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I reply with a thumbs up and finish out the rest of my work before he arrives. I check Insta one more time though because I’m a glutton for punishment. But Devin’s feed is empty of new posts. I’m surprised she hasn’t blocked me. I wonder if I should unfollow her but I don’t want to be the first to do that deed. I’ll give her the honors.
When Rigger comes into the coffee shop he sits next to me, lifts my half-empty cup, peers into it with doubt, sniffs it.
“What the hell is this?”
“Matcha latte. Go get one. I can see the desire for it burning in your eyes.”
“Smells weird.”
“You’re weird.”
He glares at me jokingly. “As usual, I take that as a compliment.”
“Didn’t mean it as one but okay, whatever lights your fire.”
“I’ll just stick with regular coffee for the sane and intelligent.”
I snort as he pushes his chair back and gets in line. Rigger is a lot of fun most of the time, but he can be a real ass too. Truth is, for a murderer, Rigger is quite awesome. And not bad looking one little bit. He’s a ginger, the freckle-less kind. And from what I hear ginger men are fierce lovers. He’s tall, cut but thick, bearded but keeps it immaculately trimmed and clean cut.
I met him five years ago, when I was 16 and he was 26. I was working on a kill that came very, very close to going wrong. It was my second target, and I was a mere babe when it came to committing murderous acts. Rigger spotted what I was doing and quite literally saved my life, took me under his wing and gave me some pointers. Turns out we were two killers whose paths just happened to intersect through a beautiful act of kismet.
Rigger knows exactly what I’m doing and why. Sometimes he helps me with cleanups and I help him with his jobs. He works for the government and he’s pretty hush-hush about what his actual job title is. And I don’t ask questions because I know he’s not allowed to say. I’m pretty sure it’s black ops. He’s killed a lot of people. But, like, really bad people. Kind of like me.
Rigger’s stepdad was a cop, but he was killed in the line of duty when Rigger was a kid. Kind of funny that he turned out the way he did. In some ways, he's following in his stepdad's footsteps, just in a more … sinister sort of way. Aside from my daddy he’s the only man I trust. And likely only man, aside from my daddy, that I ever will.
Oh, and side note, I used to have the biggest crush on him. Fantasized about him all the time. I don’t know that it wastrue love; don’t know what that feels like. But I realized the chances of a man 10 years my senior wanting to be with me was … nil. Then he got himself a girlfriend. And I met Devin.
When Rigger sits back down he taps the tablet with his index finger. “Looks like someone got a new toy. That for work?”
“It’s an upgrade from my last one. I’m using it to track one of my targets.”
“Ah. Already working your magic?”
“You betcha.”
“You going to be able to handle this one solo?” He peers at me over his cup of coffee, green eyes daring me to say no. Rigger knows I hate asking for help and won’t unless absolutely necessary. So he always asks me if I need assistance.
“Oh yeah. Taking it one step at a time. Hope to have him tied up and gushing by the end of the week.”
“Local?”
“One of them is. Still looking for the big guy but supposedly this one knows where he is.” I look around us to be sure no one is within earshot. “I got Snowden last night, by the way.”
Rigger quirks a brow at me, studies me for a moment. “How’d it go?”
“Swimmingly. Swore he didn’t know where King was but gave me this guy’s info. Said he and King started this business. Can you believe they actually run a networking app for kids?”
“Really.”
“Yup.” I show him the conversation I had with BigDev and he blows out a disgusted laugh.
“Charming.”
“Charming indeed. But I know how to hook ‘em. And once I threaten to run away from dear old mommy’s overbearing and helicoptery nature, I’m sure one of them will offer to help me out.”
Rigger nods, then glances out the window. He slowly drags his thumb up and down the outside of his cup. I’m getting an off vibe from him. In fact, he seems a little gloomy today. I regard him for a moment, taking in his quiet strength. Rigger has always been the calm to my storm. But now it seems there’s a quiet storm brewing deep inside of him.
“How’s Holly?”
