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“Probably. Santi already took a stack up. I’d be surprised if there are any runners out there by now. There were some substantial contracts and runners like the heavy hitters.”
“Good.” What else do I say to that?Thank God people are going to die tonightseems cold-hearted.
“If you can find it in you to wade through the snake pit out there one more time I could really use you getting those to Polaris.” Harlon points at the papers in my arms. “Want me to walk you?”
“And look like the weak fifth grader in front of the eighth grade bullies. Been there. I’ll pass. I’ll survive.” I always do.
He winks at me and I swear if my friend didn’t already have this man’s heart I would totally fall for his cool, dominant give-no-fucks vibes.
I leave Harlon and head for the bank of elevators that will return me to the fifth floor. This time the runners are pouring over their phones which means Harlon was right. They are picking the new contracts they want to fulfill.
A few eye me, look at their phones and then back at me in a way that has my feet moving faster.
Okay. That is odd. I step into the elevator and hit the button for the fifth floor. I don’t know what draws my eyes down. I never want to know the names of the people who have the end coming. Not when my memory latches onto those names forever. It seems like inviting bad juju in or something. I have enough of that on my own.
But I do and when my eyes lock on my name in black ink my heart stops. Chills run down the length of my arms and I can’t draw a deep breath in.
Bailey D’Angelo and clipped to the front is a grainy picture of me with all my red hair and green eyes.
I suck in air and let it out in a rush. Do they have a picture of me? Did my father give it to them? He told me to never come back but to feed me to the wolves? No, he wouldn’t do that.
I breathe through my nose and let it out through my mouth. I am so shocked I don’t realize the elevator doors are closed and there are two other people in the metal box with me.
Killers. Dangerous. Fucking fuck. Locked into a space. No way out.
I fumble for the blade I keep tucked into the back of my skirt. I don’t take another breath until I have the cool metal handle in my palm. The one on the right presses the button for the first floor and we head down. Not to the fifth floor where I can hide.
Shit. Now what?
The runners turn graveyard-cold eyes on me.
Did I say that out loud? I push back against the far wall but these two are better mannered than the last one. They smell better too.
They don’t seem bothered by me and turn back to their conversation.
Phew. They don’t recognize me. Or they haven’t seen the new contract that just rolled in. The fact I colored my hair and wear contacts helps.
The one on the left in the sharkskin suit says, “You know Altair is gonna put his name on the roster for the high roller contract that came in tonight before we step out of the front door. That fucker wants a piece of everything. Every time the Mounts put out a contract that slimy bastard always gets to the target first. Makes me want to introduce him to a bullet.”
I skim the rest of the contract and my heart drops. I figured it would be the Society who wants me dead, not my father’s enemy.
What should I do? Walk out the front door like I’m not a moving target?
Yes. I guess. It’s not like I have another plan. I can’t stay here. Though the irony of the hunted in the home of the hunter is not lost on me.
I can figure everything else out once I’m out of these doors.
His friend in a pinstripe huffs out a frustrated exasperation and I guess they see me as no threat because he has no fear saying, “I have no problem with reducing the runner population. Altair needs to go and I have a couple of places in mind as his final spot. We can’t help it if he gets in the way when we pinpoint our target. Know what I mean?”
Yeah, there are no hidden innuendos in your words, buddy.
I’m momentarily distracted by their appreciation for finer clothes when the other answers, “Yeah I’m not willing to pay the cool million as a penalty for offing one of our own. But I’m close. Damn close. Let’s land the Mount contract and we can pay it from there.”
“Five alive, ten dead. I like those numbers. How hard is it to hunt down a red-headed mafia princess? She has zero life skills and no daddy to run to. Read all the added notes Mount provided. Last seen right here in our hometown. We could roll in Christmas money long before the fat man checks his naughty list.”
“You’re messed up in the head, man.”
I block them out. My life is worth ten million? That deflates the last remnants of my self esteem.
