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He’d thrown that at me.
Actually tossed aknifeat me.
That escalated quickly.
Vera always said my smart mouth won me stupid prizes. But I never thought I’d anger someone to the point of assassination.
I shifted to zig-zags, knowing it would slow my pace but also not wanting to leave here with a souvenir the shape of a second asshole.
Zach’s dark and broody laughter rang behind me.
He’s enjoying this.
Sociopath.
According to legend, Zach Sun never laughed. Barely ever cracked a smile. That he was a morose man, tough as nails, his heart full of rust.
Thiswas what cracked his façade?
I’d get revenge on this prick if it was the last thing I did on Earth.
In my haste, one of my sneakers loosened from my foot, spearing into a pocket of mud. I had no time to look back. To stop.
I continued galloping forward with only one shoe on. Water doused my bare foot in an instant.
When I reached his iron-wrought gate, I knew he thought he had me cornered. I also knew once I made it past the bars, Zach wouldn’t be dumb enough to stab me.
Self-defense was hard to prove when your victim sported a hole in their back, even if you were the fifth richest man on Planet Earth and everyone treated you like you wielded a gold-plated dick.
Watch and learn, sucker.
With flourish, I planted my foot on the metal bar and scaled the monstrous twelve-footer. The rails were absent of nooks, but I had enough momentum and core to hoist myself over it.
Once I leapt to the other side, I bowed theatrically, this time clutching the muddy hem of the gown for emphasis.
When I tipped an invisible hat his way, his jaw squared.
The tiny reaction felt like a victory.
Octopus: 1.
Lobster: 0.
I was drenched like a stray cat, my hair a mess and my heart a wreck, but I would never give Zachary Sun the pleasure of seeing me break. “So long, Lobster. And thanks for the fish.”
“Lobster?”
“Octopuses’ favorite snack.”
I disappeared into the night before the heavy gates crawled open.
His men hunted me like hounds, flashlights piercing through the night, golf carts humming in my ears. But I evaded them, cutting through the wooded acres surrounding the property.
The thing about octopuses?
We camouflaged very well.
When I returned home, I mustered just enough energy to crawl into bed. Mud dried in thick cakes around my calves and ankles.
