“What do … do you want?” The man coughs.
“You see, Mr. Smith, I prefer my secrets and business stay with me untilIdecide otherwise. I’m guessing, if we were to look at your phone, we’d see some contacts I don’t approve of. As a verytrustedmember of my company – someone I consider family, I would expect you to understand my position.”
“I haven’t said anything.” He pants. “I only work for the Russians.”
“Please.” Mr. Volkov motions to me.
Without hesitation, I put a knife to the man’s throat, threatening the tender skin there. Mr. Volkov continues. “If you are not with the Volkov's, it doesn’t matter where your allegiance is. But your wife will wonder where your body is. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes!” He scrambles. “Yes! I don’t share any information. I don’t share the books. Everything is on encrypted files. Your organization is safe! I swear! I would never betray a friend!”
“Am I your friend, Mr. Smith? Do I need to provide more incentive, perhaps?”
Obediently, I dig the edge of the knife into his neck, drawing a trickle of blood that slowly works down his throat to the top of his shirt.
“No! We are good friends! Perhaps you should meet Marcia. My wife is always interested in friends.”
Mr. Volkov waves me away.
I wipe off my knife, put it back in my pocket, and place one of the tissues I carry against the man’s throat. I am merely a tool. Nothing more. A well paid tool, but I know my place in the business. I know my worth. And as long as Mr. Volkov has enemies, he’ll need men like me to solve problems creatively.
“Thank you. You may go.”
And I do, heading out and taking care of evidence as needed. My life isn’t as pretty as many think. All the more reason not to show interest in Valerie.
VALERIE
“Come on!” Elaine bumps my hip as we walk back from Advanced Social Psychology. “Taking time off from school is important. Self-care. A way to relieve stress, all things that we’ve learned are vitally important for studying.”
“Studying is also vitally important.” I giggle.
Elaine is sweet. She loves to have fun and can make just about every lecture exciting. I roll out my neck. “As much as I would love to come out with everyone, I don’t have a date.”
“You don’t have to! I can do a set up for you. I know this guy, Dino, I bet you’d love him.” She bounces on her toes.
I don’t know. I can’t picture myself yelling “Dino” while coming. Even “Hunter” is preferable to that. And it has been a week since I properly teased any of those men. Maybe I’m overdue. A slow smile curves up my face as my stomach clenches.
“If I can get a date, I’ll be there. Saturday, right?”
“Of course! We don’t do parties on weekdays. None of us are insane.”
“At least not certifiable.” I laugh.
She cackles and we both grab coffee before parting ways for the day. I stretch and roll my back out at home and commit another sticky note to this party. Six P.M. Saturday for a house party in Elaine’s honor.
No messages from Chase, none from Hunter, none from Lief. That won’t do. I need some attention. Who better to text than the one least likely to respond. If I go without, I’ll get to Hunter, tease him relentlessly and maybe give him a chance to show off exactly what he can do with all that talk.
Or I could message everyone but him and enjoy knowing he’s stewing because I won’t give him attention and IknowChase will tell him if I’m texting him. I grin darkly at the idea.
So I text Lief.
VALERIE: If you’re interested at all, I hope you enjoy this.
Then I send the teasing photo I took the night of the charity event, where my arm is across my tits. A girl can’t show everything to a guy who might not appreciate it, after all.
I get through studying a bit, then look at my phone.
LIEF: I enjoy it greatly.