She winced, buying time with another sip. "No," she said flatly, clearly reluctant to delve into the topic.
"Any kids?"
Her head lifted, and she met my eyes, a flicker of pain clouding the greens of her eyes as she shook her head. "No."
I could sense her discomfort, but I wouldn't let it deter me. I needed information, and not just for myself, but for E.
"So that means you're single then?" I smirked, earning an eye roll as she finished her drink, tossing it back.
"Yeah, single andnotlooking." She settled back in her chair, clearly uneasy with the direction of the conversation.
I saw the walls going up, but I pressed on. While she may be hesitant to open up, I had a knack for drawing out secrets. As she reached for her purse, I made a mental note to revisit this later. I needed to build trust, to coax the information I needed from her. But after some light conversation, I could tell Fallon was finally beginning to relax. A delicate pink blush warmed her olive complexion from the heat of the room, and she removed her coat, settling into the space.
"So, what do you really do for work?" she asked finally, her curiosity piqued by the man who's been parked outside her house.
"Security. You know, the boring stuff," I told her, sticking to my cover—she didn't need to know I was a killer.
"That actually sounds interesting."
She smiled, taking another sip of the old-fashioned I made for her, her eyes never leaving mine. My gaze drifted, captivated by the curve of her body, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't look away.
As she leaned closer, the tension in the air thickened, the desire between us growing with each passing moment. I tried to focus on her question, but my mind was consumed by the electricity that seemed to crackle between us.
"I bet you have some interesting stories to tell," Fallon said, her voice a low whisper.
"I do, but they're not the kind of stories you want to hear," I replied, my tone serious.
She leaned back, her eyes unwavering, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "You might be surprised, War," she said. "I like a little danger."
My heart raced as I considered her words, wondering just how much she could handle. But before I could respond, she reached out and took my hand, and at that moment, I knew I wanted to tell her everything—but I couldn't—and I didn't.
The longer we were together, the more I wondered who the hell she truly was and why E wanted me to follow her. She seemed so harmless, while he was the devil himself... What did she do to him? Why was he so obsessed? Gazing at her, taking in every stunning feature, I understood immediately why E was so fixated on her, because I was slowly falling for her myself, and it'd only been one meeting... I was fucked.
"I should get going," she said abruptly, as if she had just realized the situation: sitting in a stranger's house in the middle of the night... and she didn't even know I was a fucking killer.
"Can I have your number?" I asked, taking my shot.
"Am I going to find you parked outside my house again?" She countered, a smile dancing on the corners of her pink, painted lips.
"No, I promise," I told her, knowing I'd be watching her much more closely next time.
“I'm sure I'll see you around; there's no need for me to give you my number.”
As she gathered her things, I couldn't help but feel a pang of regret as she slipped through my fingers. I wanted to know more about her, to understand her and figure out what had so fully captivated E's attention.
As she stepped out the door, I resisted the urge to follow, watching from the window as she disappeared into the night. My thoughts swirled around her, unable to shake the feeling that Ineeded to know her. And with that, she was gone, leaving me with more questions than answers.
I let out a slow breath, the silence in the room amplifying the echo of her departure. The remnants of her presence lingered—the faint scent of her perfume, the subtle warmth still radiating from the chair she occupied, and the lingering image of her captivating eyes. My gaze drifted to the empty glass, where just moments ago, her lips had graced the rim. A reckless impulse urged me to chase after her, to demand answers, and to simply be with her again. But I reined myself in. This wasn't a game I could afford to play haphazardly.
E’s hold on me was a vise, and defying him could be my last act. But the magnetism pulling me towards Fallon was a force that threatened to override even my deepest survival instincts. This was a battle I didn't ask for, and one I wasn't sure I could win. I ran a hand through my hair, the familiar gesture doing little to quell the turmoil within.
The image of her, walking away, replayed in my mind. How she filled the space, how she moved, the way her gaze locked with mine. She was a mystery wrapped in an enigma—a puzzle I was suddenly obsessed with solving. And the more I tried to decipher her, the more I realized I was sinking further into the quicksand of her charm.
I knew I had to call E. He’d want a report, a detailed account of our meeting. He’d dissect every word, every gesture, searching for clues, for weaknesses. And I, the reluctant informant, would have to deliver it. But as I reached for my phone, I hesitated. What do I tell him? That she's captivating? That I'm falling for her? That I couldn't look away? He would fucking devour me for that.
The weight of my conflicting loyalties crashed down, heavy and suffocating. My gut churned with a cocktail of dread and longing. Duty versus desire, loyalty versus… something far moredangerous. The truth was, I didn't know what it was yet. All I knew was that I had to see her again. I had to find out what she was hiding and, more importantly, what she was doing to me. With a deep breath, I dialed E's number, steeling myself for the inevitable storm. The answer couldn't come soon enough.
seven
