Page 49 of Mr. Match

Ariel and I aren’t evil. Or Five, for that matter. But being able to code things, or break into things using code, well, it makes you more powerful than you’d be without that skill. It makes us different than most people.

A little darker. A little dirtier since you can live underground.

And if you want to find the dark side of anything it’s not that hard when you know how to write the perfect code.

Cindy got in shortly after. She’s a snooper, that one. And she’s tenacious. Most of what she uses the dark web for is pretty innocent. She finds clients on the Hidden Wiki. She’s basically just doing job searches.

But Ariel and I are not as innocent.

And I have a very sick feeling that Katya is back because of what Ariel and I do on the dark web.

“We gotta get to work too,” Ariel says. “Two of the servers are down and we’ve gotten like a thousand complaints from people who are afraid they won’t get laid tonight. So you go handle that and I’ll smooth things over in customer service. OK?”

Aside from my new paranoia about Katya, something is not right here with Ariel and the girls. I can feel it. They are up to something. “Fine,” I say, heading towards the door. I’d rather figure it out without all their faces staring at me.

“Can we expect you for dinner tonight?” Cindy calls out. “At the condo?”

“No,” I say. “Fuck that.”

I can hear all the girls giggling at my reaction as I close the door behind me.

I get in the Camaro and drive slowly home, checking all the side streets to see if I can spot Katya.

But I don’t see her. It’s not like her place is far, so I’m not exactly panicked about that. And I was outside for like twenty minutes talking to the guys. So I can’t really blame her for taking off. I’m sure Ariel was just delightful company.

I don’t bother going home to change before work, just park my car behind the building and climb the stairs to the fourth floor. I head straight to the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of Katya in the apartment that might be hers before I have to sit down and deal with real life.

But no such luck. She’s not there.

Why am I surprised?

When is the last time luck showed up in my life?

Chapter Twenty-Two - KATYA

The crisp, cold air is a welcome relief as I make my way back to my apartment. But instead of ducking my head into the wind like I usually do, I look around. Nervous. Everything is happening too quickly right now. Oliver, the phone call, the sisters, the meeting tomorrow. Do I really know what I’m doing?

No, I conclude. Some of what’s happening seems controllable but other parts are so out of my realm of expertise, I have to fight off a panic attack. What if I do it all wrong? What if people get hurt? What if, what it, what if…

I turn into the alley to avoid a group of college kids ahead and bump right into a tall redhead. It takes me less than a second to realize who she is and why she’s here.

“Ellen,” I say, a slight tone of disgust in my voice. “Something I can help you with?”

Ellen Abraham is a washed-up old bat who has nothing better to do than fuck with people’s lives. “Just letting you know we’re here. We’re watching you, Katya. And if you think you’re going to change sides now, you’re mistaken. What were you doing at that house?”

“It’s called Phase Two, Ellen.” I practically sneer it. I hate this woman. Ever since she showed up in my life last year I’ve hated her. She’s so… gross. “Everything I just did was in the plan. Not that it’s any of your business.”

She squints at me, making the creases around her eyes all that more prominent. She has so much make-up on, it practically creates crevasses. “We don’t trust you.”

“I don’t really care what you think. Or your boss.” She is nothing but an aging whore. Not even disgusting Lucio Gori would have her.

“He’s your boss too.” Her smirk is ugly. Her wrinkled red lips so pathetic. Please, I pray to God. If I live as long as this woman, please don’t let me age this badly.

“No,” I say, sounding a lot surer than I feel. “He’s not. We made a deal. I give him what he wants, he helps me with what I want. Nowhere in that deal do you even enter the picture. So you better stay the fuck away from me, Ellen. Or I swear, I’ll tell everyone what you’re doing.”

Ellen is silent for a few moments as she considers my threat. It’s almost a ruse. Almost. She’s working both sides just like me. I could tell people what she’s up to. Of course, I’d give myself away as well, so I wouldn’t do that unless I felt I had no other choice. Still… she needs her secrets just as much as I need mine.

“You know what he wants and you better deliver,” she finally says.