contract.” Warning laced her tone.
Reese turned fully toward her, his massive frame almost comical atop the strained bar stool.
“Well now, seems we have a difference of opinion on that matter.”
***
Shannon Leigh
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***
Shannon Leigh
My Website
Join my newsletter
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