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I steady my aim.
He isn’t smiling when he steps toward me, but he isn’t frightened either. Just another problem to deal with. Just another lover’s quarrel. That’s what he’s thinking as he places his hand over the muzzle. That’s how much he trusts me. That’s how weak he thinks I am.
Finally, he flashes that signature smile. It’s his tell. He thinks he’s in control.
I pull the trigger.
At first, nothing happens.
Then something does.
What happens is Adam takes the gun and hits me over the head with it. Blood trickles down my face. “Silly girl,” he says. “Can’t even work a gun properly.”
Tears mix with blood until I can’t see unless I blink rapidly. He places it to my temple. “Adam, please.”
He lets me beg, properly beg, before he removes it and steps away. “I can’t very well shoot you here, now can I?”
“I—”
“Rookie mistake forgetting the safety.”
It’s not that I forgot; I didn’t know there was such a thing. It’s not something they ever show in the movies. It’s not like you really ever see good guys, the heroes, pausing to mess with such matters. So how was I supposed to know? Now doesn’t seem like the time to mention this.
“It’s okay,” he sighs. “Eventually, everyone gets tired of the game. The lifestyle gets old quick, and they get lazy, they make mistakes, they slip up. That’s why we prepared for this.”
“I haven’t gotten lazy.”
“Sit,” he motions casually. His voice is soft, comforting almost. “You understand why I’m here?”
I should have stepped on the gas. I should have pumped the brake.
He knows I do.
I say nothing, and he rolls up his sleeves. “This is very disappointing.”
You know what they say about desperate times calling for desperate measures? Well, there’s something to that. I undo the hotel robe I haphazardly slipped on, pull it tighter and fasten the tie. I’d barely managed my bra and panties when the second text came. He was coming in.
“I—”
He gestures with his eyes this time, cutting me off. “I offered you a seat.”
I smile politely. Nothing that comes out of his mouth is an offer. That I do not forget.
“I take it he liked the dress,” he says. It’s an admission that I was being watched, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. I thought last night would
have bought me some time. I thought the fact that I gave in to him would have earned a bit of trust. Sometimes what you think will be enough, isn’t. My vision blurs. I think I might pass out. All I see is red. Red. It’s his color. The mark, not the monster before me.
He rolls his tongue over his front teeth. It’s his tell. He’s out for blood. “Well, don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“I guess you weren’t good enough. Not with the dress, not with the lingerie, not even with the fancy suite.” His icy glare burns. I have to force myself not to look away.
“I’m sorry.” My eyes follow his hands. It’s safer this way. “I realize this isn’t the way you wanted things to unfold, but I promise. I’m close. I can close him.” I pause to look him dead in the eye. “I can lock this down, Adam…but you have to trust me.”
“That’s the thing,” he scoffs. “I don’t trust you. Not after what happened last time.”
“Melanie told you.” I square my shoulders, a trick to make myself feel more confident than I am. You can change the way you feel just by the position of your body. He taught me that. Or at least a version of him did.
