Page 124 of XO Karma

“I love you too, Liam.” I release a heavy sigh as my chest aches. “And I loved Violet… I know you did too.” He looks at the floor, and I reach out and place a hand on his arm. His eyes meet mine once more, and there’s an emotion in them I can’t quite decipher. Sadness? Regret? “Please. Please just let me look at the file. I have to do this.”

Our stare lasts for what feels like hours. He drags a hand through his blond hair, curses at the ceiling, then says, “Fuck it.” After heading to his desk, he opens a drawer, retrieves another file, and hands it my way. “If you think it’ll help.”

I blink rapidly at the folder in my grasp. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Thank you!” I say, throwing an arm around him.

“Yeah, yeah,” he says, patting my back. “And Lily?”

Our eyes meet. “Yes?”

“You find anything, you call me first, okay?”

And then I tell him the second lie of the day. “Okay.”

36

ASTER

Karma Request #2913

Crime: My alcoholic stepdad hits me and my siblings but my mom won’t leave him

Evidence: (10) images, (5) videos, (1) document

Preferred Punishment: Rough him up. Make him leave.

Payment Offered: $1000

How To Find The Target: He’s working the fun house at the county fair this weekend. Name’s Paul. (1) image

“I’m really digging those overalls,” I tell Lily, lifting one of her pigtail braids and tugging it as we pass a fried Oreo stand. My eyes trail her body, down to the adorable pink cowboy boots she has on, and dirty memories flood to the forefront of my mind.

She puts a finger under my chin, nudging my eyes to meet hers, and cocks a brow at me. The multicolor lights of the fair rides reflect off her face, only enhancing her beauty. “Can you at least pretend to remember the reason we’re here?”

“And why can’t we also have some fun?” I ask, the Ferris wheel in view behind her. “I know I’m going to.”

“Okay, but just a reminder, you’re not here to kill Paul. I did the recon last week to confirm. And for the punishment, you’re only to injure him and scare him enough that he’ll leave that poor family alone.”

“But I wannaaaa!” I whine, mimicking the bratty child who just passed us losing their absolute shit.

“Sorry.” She fights a laugh while patting my head. “Tonight you will be on your best murder-free behavior.”

I release a sigh. “Fine.”

“Good boy,” she teases, and I glare at her. “Sorry, tonight will also be sex free, so get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a bit of a buzzkill?”

She smirks. “Only this psychopath I’m dating.”

“Dating?” I grin as we pass a house of mirrors, and I grab her, pulling her to a stop. “Are we having… the talk?”

She rolls her eyes. “Sorry, I mean the psychopath I’m fucking.”

“No, no.” I wag my finger while spinning to face her and walking backwards. My cheeks hurt as I struggle to stop smiling. “You said dating.”