Page 24 of Last Man Standing

SEBASTION

SELF-PRESERVATION

Lincoln:

Day 3 update. What’s she doing? Speak.

Me:

I’m not your dog, bitch. I’m not even your subordinate. How’s my code keeper?

Speak.

Ijust know he’s gnashing his teeth. Probably pacing Scarlett’s apartment. Or his hotel room. Or fuck knows, the state governor’s private bedroom. Wherever he’s declared his home base, I know he loathes relying on me for updates about his precious baby sister.

Lincoln:

Nova’s with me, safe and sound and not spilling your secrets. Your turn. Bitch.

I sit on the back porch and take out my binoculars, not because Scarlett is particularly far away—a hundred feet at most—but because I enjoy the cute little stress lines fanning away from her eyes. I love catching glimpses of her dimples, especially when they’re a result of a smile, and not of her rage toward me. I like to nudge my binoculars just a little lower, to count the throb of her veins on the side of her neck.

The rise and fall of her chest.

The fluid sweep of her hand as she graduates from drawing angry little squiggles in her notebooks, to beautiful sketches of the house next door.

Lowering the binos and setting them in my lap, I pick up my phone and type out my reply.

Me:

She’s sitting in the snow, but not shivering. Drawing your house. She’s been going for an hour or so.

Lincoln:

Good. I sent her a text a little bit ago, but she hasn’t replied.

Me:

Cos her phone is on the kitchen counter. Which is kinda dumb, considering her life COULD be in the crosshairs if this dude is a trained psycho rather than, say, an admirer who wants her attention.

Have you taught her nothing?

Lincoln:

I’ve taught her plenty. Not having her phone probably implies she feels safe. Leave her alone, don’t hit on her, don’t torment her, and don’t piss her off enough that she’s tempted to end your life.

Me:

Why? Would you miss me if I was dead?

Lincoln:

No. But if you’re dead, she’s gonna get in her car and try to follow me. Doing that would make my life a hell of a lot more difficult.

Did she eat today? She skips meals a lot when she’s anxious, which means you’ve gotta keep an eye on that, too. Make sure she eats.

Me:

She had eggs and avocado on toast for breakfast.