“Life’s a little more convenientthis way, you know? I mean, I wouldn’t really even know where to begin if I wastrying to go out and be a journalist. This has always been my life. And whatthe fuck is a personal assistant to a sports celebrity supposed to do when theywind up unemployed, right?”
“Fair point.”
“What about you?” Darren asks.
“Career? You’re looking at thedream. I worked really hard to get in the FBI. Worked as a police officer for afew years before I was hired. Honestly, it was better than I imagined it wouldbe. Possibly the only thing I could ever see myself doing.”
“And you get to do a lot of worklike this…?”
I’m transported back to thatmoment in the dark room with Jeff as Callister and his goons ganged up on us.Callister was one of the big players with the Cossettos. One of the guys weworked with on a daily basis when we were trying to dismantle the cartel.
A lump in my throat. I cough so Ican respond to Darren. “I’ve done some pretty big gigs, yeah.”
“Sounds exciting. Exotic.”
His gaze settles on my scar. It’swhere people’s eyes seem to gravitate when they talk about my life, as theireyes ask the unspoken question,Did you get that on the job?
But it’s not something I care totalk about.
I turn to the bartender and orderanother round of drinks.
***
“Come on inside,” Darren says. “Just one more drink.”
But I can tell by his expression thathe doesn’t just want a drink.
“Sounds good to me.”
I walked him back to his room, andeven though I knew this wouldn’t be the smartest move, I felt like I deserved alittle something. I felt like he could make the night worth it.
As he slides his keycard from thepanel beneath the doorknob and opens the door, his cell makes a familiar sound.It’s the tone he’s set for Tad. Considering he went back to his room to passout, I can’t imagine what could be so important that he would need Darren forright now.
“Fuck,” I say.
He checks his phone. Thedisappointment in his expression pains me.
“The Master wants a snack and acouple ice packs for his arm.”
“I can wait.”
“Naw. I have a feeling I’m goingto be out of it by the time I finish tending to him. Maybe this is for thebest.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Won’t be the first time TadRoarke’s ruined my night,” he says with that familiar, bitter smile. “Can Itake a rain check?”
“A standing invitation,” I say.
He starts to head back into hisroom, but I stop him. “Hey, I’ll head up and take care of this, okay?”
“Thanks, but that’s not your job.You don’t need to be his keeper.”
“How bad can it be?”
“You’d be surprised.”
Although, considering howdemanding Tad can be, I sincerely doubt that. “Come on,” I say. “I got this.”
